Our response to the Morecambe Bay investigation

Investigation into Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust finds failings at almost every level.
The report reveals that a “lethal mix” of failings at almost every level led to the unnecessary deaths of one mother and 11 babies in the maternity unit of a Cumbrian hospital.
Response

New NICE draft guidance on safe midwifery staffing levels

New guidance to help hospitals ensure that there are the right number of midwifery staff to provide care for women and their babies.
They recommend that women giving birth should have one-to-one care with a midwife and advise hospital boards to monitor staffing levels and ensure sufficient staff to provide safe care for new mothers and their babies.
Response

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

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.
Local Healthwatch from around the country have recently shared their concerns about the lack of quality assurance and regulation of certain social care services such as home care and day care centres.
Response

Disabled people struggling to access GP appointments

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.
We have compiled the findings into a single report which uses patients’ real life experiences to highlight areas where people want to see improvement.
News

We raise our concerns with NHS England about services provided by St Andrews Healthcare

CQC has called for improvements to be made in services provided by St Andrews Healthcare. The CQC inspection report into the provider, released on 10 February, gave St Andrews an overall rating of "requires improvement".
In response to ongoing work by Healthwatch Northamptonshire, we have formally escalated concerns with NHS England regarding the St Andrews site in Northamptonshire.
Response

Our response to 'Culture change in the NHS' report

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.
The report, ‘Culture change in the NHS’ shows some achievements since Sir Robert Francis’s public inquiry into Mid Staffs, and highlights areas where further action is needed to ensure that safe, effective and compassion
Response
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Our briefing on mental health

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.
Report
Graphic of Healthwatch Speech bubbles

Proposed standards for complaints advocacy

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.
Report