The public health and care champion celebrated its anniversary by thanking everyone who has shared their care experiences, and the professionals who have acted on feedback since Healthwatch started work in 2013.
A celebratory event at the Riverside Centre on Wednesday 19th April, was attended by representatives from the Isle of Wight NHS Trust, Isle of Wight council (IWC), Mountbatten and voluntary sector partners.
Key speakers including Lora Peacey- Wilcox, the leader of the IWC and Darren Cattell, Chief Executive of the Isle of Wight NHS Trust, gave presentations highlighting their achievements and positive plans for the future.
Every story matters
Over the last decade, over 8,000 stories have been shared by people on the Island good and bad, with Healthwatch Isle of Wight. They have identified what’s working and what isn’t regarding health and social care.
With the help of local people, Healthwatch Isle of Wight has been able to help improve local health and social care services, from supporting providers to improve the quality of care in care homes, to increasing training around suicide prevention and mental health.
Three national awards
The amazing volunteers and staff team have won three national awards, including the only award given by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) at a Healthwatch England award ceremony.
Louise Ansari, National Director of Healthwatch England, said,
“Feedback about what is and isn’t working plays a crucial role in helping care services spot issues and understand how they can improve quality, safety, and efficiency. With doctors and nurses hard-pressed, positive feedback can be a real boost for morale.
“So next time you use a health or care service, take a moment to share your experience. It won’t take long and could make a real difference in making care better for you and your community.”
News shared by Joanna on behalf of Healthwatch Isle of Wight. Ed
