Healthwatch and the NHS Complaints Advocacy Service

This consultation was about involving the public in the design, commissioning and delivery of health and care services. It aimed to capture the views of residents and stakeholders in order to shape a new outline for a Healthwatch and NHS Complaints Advocacy Service.

The current contract for the provision of a local Healthwatch and Complaints Advocacy Service is due to expire on the 31st March 2020. Before a new contract is awarded, we asked for your views on the current service and the ways in which it might be improved.

In total there were 18 responses to the survey which included the following suggested improvements to the existing service:

• Wider advertising for the services that Healthwatch provides.
• Strengthening of verbal communication by Healthwatch.
• Better engagement with the public so that their views are reflected in the development of health-related services.
• Increased funding for Healthwatch.
• More outreach support.
• Improved availability of support from Healthwatch.

Feedback to all questions within the survey has now been shared with the Associate Director of Joint Commissioning and the suggestions for improvement have influenced the 'service specification', a key document that will inform the re-procurement of the contract.