An independent evaluation of the service provided by Healthwatch York in 2018-19 from the Stakeholders’ Perspective June 2019

There is good evidence from stakeholders that Healthwatch York is well established and respected in the City of York as an organisation that contributes to improving and influencing local health and social care services.

Stakeholders can give specific examples of where Healthwatch York meets its stated aims. They note the impact that Healthwatch York achieves within a finite set of resources and in the context of growing demand for health and social care services.

Stakeholders demonstrate how they value their relationships with Healthwatch York.

Recommendations

Healthwatch York should consider how they can work with local and regional Healthwatch to have some influence at a national level.

Healthwatch York should continue to prioritise the key topics it works on each year so that it can be effective. 

Healthwatch York should consider how it could better publicise what it does, including making greater use of social media and linking in more to events such as awareness weeks.

Healthwatch York should consider whether there is greater potential for the use of volunteers.  It should also inform stakeholders how it secures appropriate representation of the community within their volunteer base.

Healthwatch York should continue to develop its role as a critical friend, through providing greater challenge to system partners.

Healthwatch York should continue to amplify the voices of seldom heard groups in their work.

Healthwatch York could become more of a practical conduit for co-production in the city, by creating more bridges so people who wish to do it can access support more easily.

Healthwatch York should support partners to improve their reach within BME communities in York, and to help partners increase their understanding of the needs of these communities.

Healthwatch York should consider its role in the way in which services will be delivered in future at primary care level.

Healthwatch York should consider the suggestions made by stakeholders for developing a menu of chargeable services, so that it can continue to be viable.