Welcome to this quarter’s update, showcasing key work, updates and insights from Healthwatch localities across Greater Manchester between October and December 2024. Explore the work happening and the latest developments in health and social care in your locality through the summaries and links below.
Key Activity and Findings Across Greater Manchester
In this quarter, several localities highlighted the following common themes and insights:
Access to Health Services for Ethnic Minorities: Healthwatch Tameside’s report on ethnic minorities’ access to healthcare revealed a recurring theme across localities regarding disparities in healthcare access. These included challenges within primary care, hospital services, and mental health, often exacerbated by intersections with other protected characteristics like gender, disability, and religion.
Patient Engagement Initiatives: Several localities highlighted their efforts to increase patient and community engagement. This has been a consistent theme, with localities focusing on actively gathering feedback through surveys, focus groups, and other engagement methods to improve healthcare services and patient experiences.
Mental Health Services: Mental health continues to be a key area of focus across localities, with reports from Healthwatch Trafford and others indicating concerns around the availability and accessibility of mental health services. Recommendations to address these concerns emphasised integrating mental health care more effectively within primary care settings.
Digital Health Services: The growing integration of digital health services has been another key theme, with localities focusing on the benefits and challenges of digital health, including the uptake of online consultations and the use of digital tools for mental health support. While some localities have embraced this shift, others have raised concerns about digital accessibility and inclusion.
Workforce and Service Delivery Challenges: Localities have reported on the strain placed on healthcare services due to workforce challenges, particularly in light of the ongoing pressures caused by staff burnout and retention issues. This has led to discussions on better support mechanisms for healthcare workers and more sustainable service delivery models.
Published Reports
Healthwatch Bury
Prescriptions Project Report (Report – 8 November 2024)
Healthwatch Bury explored patient experiences with the prescription process. Their findings highlighted challenges such as poor communication and coordination between GP practices, pharmacies, and patients, leading to prescription errors and delays. Participants called for improvements in online prescription systems to enhance usability and ensure timely medication availability. The project involved 122 survey responses, group visits, and interviews, offering actionable recommendations to address these issues.
Healthwatch Bolton
Unheard Voices (Report – 1 October 2024)
Healthwatch Bolton gathered insights into the experiences of D/deaf individuals accessing health and care services. The report sheds light on the challenges faced and suggests ways to improve accessibility and inclusivity for D/deaf people.
Maternity and You (Report – 22 October 2024)
This report examines maternity service experiences in Bolton, highlighting feedback from users on service quality, accessibility, and potential areas for improvement.
Healthwatch Manchester
Enter and View: Park House (Report – 4 December 2024)
Healthwatch Manchester conducted an Enter and View visit to the inpatient wards at Park House, located on the North Manchester General Hospital site, prior to the patients’ relocation to a new facility, North View. The visit, involving interviews with 37 patients, assessed their experiences and preparedness for the move—the largest patient transfer in NHS history. The findings showed that most patients felt informed and confident about the relocation. Healthwatch Manchester recommended continuing the comprehensive communication process for future moves. A follow-up review at North View is planned for early 2025.
Healthwatch Oldham
Learning Disability (LD) & Diabetes Survey (News – 5 December 2024)
Healthwatch Oldham has launched a survey to gather feedback from individuals with learning disabilities, their families, carers, and support workers. The survey aims to assess whether adequate support is in place to help reduce the prevalence of diabetes among people with learning disabilities. It also explores what is working, areas for improvement, and how the current support offer could better meet their needs.
Healthwatch Rochdale
Public Board Meeting – 16th January 2025
Board papers from the Public Board Meeting held on 16 January 2025, covering key updates, business plans, and discussions.
Rochdale Infirmary Urgent Treatment Centre Enter and View Revisit – March 2024 (Report – 10 January 2025)
Healthwatch Rochdale conducted a revisit to Rochdale Infirmary’s Urgent Treatment Centre to assess the improvements since their previous Enter and View visit. The report highlights positive aspects such as caring staff and a calm environment, alongside areas needing attention, like privacy and signage improvements.
Measles Vaccine Survey Report (Report – 9 January 2025)
This survey collected feedback on the uptake of the MMR vaccine in Rochdale, providing insights from local residents on vaccination challenges and suggesting improvements, such as easier access to clinics, resources in multiple languages, and better awareness campaigns.
Enter and View at The Mews Care Home (Report – 16 October 2024)
Healthwatch Rochdale conducted an Enter and View visit to The Mews Care Home, highlighting the positive atmosphere and quality of care, along with areas for improvement, including issues with the lift, smoking area, and communal facilities.
Healthwatch Salford
Salford Men’s Mental Health Commission Report (Report – 19 November 2024)
The Salford Men’s Mental Health Commission launched its Men in Mind mental health report to mark International Men’s Day 2024. The report highlights the key stressors affecting Salford men and emphasises the need for accessible information and better support for both men and their partners. Physical activities and community groups were identified as crucial elements in improving mental well-being. The report provides recommendations to improve mental health support in the area.
Healthwatch Tameside
Board Minutes from 13th September 2024
The minutes from the Healthwatch Tameside board meeting held on 13th September 2024 are now available.
Report on Access to and Experiences of Healthcare by Ethnic Minorities
Healthwatch Tameside has published its report on the access to and experiences of healthcare among ethnic minority communities. This report, commissioned by the Tameside Inequalities Reference Group, addresses key issues in primary care, hospital services, and mental health, providing insights into how experiences differ across ethnic groups and intersections with other protected characteristics.
The report includes findings from focus groups and literature reviews and offers a set of recommendations to improve healthcare access for ethnic minority groups in Tameside.
Healthwatch Trafford
Performance Report for July – September 2024
Healthwatch Trafford has released its performance report for July, August, and September 2024, detailing progress across key areas such as research, communications, engagement, volunteering, and strategic updates. The report also highlights key concerns and includes recommendations for improvements.
Healthwatch Wigan
Q1/Q2 Report: Above and Beyond!
Healthwatch Wigan has published its report for Q1 and Q2 of 2024, titled “Above and Beyond!” This report outlines the organisation’s achievements and key activities during the first half of the year.
Stay Connected
Stay informed about health and social care developments in Greater Manchester by visiting our website regularly. Share your feedback and experiences with your local Healthwatch to help shape better services.