Agenda item - Healthwatch: Annual Report

Verbal presentation from Healthwatch.  The Board has received a copy of the annual report with the agenda papers which is also available as an electronic version http://bit.ly/1nWzpNc 

Introduction

28.1    The Board received a verbal presentation from Fran McCabe in relation to the Healthwatch Annual Report.  The report was available online at http://bit.ly/1nWzpNc

28.2    Ms McCabe informed the Board that Healthwatch was a statutory organisation set up under the Health and Social Care Act 2012.  Healthwatch was established in 2013 and the first Healthwatch report covered the year 2013/14.  Key areas of work included the setting up of a helpline with a focus on primary care services.  The helpline answered 300 calls in the year. 

28.3    Healthwatch had a good data base of complaints in the city.  This was reviewed on a quarterly basis.   A major piece of work was being carried out on Urgent Care in collaboration with the CCG who worked with traditionally hard to reach groups.

28.4    Healthwatch produced a monthly magazine.  http://bit.ly/1zrtYyz.                                  The magazine dealt with issues such as cancer awareness.

28.5    Healthwatch has only one member of staff who is full time, 2 who work 30hours, 1 who works 28 hours, and 2 managers who do a job share.  The remainder included members of the governing body and volunteers.  34 volunteers had been recruited in addition to the governors.  A major issue had been making the public aware of Healthwatch. 

Questions and Discussion

28.6    Councillor Jarrett commented that there was no other organisation carrying out the work of Healthwatch and there was no question that their work was required.  He stressed that the Board members needed to ensure that Healthwatch was taken notice of and supported. If there was a problem with resources then the Board needed to see if help could be provided.  

28.7    Councillor Norman noted that the total grant received by Healthwatch had been £199,000 and the total expenditure for the year had been £175,080.79.   He asked if the outstanding sum of £23,919.21 could be carried over to the new financial year. 

28.8    Ms McCabe confirmed that some money could be carried over to next years’ budget.  There would be a less favourable grant for next year which created a problem with staffing. 

28.9    Resolved –

(1) That the Healthwatch Annual Report be noted.