Annual Report 2019/20

Healthwatch Brighton and Hove report on its key achievements in 2019/20.  It:

• Responded rapidly to the COVID-19 pandemic by providing trusted public information, producing regular COVID updates, escalating concerns directly with health leaders, and creating a dedicated online information hub used by thousands of residents. 
• Established the Hospital Discharge Wellbeing Project, supporting hundreds of recently discharged patients, identifying discharge problems, connecting people to community support and helping improve recovery after leaving hospital. 
• Highlighted the difficulties people faced accessing NHS dentistry during the pandemic, raising concerns with NHS England, local decision-makers and MPs, and helping bring greater attention to the issue locally and nationally. 
• Influenced improvements in end-of-life care through research with patients and families, with recommendations accepted by local NHS organisations and incorporated into service improvement and planning work. 
• Supported care home residents and their families through a series of Sussex-wide webinars, helping raise concerns about visiting restrictions, communication and support during the pandemic and ensuring these experiences were heard by decision-makers.
• Conducted major reviews of GP services, homecare services, oral health in care homes, outpatient services and patient transport, using patient experiences to influence service improvement and future commissioning decisions. 
• Amplified the voices of young people through Young Healthwatch projects on mental health, wellbeing, sexual health and access to services, helping ensure their experiences informed future service development.