West Cornwall HealthWatch commemorated nearly 28 years of campaigning at its annual general meeting.

Residents with good memories will recall the campaigns for West Cornwall Hospital back in the late 1990s, which included a march in London and a huge gathering in Penzance in 2002.

Since then, the group has continued to fight for local health services, with members identifying issues, gathering information from patients, liaising with health managers, and presenting the patient voice to decision-makers.

This year’s AGM saw Andrew George, recently re-elected MP for St Ives, and David Levine, retired medical director at West Cornwall Hospital, sharing insights on the future of the NHS and social care, particularly in West Cornwall.

Andrew George reflected on his long-standing collaboration with HealthWatch, noting the "worst crisis" the NHS currently faces.

He highlighted issues such as ambulance queues, avoidable deaths, overworked staff, and an ongoing staff shortage, with over 100,000 vacancies.

He also expressed concern over the suspended construction of a new Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Truro and showed support for upgrading local hospital facilities.

David Levine expressed worry over the financial state of local health services and the loss of many services at West Cornwall Hospital in recent years.

He also raised concerns about the outsourcing of services and shared his hopes for the West Cornwall Hospital Development Group, led by the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust.

The group aims to bring positive change to West Cornwall Hospital, but Levine stressed the need for more money and staff.

Audience members were given the chance to raise concerns, with many focusing on the commissioning of services from the private sector and the issue of patients remaining in hospital beds due to a lack of ongoing care.

There was a consensus that workable alternatives must be implemented before the situation can improve.

West Cornwall HealthWatch chair, Jane Varker, acknowledged the contribution of her predecessor, Terry Murray, and issued a call to action, outling two ways the community can help influence local NHS and social care services.

Firstly, she urged people to ask for appointments closer to home if they are offered one beyond the Penwith area.

Secondly, she encouraged people to share their experiences of care or treatment with HealthWatch.

Members of the public are encouraged to contact West Cornwall HealthWatch with their queries, concerns, experiences, or offers of help.

They can be reached at westcornwallhealthwatch@yahoo.co.uk or via the Facebook page: ‘West Cornwall HealthWatch’.