Annual Report 2022/23

Healthwatch North Northamptonshire and Healthwatch West Northamptonshire report on their key achievements for 2022/23.  They:

• Raised the profile of the NHS dentistry crisis, collecting feedback from 113 residents, writing to Northamptonshire MPs, working with the Oral Health Alliance and continuing to push for improvements in access to NHS dental care. 
• Published a county-wide GP Access report based on feedback from 266 residents, highlighting problems with telephone systems, appointment availability and continuity of care, and using the findings to challenge commissioners and GP leaders. 
• Carried out unannounced Enter and View visits to the A&E departments at Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital, leading to service improvements including changes to signage, patient communication, accessibility and the physical environment.
• Visited Corby Urgent Care Centre with Healthwatch Rutland, gathering patient feedback and making nine recommendations to improve communication, accessibility, facilities and the patient experience. 
• Completed a Young Healthwatch project on young people's health and wellbeing in East Northamptonshire, providing insight into mental health, self-harm, support services and wellbeing needs, with findings welcomed by the Integrated Care Board to help inform future services. 
• Worked with people using Change Grow Live substance misuse services and launched a project to gather the experiences of some of Northamptonshire's most vulnerable residents to inform future service planning. 
• Supported the Northamptonshire Safeguarding Adults Board by piloting a project to gather feedback from people who had experienced safeguarding enquiries, helping ensure service users' views informed safeguarding practice.