Celebrating ten years of people speaking up to improve health care
In 2013, Healthwatch was launched with one simple aim, to make sure NHS leaders and other decision-makers hear the care experiences of people and use your feedback to improve support. Healthwatch also help people to find reliable and trustworthy information and advice.
Healthwatch Milton Keynes launched 5 years' after, in 2018. Since then, we've:
- Provided advice and information to 147,293 residents each year through face-to-face, email, telephone and tracking visits to the advice and information pages of our website.
- Carried out 51 visits to health and care services each year, to hear how residents are experiencing those services.
- Heard from well over 2000 residents every year about their experiences of health and social care services.
You've shared with us the good and bad, telling us what's working and what isn't regarding health and social care. With the help of local people, we've been able to help improve health and social care services in Milton Keynes.
To mark this important milestone, we're celebrating the contribution of our Healthwatch Heroes - the members of the public who have spoken up about their care and the health and social care professionals who have acted on this feedback.
Commenting on the anniversary, Maxine Tafettani, Chief Executive said:
"Over the last ten years, we've been able to help improve health and social care services for people in Milton Keynes. But nothing would have changed if local people had not spoken up about their care and services had not listened. So thank you to everyone who has played their part.
"However, we can't stop here. With NHS and social care services facing such big challenges, your feedback is more critical than ever. By sharing your experience, you can help professionals to put themselves in your shoes, to understand your reality and the issues that need tackling to improve care.
"So next time you use a health or care service, take a moment to share your experience. It won't take long and could make a real difference in making care better for you and your community."
Here are just some of the ways people have helped to make a difference in the last few years.
Thanks to feedback from children/ young people with SEND (Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities):
Young people with SEND who need mental health support now have clearer, more accessible information to help them get a referral to Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Families now receive support options when on long waiting lists, and young people going into adult mental health services will have a mentoring scheme to support their transition.
Thanks to Milton Keynes Hard of Hearing Support Group:
Patients who lip read/have hearing difficulties now have a card they can show every time they need medical treatment, that explains their communications needs to whoever is treating them. We teamed up with the MK GP Confederation, so that GPs and practice staff in MK also received information leaflets so they can meet the needs of patients with hearing difficulties.
Thanks to feedback from people and their families in care homes:
Hundreds of care home residents now have more information about discharge from hospital, and events and activities to reduce loneliness and social isolation.
