Healthwatch Gloucestershire - Market Engagement

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SOFT MARKET TESTING A LOCAL HEALTHWATCH FOR GLOUCESTERSHIRE The current local Healthwatch arrangements in Gloucestershire finish in March 2017 and Gloucestershire County Council wants to design a local Healthwatch that fits with the way people live their lives and builds on the strengths of our communities. We want to ensure that Local Healthwatch is effective for both commissioners, service providers and for the people using services. The Council is facing rising demand and continued reductions to funding so as well as wanting an effective local Healthwatch, it needs to be one that we can afford and makes best use of the Gloucestershire pounds spent on it. Gloucestershire County Council is inviting service providers to a stakeholder engagement event to engage in further development of the service specification for the local Healthwatch functions (excluding independent health complaints advocacy). There are three aspects we would like to discuss further: • Consumer champion – through a strong volunteer core understand the needs and experiences of local residents and enabling them to make those views known to health and social care commissioners and providers • Research and intelligence – using robust methodologies to influence priority setting and decision making of commissioners and providers • Information and advice - enable local residents to make informed choices about health and social care The local Healthwatch Organisation must be a body corporate which is a social enterprise, in accordance with the Health and Social Care Act 2012. The event will take place on Wednesday 28th September at a location in Cheltenham with parking and on a regular bus route from the town centre. Limited places are available, to book a place please email healthwatch2016@gloucestershire.gov.uk or via telephone on 01452 583430 no later than 5pm on 23rd September. Further information will be made available in due course. Keywords: Healthwatch