‘Living In A Care Home Shouldn’t Be A Barrier To Being Heard’

A group of Sheffield nursing home residents are helping shape the city’s health services.

Broomgrove – which is sited just off Ecclesall Road – has become the first home in the region to work in partnership with Healthwatch Sheffield on a project run with the city’s Accountable Care Partnership.

The residents chose to look at ways to assess the disabled provision currently offered by the city’s community dentists  and opticians as an area to study.

Broomgrove residents have spent the past few weeks working with Healthwatch Sheffield’s Laura Cook to produce a comprehensive questionnaire to be given to care home residents across the city.

The feedback will inform  improvement recommendations to health and care providers and decision makers.

Donna Pierpoint, the manager at Broomgrove Care Home, said: “Our residents have really appreciated the chance to be involved in something like this. They have a lot to offer and they are keen to see improvements to disabled access to community facilities like this.”

Healthwatch Sheffield is the local consumer watchdog for health and social care facilities.  It works with adults, children and young people to help them influence and improve how services are designed and run.

Healthwatch’s Laura Cook said: “Living in a care home shouldn’t be a barrier to being heard.  The residents of Broomgrove have demonstrated – given the opportunity and support – they can continue to make a positive contribution to society.