Annual Report 2025/2026
Championing your voice
Through our Patient Experience Programme, we collected nearly 3,774 responses from local residents on their care at GP practices, hospitals, dental clinics, pharmacies, and more. Our volunteers gave a staggering 1,639 hours of their time to champion our users’ voices and make a tangible difference and we have a healthy regular source of interns so we expect our engagement to rise in the next financial year.
Working together for change
We published 16 reports about the improvements people would like to see in health and social care services. Our most influential reports have been the Lewisham Mental Health Engagement Reports highlighting this community's and their carers' struggles and supporting quality improvement measures and directly inputting into the development of Heather Close Community Mental Health Centre.
We carried out 5 visits to 3 care homes, a GP practice and a Community Eye Care Centre, recognising and sharing best practice and suggesting recommendations for improvement as necessary.
A year of making a difference
Over the past year, we supported 171 individuals who reached out to us with questions varying from prescriptions, neurodiverse support, hospital discharge, or carer support to name a few. Our team helped them navigate complex systems and find the right service—whether that meant contacting SLaM, PALS, speaking to care home managers, or accessing local support organisations like IMAGO and Carers Lewisham.
Driving Change with Partners
Partners like Lewisham Council, South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, and Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust continue to value our insights. Whether it’s reviewing access arrangements in a care home, flagging the lack of water during a heat wave in a hospital department, or sharing best practice for LGBTQ+ training, your voices are making a difference.
Thank you to everyone who shared their story, gave time as a volunteer, or worked with us to improve care. Without your support, our work would not be as meaningful or far-reaching as it is today and your voice is helping to build a fairer, more responsive health and social care system in Lewisham.
