A representative of Healthwatch Havering will present to the Sub-Committee on the organisation’s ‘Tell us what you think’ campaign.
Minutes:
A director of Healthwatch Havering explained that the organisation had recently commenced a new campaign to encourage people to give their opinion of local health and social care services. This comprised the distribution of postage paid cards for patients and service users to complete and return to Healthwatch. The scheme would be fully launched in early 2016 but it was planned to use feedback received (both good and bad) to inform the organisation’s work programme and schedule of visits planned under its powers to enter and view premises.
It was noted that Healthwatch Redbridge had recently conducted such a visit to Queen’s Hospital with local people who were deaf. The report, which was available on the Healthwatch Redbridge website, had made a number of recommendations to improve accessibility of the hospital for people who were deaf or hard of hearing.
Members of the Sub-Committee were given packs of the cards to give to constituents and it was suggested that similar packs be sent by Healthwatch to all other Havering Councillors.
It was hoped to also make the comment cards available in hospitals, GP surgeries etc although it was emphasised that these did not circumvent the formal complaints systems in the NHS or social care. Respondents would be directed or signposted (where contact details were given) to the appropriate agency should they wish to make a formal complaint about their treatment etc.
Several Healthwatch listening events had been planned for 2016. It was clarified that, although it was situated in Redbridge, Healthwatch Havering could undertake an enter and view visit to King George Hospital, as Havering patients were treated there. Healthwatch Havering had not however received any complaints about King George Hospital as yet.
The Sub-Committee also considered a recent letter from the Chairman of Healthwatch Havering concerning delays to surgical and outpatient appointments at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals’ NHS Trust (BHRUT). It was emphasised that the letter did not imply any criticism of the current BHRUT chief executive or management team but there was concern about the level of backlog that had been reported.
It was therefore proposed by Healthwatch Havering that a joint topic group-style review of the delayed procedures and appointments be undertaken. This would build upon the review of appointments cancellation at BHRUT that had recently been undertaken by a topic group of the Sub-Committee. Results of recent enter and view visits conducted by Healthwatch Havering could also be fed into the review.
Officers added that it was the responsibility of Havering CCG to monitor the performance of BHRUT on referral to treatment times and the CCG should also therefore be involved in the review. This would allow Members to understand the reason for increased waiting times.
It was AGREED that the Clerk to the Committee and the director of Healthwatch should draft a terms of reference and outline meeting schedule for the review. Officers would also seek to meet with the scrutiny lead officer at BHRUT in order to seek to explain the purpose of the review.