About us
Healthwatch is the independent consumer champion for people who use health and social care services.
The role of Healthwatch is to find out people’s experiences of health and social care services with a view to making sure they are meeting people’s needs, and to suggest or call for improvements where needed based on people’s experiences.
Healthwatch have the power to make sure that people’s voices are heard by the government and those running services. As well as seeking the public’s views ourselves, we also encourage services to involve people in decisions that affect them. Our sole purpose is to help make care better for people. In summary, Healthwatch is here to:
- Help people find out about local care.
- Listen to what people think of services.
- Help improve the quality of services by letting those running services and the government know what people want from care.
- Encourage people running services to involve people in changes to care.
Healthwatch was established in 2013, and each local authority area has its own Healthwatch service. For details of Healthwatch services in other areas, click here.
How We Work
Healthwatch is for everyone in our community – adults, young people and children. Every voice counts when it comes to shaping the future of services and improving them for today. Healthwatch will help people get the best out of their local health and social care services.
People often don’t speak up because they don’t think they can make a difference. We know that people can be unaware of the care and support that is out there. People can feel excluded from services and access to services and treatment isn’t always equal. Those who are least able to speak out will be heard through Healthwatch.
Every voice counts when it comes to shaping the future of health and social care, and when it comes to improving it for today. Everything that Healthwatch does will bring the voice and influence of local people to the development and delivery of local services.
Through our network of volunteers, working with existing voluntary and community groups, and our independent research, we can find out what matters to you most about health and social care. Together, your views and our expertise will help shape improvements for everyone.
We will use the information we gather to spot important local issues and trends. And we will carry out our own research into those issues that need more investigating, working closely with existing voluntary and community groups and the authorities.
Most importantly, we have powers in law which gives us influence. We will feedback what we discover to the authorities who have a legal responsibility to respond and use our findings to shape and improve services and feedback to you on the outcomes. This means you can be reassured that your views really do count.
How We Are Set Up
Each local Healthwatch is commissioned and funded by the Local Authority. In Hull the organisation who has been commissioned to ensure the effective delivery of the Healthwatch Service is Hull CVS.
The Trustee Board of Hull CVS provides strategic leadership, promotes good governance and accountability on all contractual, legal and financial duties of Healthwatch.
Our Executive Team.
Day to Day delivery of the Healthwatch service is led by our Executive Team:
- Moira Harrison – Deliver Manager.
- Gareth Fletcher – Communications Officer.
- Julia Scardone – Volunteering and Engagement Officer.
- Hilary Clarke – Patient Experience Officer
Independent Strategic Advisory Body
Supporting our Executive Team is our Independent Strategic Advisory Body (ISAB). The ISAB are a strategic partner to the Executive team, bringing added independent lay insight and overview regarding delivery of the annual strategic workplan and contributing to safeguarding the probity and transparency of Local Healthwatch. The ISAB are made up from the following members:
- Helen Grimwood (Contractual lead)
- Moira Harrison (Delivery lead)
- Conrad Thompson (lay representative)
- Jim Chase (lay representative)
- Matthew Handley (lay representative)
Enter and View
Enter and View Ambassadors have the power to ‘Enter and View’ providers to see how services are being delivered. An Enter and View allows Healthwatch to identify good practice that can be celebrated and shared with others, and to identify any issues raised by service users.
Following an Enter and View, recommendations may be made in order to help make services better for the people who use them.
Our Policies
Healthwatch Kingston Upon Hull is maintained by strict policies and Governance.