A Princes Risborough organisation has been paid £340,000 to continue carrying out patient experience feedback on the quality of health services in Buckinghamshire.

Healthwatch Bucks has been awarded a two-year contract by Bucks County Council to carry on gathering people’s views and experiences of health and social care services across the county.

Jenny Baker OBE, chairman of the not-for-profit organisation, said: “We’re really pleased to have been awarded the contract as Healthwatch Bucks have spent the last four years evolving the best service we can.

“This contract will allow us to build on the excellent work we have already done in the community to promote and capture patient experience and ensure people are at the heart of our local health and social care services.”

Healthwatch Bucks belongs to a national network of 148 independent local organisations set up by the government across England.

The network forms part of a wider national initiative that aims to join up local NHS, social care and public health services, and position patient-centred health and social care outcomes among the “best in the world”, according to Bucks County Council.

Councillor Noel Brown, cabinet member for community engagement, said: “It is vital that health and social care providers listen to the views and experiences of our service users so that we improve and shape future services across Bucks, ensuring they meet the needs of our local population.

“Healthwatch Bucks is well placed to do this and we look forward to working with them as they champion the voices of patients and service users across the county.”