1. People's experiences of primary care

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    Accessing GP services is a key concern people share with their local Healthwatch. Here are some of the issues people from different communities face.

  2. Local Healthwatch raise concerns about home care in Torbay

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    Yesterday, the Care Quality Commission placed a home care provider into Special Measures due to inadequate care. We find out what local Healthwatch did to raise the issue.

  3. What people think of mental health services

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    People have told local Healthwatch that mental health is a key priority. With the Mental Health Taskforce due to report its findings soon, we look in more detail at the challenges people have been sharing.

  4. How to communicate better with people with hearing loss

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    COVID-19 poses a unique challenge for health and social care professionals when talking to someone with hearing loss. Here are some important tips to help you communicate effectively.

  5. Have you had an experience like Jane?

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    Jane was shocked to discover that her son, who has schizophrenia, was living in squalid conditions, despite having an agency employed to support him. We explain some of the wider problems we have heard about a range of non-regulated services.

  6. Closing gaps in dental provision in Bradford and Kirklees

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    Since 2014, ‘How do I get an NHS dentist?’ has been one of the most common questions people in Bradford and Kirklees have asked their local Healthwatch. Together they have been working to try and help improve access to local dental services.

  7. COVID-19: What people are telling us

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    In our latest briefing, we look at the key issues the public have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  8. Young voices help improve mental health services

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    People have told us mental health is a top priority in 2016. The Government recently announced extra support for mental health in England, along with faster treatment for teenagers with eating disorders.

  9. Perspectives on primary care part 3: The Roma Community in Bradford

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    People have told us that being able to access primary care services is a major concern. As part of our investigation into people’s experiences of using services, we are sharing a series of blogs setting out what different consumer groups told us.

  10. Three improvements people want to see made to NHS dentistry

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    Read our new report and find out what local Healthwatch have heard about people's views on NHS dental services.

  11. Healthwatch network reveals public’s health and care priorities for 2017

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    Analysis by the national health and care consumer champion, Healthwatch England, has identified the key issues the public want to see policy makers and health professionals focus on over the next 12 months.

  12. Young listeners making a difference in Wiltshire

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    A child or young person’s early life experiences have a crucial impact on their adult health and life chances. Find out what one local Healthwatch is doing to get more young people to share their experiences of health and care.

  13. Chair of Healthwatch England confirmed

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    The Care Quality Commission has announced that Jane Mordue has been appointed as our Chair.

  14. Healthwatch Awards 2020: Shortlist announced

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    We are delighted to announce the shortlist for the Healthwatch Awards 2020.

  15. Improving urgent and emergency care in West Yorkshire

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    The NHS is looking for better ways to make sure that people with urgent medical problems get the care they need, when they need it. We look at how local Healthwatch have been working together to ensure people have a say.

  16. Help us make some noise on Thursday 5 January

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    Help encourage more people to #SpeakUp and talk to local Healthwatch about their experiences.

  17. How Deaf friendly is your dental surgery?

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    A trip to the dentist should be straightforward. But for people who are Deaf it can be extremely difficult when services aren't accessible. We spoke to Mark, a Deaf patient in Wokingham about his experience as a mystery shopper.

  18. Healthwatch England Chair announces new National Director

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    In her first act as permanent Chair of patient champion Healthwatch England, Jane Mordue has announced that Imelda Redmond is to take up the role of National Director from 9 January 2017.

  19. Over 55s least likely to think care has improved over the pandemic

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    We are calling on people over 55 to share their experiences to help improve support after research indicates that they are the least likely to believe care has improved during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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

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

  21. Healthwatch network award winners 2020 announced

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    We celebrated the huge contribution made by local Healthwatch staff and volunteers at Healthwatch Network Awards 2020. Find out who won.

  22. NHS services must tell people how to contact their local Healthwatch

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    People can’t help improve health services if they don’t know who to talk to. That’s why patients will now be guided to local Healthwatch by health services to do just that.

  23. Major issues with GP access being tackled in Derby

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    Many people in Derby face significant issues accessing GPs. Healthwatch Derby City listened to people views and called for change.

  24. Getting hospital discharge right would stop suffering and save millions of pounds

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    Our new report brings together 3,230 stories gathered by 101 local Healthwatch from across the country, revealing the human and financial cost of getting the discharge process wrong.

  25. Improving access to health services for the deaf community

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    Health and care services need to be accessible for everyone, but those who are deaf often face problems. Healthwatch Bedford Borough share how they are working to achieve change in their area.

  26. Healthwatch network visits to local services increase by 300%

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    In the last 12 months local Healthwatch have been out in their communities putting on engagement events in libraries and supermarkets, visiting health and care facilities and running public surveys

  27. Bringing the voice of consumers to Parliament

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    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.

  28. Celebrating the Healthwatch network’s success

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    The remarkable contribution local Healthwatch across the country have made to health and social care at a local and national level has been marked at the Healthwatch Network Awards of Achievement 2015.

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

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

  30. Local patient voice short changed by 10 million pounds

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    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.

  31. Why don’t UK citizens complain about care services when things go wrong?

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    As the All Party Parliamentary Group on Health meets to discuss patient complaints today, new poll reveals half of people who experience poor care want to complain but far fewer go on to do so.

  32. Taking public concern about data sharing to NHS England

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    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.

  33. Warnings of dentistry crisis as public concerns continue

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    We urge the Government to take urgent action to address issues with access to NHS dental care as we continue to hear from people about their poor experiences.

  34. Healthwatch marks network launch across five events in England simultaneously

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    We celebrated the launch of the Healthwatch network on 1 April 2013 with a series of events across England.

  35. We warn councils funding cuts could mute patients voice

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    Survey finds local Healthwatch areas being hit cover half of hospitals in special measures.

  36. Getting to vaccine centres more of a barrier for Black communities

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    When it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine, much has been written about the mistrust among certain communities but is this the only factor preventing uptake?

  37. Action needed on gender reassignment surgery delays

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    Local Healthwatch across the country are hearing reports of long delays for access to consultations and surgery for people waiting for gender reassignment surgery, but how long should people wait?

  38. Consumer champion to explore public’s role in driving change in Health and Care

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    Healthwatch England launches its 12 week consultation to help shape our strategy for the next two years.

  39. Disabled people struggling to access GP appointments

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    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.

  40. Renewed efforts required to create compassionate complaints system

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

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

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

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

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    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.

  43. Don’t blame patients for the bed crisis

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    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.