Latest news from Healthwatch Halton

Telephone - 0300 777 6543www.healthwatchhalton.co.uk

What is Healthwatch?Healthwatch is the new consumer champion for health and social care in England.

Healthwatch has two parts; the nationally-focused Healthwatch England and 152 community-focused local Healthwatch. Together we form the Healthwatch network, working closely to ensure consumers’ views are represented locally and nationally.

What does Healthwatch Halton do?As of 1st April 2013 Healthwatch Halton replaced the Halton LINk, taking over many of its roles and responsibilities.

Healthwatch Halton will help you get the best out of local health and social care services; whether it’s improving them today or helping to shape them for the future

Healthwatch Halton is all about local voices being able to influence the delivery and design of local services. Not just people who use them, but anyone who might need to in the future.

Healthwatch Halton:

• provides people with information, advice and support about local health and social care service

• gathers the views and experiences of local people on the way services are delivered

• has the power to enter and view adult health and social care services to get a feel for how they are delivering

• influences the way services are designed and delivered based on evidence from those who use services

• influences how services are set up and commissioned by having a seat on the local Health and Wellbeing Board

• passes information and recommendations to other local Healthwatch, Healthwatch England and the Care Quality Commission

Issue 1 - May 2013

Welcome to Healthwatch Halton

Contact UsHealthwatch Halton

Sefton House, Public Hall Street

Runcorn, Cheshire WA7 !NG

Tel: 0300 777 6543

email: enquiries@healthwatchhalton.co.uk

We hope you find this first Healthwatch newsletter of

interest.

You will notice that there are a number of changes

that have taken place as Halton LINk has transitioned into Healthwatch. This newsletter has been developed to provide you with updates and information about YOUR local Healthwatch.

You’ll see from the details at the bottom of this page that we have a new website and new local rate contact telephone number.

On the website you’ll have the opportunity to send us your views on local health and social care services. As we develop the website further there will be regular updates, news, events and information about local services posted on the site.

Using the website you can also sign up to receive our regular e-bulletin.

www.healthwatchhalton.co.uk

You can follow us on twitter

@hwhalton

and find us on Facebook

facebook.com/hwhalton

voicecounts

your

Have your say on healthand social care in Halton

healthwatchhalton.co.uk0300 777 6543

Management Committee ElectionsHealthwatch Halton is looking for volunteers interested in standing in the upcoming elections for our new Management Committee.

Healthwatch Halton has been set up as a not-for-profit

social enterprise, a Community Interest Company.

Between December 2012 and February 2013 a

recruitment process took place to appoint directors

for the new company. The Board of Directors are now

in place and a Chair has been appointed.

As part of the original process of setting up

Healthwatch Halton, it was agreed that elections would

be held to appoint a new Management Committee for

Healthwatch Halton.

The Management Committee will be responsible

for the promotion of Healthwatch Halton, locally,

regionally and nationally and determing the activities

undertaken by Healthwatch, responding to local

needs.

The Management Committee needs to reflect the

diverse range of voluntary & community groups

concerned with health & social care in Halton, together with a fair distribution of individual members from both sides of the Mersey

There will be 13 places up for election to the Management Committee, 7 for representative of groups & organisations and 6 for individual members.

If you would like to self nominate for an individual place or nominate someone to represent your group/organisation please contact us on 0300 777 6543 and ask for a nomination form for the Management Committee Elections.

The deadline to return nomination forms is 2.00pm on 11th June. Ballot papers will then be sent out to all Healthwatch Halton Community Members and the election count will take place on Monday 1st July.

The results of the election will be published on www.healthwatchhalton.co.uk

Launch EventHealthwatch Halton is set to hold its official launch event on Friday 5th July 2013, 10.00am to 12.15pm at the Stobart Stadium, Widnes.

At the moment details of the launch are still being finalised. Full details will be sent out to members over the next couple of weeks.

If you’d like to confirm your place at the event please call our office on 0300 777 6543 or send us an email to enquiries@healthwatchhalton.co.uk.