Service Description: In March 2012, the government introduced a new law (the Health & Social Care Act 2012) requiring each local authority area to set up a new organisation called Healthwatch by April 2013. Healthwatch will help provide information and advice to Islanders about health and social care services, signpost people to services -so they understand the choice of care available - and involve people to help improve and shape these services in the future. Healthwatch will effectively act as a consumer champion, making the views and experiences of the local community known to the people making decisions about these services, both locally and nationally.
Answer: Building on the LINks’ functions to involve and engage, to enter and view premises providing care to service users (as set out in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007) the following describe the additional functions for local HealthWatch. Influencing - local HealthWatch will present the views and experiences of local service users to local managers and decision makers (as well as to HealthWatch England at the national level) and be part of the decision making process on the local health and wellbeing board. It will also hold local providers to account by reporting on services and making recommendations. Signposting - providing information to service users to access health and social care services and promoting choice. Some signposting is currently provided by Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), as part of their Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS) responsibilities, and it is the signposting function of PCT PALS which Local HealthWatch will take forward. As a corporate body, Local HealthWatch will be able to employ its own staff, as well as continue the LINk legacy of recruiting volunteers, and be subject to public sector duties such as the Equality Act 2010.