Healthwatch Oldham held its Forum in Alexandra Park last Saturday. Dozens of families enjoyed lots of activities including a fancy dress fun run.
Healthwatch is the new independent “consumer champion” for health and social care. It has been set up to help people all over the country who use services to have a powerful influence in how services are run, as well as to help people to make informed choices about the health and social care options open to them.
Healthwatch operates on two levels:
Healthwatch England gives a national voice to the issues identified by your local Healthwatch. It uses the evidence gathered from across the country to highlight major issues and seek change in the policy, regulation and delivery of health and social care services. For more information, visit www.healthwatch.co.uk
Local Healthwatch operates in the same areas as each local council. It will take the experiences of local people and use them to influence local services.
Healthwatch Oldham is independently governed by an appointed governance board, made up of ‘lay people’
Oldham Council has contracted Action Together to support the establishment of Healthwatch Oldham and its governance arrangements; and to provide the influencing and signposting functions.