Local HealthWatch is a new national approach, being implemented at a borough level, which is intended to give local consumers (residents) of health and adult social care services a clear way to influence how these functions are provided in Stockport.
Whilst the creation of Local HealthWatch is a statutory requirement of Councils under the Health and Social Care Act (2012), this decision is to agree the local model in Stockport.
Decision type: Key
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Notice of proposed decision first published: 02/11/2012
Decision due: January 2013 by Executive
Lead member: Executive Councillor (Health & Wellbeing)
Lead director: Corporate Director for People
Department: Services to People
Contact: Sarah Newsam, Services to People Email: sarah.newsam@stockport.gov.uk Tel: 07891 949 204.
Consultation process
Consultation with Stockport residents took place on 1 March 2012 at a day-long event looking at a number of health and wellbeing issues. Key consultees in the process of establishing Local Healthwatch are the existing LINk organisation (Local Involvement Network) and a Council / LINk working group has been meeting since February 2012 to develop the local model in collaboration. The LINk has kept its membership briefed throughout this time and the LINk Core Group has actively considered the issues and provided feedback to the working group.
The Health Scrutiny Committee will be consulted on 27 November 2012.
Forward Plan Reference: HWB2
Equality and/or Environmental Impact Assessment: New national policies should in theory undergo an Equalities Impact Assessment at central Government level. In the case of Local HealthWatch, its primary purpose is to give an influential ‘voice’ to all consumers of health and adult social care services in Stockport. In achieving this, it will be important that the membership of Healthwatch Stockport is broadly representative of the Stockport community and that the new organisation exercises its functions in a way that takes explicit account of equalities, diversity, exclusion, vulnerability and under-representation. This will be a key requirement of the Council in funding Healthwatch Stockport.
Relevant Scrutiny Committee for the purpose of call-in: Health