Healthwatch Sheffield has released its annual report for 2019-20, looking back on the work it did before the Covid-19 crisis struck and reflecting on the early impact of the pandemic for local people.
The organisation is a local consumer watchdog for health and social care services, which aims to help adults, children and young people influence and improve how services are designed and run. it is completely independent and not part of the NHS or Sheffield City Council.
It has worked on a huge range of topics this year, from access to primary care, Continuing Healthcare (CHC) assessments, and services for people with dementia. It has also played a role in sharing information about Covid-19 service changes with the public, and will continue to be involved in this work through the year to come.
Highlights from the past year include:
Support from 30 volunteers – who between them gave over 1000 hours of their time to help Healthwatch Sheffield hear from local people.
2915 people shared their health and social care story.
Their Speak Up grants supported 11 community groups and charities to do engagement work in their communities
Their ‘Stories of Health’ photography exhibition helped to celebrate people who use their own health journeys to make care better for others.
Judy Robinson, Healthwatch Sheffield’s chair, said: “COVID 19 shone a spotlight on health inequality: Healthwatch will continue to work on this and the way poor jobs and housing and community insecurity together exacerbate inequality and we’ll continue to be the independent champion and voice for all Sheffield citizens.”
The full 30-page report is entitled Guided By You.
