Annual Report 2017/18

Healthwatch Bolton report on its achievements for 2017/18.  it:

• Influenced Bolton’s Technology Enabled Care strategy through a large public engagement project, gathering residents’ views on health apps, telecare and digital health technologies. Findings showed increased confidence in technology-enabled care and informed local rollout plans.
• Led a high-profile young carers project, working directly with young carers to raise awareness of their experiences, producing a report, creating the song Growing Older, and enabling young carers to share their experiences with local decision-makers and the wider public.
• Helped shape Bolton’s Health and Social Care Plan through nine neighbourhood workshops involving 262 residents and generating over 3,200 comments. Findings were used to inform local plans for neighbourhood working, prevention and community-based support.
• Conducted major research on dementia, speaking to 79 people including 39 directly affected by dementia. The resulting reports highlighted issues around diagnosis, support services and carers’ experiences, helping inform future service design. 
• Produced 42 reports on key health and care issues including urgent care, mental health, waiting times, social prescribing, workplace health, wheelchair services and neighbourhood healthcare, ensuring residents’ experiences informed commissioners and providers.
• Influenced improvements at Bolton Hospital’s Ambulatory Care Unit after gathering patient feedback. The work led to changes to facilities and prompted discussions about renaming the service to make it easier for patients to understand. 
• Supported 176 people through its information, advice and guidance service, helping residents resolve issues involving mental health services, patient transport, continuing healthcare and GP prescribing.