Annual Report 2018/19

Healthwatch Bolton report on its key achievements for 2018/19.  It:

• Coordinated Greater Manchester’s contribution to the NHS Long Term Plan consultation, gathering feedback from 2,755 people across Greater Manchester, including more than 400 people from Bolton, to ensure public views influenced future NHS planning. 
• Influenced work on palliative and end-of-life care by engaging 178 people about conversations around death and dying, subsequently helping organise a successful Dying Matters event and contributing to local discussions about end-of-life planning and support. 
• Helped shape the transformation of primary care through work with GP practices, patients and community organisations on new primary care roles, producing reports that informed the development of neighbourhood health services and workforce changes. 
• Conducted research with 119 carers to identify what makes a carer-friendly community, leading to recommendations for the Bolton Carers Partnership on respite, education, support services and reducing social isolation. 
• Published 18 reports on key issues including carers, palliative care, communication needs, health in the workplace and primary care transformation, ensuring residents’ experiences informed commissioners and providers. 
• Influenced local and national policy through earlier work on dementia, young carers, social prescribing and oral health in care homes, with these issues subsequently reflected in the NHS Long Term Plan and wider health policy discussions. 
• Continued to support residents through information, advice and guidance services, handling 177 cases and helping people navigate issues involving GP services, continuing healthcare, patient transport and mental health services.