I’m delighted to announce that from May 2013, I will be working with Healthwatch Leeds as the Vice-Chairperson, under Linn Phipps, who is the appointed Chairperson.
I’m passionate about involving people, and so I was delighted to see that other Healthwatch organisations around the country have already started asking what involvement will mean for local Healthwatch organisations. The people of Dudley had an event this week where they asked that question, and they produced a fantastic graphic that sums up what involvement means:
Produced by @JennyD_ER at #hwDudley event
Thinking about what inclusion will mean for Healthwatch Leeds will be something I’m thinking about a lot over the next few weeks.
We will be appointing the rest of the Board of Healthwatch over the next few months, from the pool of people who come forward and offer their services as volunteers with the organisation. We aim to make volunteering with us a great learning experience, an opportunity to have real input into decisions in Leeds and it will be great fun, too!
If you feel this is something you’d like to do, please do get in touch with Healthwatch Leeds by emailing them at office@healthwatchleeds.co.uk, phone 0113 898 0035, or Tweet @HWLeeds for an initial chat.
I am an Occupational Therapist, who writes about health, particularly mental health. I am interested in social media and Web 2.0, and where these technological advances can support wellness and health.
Claireot's Blog 
The name Healthwatch Leeds is misleading because it sounds as though it is all about health matters – in truth it is also about social care which is a very different kettle of fish – how can the social care side of the work be more emphasised?
That’s such a good point, Terry. Although, the names of these organisations were defined in the law that was made to bring them into effect: we didn’t just decide that was what it would be called! That, in itself, tells a story about the traditional disparity of health and social care services, doesn’t it?
We know we have to work together, the question is, what will that look like? I’d like to take a bit of time to think about ways I would like to see that happen and get back to you, but one thing I do know is that we’re all going to have to work together to solve tricky issues like this. Most importantly, we need to listen to what people that experience these services think about how their needs can be met in a more joined-up way. This is part of what we’re going to be doing with Healthwatch Leeds.
There is movement on this issue, locally. I know the Community Healthcare Trust has been co-locating some staff in offices with Social Care staff which has improved the experiences of people using those services. And the staff report it’s helping them do their jobs, too.
Perhaps you would add some more comments with ideas you’ve got, or areas you think we need to prioritise? Were actively looking to get people involved in Healthwatch Leeds, and we’d love to talk some more about how to do that. you can email the office to find out more.
I’m happy to reply to your questions here, but if you want a more private conversation, you can email me at claire@healthwatchleeds.co.uk.
Terry I think you’re right Healthwatch across the country could easily focus on health services – their name leads that way but also the NHS is the service everyone has interacted with but I think that if healthwatch Leeds really listens to people it will understand the importance of social care in many peoples lives but also our communities. I reckon the important bit is for all of us who care about social care to keep in touch at least if not in there talking and doing something about it
Thanks for taking some time to comment and reply to Terry, Sam. I agree with what you’ve said here. We have to keep listening, and learning.
Full disclosure: Sam is the CEO of one of the consortia partners (Inclusion North) who won the tender to deliver HWLeeds.
Congratulations Claire! A very important initiative and a very important role. Look forward to hearing more 🙂
Thanks, Gill, we will be needing your input in this journey: so please, do continue to comment and let us know how we’re doing!
I suppose social care has always been the poor cousin to health care even though my own view is that they – social care – are equally important and often more so when it comes to day to day functioning in the community – social care takes over when the healthcare people leave off.
It was interesting at the weekend to see that report from the Royal College of GPs about screening the health of informal carers – something like 44% apparently suffer depression and the GPs are anxious to do something to help. It never occurs to them why informal carers get depressed – because they feel isolated and unsupported – and that what they really need is good reliable social care support – that would be far more useful than some anti-depressant tablets prescribed by a GP. A classic case of where the medical model clashes with the social model.
Just out of interest what law created Healthwatch?
I agree with your analysis, Terry. Carers provide so much in our society- its important we think about how to support them better.
The law I was referencing was the Health and Social Care Act, that has changed the landscape significantly and initiated the formation of the.local Healthwatches.
Lets keep talking!
Todays annoucement about merging health and social care seems to have overtaken our discussions – even if it is going to take them five years to complete