Healthwatch Cumberland launched with an event that brought together health and care volunteers, decision makers, and members of the local community.

The celebration took place at the People First Conference Centre in Carlisle.

Attendees had the opportunity to meet and collaboratively interact with representatives from Healthwatch England, community champions and voices from the third sector.

The local organisation strives to champion the views of local people and works strategically with Healthwatch England, other local Healthwatch groups, and the Care Quality Commission.

The joint effort is geared towards representing the views of Cumberland residents at both the local and national level.

The Mail:

David Blacklock, CEO of Healthwatch Cumberland said: "It was great to have so many individuals dedicated to improving health and care across Cumbria in the one room.

"During the event we shared Healthwatch’s Cumberland’s priorities for the year ahead; priorities which have been identified through our recent 'Here for You' where we asked local people to share their experiences with us."

The attendees were also privy to the key findings from 'Here for You'.

This was where Cumberland residents had the chance to have their say on their beloved community and the issues they face concerning health and social care.

Healthwatch Cumberland seized the moment to showcase - Disability Voices - its flagship project.

The project had involved extensive engagement with hundreds of individuals and various community groups and organisations across Cumbria to assess the state of affairs for people living with disabilities in the region.

The Mail:

Lindsay Graham, director of Healthwatch Cumberland, gave an insight into the study.

She said: "At the event we shared the results of our recent Disability Voices investigation into the barriers people face in being able to live their best life and what needs to change in the future.

"Our resulting Disability Voices Report was also shared and includes our full findings, including the personal stories of those living with disabilities in Cumbria, and importantly our recommendations for the NHS and local authorities."

The gathering also featured interactive community stands and provided the opportunity for attendees to network with senior decision-makers, local organisations, community champions and Healthwatch Cumberland’s engagement team.

For more about Healthwatch, or to share views that could shape local services, residents are encouraged to visit the Healthwatch Cumberland website.