News and reports

In 2015 it was decided to look in detail at feedback received on local pharmacy services, and to undertake a survey to generate further feedback.

This report sought to find out whether the challenge of meeting the needs of carers is being met on the Isle of Wight and to understand more about the experiences of carers and how their role impacts on lives on a day to day basis.

Healthwatch Isle of Wight undertook this review of maternity services as follow up to a previous report to ensure that recommendations had been implemented.

Following on from the Enter and View visits to a sample of GP surgeries to look at the accessibility of complaints processes, an analysis of each Isle of Wight GP practice website was undertaken, looking at complaints procedure information.

During 2014 Healthwatch Isle of Wight received a strong set of feedback regarding the lack of services available for young people with Autism going through the transition from Children's Services to Adults Services.

Complaints have been an overarching theme for Healthwatch Isle of Wight throughout 2014/15 with a number of reports being released. From Pillar to Post, is the overarching report into IW NHS Trust Complaints.

As part of the wider complaints workplan, Healthwatch Isle of Wights Enter and View Panel visited a sample of local GP surgeries to ascertain the accessibility of their complaints processes.

The theme of outpatient services became part of Healthwatch Isle of Wights workplan for 2014/15 following public engagement. Cancellation of appointments was adopted as the focus of the work, in particular the effects experienced by patients.

Last year over 900 experiences of health and social care services were shared with Healthwatch Isle of Wight by members of the public.

5 local Healthwatch organisations (Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Southampton and Portsmouth) have come together with NHS England Wessex to form 'Wessex Community Voices'.

Amongst Healthwatch Isle of Wights workplan topics, as chosen by the public, was complaints. In April 2015 a survey was devised to collect experiences from those who have been through the IW NHS Trust complaints procedure since January 2014.

The difficulties in communicating with health and social care professionals was identified as an issue on the Isle of Wight in 2013.