Engagement on the future of health and care STP report, Westminster

In May 2017, Healthwatch Central West London carried out some localised engagement, asking the question, “Do people living and working in Westminster know about the new health and care plans being introduced locally?”

The work was done to see to what extent the general public knew about the changes that would be planned through the local sustainability and transformation plan (STP) being directed nationally through local teams.

An electronic and paper based survey was made available and 345 people completed the questionnaire across the three, with 135 responses from the Westminster boroughs. Please note this report can be read in conjunction with the reports for Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith and Fulham.

The results from the questionnaire suggested the local Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) need to increase their engagement with the public around the STP.

The feedback received implies that there is some unease around the new plans and a need for people to be better informed about the changes.

The report included the following 5 recommendations:

1. The case for change needs to be clearly set out so that people can understand both the current situation and the reasons things might need to be done differently.

2. From the start, patients and the wider public should be involved in designing and discussing possible solutions to the challenges communities face.

3. The impact on every section of the community needs to be assessed and specific work undertaken, especially with underrepresented groups, to find out what people think.

4. The public ought to be given adequate time to consider the proposals on the table and provide feedback.

5. Once the final plans are agreed, they should be published and those in charge of the changes need to show how they have considered the feedback they have received.

At the time of publication there was no response to the findings and recommendations made within the report.