1 Year Update of our Latin American Access Report!

At Healthwatch Southwark, we want to make sure that historically underrepresented communities have their voices heard by health and social care services.

This project came about because we recognise that Latin American communities have been missing from previous studies on health inequalities.

This project aimed to: 

• Provide a platform for Latin American residents in Southwark to share their opinions and experiences.
• Find out the issues that prevent Latin American communities from accessing the healthcare they need, and share them with decision-makers.

• Help Latin American communities develop direct links to influence services on their own terms.

  Video file

What We Did

Once the report was published (in English, Spanish and Portuguese), we held a Latin American Health Event in September 2023. We invited community members, voluntary and community groups, and healthcare providers to attend. This was an opportunity to network, have a health check, learn more about our findings and the services available in Southwark, and enjoy some entertainment. 

The report was presented in English and Spanish by Councillor Maria Linforth-Hall.

Presentations

Alongside Community Health Ambassador and Founder of Latin Age UK, Patricia Cuenca, we presented the report at the following places of influence:

• Health and Social Care Scrutiny Commission
• King’s College Hospital Patient Experience Committee
• Guy’s & St. Thomas Patient Experience and Patient and Public Engagement Teams
• Healthwatch London Network
• Partnership Southwark Vital 5 working group
• Southwark Health and Wellbeing board
• South London and Maudsley Clinical Governance Meeting.
• Southwark Council Latin American Health Inequalities Workshop
• North Southwark PCN Patient Engagement Event
• Primary Care Collaborative

We received 100% formal responses from healthcare providers in Southwark, available to read in English, Spanish and Portuguese on our website. These responses explain what actions will be taken to meet the recommendations made in the report.

Results So Far

• Our findings have been used to influence Southwark Council’s upcoming Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) on the health needs of Latin American communities. The JSNA is due to be published at the end of October 2024. Scroll down to download a brief version.
• Guy’s & St Thomas’ have pledged to hold a listening event with members of the local Latin American community in Southwark. Based on the outcomes of this listening event, they will seek to involve Latin American community organisations in further service improvements identified during the event.
• The Community Health Ambassador’s Network will receive new identification badges indicating languages each Ambassador is able to speak and understand. The intention is to empower community members to engage with Ambassadors in their chosen language.
• South East London Integrated Care Board (SEL ICB) have pledged to produce an information leaflet in Spanish and Portuguese to explain how the English health system works. The information will be designed to help people access the health system in Southwark in a timely, effective and equitable way.
• This report was used to inform the SEL ICB’s recommissioning of interpretation services, by highlighting the experiences of Latin American communities who have used these services.
• South London and Maudsley Recovery College are currently identifying funding and resource to develop workshops in Spanish and Portuguese.
• South London Listens have translated signposting information about mental wellbeing services into Spanish and Portuguese, available here.

Testimonial

"This project has not only been important on a personal level, it has also been important for the community in general.

The presentations that were made in various places with different authorities and representatives of organisations saw for the first time the need and support that the Latino community needs. This project opened the doors to other organisations to integrate the Latin community more and we have more information in Spanish language now. Not only did it show us the problem of the language barrier in the Latin community but also in all immigrants, from that came the idea of putting up a flag of origin next to the name of the NHS workers, to try to have better communication.

Personally and as Health Ambassador gave me a voice and made me realize the passion I have for the health inequalities, and with the help of Healthwatch making this survey showed how important it is to try to improve this barrier so that we all try to live in harmony and receive the necessary help to improve our health.

 Thanks to Healthwatch for the dedication and effort in carrying out this project."

Patricia Cuenca – Healthwatch Southwark Volunteer / Community Health Ambassador

This project would not have been possible without support from our Latin American Community Health Ambassadors and Community Partners from local Latin American voluntary and community groups, including: 

Aymara

Bienvenidos Latinos Adultos Latin Age UK (BLAS UK)

Carnival del Pueblo Association 

Dominicanos en Accion Londres

Indoamerican Refugee and Migrant Organisation (IRMO)

Latin American Disabled People's Project 

Voces Amigas de Esperanza (VOADES)