John meets patient champions in Westminster
Representatives from Healthwatch Rotherham and Healthwatch Barnsley travelled to London to join forces with more than 100 fellow local Healthwatch organisations to raise the real life concerns of people using health and social care services.
Attended by more than 80 parliamentarians, as well as key decision makers from across health and social care, the event provided an opportunity for Carrianne Stones, chief executive of Healthwatch Barnsley, and Melanie Hall, of Healthwatch Rotherhan, to speak with MP John Healey about the work they have been doing to shape local services on behalf of local residents.
John said: “As a new patients’ champion, Healthwatch has made a good start – especially in Rotherham and Barnsley, which are two of the leading local groups in the country.
“They’ve shown they can already have a big impact on improving children’s mental health services, and I am proud to have campaigned with them recently to protect hearing aid services for elderly people.”
Held in the Houses of Parliament, the reception was hosted by national body Healthwatch England to mark the launch of its second annual report.