How we set our priorities

We prioritise our work based on the following information:

  • Public feedback about services
  • We ask the public what they think our priorities should be in an annual survey and at our events
  • Knowledge about strategies of local or national NHS and public health organisations
  • Local context and issues, such as large providers of services in special measures and the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment.
  • National context and issues, such as the NHS Five Year Forward View or significant inquiries or findings.
  • Availability of our own resources and capacity.

Decision making criteria

We use the following points as a guide for making decisions and prioritising where we focus our work:

  • The issue impacts on a large number of people or has a very significant impact on a smaller number of people.
  • The issue has been raised by a large number of people.
  • There is potential for Healthwatch to make a significant difference to the issue in question.
  • The issue fits with Healthwatch priorities or the priorities and timescales of other strategic local commissioners, providers and organisations.
  • The issue has been raised and evidenced by a representative organisation with specialist knowledge of concerns or views of local people, such as the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
  • The issue highlights gaps, such as gaps in service delivery or the voice of local people is not being considered.
  • The issue affects people who are less likely to be heard.
  • We have sufficient resources and capacity.

Opportunities for people to inform our work and share their experiences of health and social care include:

  • Attending our Healthwatch Wandsworth Assembly events.
  • Speaking to our community outreach team at local community events, meetings and workshops.
  • Sharing views when our Enter and View team visits services.
  • Sharing views via our website and social media.
  • Contacting our Information and Signposting service.

Healthwatch Wandsworth invites local people to become members to keep up-to-date with our work and to hear from us about opportunities to become involved by signing up to become a member.