The local consumer champions for health & social care and learning disabilities are working together to host a joint conference aimed at helping voluntary organisations to support the public to be involved in the development of the health services they use.
Mencap – a charity that works with people with a learning disability – are being supported by Healthwatch Torbay – who independently gather public feedback on health and social care services in order to develop services – to host the conference in Paignton on Friday April 29.
The conference, entitled “The role of Voluntary Health Bodies in the development of Integrated Healthcare”, is aimed not just at organisations and carers who support people with learning disabilities but also at health professionals, other related organisations, and people with learning disabilities themselves.
Guest speakers include local MPs Dr Sarah Wollaston and Kevin Foster, plus there will be a Question & Answer session with a panel of experts from Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust and the South Devon & Torbay Clinical Commissioning Group.
A variety of workshops will also be held aimed at supporting the encouragement of people with learning disabilities to provide feedback about the services they use and be involved with the planning and provision of service delivery.
“Torbay Mencap has been supporting people with learning disabilities for over 60 years, and following this conference, we hope to mount a major new initiative into meaningful public consultation,” commented John Duffin, Chair of Torbay Mencap Development Committee, “We want to bring together organisations and health charities from across Torbay to develop meaningful consultation and partnerships to support the health service. It would be great to see as many people as possible attend on the day, and we really look forward to making a difference together.”
The event is being held in the conference suite at the Blagdon Inn, Paignton on Friday April 29 from 9.15am – 3.15pm. Please call free on or email info@healthwatchtorbay.org.uk to book your place (by Mon 25th April 2016).
