Agenda item

10:15

Larry Sanders, Chairman of Healthwatch and David Roulston, Interim Chief Executive, will attend to present an update on their current work (JHO5).

Larry Sanders, Chairman and David Roulston, interim Director of Healthwatch Oxfordshire (HWO) presented their report (JHO5) and updating the Committee on the various matters which had arisen since it had been written.

The Committee noted that recent recruitment process had not produced a suitable candidate for the permanent post of Director despite the high level of interest

Mr Sanders highlighted the various projects supported by HWO Project Fund, the findings of the research, which was funded by HWO and carried out by a team of students into the healthcare experiences of students of Oxford University; ongoing work on the initial priorities set by Healthwatch; current work to increase awareness of HWO and to establish contacts; future events to be held during 2014 and matters to be called to the attention of Oxfordshire’s Health & Wellbeing Board.

Mr Sanders added that project work to date had mainly concentrated on work with user and carer groups relying significantly on their vast knowledge and experience. The problem was that the information required was not always fully available from people who had experienced problems with systems – consequently HWO were calling for experts by experience’ to come forward.  To illustrate this HWO were putting together a paper on the unnecessary death of Connor Sparrowhawk who died in the care of Southern Health NHS Trust.

Members of the Committee commented on the value of HWO as an important contributor to the work of the Committee, particularly in light of their decision to prioritise the smaller groups whose needs could often be overlooked. To this end they commended their priorities listed in the report as very pertinent.  Mr Sanders was asked if the questionnaire that had  extrapolated patient experiences with regard to access to GP services had included people’s access to their chosen GP. He responded that this was a one of the more detailed factors that were planned for future consideration.

Members  discussed with Mr Sanders and Mr Roulston  how this Committee could work together in an effective way. The Chairman  reported that his recent meetings with HWO had gleaned a number of ways of working including regular meetings between the Chairman and HWO, the Committee reinforcing any recommendations made by HWO with the groups involved as it saw fit, and the possibility of Committee members and HWO working together on particular issues of interest to both.

A member suggested that how the changes to the Benefits system  had affected the mental and physical health of service users and carers could be looked at by HO . Mr Sanders agreed that it was important to look at it from across the board, adding that HO has certain statutory powers which would enable it to ask what is being done for people affected by the changes. Part of its role is to bring together the various groups involved in research locally and, if it is shown to affect  a significant proportion of people in the county and there was a large volume of response to an issue of concern,  to refer it to Healthwatch England as an issue of national concern or to deal with it locally.

Mr Sanders and Mr Roulston were thanked for their report and their attendance.