Developing Local Healthwatch and Independent Advocacy Service in Cumbria
Overview
Cumbria County Council wants to hear your views about Cumbria’s new Local Healthwatch and Independent Advocacy Service. These are new organisations that are being set up to provide information, advice and support about health and social care services. This Consultation is part of a wider process of locality based engagement taking place to support the establishment of Healthwatch Locally.
A link to the full consultation document (PDF) can be found at the bottom of this page. You can also respond to this consultation online.
Why We Are Consulting
Feedback you provide will help us better understand how a local Healthwatch organisation can best meet people’s needs. This will be reflected in the ‘service specification’ which will set out the requirements for organisations bidding to become the Local Healthwatch provider.
It is important that the council aims to commission something that is designed in line with local objectives and can achieve a vision for Local Healthwatch as a strong voice for local people on health and social care issues as well as satisfying its statutory duty set out in the Health and Social Care Act.
What Happens Next
In December this year, following a tender process, Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet will award the contract. Local Healthwatch will then start its work from 1 April 2013.