The Care Quality Commission (CQC) and Healthwatch England are making a call for feedback from carers across the south east after a year of enormous challenges and loss.
Unpaid carers have played a greater role than ever before in supporting people with their care needs during this pandemic. In addition to the direct support they provide, carers play a vital role in sharing feedback about their experiences and now it is time for their voice to be heard, through the ‘Because we all care’ campaign.
Helping to identify any quality issues
This is a year-long campaign led by the CQC and Healthwatch England in response to the Coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19).
It aims to encourage more people to share their individual experiences, to help the NHS and social care services identify and address quality issues and provide the best care possible.
Positive and negative feedback welcome
We are asking unpaid carers who provide care and support to family members, friends and neighbours, that may be affected by a disability, physical or mental ill-health, frailty or substance misuse to tell us about the care that they witness.
This could be in care homes, hospitals or at home. Both positive and negative feedback is welcome.
‘Because we all care’ campaign
Research undertaken by CQC and Healthwatch as part of ‘Because we all care’ campaign has shown that in the south east 77 per cent of people agree feedback helps providers identify areas for services to improve, and 64 per cent of people noticed changes to the standard of care during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Kate Terroni, chief inspector of adult social care at CQC, said:
“There are 6.5 million unpaid carers in England and their voices are extremely powerful. “We are incredibly grateful that many carers have already shared their experiences of what care is like when delivered in their own home, in care homes, hospitals and GPs – good and bad – this is vital intelligence to CQC and really does make a difference.
“By the end of December we carried out over 1900 risk-based inspections using vital intelligence, including from carers and members of the public. I’d like to make a plea that carers continue to talk to us about what care is like as they are our eyes and ears on the ground.“
Allowing action to be taken
Concerns shared with CQC help to identify poor care quickly and take action.
If you have a concern that a loved one or someone you care for is not getting the care they should, or is being put at risk, do not hesitate to get in touch with CQC or be afraid to speak up.
How to feeedback
People can give feedback on their experiences of care, or those of someone they care for, on the CQC website or through their local Healthwatch.
Local Healthwatch organisations can also help you with advice and information to access the support you need.
Share your feedback …
- With Healthwatch HQ
- With CQC
People can also contact Healthwatch Isle of Wight directly to share any experience or get advice and information.
News shared by Angela Clark on behalf of the CQC. Ed
Image: Bermix Studio under CC BY 2.0
