Our response to HSCIC statistics on children’s dental care

New statistics show that nearly half of 15-year olds and a third of 12-year olds had obvious tooth decay.
It is the fifth in a series of national children’s dental health surveys that have been carried out every ten years since 1973.
Response

Patchy complaints support is putting vulnerable people at risk

New research finds just one in five councils offer a dedicated complaints support service for social care users.
Care home residents and other social care users struggle to get the support they need when it comes to complaining about the quality of care they receive.
News

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New NICE draft guidance on safe midwifery staffing levels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