A big thank you and next steps for West Yorkshire Voice. Your contribution is important both now and in the future! In this video, we discuss: - The changes to West Yorkshire Voice - The continued role of local Healthwatch organizations - How you can stay involved and share your feedback

If you are or have recently been a carer in Leeds, @carersleeds.bsky.social are keen to hear from you about your experiences to help improve local support.

As we come to the end of 2025, we want to thank you for all your contributions to West Yorkshire Voice. We are very grateful for everyone who has been involved in sharing their voice or who has shared opportunities and information with others.

On Tuesday we attended a event hosted by West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board to support health and care staff to understand more about the challenges faced by people who face the greatest risks to poor health and healthcare access (inclusion health groups).

In June 2025, we worked with someone to produce a video sharing their experiences of anti-microbial resistance from a carer’s perspective. This video was played at the West Yorkshire Partnership Board meeting on 15th July 2025: www.youtube.com/watch?si=zob...

In June 2025, we spoke to three people about how their poor housing conditions have impacted their health. We created a video, which was played at the recent West Yorkshire Partnership Board meeting on 15th July 2025. 1/2

Have you been refused non-emergency patient transport (NEPTS) to a hospital appointment in West Yorkshire and Craven since 28th April 2025? Tell us more by filling in our survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/PatientTra... 1/4

This week, George and two volunteers visited breakfast club run by @kirkleesinrecovery. We had some great conversations with people about 'self-managing' their health. We heard about barriers to managing health and the things that can make this easier.

What do you need to manage your health? We are seeing a shift in health and care services towards asking people and communities to manage their health and care, sometimes called ‘supported self-management’.

Alina, Gemma, Simran and Janet are at Pudsey Civic Hall for the Dementia Friendly Leeds Event. The event is free to attend with many great stall holders, talks and music. We have lots of information on our table to help you and your family. Come join us. We are here until 2:30pm. #DementiaFriendly

George is over at the Dementia Friendly Leeds event today talking to people about how they can have their voices heard alongside @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social

If you work or volunteer with people and communities, particularly those who face multiple barriers to health and care services and to good health, please complete the professionals survey: re-url.uk/WLSK @westyorkshirevoice.bsky.social

Health and care services are encouraging people to take more responsibility for managing their own health and care. If you want to share your own experiences, either about managing your own health or supporting someone you care for to do so, please complete this survey: re-url.uk/WLSM

Here’s one of our West Yorkshire Voice members telling us why it is important from their perspective to have a focus on anti-racism to improve health and care services across West Yorkshire. #racematters #raceequity Watch the full video: youtu.be/ZK7Olw0Zqbg

Missed our latest newsletter? Read more about what we shared below and sign up to join our mailing list if you want to hear from us directly. April newsletter: re-url.uk/WLGS

Great to visit @mesmac.bsky.social yesterday with @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social to hear about the work that's been done through the Healthy Communities Together partnership to better understand how we improve health and care services for people who are often find it hardest to access services. (1/3)

Have you had a traumatic brain injury? Your opinions and experiences are wanted to help with informing future research. Sharing for an NIHR fellowship project by Vicky Carruthers.

Working closely with local Healthwatch, West Yorkshire Voice supports this approach to the recent ruling from the Supreme Court around the legal clarification on the definition of 'biological sex'. (1/2)

Calling all people living in larger bodies! Leeds Beckett University Obesity Institute are hosting a powerful and positive photoshoot to celebrate and represent body diversity. 🗓️ Wednesday, April 30th 📍 Leeds 📧 Interested? Contact [email protected] #BodyPositivity

In case you've missed any of our recent updates, you can read and view our latest newsletters. March newsletter: re-url.uk/WLED February newsletter: re-url.uk/WP58 Read about how your voice has made a difference and ways you can get involved in sharing your experiences.

@wypartnership.bsky.social recently launched their new Equity and Fairness Strategy. We are pleased that the strategic objectives reflect what people told us should be in the strategy. Watch the full video to also hear from a West Yorkshire Voice member. www.wypartnership.co.uk/publications...

65% unpaid carers feel overwhelmed due to not being able to take a break. Our Chief Executive, Helen Walker spoke on Women's Hour this morning about our latest State of Caring report. Listen back to Helen and unpaid carer Laura Barnes here: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

1/2 Last week, George and Harriet attended the Palliative End of Life Care event hosted by @wypartnership.bsky.social Harriet presented the findings of our Healthwatch across West Yorkshire report and it was great to see how the new Health Needs Assessment has been informed by this.

Used 111 for mental health recently? Share your experiences with @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social

Our research uncovers the impacts of poor NHS admin on people. But it’s NHS staff who bear the brunt of people’s frustration when they have been given incorrect information. www.healthwatch.co.uk/news/2025-02... @thekingsfund.bsky.social @nationalvoices.bsky.social

Grt to see this national work echoing the work we are doing in Leeds together around improving the things that are core to good health and care services but often form the majority of complaints and feedback. We call them the 3Cs, Communication, Coordination and Compassion.

Used 111 for mental health recently? Share your experiences with @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social

Joining us as a member of West Yorkshire Voice means you will receive information about opportunities to share your experiences and ideas. You will also hear about ways your voice is helping to make change. See our latest newsletter for recent updates: re-url.uk/WP1G

We’re looking for people from Yorkshire & Humber to help inform healthcare research Citizens' Jury is a group of diverse citizens coming together to discuss, deliberate, and offer recommendations on an important issue. 📌Apply now: engage360.tractivity.co.uk/f03d73dd-2a0...

Mencap has made an easy read survey to help make sharing people's views about the national 10-year plan more accessible. It includes helpful videos. If you are in West Yorkshire, you can tell us about your experiences to help shape local approaches: www.wypartnership.co.uk/get-involved...

A really interesting piece around travelling to health and social care appointments. We also heard people talking about these problems in our recent conversations about patient transport.

We have made the move to BlueSky. Follow us to find out about ways you can be involved in sharing your experiences and voice to feed into decision making about Health and Care Services across West Yorkshire! Also make sure to follow @healthwatchleeds.bsky.social and @hwkirkcal.bsky.social.

Tell Healthwatch Calderdale and Kirklees about your experiences of trying to quit smoking. This will feed plans for Kirklees Council to re-design it's Stop Smoking Service. Call on 01924 450379 with any questions or if you would like to do the survey on the phone. #StopSmoking #Healthwatch