Annual Report 2019/20

Healthwatch Kingston upon Thames report on its key achievements for 2019/20.  It:

• Established Kingston as one of London’s first funded Time to Change hubs, recruiting 20 mental health champions who volunteered over 600 hours, engaged more than 400 residents and led local campaigns to reduce mental health stigma. 
• Expanded its work with people with learning disabilities by creating a Learning Disability Task Group, recruiting specialist staff, developing Easy Read resources, and supporting the Kingston All Age Learning Disability Partnership Board to increase participation in decision-making.
• Influenced improvements to hospital discharge processes through its “What was leaving hospital like?” report based on 183 patient surveys. Recommendations led to actions by Kingston Hospital on discharge communication, patient information, discharge medication processes, accessible information and follow-up care.
• Evaluated Kingston’s social prescribing service through its review of the Community Connector Service, finding strong positive outcomes for service users and recommending continued investment in social prescribing support. 
• Strengthened the voice of people with lived experience in adult safeguarding, helping develop a Making Safeguarding Personal pilot and sharing Kingston’s approach at the London Safeguarding Adults Board Conference. 
• Supported young people to influence services through Youth Out Loud!, whose members completed health service reviews, produced mental health films, carried out 15 Steps Challenge visits and worked directly with local providers to identify improvements for young people.
• Contributed local evidence to implementation of the NHS Long Term Plan, leading work on end-of-life care in South West London and ensuring carers’ experiences informed regional and national NHS planning.