Greater improvement needed in complaints handling, says Health Select

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.
The report, Complaints and Raising Concerns, also identifies the need to simplify the confusing complaints system by creating a single gateway for both health and social care complaints.
Response

Our response to new draft guidance on safe staffing levels in A&E

NICE has outlined new draft guidance to help A&E departments ensure there are enough nursing staff available to provide safe care at all times to patients.
The new guidance aims to ensure that A&E departments have the capacity to provide all necessary emergency care, as well as specialist input for children, older people or those with mental health needs.
Response

Getting an appointment with a GP is a major concern

1 in 4 face difficulty booking an appointment on the phone according to new GP patient survey results.
The GP Patient Survey is an independent survey on how people feel about their GP practice run by Ipsos MORI on behalf of NHS England and sent to over a million people across the UK.
Response

What are people’s biggest health and social care issues for 2015?

Our annual survey of local Healthwatch priorities reveals the top health and social care issues for the public across England for 2015.
Our annual survey of local Healthwatch priorities reveals the top health and social care issues for the public across England for 2015.
News

NHS steps up a gear to get people home for Christmas

People waiting to leave hospital are discharged more quickly and efficiently in the run up to Christmas than at any other time of year.
Official ‘delayed transfers of care’ stats fell 13 per cent between November and December last year, with the festive period consistently recording the lowest number of delayed discharges over the last five years.
News

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

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.
Our new evidence raises further concerns about the defensive and obstructive culture around complaints in the NHS.
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Our response to the CQC's national A&E survey

The CQC has today published their latest survey results about people’s experiences of emergency departments in England.
The 2014 Accident and Emergency Patient Survey shows that most patients have a good experience of attending A&E, rating it seven or above out of ten.
Response

Don’t blame patients for the bed crisis

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.
Official stats out this morning show the number of cases in October increased by 19 per cent compared to the previous year.
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