Annual Report 2022/23

Healthwatch Lambeth report on its key achievements in 2022/23.  It:

• Influenced improvements to NHS Continuing Healthcare and Funded Nursing Care processes by gathering residents’ experiences, highlighting delays, communication problems and difficulties navigating the system. Commissioners incorporated some recommendations into improvement plans and committed to providing clearer information and support. 
• Worked with the Refugee Council to deliver NHS information workshops for Ukrainian refugees, helping participants better understand and access GP, pharmacy and wider NHS services, and improving confidence in using healthcare services. 
• Supported the development of new care pathways for people with multiple long-term conditions by working with Primary Care Networks and hospital partners to ensure patient experiences informed service design and planning. 
• Amplified the voices of unpaid carers, asylum seekers, refugees, people with learning disabilities, people experiencing poor mental health, and people facing financial hardship, ensuring their experiences informed local decision-making and Healthwatch priorities. 
• Improved support for people with mental health needs through an Enter and View visit to The Tree House supported living service, leading to better communication, greater resident involvement, improved information provision and new opportunities for residents to influence service improvements. 
• Helped residents better understand and access social care services by highlighting widespread confusion about rights, entitlements and available support, encouraging providers to improve information and guidance for the public. 
• Worked with more than 150 residents and partner organisations to develop a new three-year strategy focused on reducing health inequalities, improving access and quality of care, and making services more personalised and responsive to local people’s needs. 
• Supported residents through advice and signposting services, helping people resolve issues relating to GP access, dentistry, neighbourhood nursing, advocacy, social care and complaints processes.