Our staff and volunteers will be taking to the roads of Somerset in March to find out what people think about their local health and care services.
We aim to speak to at least 500 people from all corners of the county as part of its ‘Campervan and Comments Tour’.
The roadshow will travel almost 260 miles zig-zagging around Somerset in a classic 1969 VW campervan and park up at key locations around the county to gather the views of people of all ages.
Emily Taylor, Healthwatch Somerset Manager, explained:
“We want to reach at least 500 people from all over Somerset in just one week. We thought it would be a great idea to hire a campervan and visit places where people might not have heard of Healthwatch before.
“The role of a local Healthwatch is to make sure the health and care system in the area meets the needs of the people who use it. Feedback is gathered from patients and their families on services such as GP surgeries, care homes, hospitals, mental health and social care. These findings are then taken to the organisations which plan, pay for and deliver health and care services.
“Somerset is a very rural county and we thought a roadshow would be a great way to reach more people and give them the opportunity to have their voice heard.”
The roadshow will visit:
Friday 15 March
Frome Cattle Market Car Park – 2.30pm to 5pm
Saturday 16 March
Cox’s Yard Public Car Park, Somerton – 9am to 12 noon
Goldenstones Car Park, Yeovil – 12.30pm to 2pm
Yeovil District Hospital – 2.30pm to 5pm
Sunday 17 March
Shepton Mallet Market – 10am to 12.30
St Dunstan’s Car Park, Glastonbury – 1.30pm to 4pm
Monday 18 March
South Petherton Hospital – 10am to 12 noon
The Meadows Surgery, Ilminster – 12.30pm to 2.30pm
Staff Car Park at The Lace Mill, Chard – 3pm to 5pm
Tuesday 19 March
Fore Street, Taunton – 9am to 11am
Richard Huish College, Taunton – 11.15am to 1.15pm
Asda Supermarket Car Park, Wellington – 2.30pm to 4.30pm
Wednesday 20 March
Morrisons Supermarket Car Park, Minehead – 9.30am to 12.30pm
Harbour Road Car Park, Watchet – 1.30pm to 4.30pm
Thursday 21 March
Fore Street, Bridgwater – 9am to 12 noon
Highbridge Medical Practice – 12.30pm to 2.30pm
Tesco Supermarket Car Park, Burnham-on-Sea – 3pm to 5pm
Friday 22 March
Cheddar Medical Centre – 9am to 12 noon