Annual Report 2018/19

Healthwatch Wandsworth report on their key achievements in 2018/19:

• Engaged extensively with local residents, hearing from 883 people, visiting 76 community events and 6 services, producing 12 reports, and supporting 103 people with advice and information. Volunteer contributions remained significant, with 35 volunteers providing 1,826 hours of support. 
• Improved services for older people through Enter and View work on intermediate care services, leading to tangible changes including:
  • Better patient information and discharge planning.
  • Improvements to rehabilitation goal-setting processes.
  • Enhanced therapy provision and care planning.
  • Changes to medication and falls-prevention processes. 
• Influenced support for carers, surveying carers across the borough and securing commitments from the council to:
  • Improve access to mental health and wellbeing support.
  • Develop a carers' wellbeing app.
  • Review carers' assessments.
  • Provide better information and training for staff supporting carers.
• Raised awareness of health inequalities and influenced local policy, bringing together residents and decision-makers to identify barriers faced by groups including carers, LGBT+ residents, Black and Minority Ethnic communities, and people with learning disabilities. The findings were subsequently used by the council and Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) in their work. 
• Ensured young people's voices influenced sexual health services, working directly with young people, youth groups and colleges to shape communications and engagement approaches. Feedback informed the Young People's Action Plan and led to service providers developing new outreach approaches, including Instagram-based communications. 
• Influenced local NHS and social care planning, including:
  • Contributing to the Wandsworth Health and Care Plan.
  • Informing discussions on mental health services and Mental Capacity Act implementation.
  • Influencing plans for changes at Clapham Junction walk-in services.
  • Shaping quality improvement priorities at St George's Hospital. 
• Improved understanding of health needs among vulnerable groups, including research into prison healthcare at HMP Wandsworth, with healthcare providers developing action plans in response to Healthwatch findings. 
• Expanded its reach and visibility, achieving a 25% increase in website and social media engagement, launching the Healthwatch England It Starts With You campaign locally, and improving communication with younger audiences.