A NEW provider has been appointed for Gloucestershire's independent Healthwatch service, supporting Cotswold residents.

Local Healthwatch has a significant role in promoting the interests of local people in health and social care, and can influence the way services are commissioned and provided.

Health and social care has changed significantly since Healthwatch Gloucestershire started in April 2013 and this was the first opportunity for Gloucestershire County Council to look at how the service works.

With the current contract to provide service due to finish at the end of this month, the authority asked for feedback from the public including under represented groups, young people and ethnic minorities to help design a new service suitable for all.

Using this feedback, and looking at what works well in other parts of the country, this information was used to shape the service for the needs of residents.

Following a competitive tender, Healthwatch Wiltshire has been offered the contract for five years, with an option to extend for a further two years. Their service will be renamed Evolving Communities to reflect their new role in the county, and keep the well known Healthwatch Gloucestershire brand.

The contract is initially for five years, with an option to extend for an extra two years on top of that. The total value of the contract is up to £1.8million over seven years.

Christine Graves, chairman of the new provider Evolving Communities, said: “Our organisation is experienced in running a high quality local Healthwatch service and we are delighted to have the opportunity to work with local partners and the community to develop Healthwatch Gloucestershire over the next few years.

“We are looking forward to building on what’s been achieved so far and working with local people on the health and care issues which matter to them most.”

Councillor Dorcas Binns, cabinet member for older people, added: “I would like to thank Gloucestershire Rural Community Council for all the work they have done to set up the county’s first Healthwatch service in 2013 and grow its membership since then.

“We believe the county’s new Healthwatch service will really represent our communities as well as work closely with current Healthwatch Gloucestershire members to involve them in the running of the new organisation."