Healthwatch Doncaster volunteers Highly Commended for work on urgent and emergency care

Highly Commended

Healthwatch Doncaster's volunteers have been Highly Commended by Healthwatch England for helping local people have their say on urgent and emergency care services, during the National Conference held on the week commencing 2nd November.

At the virtual awards ceremony, Healthwatch Doncaster - alongside Healthwatch's Darlington, Dorset and Survey - were praised for listening to people about urgent and emergency care.

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Healthwatch Doncaster's Engagement and Volunteer Co-Ordinator Sandie Hodson, said: 

"Our volunteers are incredible people, giving their time, energy and skills freely to contribute to our aim to Engage, Inform and Influence. 

"I am really pleased that their efforts have been recognised by them receiving a Highly Commended at the Annual Healthwatch Awards. 

This was in recognition of their 2019 24 Hours in Urgent and Emergency Care Project which was very well deserved."

Healthwatch National Event

Healthwatch Doncaster was shortlisted under the ‘Celebrating our volunteer team’ category in the Healthwatch Awards 2020, which are run by Healthwatch England.

This annual event – which this year took place virtually due to the pandemic – celebrates the difference Healthwatch’s 4,400 staff and volunteers have made over the past year. Healthwatch Doncaster is one of only 30 local Healthwatch out of a total of 152 across England to be in the running for one of the awards.

Congratulations to those shortlisted

Sir Robert Francis QC, Chair of Healthwatch England, said:

“Since the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded in March, staff and volunteers within local Healthwatch across England have not stopped working. Together, they have done amazing work, mobilising staff and volunteers to advise a concerned public, and alerting services to the issues that were confusing or preventing people from getting the care they needed.

“This year’s Healthwatch Awards have been a fantastic chance to recognise the difference local Healthwatch have made, both before and during the pandemic.

“They are also a great showcase of how by sharing your experience with Healthwatch or giving up your time to volunteer, you can make a real difference to your community. The judging panel was extremely impressed by the extremely high standards of nominations we received and, I would like to congratulate all those who were shortlisted for their achievements.”