Better care plan engagement report

Healthwatch Wiltshire report examines where people go for information for several long term conditions: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory disease, cancer, dementia, musculoskeletal, and mental health and wellbeing.

This report is part of Healthwatch Wiltshire's work with the Better Care Plan programme partnership (Wiltshire Council and the Clinical Commissioning Group), to assist in meeting its aim to see health and social care integrated by 2020.

During October and November 2017, Healthwatch engaged with people in a number of different ways. They promoted engagement through social media, and Healthwatch Wiltshire's website. They attended 13 local groups where they spoke to 202 people, and got 75 people to complete the survey.

People told Healthwatch that they used a variety of different ways to find out information about their long-term conditions. Most of those we spoke to had used more than one source of information, although they did have a preferred source. People spoke about information they would have liked to received before diagnosis, following diagnosis, and to live with their long term condition. People also spoke about how they would like to receive the information.

One of the main focuses of the Better Care Plan is to ensure that people are well informed and able to take responsibility for their own health, whether through preventing illness or managing it effectively with as little medical intervention as necessary.