How you can get involved

Healthwatch is your health and social care champion in Herefordshire. The mission of our engagement team is to connect with individuals and communities to hear your lived experiences and gather your opinions, suggestions, experiences and ideas on health and social care services. We are currently working on a number of interesting projects, which are listed below and we would love to hear from you.  

If you would like us to visit your group or organisation, please do get in touch.

What Matters to Me – Helping People Stay Independent

Healthwatch Herefordshire is working with Age UK Wyvern, local NHS and voluntary sector partners on a new project to understand what matters most to older people who may be at risk of losing their independence.

Many people approaching crisis don't just need medical care – they may need practical help, emotional support, advice, transport, social connections, support for carers or help navigating local services. By listening to people's experiences, we want to understand what could have helped earlier and what support would make the biggest difference to staying well at home.

By being part of the triage process at the Herefordshire Community Integrated referral hub Through simple "What Matters to Me" conversations, we'll explore what is important to people in their everyday lives, what challenges they face, and what non-clinical support could prevent problems from escalating into emergency hospital admissions or the need for more intensive care. Having had these conversations with people who have contacted the community integrated referral hub for help with escalating needs we will help people to access appropriate community based support.

The findings will help shape a new approach that brings together health services and local voluntary and community organisations, ensuring people receive the right support, at the right time, to remain independent, improve their wellbeing and avoid unnecessary hospital stays wherever possible.

Ageing Well Together – Share Your Experiences

Healthwatch Herefordshire is working with Community Power and Age UK Wyvern to better understand what helps people age well and remain independent for longer.
 
We want to hear from people aged 50 and over, as well as carers, families and anyone supporting older people across Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Rather than focusing on problems, we're interested in what helps people stay healthy, connected and confident, what challenges they face, and what could make growing older easier.
 
Your experiences will help shape future health, care and community services, ensuring they focus on prevention, independence and the things that matter most to local people.
 
There will be a range of ways to get involved, including community conversations, an online survey and telephone interviews for those who are unable to attend events.
 
By sharing your views, you'll help create practical recommendations that support older people to live well, stay connected and remain independent for as long as possible.
 
More information will be coming very soon.