Healthwatch Barnsley's 10th Anniversary Celebration is a huge success!
The event was well attended with representatives from local Area Council Teams, MP’s and Elected Members including the Young Mayoress, Barnsley Hospital Foundation Trust, South West Yorkshire Partnership Trust, Public Health, Adult Social Care and Third Sector organisations.
There were displays and information looking at the work that Healthwatch Barnsley has been involved in over the previous decade and how making sure that peoples voices are at the heart of commissioning services makes a difference.
The event was opened by the Chair of Healthwatch Barnsley Strategic Advisory Board, Adrian England who has been with the organisation since its inception in 2013 and has seen many changes within the NHS and Social Care within that time.
Attendees were invited to have breakfast and take the opportunity to network and speak to members of the Healthwatch Team before we welcomed Pearse Butler, Independent Chair of South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board who spoke of the value of a local Healthwatch and how it needs to be the strong independent voice that keeps services grounded on what is really happening.
He also spoke about how services which work together to get the best results stating “Barnsley has the ability to work together” He went on to say “I want to celebrate the work that Healthwatch have done over the years, in particular in Barnsley, which is a credit to all of you.”
The Mayor of Barnsley Cllr James Michael Stowe, followed on from Pearce and gave an overview of the Healthwatch service and it’s achievements in Barnsley over the last 10 years before bringing us up to date with current work being carried out. He praised the team for the good work being undertaken and the wider community for coming together to help reduce health inequalities across the borough.
He commented to say “Healthwatch are Independent, strong willed, strong minded and not afraid to speak their mind which I think that speaks volumes.”
When talking about the Healthwatch Team and the Adult Safeguarding Officer, Mayor Stowe commented “We’ve got people working locally, who see the triggers that need to be looked at to make a referral and be confident enough to make that referral, so I thank people who are running Healthwatch and to the volunteers”….”I’d just like to take this opportunity to thank everybody in the service for the work that’s been done. The invaluable work that’s been done over the last ten years.”
Mark Smith, Vice Chair of Healthwatch Barnsley Strategic Advisory Board closed the event by thanking everyone for their attendance and thanking them for their support.
