Issue - meetings

To consider a report of Jill Greenwood, Commissioning Manager (attached).

Lucia Scally outlined the current position with the role of Healthwatch and its introduction in Cheshire East from April 2013.

Local Healthwatch would have the responsibilities of the current Local Involvement Network (LINk) along with additional functions such as the signposting element of the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) and possibly the Independent Complaints Advocacy Service (ICAS), although this could be procured separately by the Local Authority. 

The Local Healthwatch would be a “corporate body”, a standalone not-for-profit organisation with a board of directors with Directors that were representative of the local community.

A Healthwatch Steering Group had been established with membership from Health, the Voluntary Sector, LINk and the Coucnil; this Group was looking at the future shape of Healthwatch and the transition arrangements.  The Local Healthwatch Groups would be supported by a national organisation called Healthwatch England which would have the power to monitor the NHS and refer patients’ concerns to a wide range of authorities.

 The Council was currently undertaking a consultation and engagement exercise about implementing local Healthwatch which included events at Congleton, Macclesfield and Crewe, town centre “roadshows”, a questionnaire; focus group with harder to reach groups and display boards at venues including libraries and health centres.  Following the consultation period, a service specification for how local Healthwatch should be set up and a procurement process would be undertaken to appoint an organisation to set up and run the Local Healthwatch.  Information on the procurement process would be circulated to Members.

RESOLVED: that the update be noted.