Annual Report 2021/22

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

• Focused on tackling health inequalities by engaging with refugees, asylum seekers and migrant communities, gathering evidence about barriers to accessing GP, dental and hospital services. Findings were shared with the newly established Refugee Pathway Group and local partnership boards. 
• Supported Deaf residents to influence healthcare services through the Dudley Deaf Focus Group, including reviews of Urgent Treatment Centre services and direct discussions with NHS providers about interpretation, communication and accessibility. 
• Influenced local service planning through engagement on the future of Woodside Day Centre and the relocation of High Oak GP Surgery, producing independent reports used by Dudley Council and Dudley Integrated Health and Care. 
• Involved local people in decision-making by supporting recruitment panels for senior NHS leadership posts and enabling residents to help test and improve Dudley's new Adult Social Care online portals, including accessibility testing by people with sight loss.
• Helped shape work on health inequalities by bringing together voluntary groups, local residents and health partners through events and workshops, including collaboration with Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust to identify barriers to accessing hospital services. 
• Supported the development of the Dudley Bereavement Charter by hosting events where residents shared experiences of grief and bereavement, helping inform a borough-wide commitment to improving support for bereaved people. 
• Launched the Black Country Star project, working with autistic and learning-disabled people to improve experiences of GP services and ensure people with lived experience help shape primary care services.