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Share your story to help improve health and social care services
A new social media campaign, #BecauseWeAllCare, calls on the public to share their recent experiences with the NHS and social care services.
The coronavirus crisis has placed tremendous pressure on health and social care. With services working to bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic, people's views have never been more important, say England's care regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC)and Healthwatch England (the consumer champion for health and social care).
The organisations have joined forces to launch the #BecauseWeAllCare campaign and are asking for people's stories to identify the current issues facing health and social care in local communities.
Kate Terroni, chief inspector of adult social care at the CQC said: 'It's only by hearing what's working and what's not, that health and social care providers can improve the quality of care and support that they are delivering.'
Healthwatch and the CQC have found that, since the coronavirus crisis, more than two thirds (67%) of people would be willing to provide feedback on their experiences of the NHS and social care services.
But a third of respondents (36%) said they would be reluctant to share negative feedback in case it increased pressure on services or staff. However, the CQC and Healthwatch say it's just as important to report when things haven't gone quite right as it is to provide feedback on good experiences.
'Every piece of information is valuable for those delivering health and social care services, so it's vital that people don't hold back from giving feedback - whether it's big or small, good or bad', said Sir Robert Francis QC, chair of Healthwatch England.
- Confidentially share your recent experiences of NHS and social care: Take the survey
How to complain about your care
As well as sharing your experiences for this campaign, there are procedures in place if you need to make a complaint about a care provider or the NHS. Don't be afraid to speak up. Raising awareness of problems could help to make things better. And in extremely rare cases, you might have concerns about neglect and abuse.
If a care home or hospital isn't providing the level of service that it should for you or a loved one, it's your right to complain about unsatisfactory care.
- See our guide on how to complain about a care provider and the five steps to take when writing a letter of complaint.
Which health services can I access now?
Many healthcare services were closed or severely limited during thecoronavirus pandemic. While many services have now reopened, they will be operating with a reduced service and it may still be difficult to arrange a face-to-face appointment.
Visit the NHS website for up-to-date information about which services are available and how to get an appointment. If you need to contact your GP, get in touch with the surgery by phone or online in the first instance. Don't go to the surgery in person, unless you have been asked to attend.
Read our latest guidance on accessing healthcare services during the coronavirus crisis:
- When are dentists reopening?
- Advice on choosing an optician
- How to prepare for an online GP appointment
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