1. Our position on the Duty of candour

    Response -

    Our perspective on the commission to review the proposed extension to the Duty of Candour.

  2. Nearly a fifth confess to knowingly using A&E for non-emergencies

    News -

    Nearly a fifth confess to knowingly using A&E for non-emergencies.

  3. Taking public concern about data sharing to NHS England

    News -

    Despite a nationwide mail-out campaign, people are still largely in the dark about plans to share their personal medical records, according to reports we have received.

  4. Local patient voice short changed by 10 million pounds

    News -

    Our analysis shows that around a quarter of the £43.5 million made available by the Department of Health to fund local Healthwatch has failed to materialise in local Healthwatch accounts.

  5. Our public Committee Meeting February 2014 - supporting materials

    Report -

    Find out what happened at our public Committee Meeting.

  6. Our public Committee meeting May 2014 - supporting materials

    Report -

    Take a look at the papers for our Committee meeting.

  7. Our response to NHS England's Delayed Transfers of Care Statistics

    Response -

    Latest statistics show an overall increase in delayed discharge from hospital settings over 12 months

  8. Our response to NICE safe staffing advice for nursing care in wards

    Response -

    New guidance from NICE aims to help hospitals have a safe level of hospital staff to ensure good patient care.

  9. Our strategy 2014/16

    Report -

    Our strategy for 2014/16 sets out how, by working together, the Healthwatch network will truly champion the interests of those who use health and social care services. 

  10. Our business plan 2014/15

    Report -

    Find out what we will do in the year ahead.

  11. Our concerns about reduced local accountability arrangements

    Response -

    We have written to the Secretary of State about our concerns about reduced local accountability arrangements around commissioning.

  12. Local people being cut out of decision making about their health services

    News -

    The way decisions are made about local health services is changing. Early indications from local Healthwatch suggest that this is resulting in the public feeling less able to have their say.

  13. Our public Committee meeting July 2014 - supporting materials

    Report -

    Find out what happened at our public Committee Meeting.

  14. Our response to CQC special measures report

    Response -

    The Care Quality Commission has released a report into progress made at 11 NHS trusts that were put into special measures in July 2013.

  15. Our letter to the Local Government Association about CCG public involvement

    Response -

    We have written to the Local Government Association to discuss how we can work together to ensure that Clinical Commissioning Groups involve the public in decision making processes.

  16. Our letter to NHS England about CCG public involvement

    Response -

    We have written to NHS England to assess to Clinical Commissioning Groups can involve local Healthwatch in changes to how health and care services are run.

  17. NHS complaints data is just ‘tip of the iceberg’

    News -

    Our new analysis of complaints data shows that over half a million incidents of poor care across NHS went unreported in last two years

  18. Bringing the voice of consumers to Parliament

    News -

    Healthwatch from across England share their concerns in Westminster to make sure people can have their say about changes to health services in their area.

  19. More reassurance needed about how medical records are being used by government

    News -

    We share our views on government plans to provide medical researchers and NHS managers with access to people’s personal medical records.

  20. Our financial performance and position 2013/14

    Report -

    Find out about more about our financial performance and position for the financial year 2013/14.

  21. Renewed efforts required to create compassionate complaints system

    News -

    Our new report highlights the complexity of the process someone needs to follow to make a complaint about their health or social care service.

  22. Our Annual Report 2013/14

    Report -

    Our Annual Report, Loud and Clear: Making your voice heard highlights our work and the work of the Healthwatch network over the past 12 months.

  23. Suffering in silence

    Report -

    This report highlights what people have told the Healthwatch network about their experience of making a complaint about health and social care services.

  24. Trouble finding an NHS dentist? You're not alone...

    Advice and Information -

    People all across the country are venting increasing frustration about access to and the quality of NHS dentistry services. Find out more below.

  25. Our public Committee Meeting October 2014 - supporting materials

    Report -

    Find out what happened at our public Committee Meeting.

  26. The State of Support 2014/15

    Report -

    Find out what funding the Healthwatch network has received to carry out its statutory activities for 2014/15.

  27. Using people’s views of good complaint handling to improve experiences

    News -

    New joint report highlights what people can expect when making a complaint about health and social care services.

  28. My expectations for raising concerns and complaints

    Report -

    What should people expect when it comes to raising concerns and complaints about health and social care? Our new report explains.

  29. Don’t blame patients for the bed crisis

    News -

    New figures show a significant increase in the number of delayed transfers of people between hospitals, care homes and community services. We look at what people are telling Healthwatch about their experience.

  30. Our response to the legal Duty of Candour coming into force for health and social care organisations

    Response -

    New law to help improve patient safety, transparency and leadership in the NHS.

  31. Our response to the CQC's national A&E survey

    Response -

    The CQC has today published their latest survey results about people’s experiences of emergency departments in England.

  32. Those who witness poor care being denied right to complain by NHS

    News -

    New research shows 1 in 3 of hospitals across England are turning away concerned citizens wishing to report incidents of poor care that they have witnessed.

  33. Hospital policies on making a complaint - FOI results

    Report -

    Our new evidence raises further concerns about the defensive and obstructive culture around complaints in the NHS.

  34. NHS steps up a gear to get people home for Christmas

    News -

    People waiting to leave hospital are discharged more quickly and efficiently in the run up to Christmas than at any other time of year.

  35. Our response to changes to the NHS England Mandate for 2015/16

    Response -

    Thanks to your views we have provided feedback on the NHS Mandate.

  36. Our response to NHS England A&E performance figures for October-December

    Response -

    This morning NHS England released figures on how A&E departments performed during October - December 2014.

  37. Getting an appointment with a GP is a major concern

    Response -

    1 in 4 face difficulty booking an appointment on the phone according to new GP patient survey results.

  38. Our response to new draft guidance on safe staffing levels in A&E

    Response -

    NICE has outlined new draft guidance to help A&E departments ensure there are enough nursing staff available to provide safe care at all times to patients.

  39. Greater improvement needed in complaints handling, says Health Select

    Response -

    The Health Select Committee's new report on health and social care complaints further highlights the need for greater improvement and culture change in the way that people's complaints and concerns are handled.

  40. Staff should work closely with patients all the time, not just at Christmas

    Response -

    New statistics released by NHS England show a decrease in delayed hospital discharge over the festive period.

  41. Our public Committee Meeting February 2015 - supporting materials

    Report -

    Find out what happened at our public Committee Meeting.

  42. Proposed standards for complaints advocacy

    Report -

    We have worked with users, providers and commissioners of complaints advocacy services to create a vision of what a good complaints advocacy service should look like.

  43. Our briefing on mental health

    Report -

    We ask local Healthwatch every year to tell us what matters most to local people regarding health and social care. This year it was mental health that came out on top with 77 out of 152 local Healthwatch identifying it as a priority.

  44. Our response to 'Culture change in the NHS' report

    Response -

    The Department of Health has released a report which sets out the progress made in applying the lessons learned from the failings at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.

  45. Disabled people struggling to access GP appointments

    News -

    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.

  46. Concerns from the Healthwatch network on lack of quality assurance of non-regulated services

    Response -

    We have written to the Department of Health outlining our concerns about the safety of people using health and care services that aren’t currently regulated.

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

    Report -

    By analysing over 11,000 conversations the Healthwatch network has had with the public about this issue, we found five common areas where people wanted to see improvement.

  48. New NICE draft guidance on safe midwifery staffing levels

    Response -

    New guidance to help hospitals ensure that there are the right number of midwifery staff to provide care for women and their babies.