Health Watch

Wandsworth LINk has been given official HealthWatch Pathfinder status

Presentation smoothing the way to HealthWatch.

 HealthWatch made easy, a presentation given by Jenny Weinstein at the LINk meeting on January 17th 2011

HealthWatch section from the Government’s Health and Social Care Bill

The new system of Local Healthwatch organisations will harness local involvement so that everyone can benefit from health and social care services that are fit for the purposes of the local community.            

They will continue to be funded by local authorities but will be more accountable for operating effectively and providing value for money. They will also have a fundamental new role in designing and developing health and social care services through new Health and Wellbeing Boards.            

Local HealthWatch organisations will be uniquely placed to make sure that any patient complaints and concerns reported to them are used to help make improvements for everyone in the community. Where the information suggests that standards are slipping, independent Local HealthWatch organisations will be able to investigate, visit services and make recommendations for improvements – and if they are not satisfied with the response they can escalate issues to HealthWatch England or to the regulator, the Care Quality Commission.