Somerset Roadshow on health and social care issues

Staff and volunteers from the county’s independent health and care champion will be taking to the roads of Somerset in March to find out what people think about their local health and care services.

Healthwatch Somerset aims to speak to at least 500 people from all corners of the county as part of its ‘Campervan and Comments Tour.’

And the roadshow will visit Frome Cattle Market car park on Friday 15th March, 2.30pm to 5pm.

The roadshow will travel almost 260 miles, zig-zagging around Somerset in a classic 1969 VW campervan and park up at key locations around the county to gather the views of people of all ages.

Emily Taylor, Healthwatch Somerset manager explained, “We want to reach at least 500 people from all over Somerset in just one week. We thought it would be a great idea to hire a campervan and visit places where people might not have heard of Healthwatch before.

“The role of a local Healthwatch is to make sure the health and care system in the area meets the needs of the people who use it.  Feedback is gathered from patients and their families on services such as GP surgeries, care homes, hospitals, mental health and social care.  These findings are then taken to the organisations which plan, pay for and deliver health and care services.

“Somerset is a very rural county and we thought a roadshow would be a great way to reach more people and give them the opportunity to have their voice heard.”