Healthwatch Wandsworth would like to hear from carers about hospital discharges

Do you care for someone who has been discharged from hospital since May 2021?
Talk to Healthwatch Wandsworth and together we can help shape how discharges from hospital work locally and nationally.

What is happening and when?

We would like to have a conversation with people who, as family members or friends, have been looking after someone who was discharged from hospital in since May 2021. Our staff and volunteers would like to have the conversation with people individually to talk about what happened. The deadline for conducting interviews is the 11^th of February.

What difference will this make?

We have been asked, as the independent champion for local people, to speak to people as part of a project led by NHS England and NHS Improvement. Our aim is to understand how discharges are working for you and the people you care for and what matters most to you to improve quality. The experiences you share will inform work including quality markers for hospital settings and carers passports, assuring plans for improving hospital discharge for patients and Care Quality Commission lines of enquiry.

Who can take part and how?

• If you have been looking after someone who was discharged from hospital since May 2021, and you have been providing unpaid care, we would like to speak to you.
• We are looking for 10-12 people in total, from across section of age groups, genders and people who represent different ethnic and economic backgrounds.
• A transcript of the conversation will be recorded and shared confidentially with NHS England and NHS Improvement. We will share anonymised information with local people in charge of services.
• We can work with you to try to accommodate your preferences as to whether the conversation is on the telephone, online or face to face.

What to do if you are interested

• Get in touch to tell us you would be interested to take part and we will provide more information.
• If you are unsure about having the time to take part, let us know if there is any way we can adapt or support you to take part.
• Email information@healthwatchwandsworth.co.uk or call 0208 516 7767.

The Healthwatch Wandsworth are offering a £40 voucher as a thank you. They are especially looking for male carers and young people to contact us as they are underrepresented in our interviews, but others are very welcome and encouraged to take part.