x
Share:
Healthwatch Liverpool is the independent champion for people who use health and social care services in Liverpool. They aim to ensure that those running services, put people at the heart of care. One of their main purposes is to understand the needs, experiences and concerns of people who use health and social care services and to speak out on their behalf.
Where possible, they let they let people know when changes are planned to services help them to have a say. They also encourage those in charge of local care to involve the community when changes to services are being planned. They particularly focus on sections of our community who struggle to be heard.
LCVS have collaborated with Healthwatch Liverpool on multiple projects over many years, supported by their presence within our Dale Street building. They are a valued member of our “Well Placed” partnership, which brings together Liverpool based organisations with a focus on improving health and wellbeing.
Over the weekend LCVS found out that alongside other bodies within the NHS, Healthwatch as a national programme is to be cut. We believe this to be a very regressive step, particularly as the cuts were justified on the basis of increasing “patient power”. The mechanism the government are now proposing to achieve this is through a phone app – a blunt tool which will marginalise the voices of those who most need to be heard.
Health Minister Wes Streeting says:
“So many of the problems in the NHS come down to a failure to listen to patients. The changes we are making will hold a megaphone up to patients’ lips, and force the service to listen to their feedback.”
By removing Healthwatch we believe they will achieve the exact opposite. LCVS have reached out and offered our support to Healthwatch Liverpool and will add our voices to any campaign attempting to reverse this decision.
Annual Report – Unlocking the power of people-driven care (2024 – 2025)
Healthwatch Liverpool have published their Annual Report. A demonstration of the scale and breadth of their activities is evident with highlights from the year including:
1,891 people shared their experiences of health and social care services with them, helping to raise awareness of issues and improve care.
91,669 people went to them for clear advice and information on topics such as accessing NHS dentistry and emergency dental care and navigating adult social care.
They published 22 reports about experiences of health and care including ‘The Impact of Sexual Trauma on Health Appointments’, Enter and View visits to care settings and Listening Events at various Hospital Trusts and other local NHS services.
To learn more and to read the full report, please click here.
In memory of Claire Stevens
We are deeply saddened by the passing of our former colleague and friend, Claire Stevens. Claire was a passionate, committed advocate for mental health, trauma-informed care, LGBTQI+ rights, and community wellbeing across the Liverpool City Region and beyond.
Claire made a lasting difference to how a range of local services understand and respond to the needs of the community. This included her work with Healthwatch Liverpool, as well as her tireless effort to promote mental wellbeing as part of the Liverpool Mental Health Consortium. More recently, LCVS collaborated with Claire to break down barriers facing survivors of sexual trauma when accessing vital health screening.
Claire’s warmth, integrity and energy touched everyone who worked alongside her — from her colleagues at LCVS and Healthwatch Liverpool, to her wider networks in the voluntary sector and LGBTQI+ communities. She leaves behind a legacy of care, courage and solidarity that will continue to inspire us.
Our thoughts are with Claire’s family and friends at this difficult time.
Back to blog