Healthwatch Birmingham receives national award for improving care

We are delighted to have been commended in the annual National Healthwatch Impact Awards, recognising outstanding work that uses local people’s views to improve health and care support. 

In the running against 16 other shortlisted projects, we were commended for improving maternity services for Black African and Black Caribbean women in West Birmingham as well as our work to tackle health inequalities in the Somali community.

Speaking about the award, Andy Cave, Chief Executive of Healthwatch Birmingham, said, ‘Reducing health inequalities is core to the mission of Healthwatch Birmingham, so we are delighted to be recognised at a national level for our impact in improving health and social care services for diverse communities in Birmingham.

‘Most importantly, this celebrates the bravery of those who have come forward to share often difficult experiences with us, and the power of those experiences to create positive changes for everyone in the city.

‘This recognition proves that Healthwatch Birmingham has a real impact, and I would like to thank all our staff, volunteers and board, as well as the tens of thousands of people who have told us about the changes they want to see over the past 10 years, and all the staff in health and social care who have listened and helped us make those changes happen.’

Louise Ansari, Chief Executive of Healthwatch England said, ‘The team should feel really proud. Our awards recognise outstanding work that makes a real difference to local people, and the competition this year from across England was very high.

Being recognised is also a testament to all the local people who were prepared to speak up and the health professionals who listened. It just shows what can be achieved when we work together to improve care.’