1. Disabled people struggling to access GP appointments

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    Most people say they are satisfied with their GP but research from our network suggests that there are significant issues of concern for some groups of people, particularly for those with hearing, visual and mobility problems.

  2. Action needed on gender reassignment surgery delays

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    Local Healthwatch across the country are hearing reports of long delays for access to consultations and surgery for people waiting for gender reassignment surgery, but how long should people wait?

  3. Ombudsman reform only one part of the complaints puzzle

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    We are calling on the Government to take action to reform the complaints system - our seven-point plan sets out how.

  4. We warn councils funding cuts could mute patients voice

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    Survey finds local Healthwatch areas being hit cover half of hospitals in special measures.

  5. Why don’t UK citizens complain about care services when things go wrong?

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    As the All Party Parliamentary Group on Health meets to discuss patient complaints today, new poll reveals half of people who experience poor care want to complain but far fewer go on to do so.

  6. Celebrating the Healthwatch network’s success

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    The remarkable contribution local Healthwatch across the country have made to health and social care at a local and national level has been marked at the Healthwatch Network Awards of Achievement 2015.

  7. Healthwatch network visits to local services increase by 300%

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    In the last 12 months local Healthwatch have been out in their communities putting on engagement events in libraries and supermarkets, visiting health and care facilities and running public surveys

  8. Improving access to health services for the deaf community

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    Health and care services need to be accessible for everyone, but those who are deaf often face problems. Healthwatch Bedford Borough share how they are working to achieve change in their area.

  9. Safely home: People's experiences of leaving care

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    With the help of 101 local Healthwatch, we heard from over 3,000 people who shared their stories with us about their experiences of the discharge process.

  10. Major issues with GP access being tackled in Derby

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    Many people in Derby face significant issues accessing GPs. Healthwatch Derby City listened to people views and called for change.

  11. Getting hospital discharge right would stop suffering and save millions of pounds

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    Our new report brings together 3,230 stories gathered by 101 local Healthwatch from across the country, revealing the human and financial cost of getting the discharge process wrong.

  12. Putting the focus back on patients

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    Read a letter from our Chair Anna Bradley to the Times newspaper expressing her concerns regarding the need to champion patient voice.

  13. Making it easier to get to hospital in Buckinghamshire

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    After hearing that people were struggling to get to hospital appointments due to problems with local transport, Healthwatch Buckinghamshire decided to investigate.

  14. NHS services must tell people how to contact their local Healthwatch

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    People can’t help improve health services if they don’t know who to talk to. That’s why patients will now be guided to local Healthwatch by health services to do just that.

  15. Top tips for recruiting volunteers

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    Healthwatch East Sussex recently hit the news for the fantastic response they received as a result of their plea for volunteers. They tell us the secret of their success.

  16. Addressing GP access issues for people in Hertfordshire

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    Patients struggling to access GP services helped by Healthwatch Hertfordshire

  17. Official figures on complaints don’t tell the full story.

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    New figures show that 562 written complaints were made to the NHS per day in 2014-15, however recorded complaints are only part of the picture.

  18. Involving local people in improving disability access

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    Find out what happened when one Healthwatch Bolton worked with their local hospital to improve access for people with disabilities.

  19. GP surgeries updating good practice in registering new patients thanks to local Healthwatch

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    Almost all GP practices in Southampton routinely ask for proof of identity, potentially denying many people access to care in Southampton.

  20. Katherine Rake to move on from Healthwatch England

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    Having set Healthwatch England up and nurtured it through the first three years, Healthwatch Chief Executive Katherine Rake has now decided to move on in the New Year to pursue a portfolio and consultancy career.

  21. NHS England working to improve communications with people who are transgender or non-binary

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    NHS England publish their first in their series of regular updates about what they are doing to improve gender identity services.

  22. Young Ambassadors champion eye care at local primary schools

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    Healthwatch Bedford Borough has taken part in the first child-led campaign launched to tackle avoidable blindness in the UK.

  23. People as partners for better care

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    The past year has shown what is possible when services engage people as equal partners in improving care. This needs to happen more if health reforms are to be successful.

  24. My first 7 days with local Healthwatch

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    We ask Emilia, Healthwatch Dorset's new engagement officer about her first seven days in the job.

  25. Three ways Healthwatch are making sure everyone’s voice gets heard

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    Last year local Healthwatch engaged over 300,000 people across England to help understand people’s experiences of care, but how do they do it?

  26. Is there a feedback gap?

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    We look at what recent public polling tells us about people's desire to provide feedback to help care services improve.

  27. Better orthotics services thanks to one courageous mother

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    Today’s announcement by NHS England of a drive to improve orthotic services will come as welcome news to patients who depend upon services to help improve their mobility, independence and help with pain relief.

  28. People's experiences of primary care

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    Accessing GP services is a key concern people share with their local Healthwatch. Here are some of the issues people from different communities face.

  29. Perspectives on primary care part 1: Mothers of young children

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    Being able to access primary care services is a key concern that the public have raised with local Healthwatch. Our first in a series of blogs focuses on what one group of mothers in Southend-on-Sea told us.

  30. Understanding the everyday experience of unpaid carers in Essex

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    Carers play a vital role in supporting people who are frail, ill or disabled, but, in doing so, carers often become vulnerable themselves. We look at one example of how local Healthwatch is working to find out if carers could be better supported.

  31. What help do you need to look after your health in the future?

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    Read our new report on how people want to play a bigger role in looking after their own health and care and what would support them to do that.

  32. Five common concerns with maternity services

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    With a report out today highlighting that one in three women do not feel they are always given the information they need during labour, we take a look at what people have been telling local Healthwatch about maternity services.

  33. 12 ways local Healthwatch have made a difference in 2015

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    As the year comes to a close, we look back on some of the great things the Healthwatch network has achieved this year.

  34. Anna Bradley stepping down as Chair of Healthwatch England

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    The Department of Health has today started advertising for a new chair to lead Healthwatch England through the changing landscape of health and social care.

  35. Would you use a pharmacist instead of visiting your GP for advice?

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    One in three people said yes when asked this question in a recent England wide poll. We spoke to Healthwatch Cornwall to find out more about changing attitudes to pharmacy services.