1. Meet our new Committee members

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    We're delighted to welcome seven new members to the Healthwatch England Committee.

  2. How can we improve support for young carers?

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    Young carers have a lot of added responsibilities compared to other people their age. Find out four ways they’ve told us they could be better supported.

  3. What it means to be a young carer

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    The needs of young people looking after a relative with an illness or disability aren’t always understood, and they often don’t realise they are carers.

  4. How are people’s views influencing health reforms?

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    Across the country reforms are underway to ensure that health and social care services provide a good quality and seamless experience for people. The public understand the need for change, but also want to be involved in decisions.

  5. Do you understand how hospitals, GPs and care services are changing in your area?

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    Our country’s health and care services face big challenges. We are living longer, but more people need help with long-term health conditions, adding pressures to services. This demand for support comes at a time when the cost of care is increasing.

  6. A week in the life of a student volunteer

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    Last year 4,700 volunteers gave up time to help their local Healthwatch make a difference to health and social care in their community.

  7. Putting people at the centre of their care

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    Guidance from NICE, developed with the help of Healthwatch Surrey, highlights how you should be an equal partner in your care. Alice Maynard, Chair of the Guideline Committee explains more.

  8. What I learned from volunteering as a student

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    Volunteers play a vital role at Healthwatch, helping the public have their say in health and social care. To celebrate Student Volunteering Week, we spoke to Helen about what she learned during her time as a student volunteer with Healthwatch Leeds.

  9. Choosing care can be stressful

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    Choosing care services for a loved one is more stressful than getting married, according to new research.

  10. Healthwatch England’s National Director gives evidence to Health and Social Care Select Committee

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    Health and social care services are changing, but how effective are they at involving the public? Our National Director shared the experiences of local Healthwatch with the Health and Social Care Select Committee.

  11. What are people’s concerns about proposed changes to NHS prescriptions?

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    With one week left to respond to NHS proposals to curb prescriptions for certain treatments available over the counter, find out about the concerns the public have shared with us.

  12. Government listens to our concerns about rising emergency readmissions

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    In January, we highlighted six key areas to the Government for NHS England to focus on over the next year. Find out how these issues will be addressed through the NHS Mandate.

  13. Healthwatch England's new strategy to put people in charge of their health and care

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    Today we launch our new strategy, setting out the difference Healthwatch will make over the next five years.

  14. Improving access to GP services for people who are homeless

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    Most people take access to a GP for granted but if you become homeless, it’s not always so easy.

  15. Six ways we can improve services for people with autism

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    For most people, going to the doctor or dentist is a routine experience. However, if you have autism, accessing health and care support can be a difficult and stressful experience.

  16. How do people feel about their data being shared by the NHS?

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    From 25 May, you’ll be able to make a choice about how the NHS uses your confidential patient information for reasons other than your care. 77% of the public say they are confident in the ability of the NHS to protect their patient data. Are you?

  17. Our volunteers: Oriana's story

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    It’s Volunteers’ Week and we want to say thank you to the 4,700 people who volunteered for Healthwatch last year. Read Oriana’s story to find out what it’s like to be a Healthwatch volunteer.

  18. How you can help improve health and care for your community

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    Last year 4,700 people gave up their time to help make a difference to local health and care. This Volunteers' Week we spoke to Healthwatch Somerset about the difference our volunteers make and why we need more people to get involved.

  19. Your health and care: What can we do to make the biggest difference?

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    We need your views and ideas to make sure that health and social care services work for those who use them. Help us shape our new strategy, which launches in 2018.

  20. Meet the people using their voice to make a difference to care of others

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    Five people and groups have been shortlisted for a national award that celebrates local people who, through their dedication, have helped improve health and care for their community.

  21. Speaking up saves lives in Bristol

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    Thanks to Errol, more men in Bristol are aware of the signs of prostate cancer and are being diagnosed and treated.

  22. It's easier to choose a care home in Durham thanks to Tony

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    After struggling to find the right information when choosing a care home for his mum, Tony decided to take matters into his own hands.

  23. Helping young people speak up about their mental health

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    Becky felt there wasn’t enough mental health support for people her age, and decided something needed to change.

  24. Getting the basics right for people who are Deaf

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    Thanks to Sandra, NHS England is improving the way they communicate with people who are Deaf or hard of hearing.

  25. Families fight to save local respite service

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    Thanks to a group of families in Hertfordshire, changes are being made to respite care and support for families of children with complex needs.

  26. Meet the health and social care staff who go the extra mile

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    In the run up to the 70th anniversary of the NHS, we are joining in the celebrations with the launch of a new award to recognise the outstanding contributions of health and care staff towards improving patient care. ​​​​​​​

  27. Stories of change - number 25 #NHS70 #ItStartsWithYou

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    To help celebrate 70 years of the NHS we're collecting 70 stories of how people's experiences are being used by health and care services and professionals to help make them better.

  28. Healthwatch Network Awards 2018 shortlist announced

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    After reviewing over 170 entries, we are pleased to announce all of the finalists for the Healthwatch Network Awards 2018.

  29. Making sure GPs provide information in a way that people can understand

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    After being told by patients that local GPs weren’t meeting the needs of patients with communication difficulties, one local Healthwatch decided to take action.

  30. Tell us your story about maternal mental health

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    We want to know more about your experience of mental health support when planning to get pregnant, during pregnancy, at the birth of your child and afterwards.

  31. Work in the NHS? Five ways to let people know you’re using their views to improve care

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    Every year, NHS and social care staff receive millions of pieces of feedback from those using services. Read these top tips to help ensure people know how you are using their feedback to improve care.

  32. What did 34,000 people say about mental health care?

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    Read our report that highlights what we found when we analysed the mental health care experiences that over 34,000 people shared with us.

  33. Encouraging people to plan for care needs ‘just in case’ is biggest hurdle for the Government’s Green Paper

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    New research suggests a lack of information and support is preventing people from thinking about the care they may want or need in the future.

  34. Would you rather be treated by a fallible human or a compassionless robot? We explore people’s views on the NHS at 80 and beyond

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    In the 70th year of the NHS, Healthwatch is turning its attention to the future, asking the public some big questions about what they want health and care in England to look like.

  35. New research shows what it’s like trying to find and access help when you're a carer

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    Our new briefing published today brings together the views and experiences of 5,447 carers from over 27 communities across England.

  36. Healthwatch 2018 network award winners announced

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    The Healthwatch network came together to recognise some of the fantastic work of local community champions helping to improve the country’s hospitals, GPs and care services.

  37. A recap on what happened at #Healthwatch2018

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    Hundreds of people from across the Healthwatch Network joined us at our sixth Annual Conference in Stratford-Upon-Avon.

  38. Should the NHS become more of a lifestyle coach to tackle unhealthy living?

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    Most people are confident that the NHS can meet their needs. But, when it comes to the NHS at 100 confidence falls by half. We explore recent polling that indicates people think they should be responsible for staying healthy but want the NHS to help.

  39. How much funding is your local Healthwatch receiving for 2018/19?

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    Find out how much funding your local Healthwatch receives to help you have your say.

  40. NHS not tracking why more patients are being readmitted to hospital

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    New research indicates spike in emergency readmissions to hospital over the last year. Our report calls on NHS to fix the data gaps to help understand why.

  41. What matters most: Four things people want from care

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    Since 2014, we’ve heard from 1.4 million people about what it’s like to use NHS and social care services. Our latest annual report to Parliament highlights what changes you want to see and how together we're making a difference.

  42. Three common issues homeless people face when trying to access care

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    With thousands of people at risk of homelessness this winter, we look at the common issues people who do not have a place to call home tell us they can face when it comes to health and care.

  43. Helping someone who is homeless access healthcare

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    With many people sleeping rough, here's how health and care services can help those facing homelessness get the support they need.