1. Meet our new Committee members

    News -

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

  2. How can we improve support for young carers?

    News -

    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

    News -

    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. Our public Committee Meeting January 2018 supporting materials

    Report -

    Find out what happened at our public Committee Meeting.

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

    News -

    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.

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

    News -

    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.

  7. A week in the life of a student volunteer

    News -

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

  8. Putting people at the centre of their care

    News -

    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.

  9. What I learned from volunteering as a student

    News -

    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.

  10. Choosing care can be stressful

    News -

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

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

    News -

    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.

  12. Our response to National Audit Office report on emergency readmission to hospital

    Response -

    New report from the National Audit Office examines the progress that has been made to reduce the impact of emergency admissions on acute hospitals.

  13. Our response to the Competition and Markets Authority's report on care homes

    Response -

    The Department of Health and Social Care has today responded to the Competition Markets Authority’s study of the care home market.

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

    News -

    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.

  15. Government listens to our concerns about rising emergency readmissions

    News -

    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.

  16. Health and care that works for you - our strategy explained 2018-2023

    Report -

    Our strategy sets out our ambitions and the difference we want to make by 2023 in partnership with local Healthwatch.

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

    News -

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

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

    News -

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

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

    News -

    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.

  20. Our public Committee Meeting April 2018 - supporting materials

    Report -

    Find out what happened at our public Committee Meeting.

  21. Our policies on information governance

    Report -

    Find out more about how we collect, process and store data.

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

    News -

    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?

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

    Report -

    From 25 May 2018, people will be able to make a choice about how the NHS uses their confidential patient information for reasons other than their care. We polled over 2,000 people to find out more about their views and concerns on sharing their data.

  24. Our volunteers: Oriana's story

    News -

    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.

  25. Our response to The Nuffield Trust's briefing on emergency readmissions

    Response -

    A new briefing from QualityWatch looks at the number of emergency readmissions to hospital. The report found there was a 41.3% rise in the number of people returning to hospital for "potentially preventable" conditions.

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

    News -

    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.

  27. Our response to CQC's "Driving improvement: Case studies from nine adult social care services"

    Response -

    Today, the CQC published a new report "Driving improvement: Case studies from nine adult social care services", which provides an insight into care services that achieved a significant improvement on their rating.

  28. Our response to NHS plans to cut long hospital stays

    Response -

    Our National Director responds to NHS plans to improve patient care by cutting long hospital stays.

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

    News -

    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.

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

    News -

    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.

  31. Speaking up saves lives in Bristol

    News -

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

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

    News -

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

  33. Helping young people speak up about their mental health

    News -

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

  34. Getting the basics right for people who are Deaf

    News -

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

  35. Families fight to save local respite service

    News -

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

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

    News -

    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. ​​​​​​​

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

    News -

    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.

  38. Our response to CQC’s report on how services are working together to support older people.

    Response -

    New report from the Care Quality Commission looks at how well health and social care services are working together across 20 local authority areas.

  39. The year ahead - Our plan for 2018 - 2019

    Report -

    Find out more about our plans for 2018/19.

  40. Healthwatch Network Awards 2018 shortlist announced

    News -

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

  41. Making it easier to share your feedback – a new Single Complaints Statement for social care

    Blog -

    We have worked with the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, as part of the Quality Matters initiative, to help make it easier for the public and professionals to understand how to make and respond to social care complaints.

  42. Making a complaint about social care services – what should you expect?

    Advice and Information -

    Here we look at six things you should expect when making a complaint about social care services.

  43. Our public Committee Meeting August 2018 supporting materials

    Report -

    Find out what more about what we'll be talking about at our public Committee Meeting.

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

    News -

    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.

  45. Tell us your story about maternal mental health

    News -

    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.

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

    News -

    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.