Agenda item

Purpose: Healthwatch West Berkshire to report on views gathered on healthcare services in the district and their key activities.

Fiona Worby (Lead Officer, Healthwatch West Berkshire) presented the report on Healthwatch West Berkshire’s current activities. She explained Healthwatch’s statutory role in relation to health and social care and how it gathered and represented the public voice through outreach, visits and events. She also reported that the team was preparing its statutory annual report (due by 30 June) and outlined key ongoing and planned projects (patient transport experiences; experiences of young people after turning 18; and women’s health), along with emerging themes from resident contacts (including access, communication, and public understanding of adult social care). She additionally updated the committee on the national proposal to abolish Healthwatch and the lack of formal communication received from Government on that issue.

The following points were discussed:

·         It was advised that Healthwatch was facing a proposed abolition progressing through Parliament (reported as being in the House of Lords, with a second reading occurring that week), and it was noted that Healthwatch had received no direct update from Government and was learning developments at the same time as the public; Fiona Worby advised that, if the abolition proceeded, implementation would likely take time and she anticipated Healthwatch could remain in place until around mid?2027 due to the legislative process and Parliamentary timings.

·         It was raised that the committee and wider scrutiny structures had significant concerns about the proposal to abolish Healthwatch, particularly regarding the loss of an independent voice for service users; the Chair stated that concerns had been raised at the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee and that senior health leaders had been present to hear those concerns.

·         A point was made challenging the Government’s stated rationale for abolition (that fewer organisations would create a clearer path for feedback), and it was argued that removing Healthwatch would reduce, rather than improve, routes for people to share views.

·         Fiona Worby reported that she had supported a mapping exercise requested by MP Lee Dillon’s team because they were receiving high volumes of constituent contacts and were uncertain where to signpost people; Healthwatch identified more than 157 pathways for feedback in health and social care in West Berkshire (including some national routes) and fed this back to the ICB, suggesting that streamlining may be needed.

·         It was noted that Healthwatch’s statutory powers to hold services to account were important, though Fiona Worby indicated she did not consider formal escalation was often necessary because issues could frequently be progressed through constructive discussion; she reiterated that the key concern was the removal of an independent public voice if Healthwatch were abolished.

·         Fiona Worby outlined a live project on patient transport following receipt of multiple resident contacts; it was discussed that dissemination was challenging, so Healthwatch had used its website and social media, asked partners (including carers’ networks) to share the survey, and planned press coverage in the Newbury Weekly News to reach residents who are not online.

·         In relation to patient transport, it was discussed that feedback included both positive and negative experiences; concerns reported by residents included missed collections and/or non-attendance for booked transport, patients being taken to appointments but not collected for the return journey, and people having to pay for taxis home; Fiona Worby also reported concerns about kindness and consideration in some interactions; she stated the survey would remain open for a further couple of weeks and Healthwatch would then determine next steps.

·         It was discussed that Healthwatch was developing a project on the experience of young people after turning 18 (including those transitioning out of Children and Young Peoples Mental Health Services (CAMHS)) where families reported young people struggling with adulthood, including social withdrawal, not going out, not working, and remaining isolated at home. Fiona Worby stated the project would consider experiences of both young people and those supporting them (including parent carers and professionals) and that it would launch shortly, having been developed carefully over time.

·         It was discussed that women’s health remained a priority concern for Healthwatch and that West Berkshire had no women’s health hub (in contrast to Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire). Fiona Worby reported that earlier NHS funding and intended developments had not progressed as expected, that a draft strategy required further work, and that the women’s health strategy was understood to be on hold. She confirmed she would request an update from the Thames Valley ICB. The Chair confirmed that the committee would scrutinise women’s health at its September meeting, and it was noted that patient transport was already included on the forward work programme for a future meeting.

·         Fiona Worby reported emerging themes from resident contacts, and it was discussed that recurring issues include access to services (especially where multiple organisations are involved), the need for clearer communication and information about pathways and available support, and recurring questions about adult social care—particularly public understanding of eligibility, assessment processes, and funding arrangements.

·         It was discussed that engaging with diverse communities remained challenging, with some groups reluctant to come forward; Fiona Worby stated Healthwatch would continue proactive outreach and engagement while it remains in place.

·         It was noted that the council’s adult social care strategy consultation was ongoing and that issues raised by Healthwatch—particularly around understanding adult social care and how decisions were made—were relevant; it was discussed that residents approaching Healthwatch should be encouraged to also feed views into the formal consultation process so that feedback is captured in a structured way.