Do health and social care services in Wandsworth know what you think? Healthwatch wants thousands more stories from people who use services and have launched a campaign to encourage people in the borough to share their experiences.

As the NHS is celebrating its 70th birthday, the #ItStartsWithYou campaign highlights the difference that people are already making to health and social care services by sharing their experiences and encourages more people to have their say about their experiences of health AND social care in Tooting and Wandsworth.

Have your say about your experiences by completing a short survey and help them better understand how local services are working for people in Wandsworth. If you complete the survey and sign up to become a Healthwatch member during July 2018, you’ll be entered into a prize draw with the chance to win a high street shopping voucher. Complete the survey online at https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/hww-itstartswithyou/ or contact them by calling Sarah Cook 020 851 67785 or email sarahcook@wandcareall.org.uk.

Find out more about how Healthwatch have supported people to have their say and influence local services throughout 2017-8 in their new annual report. You can read it online at www.healthwatchwandsworth.co.uk or contact them for a copy.

Highlights include:

• Healthwatch spoke to over 1,000 people in the community in 2017-8 and attended over 70 local events.
• Last year, they spoke to patients on some of the senior health wards at St George's Hospital and, based on their feedback, made a number of recommendations for improvement, including support at mealtimes.
• Over 65 local people contacted Heathwatch by phone or email. They were helped to navigate the health and social care system by guiding them to the information they need.

You can become a Healthwatch member to find out more about what they are doing and to become involved in influencing local health and care services. You can sign up online or contact them to be updated by post.

Imelda Redmond, National Director of Healthwatch England, said, “However big or small the issue, Healthwatch wants to hear about it from you. If it’s important to one person, it’s very likely that it affects other people, too. 

“By sharing your story you can help doctors, dentists, hospitals and care homes understand what’s working and what could be better, for you and your community.

“It’s heartening to see a growing culture of people sharing their experiences. It might just feel like your story, but if it matters to you, it matters to us, and it really can make a difference.” 

Healthwatch Wandsworth Chair, Dr Clive Norris said, “This is all about making your local health and social care services even better. So please tell us what's going well and suggest what might be done differently.”

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