Healthwatch - listening to what local people think

Royal Borough residents are being asked what they think about their health and social care services ahead of important changes next year to promote better health and social care outcomes for all.

Consultation is currently underway on plans to set up an independent Healthwatch organisation which will listen to what local people think about health and social care - and replace the existing Windsor and Ascot Local Involvement Networks (WAM LINks).*

Questionnaires have gone out to more than 300 adult and community service users, LINk members and local voluntary groups asking what they would like to see provided by Healthwatch when it is launched in April 2013.

The six-week consultation - which runs until 1 September - asks residents to list their priorities for services they would like to see provided as well as practical questions of access to information and communications between the organisation and service users.

Cllr Simon Dudley, cabinet member for adult and community services, said: "This is a great opportunity to help influence how the new Healthwatch organisation can be developed to work for you and your communities and develop services you really want and need for the future.

"As a borough resident you have a right to be involved in discussions and decisions about your health and social care services. Your views really will be taken seriously in helping us to make a difference - so do take time to complete the questionnaire so that we can improve health and social care services to truly reflect your needs."

The three main functions of the independent Healthwatch organisation will be to:
• influence - by presenting the views and experiences of local service users to decision-makers at national level
• signpost - providing information for accessing services and promoting choice
• advise - supporting people to help them make the right choices for them.

To take part in the Healthwatch consultation online go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HealthwatchWAM. Hard copies of the questionnaire are also available from Michaela Helman at Michaela.helman@rbwm.gov.uk

To become a member of Healthwatch email wamlinks@hotmail.com or visit the website at http://www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/social_wam_link.htm

How do you rate this information/service?