Healthwatch Surrey is a new consumer champion for health and social care in Surrey. It is being developed to give the people of Surrey a stronger voice to influence and challenge how health and social services are provided within the county. HEALTHWATCH SURREY WILL: Enable people to share views and concerns about local health and social care services Provide evidence based feedback to commissioners and providers to influence, inform and, if necessary, challenge decisions and plans Provide, or signpost to, information about local services and how to access them It will also have the power to enter and view health and social care services across Surrey as well as produce reports and recommendations to influence the way services are designed and delivered. Surrey County Council is providing funding for Healthwatch Surrey but it will be an independent organisation, able to employ its own staff and volunteers. Three organisations are providing support to run Healthwatch Surrey They are: CITIZENS ADVICE SURREY, SURREY INDEPENDENT LIVING COUNCIL and HELP AND CARE Surrey residents can contact Healthwatch Surrey direct on 0303 303 0023 (a dedicated local rate number), an SMS number 07592 787533 or by e-mail on info@healthwatchsurrey.org CITIZENS ADVICE SURREY is a consortium of Citizens Advice Bureaux in Surrey, which will provide a face to face advice and support service for Healthwatch Surrey. They will be pleased to help anyone with a query or concern relating to health or social care services. As well as helping those with new health and social care issues we are interested to hear about your experiences of health and social care provision in Surrey, whether they are good or bad. If there is information or services which your GP surgery, hospital or social worker could have provided which would have been helpful in your situation, please let us know. Advice on Healthwatch and other issues can be obtained on the Waverley CAB adviceline 0844 848 7969 (10am – 4pm Monday to Friday, on-line via www.citizensadvicewaverley.org.uk, via e-mail through our website or face to face at any of the Waverley CAB bureaux.