Annual Report 2022/23

Healthwatch Coventry report on its key achievements for 2022/23. It:

• Influenced improvements in care homes by carrying out Enter and View visits focused on residents’ health needs. This led to practical changes including arranging hearing tests for residents, improving access to eye tests and addressing environmental issues identified during visits.
• Highlighted inequalities in maternity care for asylum seekers and refugees, leading to action by local maternity leaders, changes to hospital communication plans and discussions between health services and the council about new ways of working. 
• Developed and promoted Good Engagement Principles which were used to influence approaches to public involvement within the local Integrated Care System and wider health and care planning. 
• Ensured local people’s experiences of GP access, waiting times and digital exclusion were heard by decision-makers, contributing to these issues being recognised within local health strategies and service planning.
• Worked with voluntary and community organisations supporting groups whose voices are often less heard, including asylum seekers, refugees, domestic abuse survivors, Black African and Black Caribbean communities, helping ensure their experiences influenced local services.
• Improved public information by using volunteers to review NHS leaflets and information materials, resulting in clearer, more accessible resources before publication. 
• Influenced local planning for palliative and end-of-life care by presenting evidence from local people and calling for changes to the local strategy. 
• Helped residents access services and resolve problems through its information and advocacy work, including support with patient transport issues and NHS complaints.