1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. Our response to Which? latest research on people underestimating the true cost of care.

    Response -

    New research from Which? finds that millions of people are underestimating the cost of paying for a care home place - potentially putting some at risk of financial problems. Our National Director, Imelda Redmond, responds to these findings.

  6. What should I know before choosing a care home?

    Advice and Information -

    To choose the right care home and support for your needs, or the needs of a loved one, it's important you have the right information to make your decision. Here are six things you should consider when choosing a care home.

  7. Our response to new guidance to help care homes understand their responsibilities under consumer law

    Response -

    New guidance from the Competitions and Markets Authority aims to help ensure that care home residents are treated fairly under consumer law.

  8. What matters most: Four things people want from care

    News -

    Since 2014, we’ve heard from 1.4 million people about what it’s like to use NHS and social care services. Our latest annual report to Parliament highlights what changes you want to see and how together we're making a difference.

  9. Helping you find answers

    News -

    To give you an idea of some of the ways we’ve helped, take a look at our round up of the top questions people ask us.

  10. New Long Term Plan is "just the start"

    News -

    The NHS in England has published a ten year plan setting its priorities for the future.

  11. Why are people struggling to get their medication?

    News -

    We look at one of the issues people raise with Healthwatch and the steps GPs and Pharmacists can take to help people get the medication they need.

  12. Five ways services can use complaints to make social care better

    News -

    When people complain about poor care, it can be a real opportunity for services to listen and change. We’ve highlighted five ways services can do this.

  13. Ask people what they want: The key to end of life care

    News -

    A chaplain to a care home says it's vital we talk openly about dying.

  14. Why it’s important to talk about end of life care

    News -

    Dying matters week encourages people to speak more openly about dying and end of life care. Services need to hear about people's experiences if they hope to improve for the future. Here's what one man told us about his brother's experience.

  15. Our response to CQC report on oral care in care homes

    Response -

    New report from CQC highlights the need for better support for residents in care homes and more training for staff to help people look after their oral health.

  16. What people have told us about health and social care: April to June 2019

    Report -

    Find out what the public have been telling us about health and social care from April to June this year.

  17. Choosing care can be stressful

    News -

    Choosing care services for a loved one is more stressful than getting married, according to new research.

  18. Putting people at the centre of their care

    News -

    Guidance from NICE, developed with the help of Healthwatch Surrey, highlights how you should be an equal partner in your care. Alice Maynard, Chair of the Guideline Committee explains more.

  19. Healthwatch 2019 Network Award Winners announced

    News -

    Find out about our celebration of the contribution made by local staff and volunteers who helped gather more than half a million people's views last year.

  20. What have people been telling us: July - September 2019

    Report -

    Find out what the public has been telling us about health and social care from July to September this year.

    This briefing also looks at emerging themes across services and examines what people have been telling us about support for incontinence.

  21. Our response to the Competition and Markets Authority's report on care homes

    Response -

    The Department of Health and Social Care has today responded to the Competition Markets Authority’s study of the care home market.