Healthwatch Isle of Wight event attracts national interest

News - 23 April 2018

Our Empowering Engagement event that we hosted in March is the first of its kind on the Island.

It celebrated the achievement of the Empowering Engagement programme, a project delivered by Wessex Voices (an innovative partnership between NHS England and the five local Healthwatch in the Wessex Area - Isle of Wight, Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and Dorset).

The programme aims to support local health and social care organisations to develop and enhance their engagement with patients and the public to improve services and to ensure the voice of local people is heard in the commissioning and delivery of local services.

Participants in the programme included commissioners and managers from the IOW Clinical Commissioning Group, IOW Council, IW NHS Trust and the voluntary and community sector. During the event, they showcased studies about engaging with local people and how to embed this practice in future work. Details of the case studies can be found on the Wessex Voices website.

Imelda Redmond, National Director of Healthwatch England attended the event and congratulated the group on their contribution to public and patient engagement. She said:

At Healthwatch, we understand that engagement is not just about ticking a box. It should be continuous conversation with people and is fundamental to all service commissioning and delivery. Healthwatch Isle of Wight are driving forward the benefits of engaging and consulting to help local leaders shape services around people's needs.

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