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What is Healthwatch?

Healthwatch is the independent consumer champion created to gather and represent the views of the public.

Healthwatch play a role at both national and local level and make sure that the views of the public and people who use services are taken into account.

Healthwatch Leicester is here to help you get the best out of your local health and social care services.

We want you to tell us about your experiences of Health and Social Care services within Leicester City and together we can create a better health and social care system that meets the needs of residents and communities.

We will ensure service providers know about your experiences of Health and Social Care and hold them to account.

We are independent, open, accountable and powerful with the strength of the law and Healthwatch England behind us.

We are one of 152 Healthwatches and together form the Healthwatch England network, working closely to ensure consumers’ views are represented both locally and nationally.

This is the first time a national champion has been set up with independent statutory powers to act on behalf of both adults and children.

What we did

We are out in the Community talking and listening to people from every part of Leicester City, in particular those who are vulnerable or often unheard

Provide the Healthwatch Leicester Helpline, a Signposting and Information service that provides information about health and social care services available to you

We tell Service Providers about your experience of health and care and hold them to account

Represent the views of the people who use services, carers and the Public on the Health and Wellbeing Boards set up by the local authorities

Provides information about the Independent Complaints Advocacy Service to support people who want to make a complaint about NHS funded services.

Report concerns about the quality of healthcare to Healthwatch England, which can then recommend that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) take action

How we work

Every voice counts when it comes to shaping the future of health and social care, and when it comes to improving it for today. Everything that local Healthwatch does will bring the voice and influence of local people to the development and delivery of local services.

People need to feel that their local Healthwatch belongs to and reflects them and their local community. It needs to feel approachable, practical and dynamic and to act on behalf of local people.

• We’re helping you to shape and improve the services you use.
• We’re engaging with people in your community and if you haven’t met us yet, please get in touch!
• We’re an open organisation and want to make it easy for you to talk to us
• We’re inclusive and we want people from every part of your community to join us
• Ask us what we’re doing and we’ll always tell you what’s happening.
• You can hold us to account
• We’re here to help services to improve.
• We’ll notice the bad things they do, and the good
• We use your evidence to build a true picture of your local services

FAQs

What is Healthwatch Leicester?

Healthwatch is the consumer champion for Health and Social Care. A local Healthwatch is an independent organisation, able to employ its own staff and involve volunteers, so it can become the influential and effective voice of the public. It keeps accounts and makes its annual reports available to the public. It replaced LINKs (Local Involvement NetworK), has taken over their responsibilities  and has implemented additional services around advice and guidance.

The aim of local Healthwatch is to give citizens and communities a stronger voice to influence and challenge how health and social care services are provided within their community.

What is Healthwatch for?

Healthwatch Leicester enables people to share their views and  concerns about their local health and social care services and understand that their contribution will help build a picture of where services are doing well and where they can be improved.

Healthwatch provides people with information about NHS services and their choices. Healthwatch can  advise on what to do when things go wrong; this includes either signposting people to the relevant provider’s complaint process, or to an independent advocacy service to support individuals who want to complain about NHS funded services. The aim of Healthwatch is to reduce inequalities in health and social care services with equal access, treatment and outcomes for all communities.                     

Who funds Healthwatch Leicester?

The funding for Healthwatch comes from the Department of Health, which is passed on to Local authorities to commission local Healthwatch.

How can it be an independent watchdog if the funding comes from the government?

Healthwatch Leicester is the consumer voice for health and social care and independent of National and Local government, commissioners and providers of health and social care.

Who can be a member of Healthwatch Leicester?

Anyone who has an interest in health and social care and lives in Leicester City, and who wants to make sure the needs of their community are recognised, can join and become involved.

What’s in it for me if I become a member?

Becoming a member of Healthwatch Leicester means having a stronger voice to influence and challenge how health and social care services are provided locally.

Our members are kept up to date with the latest health and social care news, events and consultations as well as representing local people at health and social care meetings.

Depending on the level of membership you choose, Healthwatch Leicester members are able to:

• receive information about health and social care services, events and activities
• give views and opinions on health and social care services
• raise awareness of Healthwatch Leicester in the local area
• represent the public voice on boards and at meetings
• enter and view health and social care services

Why do we need Healthwatch Leicester when there is already a Leicester Mercury Patients Panel?

The Leicester Mercury Patients Panel is a group of individuals who have a keen interest in improving local health services across Leicester/Leicestershire. Panel members are able to state points of view and opinions that may be personal views, or may not be representative of local people.

Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion with statutory powers and represents the public voice. It is completely separate from those providing the service, which means we can be completely honest about your opinions.

Why would hospitals or care providers take any notice of Healthwatch Leicester?

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 says local Healthwatch has a legal responsibility to report the views of the local community and that government has a responsibility to listen. This is crucial as it means Healthwatch has the power in law to influence local decision-making around health and social care.  Healthwatch Leicester signposts people to local health and social care services. They also collect and analyse the experiences that people have of local care to help shape local services. Healthwatch Leicester feeds views and any recommendations to Healthwatch England to act on at a national level. Together we form the Healthwatch network of 152 Healthwatches.

Healthwatch Leicester will strengthen the collective voice of local people across both health and social care, influencing Joint Strategic Needs Assessments and joint health and wellbeing strategies, on which local commissioning decisions will be based, through its seat on the Leicester Health and Wellbeing Board and observer at the City Clinical Commissioning Group.  It will monitor and challenge the commissioning and delivery of health and social care services as the independent consumer champion for the people of Leicester City.

How will you measure your success over time?

Local Healthwatch is accountable to the people it serves, it’s commissioners and to stakeholders. We will publish a report of our work and activities on an annual basis for the Commissioners and hold events where members and the public can provide feedback.

What can Healthwatch Leicester do if a health or care provider ignores you?

As an organsiation with statutory powers, Healthwatch Leicester can challenge both health and social care providers who are subject to the statutory 20-day response and therefore cannot ignore any challenge or scrutiny by Healthwatch. We will report concerns about the quality of health care to Healthwatch England, our national body who can then recommend that the Care Quality Commission to take action.