Healthy vision is something many of us take for granted – until there's a problem. An estimated 50% of sight loss is avoidable. That's why people must be able to have their eyesight tested regularly and, if there is a problem, get the help they need.

Healthwatch Walsall conducted a project to understand people’s experiences of optometry and ophthalmology in Walsall. We asked people about their experience of eye care services in the last two years, including individuals who have in the past or are currently waiting for any specialist eye care treatment.

The survey reveals how waiting for specialist eye care has impacted many aspects of daily life. While some people’s ability to work remained unaffected, nearly two-thirds reported at least some negative impact. Independence was also a challenge, with 38% struggling to live on their own and two-thirds finding household tasks more difficult.

Read the full report here: https://www.healthwatchwalsall.co.uk/sites/healthwatchwalsall.co.uk/files/Healthwatch%20Walsall%20Specialist%20Eye%20Care%20Report%20March%202025%20Final.pdf

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Healthwatch Sandwell carried out a project that looks at the experiences of people accessing and using digital applications (apps) for GP services, and the barriers to using them.
To see what we found out and read our report, head over to our website now...

https://lnkd.in/gXBHYNAg

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Help gather people's final views for NHS 10-Year Plan

New survey seeks views on emerging ideas

A new survey has been published on Change.NHS.uk, focusing on ideas that emerged from the engagement process to help finalise the 10-Year Health Plan.

Please help by completing the survey.

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The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has welcomed the report by the National Audit Office (NAO), highlighting the precarious nature of local government finances due to increased demand for frontline services.

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Your voice plays a vital role in making service better. 

Recent research shows nearly 90% of people want to see care improve, but 40% are not sure how to give feedback. 

How do I share my feedback?

It's quicker and easier than you might think to complete our online survey. 

You can talk about any experience of care, in as much or as little detail as you want. It can take as little as three minutes to complete our survey - that's as little time as it takes to boil the kettle!

Every story matter, and every story, good or bad, helps us to understand what works and what could be better when it comes to your care. 

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Fewer than 1 in 10 patients who experience poor NHS care make a formal complaint - because they have 'no confidence' in the grievances procedure, a study by Healthwatch England reveals.

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Amritpal Randhawa has been appointed as the new Chair of Healthwatch Sandwell, the independent patient champion for people who use health and social care.

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REDUCING NHS WAITING TIMES - NEW PLANS

The Government has published its NHS Elective Reform Plan to reduce waiting times for planned hospital care. Their plan sets out how, by 2029, it wants to have 92% of patients receiving a diagnostic test, outpatient appointment or operation within 18 weeks of a GP referral - a target the NHS has not met for the past 10 years. 

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The Healthwatch England 2023 – 24 annual report outlines how the public’s stories have changed care for the better, and the work they are doing to make sure that the health and social care system puts patients at its very heart. Here’s what Healthwatch England had to say about their report.

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Healthwatch England and a coalition of trade unions, professional bodies, charities and patient groups, call for an end to treating patients in corridors and other inappropriate spaces.

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On 3 January, the government announced plans to set up an independent commission on adult social care, chaired by Baroness Louise Casey. It will be tasked with developing cross-party consensus on the long-term reforms needed in the sector. It is due to report interim findings in 2026 and final conclusions two years later.

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Advocate needed for a busy statutory advocacy HUB based in Widnes.

Are you looking for a job where your qualities and expertise will make a real difference to people’s lives?

Hoping for a varied, interesting workload as part of a friendly, supportive team? 
If so, then read on!

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Hospices across England will receive £100m in capital funding for this year and next, the government announced this week.

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Seasons greetings from all at ECS- with our warmest wishes for the festive season and a special message from our Managing Director, Liz Learoyd.

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From next month, the NHS will begin to roll out a new “ping and book” cancer screening service, alerting the phones of women to remind them they are due or overdue an appointment, with new functionality being developed to enable millions to book screening through the NHS App next year.

Last year alone, NHS breast screening services detected cancers in 18,942 women across England, which otherwise may not have been diagnosed and treated until a later stage.

However despite rising uptake overall last year, the latest annual data (2022/23) shows more than a third of women (35.4%) did not take up the offer of breast screening following an invitation, with 2.18 million eligible women not having had a mammogram in the last three years.

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The National Pharmacy Association is urging the government to urgently increase funding to contractors or it will recommend that members take 'collective action' in early 2025..

The NPA said this week that 99% of members who took part in its ballot were prepared to limit services in protest at funding shortfalls. This could mean not opening in the evenings or weekends, withdrawing free home deliveries of medicines, withdrawing from locally commissioned services like emergency contraception, or not supplying free monitored dose systems.

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Since June 2021, ECS have been hosting second year medical students from Keele University for their community placements. Students training to be doctors each have to spend time with a local community organisation who work with a range of people accessing and using health and social care services.

As a provider of seven local Healthwatch we have been able to provide placements for nine students since 2021 and have just welcomed a further six to their placement for this academic year.

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Residents across Cheshire and Merseyside are being urged to make their voices heard and help shape the future of local GP and health services by taking part in a new survey launched by Healthwatch Warrington.

Get Involved Now

Take the Survey

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We are delighted to announce that we have been re-accredited the Cyber Essentials certificate.

Engaging Communities Solutions (ECS) are happy to announce that we have completed our re-accreditation for the Cyber Essentials certification and have been awarded the accreditation for another 12 months.

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SANDWELL Metropolitan Borough Council has awarded the new Healthwatch Sandwell contract to existing provider Engaging Communities Solutions Community Interest Company.

This means ECS (Engaging Communities Solutions) will continue to deliver the contract they have held since 2018 and maintain the high level of support offered to local residents throughout the borough.

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