Future of Wiltshire vision report

During 2018 the Health and Wellbeing Board was refreshing its vision statement and strategy. They wanted local people to be involved in developing the ‘Vision’ for the way that heath and care services are provided in Wiltshire. This ‘Wiltshire vision’ aims to describe a future that Wiltshire is working towards. In June 2018 Wiltshire Council ran a survey asking for people’s views on the current vision and how it could be improved. From this they developed a proposed new vision: “People in Wiltshire live in thriving communities that empower and enable them to live longer, fulfilling healthier lives.” Healthwatch Wiltshire was asked to undertake a piece of engagement that gathered some more detailed responses of this vision from local people. They asked them to focus on four geographical areas – Salisbury, Devizes, Trowbridge and Chippenham.

They arranged to attend several different events and locations that were in or close to the target areas. A total of 117 people took part in this engagement.

Following their engagement with the public on the ‘Wiltshire Vision’ they found that the majority of those we spoke to seems to agree with and support this vision, however a significant number do not. Some of these people may come to support it if they are provided with more information about the action that is being taken to try to achieve it. Healthwatch recommend that the Health and Wellbeing board carefully consider the key messages and use these to develop the final vision statement. Once a final vision is agreed they suggest that the vision, strategy and actions are shared widely with the public, as this is something that local people have told us that this is something that is important to them.