Annual Report 2014/15

Healthwatch North Yorkshire report on its key achievements in 2014/15.  It:

• Delivered a county-wide programme of engagement events and conferences, helping local people better understand health and social care commissioning while ensuring residents’ views informed Healthwatch priorities across North Yorkshire. 
• Conducted nine Enter and View visits to hospitals and care homes, producing recommendations that led to service improvements, including changes around patient communication, hospital discharge processes, care home practices and end-of-life care. 
• Influenced local decision-making through active involvement in the Health and Wellbeing Board, Joint Strategic Needs Assessment work, Overview and Scrutiny Committees, and close collaboration with the Care Quality Commission and Clinical Commissioning Groups. 
• Amplified the voices of carers, older people, people with learning disabilities, people with physical and sensory impairments, and minority ethnic communities, ensuring their experiences informed local planning and service development. 
• Investigated key issues identified by residents, including hospital discharge, out-of-hours GP services and support for unpaid carers, producing reports and recommendations that helped shape local priorities and improvement work. 
• Strengthened engagement with young people through youth events and partnerships with schools and youth organisations, ensuring younger residents could contribute to discussions about health and care services. 
• Expanded its information and signposting service, helping residents find health and social care support, understand complaints processes and access information about services available across North Yorkshire.