Annual Report 2021/22

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

• Influenced improvements to adult community mental health services through its Mental Health Services: Unmet Need in Southwark project. The work identified gaps in access, waiting times, communication and support for people with complex needs, leading to a formal improvement plan from South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. 
• Improved understanding of GP access problems by gathering residents’ experiences and auditing all Southwark GP websites. Findings led to closer working with the Southwark Primary Care Group, changes to GP website information, and involvement in local GP access improvement plans.
• Launched a Young People’s Health Project to improve engagement with young people, identify their health and wellbeing priorities, and increase their involvement in health and care decision-making.
• Established a Health Inequalities Project focused on Black African, Black Caribbean and Latin American communities, creating opportunities for people from these communities to share experiences and influence local health services. 
• Created the Community Health Ambassadors Network, enabling volunteers to share trusted COVID-19 information, support local communities and provide intelligence about community needs and barriers to care. 
• Influenced local COVID-19 vaccination planning by gathering the views and experiences of both younger and older residents and feeding findings into local vaccination strategy work. 
• Strengthened community engagement and reach, hearing from 2,200 people, supporting 300 people with advice and information, and mobilising 131 volunteers to gather feedback and support local communities.