THE new director of Healthwatch Oxfordshire outlined the watchdog’s four priorities over the next six months yesterday.

David Roulston, who joined in November, said the group would focus on encouraging whistleblowing; forming residents’ groups at care homes; setting up surveys to gather evidence about patient access to GPs; and the quality of home care.

Healthwatch Oxfordshire, which can hold health and social care institutions to account and report them to regulators, formed in April.

It has only now been able to announce its priorities because the director role and governing board has only just been filled after a series of people stood down.

  • For more see Monday’s Oxford Mail.