New health watchdog for Shropshire
A new body which could lead to better health and social care of Shropshire people is being set up.
The launch of ‘Healthwatch Shropshire’ comes in the wake of the Staffordshire hospitals report and has been welcomed by county organisations.
It will act as a ‘consumer champion’ for people wanting to know where they can go if they are concerned about the care of their family and friends will help residents and communities to influence and challenge how health and social services are provided in Shropshire.
Shropshire Rural Community Council (RCC) has joined forces with the existing Shropshire Local Involvement Network (LINk) and has been commissioned by Shropshire Council to establish Healthwatch Shropshire. A chairman and board members are now being sought to help it become established.
Healthwatch organisations are being established throughout the country in response to NHS reforms outlined in the government White Paper ‘Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS’ which set out the government’s vision for the NHS and proposals for Healthwatch.
Healthwatch Shropshire will be an independent, charitable company and will take over responsibilities from the existing LINk and additional services from the NHS around advice and guidance. It will strengthen the collective voice of local people across both health and social care and will influence local strategies which are the basis for local decisions about commissioning services. It will represent the views of all people in Shropshire and as well as gathering views, will provide information and also signpost enquirers to other sources of help.
Julia Baron, chief executive of Shropshire RCC, said “We are delighted to have won the contract to set up this organisation in partnership with our colleagues from Shropshire LINk. Shropshire RCC has a history of consulting local communities and raising issues with decision-makers stretching back over 50 years. We are looking forward to the challenge of raising awareness of the services provided which will give local people the chance to make their views known about their experience of health and social care services in Shropshire.”
George Rook, chair of Shropshire LINk, added: “We are very pleased to be partnering Shropshire RCC in this new venture. We bring a wealth of experience of working with health and social care services as well as a wide network of people who have worked with us on similar issues through LINk. The new organisation will play to both partners’ strengths and we are very confident that the outcome will be a better deal for Shropshire residents and communities.”
Keith Barrow, chairman of the Health and Well-being Board, commented: “Shropshire Council and its partners on the Health and Wellbeing Board welcome and recognise the important role that Healthwatch Shropshire will play. It will help us by seeking the views of patients and users of services and telling us what works and what doesn’t, so that we can drive improvements where needed across our health and social care services in Shropshire.”
Healthwatch Shropshire is currently recruiting for a chairman and new board members and anyone interested in playing a part in the new organisation is encouraged to contact Shropshire RCC on 01743 360641 to register their interest.
