This watchdog has got real teeth and will bite! (From Evesham Journal)
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This watchdog has got real teeth and will bite!
6:20pm Wednesday 13th March 2013 in News By Tom Edwards
This watchdog has got real teeth and will bite!
COUNCILLORS have thrown their weight behind a powerful new health watchdog launching next month – and insist it will help patients get a better deal.
From April, Healthwatch Worcestershire will be the county’s “consumer champion” for flagging up complaints and voicing opinions on the NHS. It will also gather people’s views and experiences of the service they receive, in the hope it can drive up standards.
Worcestershire County Council has agreed to sign the final contract to allow Healthwatch to become the official NHS watchdog and says it is confident the project will make a difference. As your Worcester News first revealed last year, former NHS non-executive director Peter Pinfield will be chairman.
The Government has confirmed it will give Healthwatch Worcestershire a budget of £321,000, which will be passed to County Hall to forward on. Councillor Marcus Hart, the cabinet member for health, said: “This body is the new people’s champion in Worcestershire, it will be there for the public.
“Since we first looked at this, the project has travelled a long way. We’ve got an excellent chairman in Peter Pinfield and executive directors with vast amounts of experience. It will be completely independent of Worcestershire County Council and will be run as a social enterprise. The money has been confirmed by central government and all we will do is simply pass that on.
“I believe it will be of benefit to people across the county and in a nutshell, we are very nearly there.”
Leader Councillor Adrian Hardman said: “I agree and think it all looks very promising – I think it will do a first rate job.”
Comments(3)
Landy44
says...
10:13pm Wed 13 Mar 13
We don't need more bureaucracy. We need an appropriate balance of health SERVICE and COST. If the NHS can't deliver it maybe we need to rethink the structure of our health services. Simplification is the way forward now.
sugarlump
says...
12:04pm Thu 14 Mar 13
Jabbadad
says...
12:40pm Sat 16 Mar 13
Under the controlling umbrella of Healthwatch England, Healthwatch Worcestershire is coming into being May 10th 2013.
As reported Peter Pinfield, who I understand has over 40 years working experience in Social services is the Chairman elect. It has a board consisting very proven health related and Older Peoples services experienced people. And everybody across the county will be encouraged to access and be involved in it's performances. All of the positions for involvement have been widely advertised. It's success will be measured by it's important health related issues and the publics involvement.
The area Office will be situated at the Pershore Civic Center WR10 1PT (Wychavon District Council Offices) Queen Elizabeth Drive Road, off Station Road, Pershore, however I understand, well publicised public meetings will also be undertaken around the county.
With the poor Health issues too frequently reported it is encumbered on we the public to get off our seats and become involved. That is how we make changes.
Hope this helps sugarlump
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