1. "Poorly-handled discharge can have a huge impact on patients": Our response to CQC's inpatient survey

    Response -

    Our National Director, Imelda Redmond, responds to CQC’s COVID-19 inpatient survey, highlighting the importance of getting discharge right for patients and their loved ones.

  2. Major issues with GP access being tackled in Derby

    News -

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

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

    News -

    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.

  4. NHS 111: Booking your A&E appointment

    Advice and Information -

    Learn what NHS 111 is and how you can use the service to book an A&E appointment

  5. Improving access to health services for the deaf community

    News -

    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.

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

    News -

    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

  7. Public Committee Meeting December 2020

    Report -

    Take a look at our papers for our December Committee Meeting.

  8. Bringing the voice of consumers to Parliament

    News -

    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.

  9. Our response to the launch of NHS England's consultation on A&E performance measures

    Response -

    NHS England want to hear from patients, clinicians and the public on their proposed set of performance measures for A&E.

  10. Health and care complaints system is ‘utterly bewildering’ for people

    News -

    Patients and worried family members looking to complain about their care from a hospital, GP or care home are going unheard because the current system is simply too complex.

  11. Celebrating the Healthwatch network’s success

    News -

    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.

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

    News -

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

  13. Changing perceptions of eating disorders in Dorset

    News -

    The number of teenagers admitted to hospital with eating disorders, has nearly doubled in just three years. Two new videos aim to raise awareness of the impact of eating disorders on those affected by the conditions and their families.

  14. Local patient voice short changed by 10 million pounds

    News -

    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.

  15. Our response to NHS England's proposals to update the legislation for how the NHS works at a regional level

    Response -

    NHS England wants to change how NHS works at a regional level, read our response to their proposals.

  16. People’s inquiry to uncover pitfalls of discharge from hospitals and care homes

    News -

    In response to the distressing stories being shared with Healthwatch across the country, we’re launching an inquiry into why things so often go wrong when people are discharged from health and social care services.

  17. What is the COVID-19 vaccine and how do I get it?

    Advice and Information -

    Take a look at what you need to know about the COVID-19 vaccination programme, including where to go and why it's important.

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

    News -

    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.

  19. Our response to The British Dental Association's open letter to Matt Hancock about dental targets preventing patient care

    Response -

    The British Dental Association has issued an open letter to Health Secretary Matt Hancock after a leading UK dental chain has instructed dentists to limit urgent care, in order to meet unrealistic Government targets. Read our response.

  20. Taking public concern about data sharing to NHS England

    News -

    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.

  21. Warnings of dentistry crisis as public concerns continue

    News -

    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.

  22. Health and Care White Paper - our response

    Response -

    We welcome the plans to strengthen health and care legislation set out in the White Paper today.

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

    News -

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

  24. We warn councils funding cuts could mute patients voice

    News -

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

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

    News -

    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?

  26. Action needed on gender reassignment surgery delays

    News -

    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?

  27. Our annual report 2019-20

    Report -

    Since COVID-19 struck, the work of the Healthwatch network to support and listen to local people became more crucial than ever. Find out more in our 2019-20 annual report to Parliament about how we have helped make care better.

  28. The NHS needs to listen to what patients have to say to improve future care

    Response -

    New findings from the Keogh Review show while there are examples of good care, there are areas where improvement is urgently required.

  29. Tackling unfair health differences will need those in power to listen

    Blog -

    In our annual report to Parliament, our Chair Sir Robert Francis QC reflects on the role the public can play in tackling the challenges brought about by COVID-19.

  30. Public Committee Meeting March 2021

    Report -

    Take a look at our papers for our March Committee Meeting.

  31. Is NHS 111 First making a difference?

    Blog -

    During COVID-19, people have relied on NHS 111 more than ever to get urgent medical advice. Our latest research looks at people's experiences of NHS 111 and awareness of the new A&E time slot booking service.

  32. GP access during COVID-19

    Report -

    Our new report looks at how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way people access their GP and how this affected people's experience of care.

  33. DNACPR review - the need for personalised, honest and sensitive conversations

    Response -

    Our response to CQC's report, ‘Protect, respect, connect – decisions about living and dying well during COVID-19.'

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

    News -

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

  35. Disabled people struggling to access GP appointments

    News -

    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.

  36. Renewed efforts required to create compassionate complaints system

    News -

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

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

    News -

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

  38. Response to death of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

    Response -

    Sir Robert Francis QC, Chair of Healthwatch England responds on behalf of our staff and volunteers.

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

    News -

    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.

  40. Don’t blame patients for the bed crisis

    News -

    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.

  41. Ombudsman reform only one part of the complaints puzzle

    News -

    We are calling on the Government to take action to reform the complaints system - our seven-point plan sets out how.

  42. NHS complaints data is just ‘tip of the iceberg’

    News -

    Our new analysis of complaints data shows that over half a million incidents of poor care across NHS went unreported in last two years