News

During the year we continued to speak out to health and care providers to ensure that the views and needs of Rutland people are at the heart of decision-making on health and social care matters.

Our Annual Report highlights how we have engaged with the Rutland public, how we have represented your voice to influence change and how we’ve made a difference:

• 1690 people shared their experiences of health and social care services with us, helping to raise awareness of issues and improve care.
• 1127 people came to us for clear advice and information about topics such as mental health and the cost-of-living crisis.

Highlights of 2023-2024 included:

• Calling attention to the public confusion around how to access Urgent Care services in Rutland and what the various services offer
• Working in partnership with health and social care providers to bring care closer to home with the restarting of Memory Clinics in Oakham and an in-person support and advice service
• Bringing to light the lack of progress in improving availability of NHS dental care for people in Rutland and campaigning for commissioners to take urgent action
• Involving you in change by using your feedback to inform the development of the local 5 year NHS plan 
• Helping you to find answers and encouraging providers to be clear with their electronic communication to patients
• Collaborating with the patient group at Oakham Medical Practice to understand and highlight patient experiences following the implementation by the Practice, of improvement plans in response to CQC findings

We always need more people to tell us about their experiences of health and care services – by talking to us or responding to our surveys. Through this we can confidently say we are reaching all corners of our community. Healthwatch Rutland is your service, providing you with the opportunity to have your say. Please use and support us so that the Rutland voice is recognised across the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland health and care system.

Dr Janet Underwood, Healthwatch Rutland Chair

We are happy to announce that we have published our 2023-2024 Young Healthwatch Annual Report.

Young Healthwatch are a group of 11-24 year old volunteers who are keen to make a difference in health and social care for young people. Read about our year!

We have worked on some fantastic projects this year and have really made sure that young people are heard in health and social care locally. Young Healthwatch Northamptonshire know that they are not the voice of all young people locally, but they are working hard to make sure that young people locally do have a voice.

Esther Stimpson, Young Healthwatch Manager

We are happy to announce that we have published our 2023-2024 Annual Report.

Our Annual Report is a showcase of the work we completed throughout the last financial year. Read about our year!

Highlights of 2023-2024:

We published 5 reports (all can be accessed here)

• We were asked by Change Grow Live to engage with service users and gather a better understanding of their experiences
• Young Healthwatch visited the Children’s services at NGH to give their views and impressions of the service
• We visited the maternity departments of NGH and KGH to give our views and provide recommendations to the service
• We partnered with West Northamptonshire Council to understand the experiences of individuals with respiratory conditions

How we’ve made a difference throughout the year:

• We spoke with Change Grow Live service users and uncovered the barriers experienced and the benefits of treatment
• We attended engagement events such as the Northampton Carnival where we heard the public’s views on local health and social care services
• We worked with those experiencing respiratory difficulties in an area of deprivation in Northampton to better understand their experiences and the support they need to live their best life