Annual Report 2021/22

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

• Highlighted the impact of poor access to NHS dentistry, publishing a report on difficulties obtaining timely dental appointments and ensuring the issue was raised with local health partners. 
• Improved access to primary care for people with no fixed address by distributing hundreds of GP Registration Cards through local organisations, helping people who had previously been refused registration access the healthcare they needed. 
• Gathered evidence on access to GP services through a dedicated survey, identifying problems with telephone access and appointment availability and producing intelligence to inform future service improvements.
• Influenced scrutiny of adult mental health crisis care by raising concerns with the Overview and Scrutiny Committee about progress on previous recommendations, prompting further investigation and an action plan to improve services. 
• Played an active role in the development of the Barnsley Mental Health Partnership, contributing to work on the new All Age Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy and proposals for a Mental Health Response Vehicle. 
• Gathered carers’ experiences of hospital discharge, identifying concerns about communication and involvement in discharge planning, with findings intended to inform future improvements and the developing Carers Strategy. 
• Supported 1,580 people to share their experiences of health and social care and provided advice and information to 142 residents, ensuring local experiences continued to inform commissioners and providers despite pandemic-related restrictions.