Commended: Mental health project gets national award after people speak-up about their experiences
The awards highlight outstanding examples of where the views and experiences of local people has been used by their local Healthwatch to make care better.
The team at Healthwatch North Yorkshire has been commended at a national award ceremony for their work in improving the care of local people.
The Healthwatch Impact Awards recognise outstanding examples of people sharing their experiences to improve care for their community.
Healthwatch North Yorkshire set out to understand the experiences of adults accessing mental health services.
The feedback received led to the recruitment of 45 first contact mental health practitioners in GP practices who serve as initial points of contact for adults experiencing mental health issues. This means people don't need specialist referrals and it helps to reduce waiting times. This ensures people see the most appropriate clinician in a timely way and are offered support that’s right for them.
Read more about in our report:
“The team are obviously chuffed but ultimately this award belongs to everyone across our county who got involved in our project to improve mental health.”
“I hope this encourages more people in North Yorkshire to come forward to share their experiences of health and social care. This project shows what’s possible when the community speaks up and health and care services listen.”
Ashley Green, Chief Executive of Healthwatch North Yorkshire
Praising the team at Healthwatch North Yorkshire on the news, Louise Ansari, Chief Executive of Healthwatch England, said:
“Every year, we are consistently impressed by the quality of entries for our Impact Award, and this year is no different.
“However, this project really stood out because it shows exactly why listening to local people and acting on their views is key to helping unlock better health and social care services. Congratulations to everyone involved.”
To read more about the annual Healthwatch Impact Awards, visit: Impact award: Outstanding work leads to first-ever joint win | Healthwatch
