Celebrating the difference your views make to local health and care
We’re delighted to announce that the Healthwatch Birmingham team has been shortlisted for a national award for our work helping to improve care for local people.
The National Healthwatch Impact Award recognises outstanding examples of where the views of local people have been used to make positive changes to local NHS and social care services.
We have been shortlisted for our work to improve maternity care for Black African and Black Caribbean women in West Birmingham, and also our project with Ashiana Community Project to tackle health inequalities in Birmingham’s Somali community.
In a joint statement about making the shortlist, Healthwatch Birmingham Chair Richard Burden and Chief Executive Andy Cave said, “Healthwatch Birmingham’s mission is to tackle the longstanding health inequalities in the city, so we are delighted that the difference our work has made has been recognised on the shortlist for the Healthwatch National Impact Awards. Most importantly, the improvements to maternity care for Black African and Black Caribbean women and access to health and social care services for Birmingham’s diverse communities demonstrates the real impact people’s feedback has on services.
Listening to the views and experiences of local people is the reason Healthwatch Birmingham exists, and nothing we achieve would be possible without the individuals who are brave and open enough to share their stories with us. We would also like to thank the health and social care services who have made the important improvements people have told us they want. Finally, this recognition is testament to the dedication of all our staff and volunteers, and their hard work towards ensuring everyone in Birmingham can access the health and social care they need.”
Eighteen projects from across England are in the running for the National Healthwatch Impact Award. The annual award highlights outstanding examples of where the views and experiences of local people has been used by their local Healthwatch to make care better. The finalist will be announced in March 2024.
Commenting on the news, Louise Ansari, Chief Executive of Healthwatch England, said: “Over a million people a year either seek advice from Healthwatch or share their care experience. And, every year, there are thousands of examples of where this feedback has been used by services to make positive changes to health and care.
Getting shortlisted for our national impact award is no mean feat. It means that your work has made a real difference for local communities, often amid ongoing challenges facing health and care services.”