#ItStartsWithYou campaign launches in Sefton

Healthwatch Sefton is supporting a campaign to encourage local people to share their experiences to help make health and care better for their communities.

Run by the independent health and care champion Healthwatch England, the #ItStartsWithYou campaign returns for a second year. The campaign encourages people to have their say, and highlights the difference that people are already making to health and social care services by sharing their feedback.

Imelda Redmond, National Director of Healthwatch England, said: “However big or small the issue, Healthwatch wants to hear about it. If it’s important to one person, it’s very likely that it affects other people, too. By sharing your story you can help doctors, dentists, hospitals and care homes understand what’s working and what could be better, for you and your community.

“It’s heartening to see a growing culture of people sharing their experiences.”

Locally, through talking with Healthwatch Sefton, improvements have been made in lots of ways including: making appointments at Maghull Health Centre easier to access; enhanced awareness of waiting times in the A&E department of Southport and Ormskirk Hospital; better resident safety within a Sefton care home; a review of the car parking system at Aintree University Hospital; and a vulnerable group’s concerns over changes to repeat prescriptions taken on board by Sefton’s NHS Clinical Commissioning Group’s Medicines Management team.

Maureen Kelly, Chair of Healthwatch Sefton, commented: “We are pleased so many people have passed on their views of health and care services when we have been out in the community.

“I often say to people that we are similar to how people leave online travel reviews in that feedback of services can be left on our website – anonymously if people prefer – and service providers can see where they doing well and where improvements can be made. Share your experience with Healthwatch Sefton because it all starts with you.”