Local consumer champion Healthwatch Dorset has published a new report called Spotlight, covering their wide ranging work over the last year.
The new Annual Report features articles about the projects Healthwatch Dorset has been working on, like Fobbed Off – their recent investigation into local people’s experiences of making an NHS complaint.
Healthwatch Dorset Champion volunteer, Pia, is featured in an article about volunteering and she explains: “There are so many great facets to volunteering, but one of the best is that I really do enjoy it. I am extremely passionate about the
NHS and the fantastic service it provides, so to be involved in Healthwatch is great, as in a small way my input can help develop the NHS further. This brings me a sense of satisfaction.”
Spotlight also shares stories about the artwork, poetry, blogs & vlogs Healthwatch Dorset has collected from children & young people as part of their creative project “Be Yourself: Everybody Else Is Taken” and the projects partnership with AFC Bournemouth.
Chair of Healthwatch Dorset, Joyce Guest, explains: “This report is a celebration of our work over the past year. It’s an opportunity to talk about some of the groups who are developing our community projects, like the Parkinsons Dance community classes now running in Sherborne. Spotlight also looks ahead to see how we can make sure that local people’s views and experiences really influence the future shape of Dorset’s health and care services.”
In 2016/17 Healthwatch Dorset’s priorities are children & young people’s emotional health & wellbeing, community dental services, mental health crisis care, planning volunteer led visits to care homes across the county and following up on the recommendations they made following their homecare investigation last year.
The health & care watchdog is also keen to help local people have their say on the proposed changes to NHS services across Dorset. Joyce explains; “we’ve heard from people across Dorset who are very concerned about the proposed changes to local NHS services. If you have any questions, that you don’t feel comfortable raising yourself, please get in touch with us and we will be happy to share your questions anonymously with Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group. We publish all the Q&A’s on our website.”
To find out more you can read the full report, Spotlight, on Healthwatch Dorset’s website: www.healthwatchdorset.co.uk or call 0300 111 0102 to request a paper copy.
