Agenda item

11:45

Healthwatch Oxfordshire will present a report on their recent activities across Oxfordshire (JHO10).

The Chairman welcomed Carol Moore and Eddie Duller OBE of Healthwatch Oxfordshire (HWO). Prior to consideration of the HWO report (JHO10) the Committee asked that its thanks and best wishes be sent to Rachel Coney, the former Chief Executive of HWO, following her departure to a new post.

In response to a number of questions about the capacity of HWO to look at major issues such as the impact on carers/users of the closure of the Health & Wellbeing Centres, Carol Moore stated that it would be difficult to replicate past work on projects such as this, in light of the coming 30% budgetary cut. She added that HWO would be planning to work differently, possibly with colleagues in the voluntary sector.

The Committee asked Eddie Duller about plans to reorganise, given the funding cut to their budget. He reported that HWO had  begun an internal reorganisation, to be completed by the end of the financial year 2016. Initial plans had been made on the possibility of raising other means of support which could mean that HWO’s impact may not be cut by a third. However, the most expensive events, for example Hearsay! may have to be reconsidered. He added that HWO would ensure that patients were put first as it was required to do.

A member of the Committee asked if HWO was satisfied that carers knew how to find information on support services. Carol Moore explained that feedback given by carers themselves indicated that it was difficult to find the information online, and the online tool did not encourage them to reflect their needs. Work was ongoing to look at this problem.

The Committee encouraged HWO to keep following up on the recommendations their Discharge Project report. Carol Moore responded that most statutory organisations had responded within the required 28 day period, after which the correspondence had been published. She expressed the hope not to have to escalate anything to Healthwatch England, in recognition of the very good relationships established in Oxfordshire.

In response to a question about the publicity on flaws in the data analysis in the Discharge report and whether agreement with the OH and OCCG had been reached, Carol Moore stated that their comments were fair, but had been received too late, meaning that HWO were unable to change the report prior to publication.

A member commented on how powerful the Hearsay! 2015 event had been in attracting so many patients, carers and users to the event. As a result, so much valuable work had come out of it.

Carol Moore was asked about the turnout for the recent voluntary sector conference. She expressed the disappointment of HWO that 70 individuals and groups had registered, but only 30 had attended. Age Concern did not attend. Eddie Duller responded that it was an ideal opportunity, however, to hear the voice of the smaller voluntary groups.

The Chairman, on behalf of the Committee, wished HWO well and congratulated the organisation on their valuable input of views and opinions from users and providers. She also thanked Carol Moore and Eddie Duller for their attendance.