What we do

We are the independent champion for people who use health and social care services. We’re here to make sure that those running services put people at the heart of care.

Our sole purpose is to understand the needs, experiences and concerns of people who use health and social care services and to speak out on their behalf. One way we do this is through high quality research and engagement.

As a charity with statutory powers, we work to ensure local people’s voices get heard, act as a ‘critical friend’ to organisations that provide health and social care, and hold the system to account.

We work to get services right for the future, and to ensure that people’s worries and concerns about current services are addressed.

How we work

We are here to listen to what you like about services and what you think can be improved.

All of our work is based on what people tell us. By collecting data, views and lived experiences of health and social care services, we can confidently feed back and make recommendations to those in charge.

Our approach to holding to account includes regular meetings with health and care leaders, to assess key initiatives and highlight issues raised by the patients and public. Health and care commissioners and providers must respond to our concerns, reports and recommendations by explaining what actions they will take, or why they are not taking action.

We work closely with partners and stakeholder organisations in Hertfordshire – these include voluntary and community organisations, as well as health and social care regulators, commissioners and providers.

Where possible, we will let you know when changes are planned to services in our community and help you to have a say. We will also encourage those in charge of local care to involve you when changes are being planned to services.

You can also speak to us to find information about health and social care services available locally.