Blogs

With the NHS Long Term Plan finally published, Don Redding checks whether it passes the five tests we set last month.

The NHS England National Clinical Director for Dementia, Professor Alistair Burns, tells how a growing network of health and care staff are supporting elderly people to stay independent, keep well and get home quickly after a spell in hospital.

Jules Horton explains why no source of patient feedback should be overlooked – instead they should be cherished as untapped goldmines that could transform the way the NHS works for the better.

Tips on how voluntary sector organisations can work with Healthwatch:

• Have a local campaign you’d like to work with them on? Approach the regional managers to see if they can help get the word out.
   
• Offering a service? Contact your local Healthwatch so they know to signpost to you.
   
• Delve into all that data they collect: Healthwatch hears from over 400,000 people a year which means there is always more data than they can publish. But they are happy work with charities to provide access to their evidence and help build a shared understanding of specific issues. You can email research@healthwatch.co.uk with requests.