Annual Report 2016/17

Healthwatch Bolton report on its key achievements for 2016/17.  It:

• Published 25 reports on issues including men’s health, young people’s emotional wellbeing, CAMHS, falls, electronic care records, neighbourhood health services and waiting times, significantly increasing Healthwatch Bolton’s evidence and influence. 
• Played a major role in health and social care transformation across Bolton and Greater Manchester, becoming a full partner in the development and delivery of Bolton’s Locality Plan and co-chairing the Co-design and Engagement Group to strengthen public involvement in service redesign.
• Influenced the development of neighbourhood health services through the "Conversations with the People of Farnworth" project. Feedback from 59 residents and 615 comments informed planning around neighbourhood hubs, social prescribing, technology-enabled care and patient experience outcomes. 
• Conducted eight Enter and View visits to care homes, gathering residents' experiences and sharing findings with providers, the local authority and the Care Quality Commission to support service improvement. 
• Supported local residents through 194 information, advice and guidance cases, reaching the milestone of helping its 1,000th client and continuing to escalate concerns and resolve individual problems with health and care services. 
• Gathered 2,516 pieces of feedback from local people through more than 50 engagement events, ensuring community experiences informed Healthwatch’s research, reports and recommendations. 
• Developed a Change Champions programme and hosted a conference attended by over 80 people, producing a "Checklist for Change" to help local communities and organisations monitor large-scale health and care transformation.