Public Meeting at Healthwatch BwD

Healthwatch BwD held its first public meeting of 2018 on Tuesday 17th July, which was attended by local residents and representatives from the local voluntary and statutory sectors.  We had the great pleasure of havingDominic Harrison, Director of Public Health at Blackburn with Darwen Council as a key note speaker at the event.

Please find attached links for the minutes, Dominic's slides on the health challenges facing the borough and our Interim Chief Officer Abdul Mulla's slides on the focus of Healthwatch's work in 2018. 

Sir Bill Taylor Surgery at Blackburn Youth Zone

Our Chair, Sir Bill Taylor is hosting a surgery on Tuesday 31st July 2018 at Blackburn Youth Zone to consult with young people from Blackburn with Darwen on their views and experiences on health and social care provision. The surgery will be taking place between 6.30pm and 7.30pm. 

Want to find out more about Healthwatch?

We're happy to share with you our new Easy Read Guide to what Healthwatch does and how we can help you get the support you need. 

Healthwatch Blackburn with Darwen highlights excellent work at Emergency Department and Urgent Care Centre, Royal Blackburn Hospital

Healthwatch Blackburn with Darwen staff and volunteers have found out the views and experiences of adults, children and young people experiencing A&E at Royal Blackburn Hospital.  Please see our final report. The results of the Healthwatch Blackburn with Darwen Spotlight on Accident & Emergency report were fed back to Christine Pearson, Director of Nursing for East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust who said, “It was a pleasure to welcome the Healthwatch Blackburn with Darwen staff and volunteers into the Emergency Department and Urgent Care Centre at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital to engage with service users. We take all feedback very seriously and constantly strive to ensure all of our patients and relatives have a good experience when using the Trust’s services and we will be taking on board the comments received.”

Sir Bill Taylor, Chair of Board, Healthwatch Blackburn with Darwen said, “People in Blackburn with Darwen are very happy with service they received in A&E during the worst winter pressures ever recorded.  I am pleased that our recommendations will create an even better experience for those who require emergency treatment”

Launch of new Healthcare Technology project

Healthwatch Blackburn with Darwen is working together with health organisations across Lancashire and South Cumbria to get your views on healthcare technology. This is your chance to share your ideas which will help the NHS to develop innovative ways to provide healthcare and support the wellbeing of people across Blackburn with Darwen, Lancashire and South Cumbria. Healthwatch Blackburn with Darwen is keen to hear how you use, or why you don’t use digital technology, particularly to support managing your own health.

When we talk about digital technology, we mean mobile phones, tablets and computers, as well as wearable technology such as fitness trackers and alarm buttons that might be worn to support independence. We want to hear about use of websites, mobile technology such as apps, and wearable devices such as Fitbits to support health.

Have your say and complete our short online survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/yourvoicetechnology

The information we collect will be used to produce a report to inform NHS and Council organisations and others who are looking to develop the use of digital technology to support health and social care. We’ll make sure your voice will be heard and considered during this development.

Action Updates from our Enter and Views Visits - May 2018

We are delighted to have received these action statements from Darwen Ward, Limefield GP Surgery, Brookhouse Medical Centre and St James House Residental Care Home responding to our recommendations on Enter and View reports issued in 2017/18.  This is fantastic evidence of the impact of our services on local patients' experiences of health and social care settings.