This month, we are celebrating an exciting milestone – Healthwatch Westmorland and Furness is two years old!
To mark this special occasion, we invited our valued volunteers to meet with the team for an afternoon of discussion, planning, and of course, birthday cake. The celebration took place at the Athenaeum in Leasgill, South Lakes, where we came together to reflect on the work we’ve done so far and to look ahead to the future.
Discussing our 2025-26 work plan
The first part of the afternoon was dedicated to discussing the Healthwatch work plan for 2025-26. While the details are still being fine-tuned, we talked about key areas of focus and how we can continue to make an impact.
NHS Dentistry and GPs
We discussed how NHS dentistry is a crucial service for everyone and how we can bust myths surrounding it. In addition, we highlighted ongoing challenges with GP appointments. While the clinical care is generally high quality, patients often face difficulties in securing the appointments they need. We discussed how we could learn from best practices and share them to improve access for all.
Priorities for the year ahead
As we look to the future, we’ve identified several priority areas we plan to focus on in the coming year:
- Neurology: There are changes underway in neurology service provision in South Cumbria. We’ll be closely monitoring what these changes mean for local patients and working to ensure their voices are heard.
- Women’s Health: We’re excited to host an event on 6th May in Kendal to discuss our Women’s Health Project and how it will shape our work going forward.
- Transport access: Access to medical and social care services can be a major issue, especially for individuals with disabilities and those living in rural areas. We discussed how we can address these barriers to ensure everyone can get the care they need.
New ideas and areas of focus
In addition to the topics mentioned above, we also discussed some exciting new ideas for the year ahead:
- Enter and Views: We have several Enter and View visits planned for the upcoming year. We may expand our visits beyond the typical care homes to include GP practices, pharmacies and opticians – more details to follow!
- Veterans: There was a lot of enthusiasm for building connections with veterans, an underrepresented group in our community. We are eager to explore ways we can support this group in accessing health and social care services.
A chance to celebrate and connect
While there was plenty of important work discussed, there was also time for celebration. Volunteers and team members enjoyed a delicious sandwich lunch and shared a special birthday cake decorated with our Healthwatch Westmorland and Furness logo. It was a great opportunity for everyone to connect, reflect on our work and look forward to the exciting challenges ahead.
Join our Volunteering team!
Does this sound like a day you’d enjoy? Volunteering with Healthwatch Westmorland and Furness is a rewarding way to contribute to improving local health and social care services.
If you’re passionate about making a difference in the community, we’d love for you to join our team of volunteers.