The Committee will received an update from Healthwatch Reading.
Minutes:
Alice Kunjappy-Clifton, Lead Officer, Healthwatch Reading provided an update and presentation on Healthwatch Reading. Alice explained that Healthwatch in Reading had been in place for 10 years and in June 2022, The Advocacy People, became the new providers for Healthwatch Reading. It was noted that Healthwatch was a statutory service under the Health and Social Care Act 2012 and the purpose of Healthwatch was to encourage people to have their say on how health and social care services were provided.
Healthwatch Reading’s Workplan 2022/23 had been published on their website and members were invited to provide feedback or ask questions on the plan.
It was noted that Healthwatch had a large remit of health and social care needs for people from cradle to grave. They provided information to Healthwatch England to inform the wider national picture and had statutory powers to write to service providers with any concerns and to receive a response in 20 days. Healthwatch was also permitted to enter and view any publicly funded health and social care providers.
Recent priorities included:
· Recruitment of volunteers;
· Undertaking a national survey on maternal mental health. Recent findings showed that at GP post-natal checks mental health was not currently a priority.
· Supporting asylum seekers living in Home Office Contract Accommodation and feeding back any concerns to the Council;
· Supporting Building Berkshire Together on the public consultation on the future of the Royal Berkshire Hospital;
· Reviewing reports by the previous Healthwatch Reading provider and follow-up on issues.
The local areas of priority for the next 12 to 15 months included:
It was noted that feedback received from the public would inform the future Healthwatch workplan.
In response to questions the following points were noted:
The Chair thanked Alice for the presentation.