Annual Report 2023/24
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Healthwatch Worcestershire report on its key achievements for 2023/24. It:
- Improved public health communications by surveying over 500 people and identifying gaps in awareness of key health campaigns, particularly among people experiencing financial hardship. Recommendations led to changes in campaign imagery, accessibility and information provision.
- Influenced NHS policy on PSA testing for prostate cancer by highlighting inconsistent access across Worcestershire. Following Healthwatch's work, GP practices were asked to confirm compliance with NHS England's informed choice guidance and the issue is now being monitored by local NHS leaders.
- Helped improve Adult Social Care information and assessment processes by reviewing the Adult Front Door online self-assessment system and contributing to changes in Care Act forms, the Adult Social Care Strategy and the Prevention and Early Intervention Strategy.
- Raised awareness of barriers faced by people with vision impairment, leading to improvements to health promotion materials, more inclusive campaign imagery, a redesigned Health Walks webpage, and better access to information.
- Secured a change in arrangements for teenage cancer patients after highlighting concerns that specialist beds funded by the Teenage Cancer Trust were sometimes being used by older adults. A new process was introduced to prioritise access for young people when needed.
- Continued to influence quality and safety across health and care services by sharing patient feedback with regulators and providers, contributing to scrutiny processes, and securing involvement in the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care Trust's Quality & Safety Committee following a Care Quality Commission inspection.
- Demonstrated tangible impact from previous work, including improvements to mental health inpatient feedback processes, major changes to Worcestershire County Council website navigation, clearer Adult Social Care information, and reviews of support for people sleeping rough.