Agenda item

Report of the Chair of Healthwatch City of London.

The Board considered a report of the General Manager of Healthwatch City of London providing an update on its work and the following points were made:

• Healthwatch continued to work closely with residents regarding health and wellbeing services in the City of London and had held a successful online public meeting with guest speakers from St Bartholomew’s Hospital and Homerton University Hospital Foundation Trust in December 2021.  St Bartholomew’s Hospital and NHS North East London Clinical Commissioning Group had recently announced the establishment of new consultations mechanisms comprising a Patient Experience and Engagement committee and Engagement Leads network respectively, and Healthwatch City of London would be represented on both bodies to ensure that engagement with City residents was robust and that City voices were heard. 

• In considering the update, the Chairman noted the long journeys many City residents faced in travelling to Homerton University Hospital Foundation Trust provision.  The Chairman proposed that community diagnostic hubs be established for the City’s resident and working population, as well as for health areas underrepresented in the City of London such as access to NHS dentistry.  The Director of Community and Children’s Services suggested that dentistry be incorporated in the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment.

The Chairman observed that Paul Coles, General Manager of Healthwatch City of London would be leaving his role shortly and thanked him for his excellent contribution to the Board. 

RESOLVED, that the update be noted.