Annual Report 2017/18

Healthwatch Kingston-upon-Thames report on its key achievements for 2017/18. It:

• Rebuilt and strengthened the organisation following its transition to an independent charitable company, recruiting a new staff team, appointing three new trustees, expanding volunteer capacity and securing additional project funding. 
• Influenced improvements to services for people with emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD) by making a formal referral to the local Health Overview Panel, leading commissioners and providers to acknowledge gaps in provision and introduce interim improvement measures. 
• Engaged local residents on major health and care issues, including the future of home care services, children's dental health and NHS service changes, helping ensure community views informed local planning and commissioning decisions. 
• Undertook an Enter and View review of adult community mental health services at Tolworth Hospital, gathering detailed feedback from service users to inform recommendations for service improvement. 
• Worked closely with Kingston's Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel, helping shape scrutiny work on key local health issues and strengthening accountability of local NHS commissioners and providers. 
• Expanded engagement with seldom-heard and vulnerable groups through a grassroots engagement programme, including people experiencing mental health challenges, homelessness, substance misuse issues, refugee and migrant communities, older people and families of children with special educational needs and disabilities.
• Helped more than 800 residents access information, advice and signposting on health, social care and wellbeing services.