Annual Report 2018/19

Healthwatch Salford report on its key achievements for 2018/19.  it:

• Influenced improvements to GP access by surveying 431 residents and making recommendations on communication, appointment systems, awareness of extended access services and reception staff customer service. The local CCG responded positively to the findings.
• Completed Enter and View work across all six Extra Care Housing schemes in Salford, ensuring residents’ views informed service development. Providers responded to feedback through co-design workshops and action plans based on residents’ priorities. 
• Improved mental health services by co-producing training for frontline staff with the Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust. Volunteers with lived experience helped design and deliver training, and their input also influenced the local Mental Health Commissioning Strategy. 
• Influenced the Salford Adult Safeguarding Board’s new three-year strategy through engagement events with local residents. Feedback gathered by Healthwatch was used to identify priority themes and was incorporated into the board’s future plans. 
• Led a major project on health access and homelessness, gathering evidence from 122 people experiencing homelessness and a further 25 rough sleepers. The work highlighted barriers to services and made recommendations on service integration, information sharing and access to health support for vulnerable groups. 
• Worked with Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust on multiple service improvement projects, including emergency care, outpatient services and radiology pathways. Patient feedback led to improvements in signage, appointment information, wayfinding and service design.
• Secured adoption of 52 of its 65 recommendations for service improvement made following visits to health and care services across Salford.