Annual Report 2015/16

Healthwatch North Yorkshire report on its key achievements in 2015/16.  It:

• Carried out 11 Enter and View visits to hospitals, residential homes and nursing homes, securing practical improvements in areas such as dementia-friendly environments, activities provision, cleanliness, communication and patient care. 
• Influenced local decision-making through active involvement in the Health and Wellbeing Board, Safeguarding Adults Board, scrutiny committees and partnership groups, ensuring public experiences informed health and social care planning. 
• Gathered and amplified the views of a wide range of communities, including young people, carers, older people, people with learning disabilities, people with physical and sensory impairments and minority ethnic communities. 
• Helped improve mental health services in the Craven area by working with service users, carers and providers to highlight concerns, leading to action on issues including social isolation, transport, service accessibility and crisis support. 
• Conducted a county-wide GP access survey to better understand people’s experiences of obtaining appointments, accessing preferred GPs and continuity of care, informing future work on primary care services. 
• Expanded public engagement and awareness, delivering conferences across North Yorkshire, involving local residents in health and care discussions, and helping the public better understand commissioning and service planning. 
• Strengthened its volunteer network, involving 35 volunteers in Enter and View work, community engagement, governance and representation at key health and care meetings across the county. 
• Continued to provide information and signposting to help residents navigate health and social care services, access local support and understand complaints processes.