Our system leadership group welcomed the Healthwatch NHS Long Term Plan engagement report findings on the 2 July 2019. You can read our Partnership response to this important report alongside other supporting work on our website. Healthwatch colleagues reached over 1,800 people with the local survey on digitalisation and personalisation, as well as many others for the long term health conditions national survey.
As well as the surveys, local Healthwatch colleagues coordinated over 15 focus group sessions across the area with seldom heard people from different equality groups such as those with mental health conditions; dementia and carers, LGBTQ, disability, faith groups and young people.
Healthwatch colleagues have developed a number of 'I' statements to help ensure we keep people firmly at the centre of all our work over the coming years.
Effective public involvement, particularly with those who are seldom heard, will ensure that we are truly making the right decisions about our health and care services. This approach is central to our communications and engagement strategy.
It’s important to note we are not starting from scratch. West Yorkshire and Harrogate engagement and consultation mapping documents and timelines have been updated and there is a wealth of other expertise via our West Yorkshire and Harrogate priority programmes and local place engagement networks, for example public assurance groups, patient reference groups, and community champions - an asset based approach. We need to make sure we maximise all existing engagement mechanisms without duplication of effort and cost, whilst making the very most of this important Healthwatch engagement report.
All of the above will stand us in good stead as we implement the ambitions of our Five Year Plan. A communication and engagement plan will be produced to support the implementation phase.