Annual Report 2021/22

Healthwatch North Northamptonshire and Healthwatch West Northamptonshire report on their key achievements for 2021/22.  They:

• Influenced improvements to the NHS 111 First service, particularly for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, visually impaired or have other accessibility needs. Feedback led to commitments to improve communications, reasonable adjustments, and access to interpretation and support services.
• Led a major project with carers, Northamptonshire Carers and Carers' Voice to understand the impact of the pandemic on unpaid carers. Findings were shared with NHS organisations, councils and providers to inform future support and service improvements. 
• Young Healthwatch investigated young people's health and wellbeing and the transition from child to adult mental health services. The findings were used to create staff training films and inform improvements to transition pathways. 
• Acted as the Youth Advisory Board for the Children and Young People's Transformation Programme, ensuring young people's views influenced the development of services designed to provide the right care, in the right place, at the right time. 
• Continued to champion access to NHS dentistry, representing public concerns at local dental forums, sharing updates from NHS England and raising awareness of widespread difficulties obtaining NHS dental appointments. 
• Identified growing concerns about access to GP appointments and worked with commissioners to develop a dedicated GP access project to support future improvements.
• Achieved the national Investing in Volunteers accreditation, recognising the quality of its volunteer programme and leading to improvements in volunteer policies, governance and volunteer support.