Quality Time: Our Annual Health Check Review Report
In June 2023, Healthwatch Manchester held two focus groups at Manchester People First to discuss their experiences with their Annual Health Checks. This report provides an evaluation of feedback from 11 people with learning disabilities who were interviewed to gain their views, opinions and experiences of receiving an Annual Health Check.
At the focus groups, we asked a series of 5 questions:
- Have you had an Annual Health Check?
- What did you think?
- What could have been better?
- Would you like to have your Annual Health Check online or in person?
- What would you like to see in an Annual Health Check?
In March 2023 it was reported to our trustee board that although the level of Annual Health Checks had increased, the quality of the checks was often poor. It was therefore decided to include a review of Annual Health Checks using qualitative analysis in the annual work plan for 23/24 and that this would commence immediately.
Our findings show that people are not all receiving their Annual Health Checks in a timely manner. Moreover, people are struggling to understand the terminology used in their Annual Health Check letters.
We recommend that the quality of the Annual Health Checks needs to improve at the earliest opportunity and the improvements required should be made through reading and adopting the views and experiences in this report. As well as this, healthcare professionals conducting Annual Health Checks should consider the capacity of their patients and explain, as they conduct these checks, what procedures will happen.
To read our full report, follow the download link below.
