Healthwatch England Annual report 2022-23
Our health and care system faces serious challenges. In every part of the system, access is an issue – one that disproportionately affects those who already face health inequalities. People have shared with Healthwatch that they feel admin and communication can be slow, inefficient, and sometimes lacking empathy. And while they have heard stories of excellent care, people’s experiences vary considerably.
It’s clearer than ever that it’s essential to listen to the voices of those using the NHS to bring about better care for the nation. Only through listening to the public will we shape an NHS and social care system that works for everyone, for the next decade and beyond.
In the Healthwatch England 2022-23 annual report, they share the value those voices have already brought to health and social care services. Read about their work, and the next steps they plan to take, in the report below.
Healthwatch England's work in 2022-23
Over 380,000 people shared their experiences with Healthwatch nationally and locally. In doing so, they helped make a real difference. Healthwatch England carried out work that highlighted quality and safety concerns, tested if new policies are working in practice, and that uncovered hidden problems and emerging trends.
- Healthwatch highlighted key issues, from the impact of the soaring cost of living on people’s healthcare to the “hidden waiting list” created by delays to GP referrals.
- Healthwatch highlighted the increasing issues people have getting mental health support, contributing to the release of the primary care recovery plan.
- NHS England published a plan to improve care for Long Covid after people shared their stories with Healthwatch.
- There were updates to the guidance for GPs on six-week post-natal checks after Healthwatch revisited the issue of maternal mental health.
- The NHS ran a campaign around the NHS App and how it can help patients after Healthwatch highlighted the need to increase confidence in the NHS.
- The NHS announced changes to their contract with dentists, after Healthwatch data showed widening inequalities.
Real stories drive our work
Healthwatch is to make change thanks to people sharing their experiences – people like Katie, 24, who struggled to get a referral from her GP for endometriosis.
She’d experience pain so bad she’d have to miss work. Sometimes her pain was so severe she ended up in A&E. But her GP told her it was nothing to worry about, and sent her home with painkillers. It took “months and months” of appointments before Katie could push her surgery to refer her specifically for endometriosis.
What’s next?
Healthwatrch has called for decision makers to focus on:
- Making the NHS easier to access and navigate
- Tackling health inequalities
- Building a patient-centred NHS culture
Healthwatch stands ready to help. So over the next year we’ll keep reaching out to every part of society. We’ll focus on improving the issues that matter most to the public. And we’ll work with partners to help develop an NHS where, at every level, staff strive to listen to and learn from patients to make care safer and better.
The work of Healthwatch Brighton and Hove is recognised
Healthwatch England's report highlights our work and impact:
Our work on GPs
" Another factor people mentioned that made it harder to get a GP referral was reduced opening hours. Negative impacts of reduced hours can affect some groups more than others. Changes to opening hours at the New Larchwood GP surgery in Coldean led to problems for patients relying on public transport and others with accessibility issues.
"But thanks to work by Healthwatch Brighton and Hove, the surgery reversed its decision to reduce hours and even increased services by re-introducing dedicated nurse sessions. Healthwatch Brighton and Hove worked with the Coldean Residents’ Association to contact every resident and ensure they had the chance to share their opinions. Healthwatch shared these with the GP practice partner and local NHS leaders to reverse the change."
Healthwatch Brighton and Hove also carried out work on maternal mental health on behalf of Healthwatch England, which is discussed in their Annual Report. Our findings, obtained by speaking to five Mum's and a partner, have helped to deliver change:
"For many years, mental health has been the service area where we hear the most negative public feedback. We urged NHS England and the government to deliver on the commitments to mental health services outlined in the Long-Term Plan. Our work led to changes that would support maternal mental health."
The work of Healthwatch in Sussex is recognised
Healthwatch England's report highlights our joint work with Healthwatch East Sussex and Healthwatch West Sussex:
Our work on dentistry
" NHS Sussex committed to applying local Healthwatch insight after Healthwatch across Sussex surveyed local people about their experiences of accessing NHS dentistry.
"Of 220 respondents, they found
• 62% weren’t confident they’d be able to access NHS dental services over the next 12 months, either for themselves or others.
• 22% of people had paid for treatment privately because they hadn’t been able to find or access a dentist to provide NHS treatment.
• 36% of respondents were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with information on services being accurate and up to date.
"NHS Sussex said: “We will ensure this feedback is central to our work as we work with dental providers this year to set out immediate and longer-term areas of improvement.”