Public asked to give feedback on GP surgeries and mental health support

Healthwatch Rochdale gathers the public’s views on local health and care services

Residents across the borough are being asked to give their views about local GPs and mental health support, along with other services, through an online feedback form run by an independent patient and users’ group.

Healthwatch Rochdale gathers the public’s views on local health and care services including doctors’ surgeries and mental health support. Public feedback is used to shape future services and changes, locally and nationally.

The group usually collects feedback through a mix of face-to-face questionnaires, telephone calls and online. But it is highlighting its online feedback form as a great way of maintaining public feedback while face-to-face conversations are suspended temporarily in the coronavirus lockdown. Public feedback can still be given by telephone too.

In addition to gathering feedback, Healthwatch Rochdale produces resources including a regular newsletter for the borough. A wide range of people - residents, patients, service users and health support groups - can take part.

Healthwatch Rochdale is part of the national Healthwatch England network, established in 2013 by the government. Its main purpose is to give the community a stronger voice to influence and challenge how health and social care services are provided.  But it also guides people to information to help them make choices about health and care services.

Each local Healthwatch group is an independent organisation, able to employ its own staff and involve volunteers, so that it can be an influential and effective voice of the public. Each group is also accountable to the public with financial accounts and annual reports.

Healthwatch Rochdale spokesperson Kate Jones, Chief Executive Office, Healthwatch Rochdale, said: “Now more than ever, it’s important that we keep an open channel of communication with the public. Even if we can’t chat with people face-to-face, we still want to get their opinions through online feedback and by telephone.

“We want to hear from a variety of patients and service-users. This includes people who have recently visited their GP and those who use mental health services, in-person or online, or counselling or support groups.

“Whilst our NHS is working hard to fight the pandemic, we want to ensure other health, care and wellbeing services are being shaped and supported through your feedback.

“We learn from local people's experiences, respond to what they tell us and then turn it into action. Through our work with the public, we have the authority to influence changes to services, policies, procedures and funding. So, our work is really important and public feedback is vital to our effectiveness. We work with other organisations locally, regionally and nationally.

“Through our online form and other communications, we are keeping in contact with what the public really thinks across Rochdale and ensuring local people’s views are genuinely reflected in health and care services. So please take a look at our online form and other resources. It’s really easy to give feedback and a great way make health and social care better for everyone in Rochdale.”

To leave your feedback online, go to:

• https://healthwatchrochdale.org.uk/share-your-views