Healthwatch Birmingham publishes Annual Report 2017/2018

In our most successful year, the report summarises our achievements and impact to shape better health and social care services for patients and the public in Birmingham.

Read the full report at: http://bit.ly/2lGy9Go.

The report highlights an increase in people engaging with our service and shows a growth of over 50% in people sharing experiences about their care. It also details our work to support citizens to get the information they need, with over 300 people accessing our Information and Signposting service to get links to health and care support.
Through a range of case studies, it reveals the extensive work we have done over the past year to share more patient feedback with system regulators, commissioners and providers to create better outcomes and maximise improvement for people using health and care services.

• More patient experience being heard and used to influence better services

Through our investigations and activity, there are now improvements to local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) complaints’ feedback processes, the quality and provision of mental health support, the monitoring of access to primary care and to the patient involvement of residents and their families in nursing and residential homes.  We have also raised the quality of patient and public involvement processes through our Quality Standard by working with over 11 organisations, NHS England West Midlands and the local CCG.

• Improved access to information and signposting for people

We have seen a growth in people contacting our Information and Signposting service to get the links they need to make informed choices about their care. We have supported more people with details such as patient rights, policy information to understand their care, how to access wellbeing support or how to raise concerns and complaints.

• Stronger strategic role in the city and in communities

The importance of our role, our knowledge and expertise are more embedded through the health and social care system, working to raise the quality of care in the city. Our expertise in best practice patient engagement was highlighted in the Care Quality Commission’s recent local system review. We are also building real value in communities. Our community offer is building stronger relationships and value as we work with local groups to engage and listen to more people in their own communities who may not usually speak up about their experiences.
Andy Cave, Chief Executive, Healthwatch Birmingham:
“When people are actively involved in decisions and discussions about the care they receive, we know that services can better understand their needs and deliver high-quality treatment. Our annual report demonstrates this. We have worked extensively across health and social care to promote the effective use of patient experience to improve services. In our most successful year, we have shown the power of listening to people’s experience in health and social care, leading to more changes to improve services and outcomes for patients and the public. We are looking forward to building on this in 2018-19 for the citizens of Birmingham.”
If you require an accessible format version of the report please get in touch by emailing info@healthwatchbirmingham.co.uk