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Here at EK360 we hold the contracts for both local Healthwatch Kent and Healthwatch Medway.
Over the past year, Healthwatch Kent has continued to ensure people’s voices are heard and used to improve health and social care services across the county.
We supported over 3,200 people to share their experiences and helped more than 4,000 residents find advice and information about services.
With a team of 8.8 staff and 18 volunteers, we published 10 reports exploring key issues such as A&E access, live-in care and support for veterans.
Listening to what matters most
This year, we spoke to people across Kent about their experiences of health and care services.
Our work highlighted:
Challenges with accessing urgent care, including confusion about alternatives to A&E
Ongoing difficulties getting GP appointments, particularly for some groups
The importance of improving support for veterans, especially around employment and mental health
Barriers to accessing care for people with additional communication needs and those affected by digital exclusion
We also strengthened how we collect and analyse feedback, helping us better understand health inequalities and the experiences of different communities.
Making a difference
We use your feedback to influence change locally, regionally and nationally.
This year, our work contributed to:
Improvements in urgent care planning, with findings from our A&E research shared with system leaders and used in strategic decision-making
Changes to live-in care services, including clearer communication and improved patient information following feedback
Action to better support veterans, with insights informing local employment support and future planning
National conversations, including input into consultations on community mental health services and the NHS Online Trust
Supporting people to find help
We provide trusted information and guidance to help people navigate health and care services.
This year, we:
Helped thousands of residents access the services they need
Supported people to raise concerns and resolve issues
Provided clear, up-to-date advice on topics such as complaints, GP access and finding care
In some cases, this led to direct improvements, such as ensuring individuals could remain registered with their GP or highlighting accessibility issues within hospital services.
Working with communities
We are committed to hearing from all communities across Kent, especially those whose voices are less often heard.
This year we:
Spoke with people at community events and on local high streets
Engaged directly with veteran communities
Improved how we capture and use demographic data to better understand different experiences
Looking ahead
We will continue to ensure people’s experiences shape the future of health and care in Kent.
Our priorities for the coming year include:
Improving understanding of care home experiences
Supporting the development of neighbourhood health approaches
Listening to and acting on experiences of people with learning disabilities
Get involved
Your experiences help improve care for everyone. By sharing your views, you can make a difference across Kent. Email us at info@healthwatchkent.co.uk.
