George Lindars-Hammond

Many thanks to George Lindars-Hammond and Timothy Cohen at @healthwatchengland.bsky.social for an insightful webinar on new Healthwatch eyecare research! It was interesting to hear about the research findings and your recommendations too.

Sign up for the session below from @visionaryuk.bsky.social to hear from our own @georgesheffield.bsky.social about our latest research on people's experiences of eyecare.

www.visionary.org.uk/events

Thanks for your kind words and all your engagement on this!

A strain on sight: Waiting for NHS specialist eye care Our new report warns long waits for eye care are having a huge impact on people's daily lives.

📥 Read the full report here: healthwatch.co.uk/report/2025-...

💡 Recommendations:
- We need to see a greater use of optometrists to manage eye care and reduce waiting times.
-We need Improved communication and support for those waiting for eye care.
- The NHS should publish ophthalmology waiting list data by condition.

🚨The impact on people's lives:

- 70% of those waiting have noticed deterioration in vision.
- Over half said the wait affected their ability to work and carry out daily tasks.
- 69% reported a negative impact on mental health.

📊 Key Findings:

- Nearly 59,000 people are currently waiting for specialist eye care.
- Only 66.8% have been waiting less than the 18-week target set by the Government, compared to a target of 92%.

🆕New Report Alert! 🆕

📢 @healthwatchengland.bsky.social has released a new report highlighting the long waits for NHS specialist eye care and their impact on people's lives. 👁️

I'm unsure about the next permanent NHS CEO being inside DHSC. If Wes can't exercise enough control over NHSE then perhaps it is the instructions, funding and context that need reviewing, not the desk arrangements.

NHSE has made the argument for the powerful, independent, centre badly. Few in the health world, let alone in the street could articulate it yet there are roles supporting the frontline that NHS E could do more of - particularly in standardising policies that are currently locally created.

It is hard to work in this space and not be somewhat convinced as Wes appears to be that the DHSC/duplication cannot continue whilst the settlement is so tight and the rest of the 2012 reforms are being so comprehensively unwound.

Wes Streeting to axe thousands of jobs at NHS England after ousting of chief executive NHS staff fear power grab by health department as health secretary looks to shrink body due to ‘duplication’ of roles

Everyone at NHS England I've met and worked with is sharp and committed and yet further cuts to their numbers is sobering news. Good people will lose jobs they are doing well. A few thoughts... www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

💬 Let's Chat: I absolutely love my job here and would be delighted to chat informally with anyone considering applying. Feel free to drop me a message!

🗣️ Please share with anyone you know who might be a good fit!

🏠 Flexible: Whether you prefer working from home (like I do) or in our London office, this role offers flexibility. Plus, if you're a homeworker, you'll still enjoy plenty of in-person team meet-ups—the best of both worlds!

A short thread on why you should apply...

💌Are you looking for a health policy and public affairs job where you can thrive and pursue your interests? Healthwatch is a supportive environment with amazing colleagues and countless opportunities to work on what you love.

🌟 Join the Healthwatch Team! 🌟

The amazing @sebrees1.bsky.social starts an exciting new role today at @ippr.bsky.social Good luck!

This means there's an excellent job going working with me in the @healthwatchengland.bsky.social policy team.

cqc.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...

Patients put off seeking care due to ‘dysfunctional’ NHS admin, warn patient groups and healthcare experts We have joined The King’s Fund and National Voices in highlighting the scale and impact of poor NHS administration and patient communications.

An important joint report out today from @healthwatchengland.bsky.social and others. It highlights how much NHS admin affects patient experience. NHS admin staff work hard, its clear Government need to recognise their impact on patients as they reform the NHS. www.healthwatch.co.uk/news/2025-02...

That's fair and probably right. My main fear now is how funding will have to be a 2028/9 election issue and its hard to imagine that political tactics won't beat out long-term solutions.

Good thread Charles and I agree with much of of what you say. I do wonder however if the admirably quick timescale of Dilnot's work contributed to it landing without creating lasting political consensus on implementing key changes. No guarantee Casey can do better but at least she has the time....

If you’re waking to news of the commission on #socialcare your first instinct may be to head back under the covers. What, another one? Really? But there are genuine reasons to support it, along with a some concerns, particularly on the timing. Shortish thread.

Missing millions: Exploring unmet social care need for disabled adults Social care support can be transformative for disabled people – but as many as 1.5 million working-age Disabled people in England may not be getting the care they’re eligible for.

Social care reform can't just address charging caps or even delivery for current recipients but must fudamentally ensure the Care Act is being delivered in full and that means unmet need has to be tackled. You can see Healthwatch's work on that here: healthwatch.co.uk/report/2024-...

Our response to government plans for social care reform Healthwatch England welcomes plans for a Social Care Commission.

The announcement of an adult social care commission is hugely welcome. We can complain about the length it will take but it is positive that this has been announced with a respected and influential chair.
@healthwatchengland.bsky.social's response👇
www.healthwatch.co.uk/response/202...

Another valuable session at #NCASC talking about the positive but hard future for care with or without reform.

A really interesting session at #NCASC led by social workers and unpaid carers. A lot of evidence about the need to spend far more time listening to care users and their families....

Really looking forward to #NCASC, learning lots about improving social care for care users and chatting about @healthwatchengland.bsky.social work on unmet need and hidden demand for social care.

Inside the AI care home: the smart tech making old people safer High-end care homes are now monitoring residents’ facial expressions and night-time movements using artificial intelligence. Could smart tech save a failing system — or is it a dangerous shortcut to c...

Good piece on technology in care homes, asking 'Could smart tech save a failing system or is it a dangerous shortcut to cutting staff numbers?' The answer is surely that there are real benefits but they won't be fully realized without wider #socialcare reform. www.thetimes.com/article/71c0...

68% of people mistakenly believe they have the right to register with an NHS dentist as they do with a GP.

Does registering with your dentist work the same way as registering with your GP? If you think the answer is yes, you're not alone. Find out more about our calls for reform to NHS dentistry - www.healthwatch.co.uk/news/2024-11...

An XG of 2️⃣.2️⃣7️⃣ for #SWFC today. Just the 3️⃣ shots on target. Not enough at home.

But on the flip side, that’s 7️⃣ points picked up from losing positions since October 5. No faulting the character and spirit of this squad.

Attacking reinforcements are a must in January. 🦉⚽️