Annual Report 2016/17
Download (PDF 2.64 MB)Summary of report content
This is Healthwatch Kingston’s Annual Report for 2016/2017 which highlights their projects and achievements for the year gone and lists their future priorities and plans after wining the tender to deliver their services for the next 4 years.
The report identified the two main aspects of success for the past year, the first being the New Mental Health Strategy for Kingston with the aim of enhancing the mental health and wellbeing of the community over the next 5 years and shifting the provision of services towards prevention and early intervention. Over 200 people participated in delivering the strategy many of whom were vulnerable and disadvantaged.
The second big project delivered this year was working with local grassroots groups and voluntary sector to have meaningful conversations with a diverse group of local people about local health care issues. This was achieved through 15 events attended by 680 people.
The report also talks about a mental health project taking place in summer of 2016 in partnership of Healthwatch Richmond and local youth councils about listening to young people and finding out what support they need and what services they would like to access if they had a choice. As part of this project a report was produced after talking to 1,580 young people and their invaluable insights were used to produce a short film.
From September 2016 – January 2017 HW Kingston’s Hospital Services Task Group members visited 10 outpatient departments at Kingston Hospital and collected the views of 84 patients about the communication process between themselves and the hospital.
The community Services Task Group members distributed 235 questionnaires to service users, including visiting two-day care centres to gather evidence about current home care provisions. HW received 66 completed forms back, based on which they made recommendation to the Care Agencies and the Royal Borough of Kingston.
The report identifies HW Kingston’s ongoing role as an independent entity offering free, friendly and confidential services independent from the NHS. This role entails signposting, providing information about choices in health and social care and where to complain.
The report is finalised with a list of aims, objectives and aspirations for the future.