It has therefore asked Healthwatch (the independent health and social care champion) across West Yorkshire to develop the West Yorkshire Voice to feed directly into decisions made about health and care.

It will be developed in partnership with local people to reflect our diverse communities. West Yorkshire Voice will make sure that the real voice of people with lived experience is heard by those who make decisions about health and care services in West Yorkshire.

West Yorkshire Voice will be a network that will bring together individuals, groups, local panels, networks and organisations to ensure the voice of people is at the heart of health and care decision-making in West Yorkshire.

It will complement existing involvement mechanisms that are already in place at a local and West Yorkshire level. It will be a new way of working with people, communities and organisations that will not replace or duplicate what is already there but will add to and build on those existing structures.

The purpose of West Yorkshire Voice will be:

• To bring the real voice of people with lived experience and unpaid carers to decision making.
• Give opportunity to those that may not normally be involved and include the voices of those with the greatest health inequalities.
• Form a key part of how the Integrated Care Board (ICB) is held to account by the people of West Yorkshire.
• Connect the real lives and experiences of people with decision making.
• Enable and support diverse involvement and representation.

To find out more, or to join you can:

• Call Healthwatch West Yorkshire on: 0113 8980035 or
• Email: zobi@westyorkshirehealthwatch.co.uk or
• Complete the online membership form on Healthwatch website or via https://www.wypartnership.co.uk/wy-voice for individual or group membership