1. How can the NHS improve care for autistic people or people with a learning disability?

    News -

    Share your views to help improve support for people with a learning disability or autism in your area.

  2. Three ways the NHS can help autistic people or people with learning disabilities have a say

    News -

    Healthwatch volunteer June thinks services should support autistic people or people with a learning disability to share their feedback. Take a look at her top tips.

  3. The Children and Families Act: five years on

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    We take a look at the work Healthwatch have been doing with young people, and their families, to find out how health and education services are working together for people with additional needs.

  4. More focus needed on how people travel to and from NHS services

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    Together with two leading charities, we are raising awareness of the issues people facing travelling to and from NHS services. We will be working with NHS England to support their new national review of the links between the NHS and local transport.

  5. What do people think of autism services for children and young people?

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    There are around half a million people in England on the autism spectrum.

  6. Four ways your views are helping to improve care for people with autism

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    Around 700,000 people in the UK are autistic and it's vital that health services meet their needs. Here's four ways your views have been making sure people with autism are listened to.

  7. Faster diagnosis for those with autism

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    Autism diagnosis waiting times was the top complaint received at Cheshire East Clinical Commissioning Group. The local Healthwatch listened to over 200 carers to find out more about their experiences.

  8. Volunteer shares experiences of Asperger’s Syndrome to encourage young people to speak up

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    A 24-year-old woman in Dorset has been leading the charge in helping health and care services in the county understand the issues affecting young people.

  9. 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.

  10. Six ways we can improve services for people with autism

    News -

    For most people, going to the doctor or dentist is a routine experience. However, if you have autism, accessing health and care support can be a difficult and stressful experience.

  11. Every Voice Matters - our Annual Report to Parliament 2015-16

    News -

    Published today, Every Voice Matters, our Annual Report to Parliament 2015-16, outlines how together we are putting people at the heart of care.

  12. Autism services for children and young people - findings from the Healthwatch network

    Report -

    Our new report highlights the four most common issues that people have told local Healthwatch they want to see improve.

  13. An open letter to NHS England to improve the Accessible Information Standard

    Response -

    We have written a letter to NHS England to express our disappointment at the lack of progress in reviewing the legally-binding Accessible Information Standard.

  14. Self advocacy success as breast screening recall letters available in easy-read nationwide

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    When one person advocates for themselves for better health care and improved accessibility, we all benefit.

  15. What to expect after being referred for an autism assessment

    Advice and Information -

    Autism affects people in different ways. It can bring strengths and challenges that can affect how comfortable, healthy, and happy you feel. Here's what you should expect from an autism assessment, diagnosis and getting the proper support.

  16. The challenges neurodivergent people face receiving care

    Blog -

    Neurodiversity is a word used to describe the different thinking styles that affect how people communicate with the world around them. It includes dyslexia, autism, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Tourette's Syndrome and more. Neurodivergent people encounter challenges accessing services which meet their needs.

  17. ADHD and autism: Tackling the long wait for support

    Blog -

    Long wait times for autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) support can have a severe impact on individuals. We look at what people have already told us and urge you to come forward if you have been affected.

  18. 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.

  19. 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.

  20. 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.

  21. What's it like being a carer?

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    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.

  22. My life as a carer – one of seven million stories

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    Three in five of us will become an unpaid carer at some point in our lives. Kate* tells us about what it was like becoming a carer for her husband and the difficulties they faced.

  23. 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.

  24. 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.

  25. How to look after yourself whilst caring for someone else

    Advice and Information -

    Each day 6,000 people become carers. Looking after a loved one can be physically and emotionally exhausting so it's vital that you get the support you need. Find out how you can make sure you look after yourself.

  26. What support can I get as a carer?

    Advice and Information -

    Many people who provide unpaid care are unaware of their rights. Find out more about the help and support you are entitled to.

  27. 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.

  28. How can we improve support for young carers?

    News -

    Young carers have a lot of added responsibilities compared to other people their age. Find out four ways they’ve told us they could be better supported.

  29. What it means to be a young carer

    News -

    The needs of young people looking after a relative with an illness or disability aren’t always understood, and they often don’t realise they are carers.

  30. Four ways carers told us they can be better supported

    News -

    Carers play a vital role in supporting people who are frail, ill or disabled, but, in doing so, they often become vulnerable themselves. Find out four ways carers want to be better supported.

  31. Local Healthwatch calls on health and social care sector to help young carers

    News -

    Young carers are often left feeling isolated when their caring responsibilities prevent them from accessing the same opportunities as their friends. Find out what one local Healthwatch has been doing to understand more about their experiences.

  32. Understanding the everyday experience of unpaid carers in Essex

    News -

    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.

  33. Continence care - what are my options?

    Advice and Information -

    If you or a loved one are affected by incontinence, find out where you can go for support.

  34. What people are telling us: October - December 2019

    Report -

    Find out what the public has been telling us about health and social care from October to December. This briefing also looks at and examines emerging themes across services, focusing on healthcare for trans people, and access to wheelchair services.

  35. COVID-19: What people are telling us about their care

    Report -

    Find out what the public has been telling us about health and social care from April - June 2020, including the key issues people have faced because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  36. Focus on NHS Admin is needed to improve people’s experiences of care

    News -

    In partnership with Healthwatch and National Voices, new findings from The King's Fund highlight the critical role of administration in how people experience care.

  37. Funding and support information for NHS Complaints Advocacy services - FOI results

    Report -

    Results from our Freedom of Information Request show care home residents and other social care users are not being given support to make a complaint about social care services.

  38. Holistic welfare checks part of updated hospital discharge guidance

    News -

    The Government has recently updated national hospital discharge guidance, taking on board our key recommendations. Take a look at what the improvements mean for you.

  39. How to stay informed while you wait for care

    Advice and Information -

    The wait for planned medical care or surgery can be frustrating. That’s why you must get regular and accessible updates while you wait.