1. What should I expect after being referred for mental health support?

    Advice and Information -

    Your mental wellbeing is as important as your physical health but seeking help can be daunting. Here's what to expect when you seek support for your mental health.

  2. How you can help improve health and care for your community

    News -

    Last year 4,700 people gave up their time to help make a difference to local health and care. This Volunteers' Week we spoke to Healthwatch Somerset about the difference our volunteers make and why we need more people to get involved.

  3. Responses to our report on care homes

    Response -

    Here we share how organisations from across the health and care sector have responded to our report 'What's it like to live in a care home?'.

  4. Our response to the introduction of the NHS data opt-out

    Response -

    From 25 May 2018 people will be given the choice to opt out of sharing their patient information with the NHS for reasons other than their individual care. Read our response.

  5. Our volunteers: Oriana's story

    News -

    It’s Volunteers’ Week and we want to say thank you to the 4,700 people who volunteered for Healthwatch last year. Read Oriana’s story to find out what it’s like to be a Healthwatch volunteer.

  6. Our response to The Nuffield Trust's briefing on emergency readmissions

    Response -

    A new briefing from QualityWatch looks at the number of emergency readmissions to hospital. The report found there was a 41.3% rise in the number of people returning to hospital for "potentially preventable" conditions.

  7. Our response to CQC's "Driving improvement: Case studies from nine adult social care services"

    Response -

    Today, the CQC published a new report "Driving improvement: Case studies from nine adult social care services", which provides an insight into care services that achieved a significant improvement on their rating.

  8. Our response to NHS plans to cut long hospital stays

    Response -

    Our National Director responds to NHS plans to improve patient care by cutting long hospital stays.

  9. Our policies on information governance

    Report -

    Find out more about how we collect, process and store data.

  10. Top tips for recruiting volunteers

    News -

    Healthwatch East Sussex recently hit the news for the fantastic response they received as a result of their plea for volunteers. They tell us the secret of their success.

  11. Meet the people using their voice to make a difference to care of others

    News -

    Five people and groups have been shortlisted for a national award that celebrates local people who, through their dedication, have helped improve health and care for their community.

  12. Speaking up saves lives in Bristol

    News -

    Thanks to Errol, more men in Bristol are aware of the signs of prostate cancer and are being diagnosed and treated.

  13. It's easier to choose a care home in Durham thanks to Tony

    News -

    After struggling to find the right information when choosing a care home for his mum, Tony decided to take matters into his own hands.

  14. Helping young people speak up about their mental health

    News -

    Becky felt there wasn’t enough mental health support for people her age, and decided something needed to change.

  15. Getting the basics right for people who are Deaf

    News -

    Thanks to Sandra, NHS England is improving the way they communicate with people who are Deaf or hard of hearing.

  16. Families fight to save local respite service

    News -

    Thanks to a group of families in Hertfordshire, changes are being made to respite care and support for families of children with complex needs.

  17. Meet the health and social care staff who go the extra mile

    News -

    In the run up to the 70th anniversary of the NHS, we are joining in the celebrations with the launch of a new award to recognise the outstanding contributions of health and care staff towards improving patient care. ​​​​​​​

  18. Stories of change - number 25 #NHS70 #ItStartsWithYou

    News -

    To help celebrate 70 years of the NHS we're collecting 70 stories of how people's experiences are being used by health and care services and professionals to help make them better.

  19. Our response to CQC’s report on how services are working together to support older people.

    Response -

    New report from the Care Quality Commission looks at how well health and social care services are working together across 20 local authority areas.

  20. Making it easier to share your feedback – a new Single Complaints Statement for social care

    Blog -

    We have worked with the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, as part of the Quality Matters initiative, to help make it easier for the public and professionals to understand how to make and respond to social care complaints.

  21. Making a complaint about social care services – what should you expect?

    Advice and Information -

    Here we look at six things you should expect when making a complaint about social care services.

  22. The year ahead - Our plan for 2018 - 2019

    Report -

    Find out more about our plans for 2018/19.

  23. Healthwatch Network Awards 2018 shortlist announced

    News -

    After reviewing over 170 entries, we are pleased to announce all of the finalists for the Healthwatch Network Awards 2018.

  24. Eight indicators of quality in care homes

    News -

    Working with older people, their families and care experts, the charity Independent Age has developed a set of quality indicators which Healthwatch Camden helped test during their visits to local care homes.

  25. Why are services changing?

    News -

    Health and social care services are changing to become more efficient and better at providing the support that people want. If services are to get these changes right, it is important that they work with local people to give them a say in decisions.

  26. Safely home: People's experiences of leaving care

    News -

    With the help of 101 local Healthwatch, we heard from over 3,000 people who shared their stories with us about their experiences of the discharge process.

  27. Our public Committee Meeting August 2018 supporting materials

    Report -

    Find out what more about what we'll be talking about at our public Committee Meeting.

  28. Making sure GPs provide information in a way that people can understand

    News -

    After being told by patients that local GPs weren’t meeting the needs of patients with communication difficulties, one local Healthwatch decided to take action.

  29. Our Quality Statements

    Report -

    Each local Healthwatch works in an area with its own unique issues but there are specific statutory activities which every local Healthwatch must undertake and it is important that this work is consistent.

  30. Tell us your story about maternal mental health

    News -

    We want to know more about your experience of mental health support when planning to get pregnant, during pregnancy, at the birth of your child and afterwards.

  31. What did 34,000 people say about mental health care?

    News -

    Read our report that highlights what we found when we analysed the mental health care experiences that over 34,000 people shared with us.

  32. What people have told us about mental health

    Report -

    For the past three years, mental health has been the number one health and social care issue for the Healthwatch network. Take a look to see what people have told Healthwatch about their experiences.

  33. Tell us your mental health support stories

    Blog -

    We want to help people in danger of self-harm and suicide, making sure they get the support they need. Your story can help.

  34. Encouraging people to plan for care needs ‘just in case’ is biggest hurdle for the Government’s Green Paper

    News -

    New research suggests a lack of information and support is preventing people from thinking about the care they may want or need in the future.

  35. Would you rather be treated by a fallible human or a compassionless robot? We explore people’s views on the NHS at 80 and beyond

    News -

    In the 70th year of the NHS, Healthwatch is turning its attention to the future, asking the public some big questions about what they want health and care in England to look like.

  36. New research shows what it’s like trying to find and access help when you're a carer

    News -

    Our new briefing published today brings together the views and experiences of 5,447 carers from over 27 communities across England.

  37. What's it like being a carer?

    Report -

    Our briefing published today brings together the views and experiences of 5,447 carers from over 27 communities across England. Take a look to see what people told Healthwatch about their experiences.

  38. Healthwatch 2018 network award winners announced

    News -

    The Healthwatch network came together to recognise some of the fantastic work of local community champions helping to improve the country’s hospitals, GPs and care services.

  39. A recap on what happened at #Healthwatch2018

    News -

    Hundreds of people from across the Healthwatch Network joined us at our sixth Annual Conference in Stratford-Upon-Avon.

  40. Making your voice count 2018

    Report -

    Read our award winning stories from this year's Healthwatch Network Awards.

  41. How every one of us can help our NHS

    Blog -

    Politicians often talk about the health service as being ‘our NHS’. But if it truly belongs to us then it’s time for a shift in the relationship.

  42. What people have told us - a review of our evidence July - September 2018

    Report -

    Find out what the public have been telling us about health and social care over the last three months.

  43. Healthwatch 2018 supporting materials

    Report -

    Attended Healthwatch 2018 and wanted to look back at some of the presentations from the sessions? Here we share supporting materials from the day.