HEALTHWATCH Worcestershire have been involved in two big events. The first was our second annual conference at Sixways.
We presented our annual report, telling everyone about our work over the last year and taking questions from the100 plus conference delegates.
We were able to stage the first public presentation by Harry Turner, the chairman of the Acute Trust, on his take of recent events, and more importantly his views on the future direction of trust services. It was an open presentation, but there are still issues to be clarified and dealt with. We will continue to engage in the process of the future changes to Acute Hospitals on behalf of all Worcestershire residents.
The conference ended with a “Question Time” panel of Health and Social Care Commissioners, taking questions about a wide range of issues impacting on Worcestershire’s services. It was great to see service users, patients and carers holding the commissioners to account. Our annual report and all of the conference feedback and presentations are on our website www.healthwatch worcestershire.co.uk
The Quality Care Commission (CQC) are due to undertake an inspection of the Worcester-shire Acute Hospitals Trust in the next month. They took the opportunity of our Conference to hold a public engagement event in the afternoon. Many stayed on to share issues with the Inspectors. Healthwatch helped with a further public event arranged by CQC, held at Redditch Town Hall. Inspectors are keen to hear any experience you have encountered in any of the Trust’s hospitals.
We also attended the Healthwatch England Conference in Manchester and were able to contribute to several of the debates and presentations, as Worcestershire has gained a national reputation for its local approach to Co-Production, engagement and communication on behalf of service users.
For If you want any details, would like to share your experiences or to have any comment to make on the above, please contact us at info@healthwatch worcestershire.co.uk or phone: 01386 550264

Peter Pinfield, Chairman Healthwatch Worcestershire