Commissioning of Healthwatch Northamptonshire consultation 2023
Feedback updated 29 Apr 2024
We asked
Between May and June 2023, we launched a consultation to understand how people feel about the local Healthwatch services in Northamptonshire. The information from this activity helped us to understand people's views and experiences and allow us to ensure we can develop the best model for Healthwatch in Northamptonshire for the future by shaping future design and focus of health and social care services.
You said
There were 120 responses to the online consultation.71 of the responses were from individuals and 1 on behalf of an organisation or community group.
The results from the consultation showed throughout that a small number of people have heard of, or know what Healthwatch do.
61 per cent of people had not heard of Healthwatch Northamptonshire,17 per cent of people responded to have contacted Healthwatch previously and of those 67 per cent responded to say that the service was Good or Very Good.
80 per cent of people believe that Healthwatch Northamptonshire could improve awareness of its services to local people. Of which 96 per cent gave comments and ideas about Healthwatch being not widely known, and that the service needs to be promoted and established across the wider Northamptonshire area.
The demographics of the consultation were captured across the districts, this was not an even representation across each authority: 25 per cent from West Northamptonshire areas, 72 per cent from North Northamptonshire areas, and 3 per cent selected not applicable.
We did
All responses were considered and have helped to shape the future direction of the Healthwatch services aligning the work of Healthwatch in partnership with the respective local area to best serve the public in each Northamptonshire location.
As a Healthwatch Organisation acts as an independent consumer champion for people who use health and social care services, they ensure local voices are heard and that people’s views and experiences are used to improve existing services and to help shape future services. The decision has since been made for a local Healthwatch service in each local authority area, for West Northamptonshire and North Northamptonshire.
As the consultation did not give an even representation across the demographics, a recommendation to do another online consultation in Spring 2024 for each local authority area to understand our local population, local health and care services and for improved community engagement in the use of a local Healthwatch service.
Overview
North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire Councils would like to understand how you feel about local Healthwatch services in Northamptonshire.
Background
Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion for people who use health and social care services. Its job is to ensure that local voices are heard and that people’s views and experiences are used to improve existing services and to help shape future services.
Where issues are identified they will ensure that NHS leaders and other decision makers listen and use feedback to improve care.
Local authorities are required by the Health and Social Care Act 2012 to make arrangements to establish and maintain a local Healthwatch organisation in its area. Healthwatch Northamptonshire has been established since 2013 and its current contract ends 31 October 2023.
West Northamptonshire and North Northamptonshire Councils are re-commissioning Northamptonshire's Healthwatch services, with the new service being live from 1 November 2023. We would like to hear your views to help us explore and shape how Healthwatch in Northamptonshire will look in the future.
After the consultation has ended, we will consider the views of local people and organisations along with any other relevant information and will use these to develop the best model for Healthwatch in Northamptonshire going forward.
We will be looking for regular feedback over the next two years in which there will be chance to be part of further consultations to continually review and develop Northamptonshire’s Healthwatch services.
How to provide your views
We welcome your views and comments and ask that you complete a short survey, this should take approximately 10 to 15 minutes. It is very important to gain this feedback as it helps to shape future design and focus of health and social care services.
Please give us your views by completing the online survey using the link below.
Your feedback will be part of a report with many other people’s feedback, so you will not be personally identified.
You do not have to answer all of the questions. If you don’t want to answer a question, or don’t know the answer, then move on to the next question.
If you have any queries, comments or would like a copy of this survey in another format (including paper, easy read or large print) you can contact us by email, post or telephone.
Our contact details are as follows:
Email address: contractsteam.ncc@westnorthants.gov.uk, for the attention of Hayley McKagan
Telephone: 01604 367611
Postal address:
- Healthwatch Consultation 2023
- West Northamptonshire Council
- The Guildhall
- St Giles' Square
- Northampton
- NN1 1DE
This consultation closes at midnight on 18 June 2023.
For information about how consultation and engagement responses are managed, please see the consultation and engagement privacy notice.
Interests
- Engagement activities
- Public Health
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