I am writing to raise awareness for the Care Quality Commission’s ‘Declare Your Care’ campaign. The CQC is determined to further raise standards of NHS and social care, but it can only do this if people speak up...
While the CQC does not have the power to resolve individual complaints, if they hear from a number of people with concerns about the same organisation it may stir them to bring forward their next inspection to an early date.
It’s good news that the CQC actively wants people to get in contact with them. Research shows that almost 7 million people in England had concerns about their care in the last five years but did not raise them. The main reasons include the lack of clarity over how to do this, and many people simply felt that nothing would change as a result.
My constituents often contact me about a wide range of care issues including appointment wait times, poor patient care and the difficulties of rural access to particular services. I raise these complaints with the Government and local healthcare authorities and aim to encourage decisive action so that care standards in Beverley and Holderness are driven upwards for everyone. I am currently working with the Hornsea Hospital League of Friends to improve service availability and patient experience at Hornsea Cottage Hospital, and with Councillors Lyn Healing and Dave Tucker to bring the Withernsea 8 to 8 Centre service up to a decent standard.
People should raise their complaint or concern in the first instance with the healthcare organisation from which they have received poor service as the organisation will investigate the issue and try to resolve it, but I would also encourage people to share their experience of care, on behalf of themselves or a family member at cqc.org.uk/sye
If my constituents would like my help in raising healthcare issues on their behalf, or just want to let me know about them, then I will be pleased to hear from them and do what I can to help.
