MEET KGH's GOVERNORS: Find out more about Healthwatch from governor

One of KGH's governors has explained the importance of Healthwatch which is designed to understand the needs, experiences and concerns of people who use health and social care services.

The governors at KGH have teamed up with the Northants Telegraph to give our readers an insight into their role and the work they do.

Wendy Patel, nominated governor at Kettering General Hospital Trust representing Healthwatch, has written the latest in a series of pieces about the governors which we will be bringing to you in the coming weeks.

This article about Healthwatch is the first in a series of three.

Wendy told the Northants Telegraph: "Healthwatch is the independent national champion for people who use health and social care services.

"Healthwatch was established under the Health and Social Care Act 2012 to understand the needs, experiences and concerns of people who use health and social care services and to speak out on their behalf.

"Healthwatch exists on a national and local level, working to the same goal of enabling people to have a voice about their health and social care systems.

"Healthwatch England is a statutory committee of the independent regulator of health and care, the care quality commission (CQC).

"There is a local Healthwatch in every area of England to find out what is important to people in their area and to make their views and experiences known to those involved in the commissioning and scrutiny of care services.

"Local Healthwatch including Healthwatch Northamptonshire, make reports and recommendations on how things can or should be improved and promote and support the involvement

of people in the monitoring, commissioning and provision of local health and social care services."

To find out more about the organisation click here.

We will be hearing more from the governors in the coming weeks so keep an eye out for the stories if you want to learn more about the governors and their role at KGH.

If you have a question for the governors, email it to [email protected].

To read the most recent piece from the governors on how Covid-19 has shown the need for places like Kettering's Crisis Cafe, click here.

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