12 ways local Healthwatch have made a difference in 2015

As the year comes to a close, we look back on some of the great things the Healthwatch network has achieved this year.
These stories showcase not only the hard work and dedication of local Healthwatch, but importantly the changes and improvements they have helped bring about for health and social care.
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Newborn baby sleeping

Five common concerns with maternity services

With a report out today highlighting that one in three women do not feel they are always given the information they need during labour, we take a look at what people have been telling local Healthwatch about maternity services.

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Our response to the CQC’s Mental Health Act Annual Report 2014/2015

The CQC have released a new report looking at the 1,292 visits they carried out between April 2014 and March 2015 to check how people detained under the Act are treated.
The report found that over half of all mental health inpatients were subject to the Mental Health Act 1983 and expressed concerns over patient involvement in their treatment.
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Our response to report on investigations into serious incidents in the NHS

New report from the Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman finds three key issues with how investigations into serious incidents in the NHS are conducted. Read our response.
This report explains the findings of their research, and highlights the issues identified, and sets out the action they believe needs to be taken to improve the quality of NHS investigations.
Response

What help do you need to look after your health in the future?

Read our new report on how people want to play a bigger role in looking after their own health and care and what would support them to do that.
The answer was clear - people said that they wanted to play a bigger role in looking after their own health and care and had clear views on what would support them to do that.
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Understanding the everyday experience of unpaid carers in Essex

Carers play a vital role in supporting people who are frail, ill or disabled, but, in doing so, carers often become vulnerable themselves. We look at one example of how local Healthwatch is working to find out if carers could be better supported.

Carers play a vital role in supporting people who are ill or disabled but can often become vulnerable themselves. We look at an example of how local Healthwatch is working to find out if carers could be better supported.
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Perspectives on primary care part 1: Mothers of young children

Being able to access primary care services is a key concern that the public have raised with local Healthwatch. Our first in a series of blogs focuses on what one group of mothers in Southend-on-Sea told us.
Being able to access primary care services is a key concern that the public have raised with local Healthwatch. Our first in a series of blogs focuses on what one group of mothers in Southend-on-Sea told us.
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woman talking to doctor

People's experiences of primary care

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

People's experiences of primary care

We spoke to six different groups of people about their experiences of primary care services and the issues they face. Take a look to see what they told us.
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Our submission to the National Data Guardian review

The Department of Health is consulting on the roles and responsibilities of the National Data Guardian for health and social care.
We share what people have told us about their views on consent and data security in response to government consultation.
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