Annual Report 2021/22

Healthwatch Suffolk report on its key achievements for 2021/22.  It:

• Influenced improvements to digital health and care services by co-producing 12 guiding principles that were adopted by the Suffolk and North East Essex health system and used to develop an Equality and Equity Toolkit for future digital services. 
• Ensured the experiences of young people shaped mental health and wellbeing support through the My Health, Our Future programme, with more than 38,000 responses informing commissioning decisions, mental health support in schools, and targeted support for LGBT+ young people.
• Shaped future models of end-of-life care by capturing experiences of bereaved families during the pandemic. The findings influenced integrated care system plans, bereavement support services, advance care planning, and professional training. 
• Raised awareness of the NHS dentistry crisis by recording and sharing evidence from 269 public enquiries, informing scrutiny by local leaders and supporting action to improve access to NHS dental services.
• Influenced maternity services across Suffolk and North East Essex through feedback from 147 parents, leading to changes in maternity strategy, greater focus on postnatal care, improved involvement in decision-making, and action to address staff shortages. 
• Improved accessibility of health services through the Your Care, Your Way campaign, encouraging hospitals and GP practices to strengthen compliance with the Accessible Information Standard and improve information and communication support for patients. 
• Supported GP practices and patients during a period of significant pressure by gathering feedback, helping practices improve telephone systems, supporting the introduction of digital access tools, and helping services communicate more effectively with patients.