Healthwatch East Sussex publish their 2023/23 annual report

Healthwatch East Sussex have published their 2023-24 Annual Report ‘The value of listening’.

It highlights how Healthwatch East Sussex have listened to the voices of the public, patients and partners and used people’s feedback, experiences and preferences to help shape health and social care in East Sussex, and across Sussex.

Healthwatch have undertaken a range of projects and initiatives over the last 12 months to engage with a diverse range of individuals and communities living in different areas of East Sussex, and worked hard to share these experiences and preferences on health and care services with commissioners and providers so that they focus on meeting the needs of local people.

Read the Healthwatch annual report here 

Activity and Achievements

During 2023-24 Healthwatch East Sussex:

• undertook Enter and View activities at care homes in rural Rother, paediatric services at The Conquest, emergency departments at The Conquest and Eastbourne District General Hospital and Bexhill Community Diagnostic Centre
• directly supported 578 people with enquiries through their Information & Signposting service, including users of food banks, migrants and residents in Lewes Prison
• undertook their Listening Tour in Rye and rural Rother to gather experiences and views from local people and shared these to influence local services
• published 36 reports detailing insight and recommendations that were shared with commissioners and providers to inform health and care service development
• shared advice, guidance and information via their website, social media and bulletins to raise awareness of health and care issues
• drew on 125 days of Healthwatch volunteer time in the development and delivery of projects
• progressed Young Healthwatch, recruiting new volunteers, and starting development of an accreditation to rate GPs in Hastings for their suitability for children and young people
• shared insight and key messages through a diverse range of local, regional and national partnerships and boards, including the East Sussex Health and Wellbeing Board and Sussex Health and Care Assembly
• raised awareness of challenges people face in accessing primary care, especially GPs and NHS dentistry, as well as acute and community services, including mental health

Comment from Chief Executive, Veronica Kirwan

“During the last 12 months, we have worked hard to capture public and patient voice, continuing to evolve and adapt our approach so that we gather and hear from as many communities and people across East Sussex as possible. 

We’ve used what we’ve heard to let commissioners and providers know where things are working well, but also where pressures exist, and changes or development may improve patient and public experiences of health and care. We understand that the last 12 months have been challenging for many services, but have striven to highlight the importance of people’s feedback, which is more important when services are stretched or changing.   

We want to thank everyone who has shared their views and experiences with us over the last year.

I would also like to thank our staff, board members and volunteers for their considerable efforts in delivering our projects and programmes, and in putting the views of the public at the heart of health and social care decision-making locally. 

We will continue to work hard in delivering our role as the independent patient champion in 2024-25.”

Tell Healthwatch Your Experiences 

You can share your experiences of local health and care services with Healthwatch East Sussex via their Feedback Centre and let them know how this has been for you. 

They want to hear about your experience whether it has been good, bad or indifferent.

Help and support with Health and Care 

If you need help or support related to health or care, then please contact the Healthwatch East Sussex Information & Signposting Service via 

0333 101 4007 or enquiries@healthwatcheastsussex.co.uk