Is Derbyshire healthcare provision up to scratch

As an independent voice for the people of Derbyshire, Healthwatch Derbyshire is here to listen to the experiences of Derbyshire residents and give them a stronger say in influencing how local health and social care services are provided.
Karen Ritchie, chief executive of Healthwatch DerbyshireKaren Ritchie, chief executive of Healthwatch Derbyshire
Karen Ritchie, chief executive of Healthwatch Derbyshire

We are currently finding out from local people with learning disabilities or sensory impairments whether the information provided for them by health and social care services in the county meets their needs.

New accessible information standards came in to effect in July 2016.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The standard aims to make sure that people who have a learning disability or sensory impairment are provided with information that they can read and understand.

In the first instance, our team has been talking to people with learning disabilities or sensory impairments to find out about people’s recent experiences of using health and social care services.

We have been asking about the information they have received recently from services and if this meets their needs.

We have also been asking if they have noticed any changes over the last nine months, since the standard came in to place.

Hide Ad

We have also carried out a ‘mystery shop’ visit to see how some health and social care services respond when asked for information in an accessible format.

Hide Ad

The results of all of this work will be shared with commissioners and providers of health and social care services in the county – flagging up any issues that we have found and making recommendations for further improvements.

We will also make the results of this and all the work we do public on our website.

In the meantime, if you or a member of your family have learning disabilities or a sensory impairment, please get in touch with us to tell us more about the information you receive from health and social care services, and how this meets your needs.

You can contact Healthwatch Derbyshire:

By post - Healthwatch Derbyshire

Suite 14, Riverside Business Centre

Foundry Lane,

Milford, Belper,

Derbyshire DE56 0RN

Hide Ad

To send via freepost please add the code RTEE-RGYU-EUCK to the front of the address

Telephone - 01773 880786

Text - 07943505255

Or visit the website www.healthwatchderbyshire.co.uk

Related topics: