Annual Report 2017/18

Healthwatch Southwark report on its key achievements for 2017/18.  It:

• Completed its largest project to date on GP access, visiting all 44 GP practices, speaking to 550 patients and producing recommendations that were accepted by local GP federations and the Clinical Commissioning Group, with action plans developed to improve appointment systems and access to primary care.
• Won a national Healthwatch England Network Award (with Healthwatch Lambeth) for its earlier "Going Home" project on patients’ experiences after leaving hospital, with findings continuing to influence local and national work on discharge and step-down care.
• Influenced the development of Southwark’s Joint Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, contributing evidence, serving on the steering group, and helping ensure patient experiences were reflected in the final strategy. 
• Helped establish a new BME Independent Advisory Group on mental health with South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, creating a stronger voice for Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities in mental health service development. 
• Delivered commissioned research on reablement, supported discharge and coordinated care services, using in-depth interviews with patients to shape improvements to integrated care pathways, discharge support and goal-setting processes. 
• Improved communication with patients by reviewing and advising on information relating to GP practice closures, service changes and referral pathways, leading to clearer communications from commissioners and providers. 
• Continued to influence CAMHS review and funding decisions by raising concerns about proposed reductions in funding and ensuring that engagement with children, young people and families remained central to the review process.