Healthwatch Wiltshire shortlisted for prestigious national award

In a project spanning four years, we listened to the experiences of more than 1,600 people who are affected by dementia and shared their feedback widely. 

Last year we worked with Alzheimer’s Support and Wiltshire Care Partnership to understand and show how local organisations have used people’s views to make improvements to services and introduce more support groups across the county.

Healthwatch Wiltshire was shortlisted under ‘The impact we make with partners’ category in the Healthwatch Awards 2020, which are run by Healthwatch England.

This annual event – which this year is taking place virtually due to the pandemic – celebrates the difference Healthwatch’s 4,400 staff and volunteers have made over the past year.

We are one of only 30 local Healthwatch out of a total of 152 across England to be in the running for one of the awards.

The overall winner from each category will be chosen by a panel of judges and announced during Healthwatch Week, which runs from Monday 2 November 2020.

Julie Brown, Acting Healthwatch Wiltshire Manager, said:

“I am absolutely thrilled we have been shortlisted for this award. Thanks to people’s feedback, and the efforts of many local organisations, we have seen some really positive changes to dementia services in the county. There are now more community support groups in Wiltshire and a better variety on offer, and more than 100 care home staff have received specialist dementia training.

“We’re incredibly proud to have worked alongside our partners at Alzheimer’s Support and Wiltshire Care Partnership, as well as a whole host of other organisations, to see these improvements being made – all thanks to the views shared by local people.”

Sir Robert Francis QC, Chair of Healthwatch England, said:

"I never stop being inspired by the dedication of local Healthwatch staff to making care better for their communities.

"Whether reaching out to those whose views are not being heard, helping people to find the support they need or making sure NHS and social care services act on the improvements that the public want to see, the award entries highlight the difference local Healthwatch make.

"I would like to congratulate everyone who has been shortlisted. They have done their communities proud."

More information about the shortlist can be found here on the Healthwatch England website.