Healthwatch Shropshire has won the competitive tender to be recommissioned to provide both the Healthwatch service and the Independent Health Complaints Advocacy Service (IHCAS) for the people of Shropshire for the next three years.

However, this comes with huge financial challenges as the funding allocated for these services by Shropshire Council has been drastically reduced by 27 percent.

Jane Randall-Smith, chief officer of Healthwatch Shropshire, said: “We are proud to have been recommissioned to carry on the work of ensuring the voices of Shropshire people are heard in times of great uncertainty over the future of health and social care services in Shropshire.

“However, given the level of funding cuts, we are looking at all our budgets and will have to make some difficult decisions about staffing and accommodation and how we are going to work most effectively within the new constraints.”

.For further information visit www.healthwatchshropshire.co.uk or contact enquiries@healthwatchshropshire.co.uk or call 01743 237884.