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
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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

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