Taking your views to the heart of decision making
Here at Healthwatch in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, we will work hard to make sure the views of local people are represented in the new NHS structure. We are also committed to playing our part by championing equality and inclusion, and helping services reach every bit of the community.
That’s why we are pleased that our Chair, Stewart Francis, will have a non-voting seat on the new Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) – which is part of the ICS. It will give us an opportunity to make sure that your views are considered at the heart of decision making.
When services listen and act on the experiences of patients and service users, it results in better care. We have a real chance if we can get the new system right by creating a true partnership between services and the public here in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
The move to integrated care systems generally should herald a culture shift in the engagement of people and communities, so we can move beyond fragmented consultation towards meaningful and proactive listening at all levels of decision-making.
Ensuring people’s voices are heard is what Healthwatch is all about, but it’s important that engagement is meaningful, and the views of local people help shape the services they use.
Our Chair, Stewart, says,
“Meaningful listening takes time and takes financial investment, particularly if we want to reach all sections of our community and those whose voices have previously not been heard, but it really pays off for everyone in the long term.”
What is Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System?
From 1 July, the different organisations that help you with your health and care are coming together as Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System (ICS).
It brings together health and care organisations, as well as local councils, alongside Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector organisations to make a real difference to the lives of local people and communities.
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Integrated Care System (ICS) is working together to improve the health and wellbeing of our local people throughout their lives.
John O'Brien, the Chair of NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said:
"We are keen to hear the views of local people and to understand the experiences they have of health and care in our area, so we can work together to find solutions and improve services for everyone.
We know just how powerful working with our communities can be when it comes to tackling health inequalities and making improvements to services to ensure we best meet the needs of our local population.
We want to embed this through all of our work and ensure that local people are at the heart of everything we do. We are very glad that Healthwatch will be joining us as part of the Integrated Care Board to be a representative of the voice of local people at the heart of the ICS."
