HWR Annual Report 2025-26: Speaking up for better care
With NHS commissioning changes, early steps toward Local Government reorganisation and national proposals to abolish Healthwatch, the need for an independent public voice has never felt sharper. As our Chair reflected, “Amid a year of change, the honesty of those who shared their experiences with us has shaped our work and strengthened our challenge to system leaders.”
Over the past year, we supported more than 1,457 people to find information, raise concerns or share their experiences of care. Residents told us about challenges accessing primary care, women’s health services, same‑day healthcare and asked for information about how the system is changing. Their feedback shaped our priorities and guided our conversations with NHS and local authority leaders.
Our work has delivered tangible results. After four years of working to safeguard urgent care in Oakham, a new combined Minor Illness and Injury service opened on 1 April 2026 - offering walk‑in access, bookable appointments and enhanced X‑ray provision.
Through our work on self-funders’ experiences of organising and paying for their own social care in the previous year, people told us, “I don’t know what I don’t know,” and their experiences led directly to major improvements this year by Rutland County Council - from redesigned Adult Social Care webpages to clearer financial information, new navigation support and practical tools like “Waiting Well” packs.
We also helped secure clearer emergency information for deaf and deafblind residents, ensuring local guidance now meets the Accessible Information Standard.
Looking ahead, we will continue to reach into every part of our community. Our priorities for this year include hearing about experiences of Pharmacy First, understanding awareness of the importance and use of community defibrillators and their accessibility across Rutland and exploring patient journeys from acute discharge to community step‑down care in Rutland.
