Healthwatch Derbyshire Shortlisted for National Award

We are delighted to announce that we've been shortlisted for a prestigious national award. The nomination is in recognition of our work to improve hospital discharge for local people in Derbyshire.

The National Healthwatch Impact Award's celebrate outstanding examples of work following people sharing their experiences to improve care in their communities.

Our nomination follows the publication of our 2023 Hospital Discharge Report, which highlighted the urgent need for clearer information and better communication when patients are discharged from hospital.

Recognising our work to improve hospital discharge

As a direct result of our report, the Derbyshire Integrated Care System (ICS) created a Discharge Improvement Engagement role within Healthwatch Derbyshire.

This role helps to make sure that patient stories and experiences are directly fed into the different hospital discharge pathways, shaping them to work for the people needing support.

Helen Henderson, our Chief Executive, said:

“Our team is passionate about making sure health and care services truly reflect the needs of the people who use them. This nomination recognises the power of patient voices in driving improvements.

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“Over the course of this project, we’ve spoken to patients, carers, and their families, and their experiences have been vital in shaping better hospital discharge processes.

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"We couldn’t have achieved this without the people who shared their stories so openly. Their voices are at the heart of everything we do, and this achievement belongs to everyone in Derbyshire who has contributed to improving care for our community.”

Embedding patient voices into care

Our report found that leaving hospital can be a confusing time for patients, their families, and carers. People told us that clear, accessible, and timely information was their number one priority when being discharged.

In response, we have worked closely with Joined Up Care Derbyshire communication leads, local people, and healthcare staff to develop a discharge information pack to support better outcomes.

Hearing from people with dementia or in palliative care has also helped provide evidence for a business case for funding and contributed to a shift in culture - ensuring that people’s voices are not just heard but acted upon.

The ICS is now also using this project as a model for how patient experiences can help solve complex care challenges and improve outcomes for those facing health inequalities.

To learn more about the ongoing work, take a look at the Derbyshire Involvement 'Joining Up for Hospital Discharge' project page.

Share for Better Care Week

The nominees for the Impact Awards have been announced as part of ‘Share for Better Care Week,’ a national campaign encouraging people to share their experiences of NHS and adult social care services to drive improvements. Eighteen projects from other local Healthwatch including ourselves, are in the running for the award, with the winner set to be announced at a national event in March.

Louise Ansari, Chief Executive of Healthwatch England, said:

“Getting shortlisted for this award is a huge achievement. It highlights how the views, experiences, and ideas of local people are key to finding new ways to improve health and care services.

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“This story shows what we can achieve when local people speak up, and those who run services listen. If you have a spare moment this week, please share your care experiences with us, as positive change begins with your voice.”

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To take part in Share for Better Care Week and share your experience of health or social care services, visit our feedback form. Or get in touch with our team.

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