Report attached.

Contact: Lynn Cawley

Lynn Cawley, Chief Officer of Shropshire Healthwatch introduced and amplified her report (copy attached to the signed Minutes) which provided the Board with an update on the progress made to date on the Healthwatch Shropshire Forward Work Programme for 2018-19.

The Chief Officer drew attention to the key points and in particular the significant changes in officers and volunteer numbers.  As well as their on-going activities, Healthwatch Shropshire had been asked to support Healthwatch England with two pieces of work being conducted across the country, the STP Long Term Plan and Maternity Mental Health Services.

Turning to the Forward Plan, the Chief Officer requested the views of the Health and Wellbeing Board on what the Forward Plan Programme for 2019-20 should look like.  In response, the Director of Public Health felt a key area was to link in with the work being done around Care Closer to Home.  The Clinical Chair, Shropshire CCG would welcome the work of Healthwatch Shropshire especially around the development of a primary care network.

Councillor Calder, Chairman of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee informed the Chief Officer that the future work programme of the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee included looking at Mental Health and she would be pleased to look at the intelligence gathered to inform where the focus should be.

The Chairman thanked the Chief Officer for her very clear report.