About Healthwatch Dorset

Who we are

The Health and Social Care Act of 2012 put people at the centre of their health and social care.  To help realise that ambition, a Healthwatch organisation was set up in every local authority area across England.  Each one is a key part of its local community, and works in partnership with other organisations in its area.  For Healthwatch Dorset, this includes the Local Authority, the NHS, local hospitals and voluntary organisations.

Healthwatch Dorset is the county’s health and social care champion. We’re here to listen to your experiences of using local health and care services and to hear about the issues that really matter to you. We are entirely independent and impartial, and anything you share with us is confidential. We can also help you find reliable and trustworthy information and advice to help you to get the care and support you need. As an independent statutory body, we have the power to make sure that NHS leaders and other decision makers listen to your feedback and use it to improve standards of care.

Healthwatch Dorset is part of a network of over 150 local Healthwatch across the country. We cover the geographical area of Dorset, which includes the unitary authority areas of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and Dorset.

The Healthwatch Dorset service is run by Evolving Communities CIC, a community interest company limited by guarantee and run by a Board of Directors who are responsible for its strategy and overall management.

About Healthwatch Dorset

Who we are

Healthwatch Dorset is a local independent service which exists to speak up for local people on health and care.  Our role is to make sure that the health and care system across Dorset reflects what local people expect and need.  We will listen to your opinions and experiences of health and social care services and feedback your views to the people who plan, pay for and deliver health and care services (the commissioners and providers).  We can also help you to find the information you need about a local health or care service or point you towards someone who can help you if you need support to raise a concern or make a complaint about a service.  We are independent from the NHS, Local Authority and other local health and social care services so people can talk freely about whatever they like.

What we do

Healthwatch Dorset is one of a network of local Healthwatch organisations that cover each local authority area with social services responsibility across England.  We cover the geographical area of Dorset, which includes the unitary authority areas of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and Dorset.

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 introduced local Healthwatch as well as Healthwatch England which is the national umbrella body.  Together we exist to represent the consumers of health and care services.

Healthwatch Dorset exists to fulfil the statutory functions of a local Healthwatch.  These functions can be broken down to:

  • Engaging with local people about health and care services and promoting their involvement in all areas.
  • Providing an information and signposting service for local people so that they can make choices about health and social care services.
  • Monitoring the quality of health and care services.
  • Using the voice of local people to influence commissioners and providers.

How we work

Our workstreams are identified, prioritised and reviewed.

Priorities for Healthwatch Dorset are identified in a number of ways:

  • Local people are encouraged to identify areas of concern and bring these to the attention of Healthwatch Dorset by telephone, email or letter, or attendance at local events.  (Where particular issues are not within Healthwatch Dorset’s remit, people will always be advised on the right agency to contact for help.)
  • Partnership working is key to Healthwatch Dorset’s philosophy, so local service user organisations suggest areas of work, and timescales for completion.  This avoids duplication of effort.
  • Commissioners in both Health and Social Care also assist Healthwatch Dorset in identifying any specific topic related priorities.
  • Healthwatch England heads up the nationwide network of Healthwatch organisations and sets out its statutory responsibilities e.g. the right to Enter and View any publicly funded health and social care service.  (View a list of the Statutory Duties of a Local Healthwatch)

How we are set up

Healthwatch Dorset is an independent service hosted by Evolving Communities CIC, a community interest company (CIC) limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales.  Like all limited companies, Evolving Communities CIC is run by a Board of Directors who are responsible for its strategy and overall management.

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