West Yorkshire Voice Evaluation Report
West Yorkshire Voice (WYV) was established to ensure that people’s experiences and lived experience are at the heart of health and care decision-making across West Yorkshire. Between July 2022 and March 2026, Healthwatch organisations across West Yorkshire coordinated the network on behalf of NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (WY ICB), creating a model that connects people, community organisations, voluntary sector groups and healthcare decision-makers.
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West Yorkshire Voice Evaluation Report and executive summary
Author: George Ellis
Published: 16 October 2026
Published: 16 October 2026
Between July 2022 and March 2026, the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (WY ICB) funded Healthwatch working together across West Yorkshire to coordinate a network called West Yorkshire Voice (WYV). This formed part of wider partnership working between the local Healthwatch organisations across West Yorkshire and with the West Yorkshire ICB (WY ICB). The main aim of West Yorkshire Voice has been to make sure that local people’s voices are at the heart of health and care decision-making across West Yorkshire.
The coordination of West Yorkshire Voice transitioned into the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (WY ICB) in March 2026. As part of this handover and transition, Healthwatch across West Yorkshire have collated this summary report and undertaken an evaluation which reflects on the initial aims of the network and its success in delivering on these.
We gathered feedback about West Yorkshire Voice via a survey and through individual conversations between March and May 2026. This enabled us to hear from network members about what has worked well and what might improve things in the future of the network.
This report is both an overview of the work undertaken by West Yorkshire Voice between July 2022 and March 2026, as well as an evaluation of running a West Yorkshire-wide network for people’s voices in health and care services.
We gathered feedback about West Yorkshire Voice via a survey and through individual conversations between March and May 2026. This enabled us to hear from network members about what has worked well and what might improve things in the future of the network.
This report is both an overview of the work undertaken by West Yorkshire Voice between July 2022 and March 2026, as well as an evaluation of running a West Yorkshire-wide network for people’s voices in health and care services.
Click on the button below to read the report.
Please get in touch if you require the report in a different format. Either call 0113 898 0035, email info@healthwatchleeds.co.uk or text 07717 309 843.
West Yorkshire Voice Evaluation Report
Execitive summary of West Yorkshire Voice Evaluation Report
Highlights
- For a network like West Yorkshire Voice to be able to hear all voices, the focus should be on how to listen to and reach different voices, as well as simply increasing the number of members.
- Having a key point of contact for the network allows people to feel more comfortable and able to share their experiences.
- For a representative network to be effective, it takes focused time to build relationships, build trust and to outreach to communities.
- People value the option to share their feedback with someone who is independent. This can help people feel more at ease with sharing their honest feedback.People want to see the impact of their feedback within services. Communication should be transparent about how much people can influence change and the reasons why decisions are made.