A huge issue affecting healthcare with men is the reluctance to complain about issues affecting them. The second is that there is a reluctance within healthcare institutions to listen and address problems too, especially when it comes to circumcision. Healthcare providers generally presume safety and efficacy, and thus dismiss complaints from men as having a different origin. This further disenfranchises men, as knowing that they will be dismissed, ridiculed, and not taken seriously makes them all the more averse to talking about issues that they have had arising from unwanted/poor healthcare.
At 15 Square’s last Annual General Meeting, we were grateful to host Neil Walbran from Healthwatch: Manchester.
Not enough members of the public understand the process of escalating their complaints and frustrations. Whilst internal complaints are important, watchdogs that regulate the healthcare service and exist predominantly to monitor and identify problems are another course of action.
This introduction to Healthwatch: Manchester and the work that they do has inspired our organisation to encourage and empower our service users to register complaints, and to help them understand the process of ensuring that their voices are taken seriously.
Neil will be releasing a video for the 2024 Worldwide Day of Genital Autonomy, but for those that missed the AGM you can find his fantastic presentation on Healthwatch and the great work that they do.