Annual Report 2016/17

Healthwatch Somerset reports on its key achievements for 2016/17. It:

• Reached more than 10,000 people through social media, attended community events across Somerset, and increased public engagement with health and social care issues. 
• Gathered feedback from 587 local people about GP services, NHS 111, pharmacies and access to care, and used the findings to influence the Somerset Sustainability and Transformation Plan and discussions at the Health and Wellbeing Board.
• Evaluated the Early Supported Discharge stroke service through focus groups and interviews with patients, carers and families, helping commissioners understand people's experiences and the impact of the service.
• Carried out Enter and View visits to mental health inpatient wards at Pyrland and Magnolia Wards, making recommendations on activities, staff training and patient support that were taken forward by service providers. 
• Influenced improvements in mental health services by highlighting concerns around drug and alcohol awareness, activity provision and staffing, with recommendations being considered by local strategic groups. 
• Produced and distributed good practice guides covering discharge, community involvement, dignity in care, environment, staffing, participation and activities to support service improvement across Somerset. 
• Worked with Somerset Rural Youth Project through Young Healthwatch to gather young people's views on mental health, identifying key factors affecting wellbeing and ensuring their experiences informed local work.
• Supported Somerset County Council's review of Education, Health and Care Plans by engaging young people and parent carers through focus groups and sharing their experiences.
• Ensured local people's voices were represented at the Health and Wellbeing Board, raising issues such as pharmacy provision, primary care changes, children's services and the findings from Healthwatch research.
• Identified concerns about access to orthotics services through partnership working with SWAN Advocacy and secured this as a priority area for investigation in 2017/18. 
• Continued to provide information, signposting and support through Somerset Choices and advocacy partners, helping local people access advice, services and independent advocacy. 
• Expanded opportunities for people to share feedback on local health and care services through surveys, focus groups and its online feedback centre, ensuring experiences were used to influence decision-making.