PRESS RELEASE: Local people in the region have their voice heard after publication of the NHS Long Term Plan report
- 88% said they agreed that it was right for the NHS Long Term Plan to focus on towards ‘prevention, choice and control, and promoting independence and self-care’
- 93%, agreed on the commitment areas for Mental Health Service investment
- 85% agreed that people’s physical and mental health should be treated together in relation to joined up care
A significant proportion (92%) said it was either important or very important that they work in partnership with their GP/other health professionals to get the care that is right for them; in relation to improving ‘local, in your neighbourhood, care’, 95% supported the key commitments highlighted to be the right areas for the plan to focus on and there was broad support for the NHS making the use of digital technology to develop services.
Their views were shared as part of Healthwatch Doncaster’s What Would You Do? campaign and the findings are revealed in a report published recently.
What Would You Do?
More than 1,300 residents, patients and their families took part in ‘What Would You do?’ activities, which launched in March to encourage people in the Borough to share their views about how extra money from the Government should be spent on local NHS services.
The public were asked to give their feedback about how local services could improve, and to share ideas about the NHS can help people live healthier lives and take more control of their care.
Andrew Goodall, Chief Operating Officer at Healthwatch Doncaster said: “The Government is investing an additional £20 billion a year in the NHS as part of the NHS Long Term Plan. We were asked to help find out what local people thought was the best way for the NHS in Doncaster to invest in the right services as part of this plan.
It was wonderful to listen to so many people keen to make a difference in our local NHS
Healthwatch Doncaster Board member Sucha Singh, who wrote the report as the lead of the ‘What Would You Do’ campaign, said: “These views are all in the report and we will now monitor how the local NHS responds."
Healthwatch collaboration
Following the formal launch of the NHS Long Term Plan in January 2019, each co-ordinating Healthwatch was commissioned to bring together its engagement activity with its local population. This was carried out through the Healthwatch organisations represented in this Integrated Care System (ICS) area. For South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw, this covers five Healthwatch organisations – Barnsley, Bassetlaw, Doncaster (co-ordinating Healthwatch), Rotherham and Sheffield.
“There was a fantastic response when we presented the report at a recent meeting of the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw ICS area, and I would like thank all of the efforts our local Healthwatch’. It shows the positive outcomes when organisations work together for the local population,” said Andrew.
The report, ‘NHS Long Term Plan – Engagement Programme Report, has been shared with local NHS and stakeholders, and can be viewed on our website
Report: NHS Long Term Plan – Engagement Programme Report
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
Healthwatch Doncaster is a Community Interest Company as of 1st July 2016, to continue its work across Doncaster supporting the improvement of health and care services through engagement, involvement and influence.
This entails engagement work throughout the community and signposting people to the right service.
Press release contact:
Chief Operating Officer Andrew Goodall
01302 965454 or mobile: 07834 686855
Healthwatch Doncaster Board member Sucha Singh
