1. Local people being cut out of decision making about their health services

    News -

    The way decisions are made about local health services is changing. Early indications from local Healthwatch suggest that this is resulting in the public feeling less able to have their say.

  2. Perspectives on primary care part 2: British Pakistani women

    News -

    Being able to access primary care services is a key concern that the public have raised with local Healthwatch. In our latest blog we share the views of one group of British Pakistani women from Waltham Forest.

  3. More reassurance needed about how medical records are being used by government

    News -

    We share our views on government plans to provide medical researchers and NHS managers with access to people’s personal medical records.

  4. Tackling inequalities in health and care

    Blog -

    Our updated strategy includes a stronger focus to understand and amplify the views of those who are not heard by health and care services. Our national director explains why.

  5. The year ahead - Our plan for 2021 - 2022

    Report -

    Find out more about our plans for 2020-21.

  6. Healthwatch Islington helps people claim back healthcare travel costs

    News -

    The Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme exists to help people on lower incomes recover the cost of travelling to and from NHS treatment, but how easy is it to use? Healthwatch Islington conducted a ‘mystery shopping’ exercise to find out.

  7. Our strategy 2021-2026

    Report -

    Read our strategy to find out about the difference we want to make by 2026 in partnership with local Healthwatch.

  8. Health and Social Care Committee Report: our response

    Response -

    We responded to Health and Social Care Committee (HSCC) report following the Government’s White Paper proposals for the reform of Health and Social Care.

  9. More GP appointments to be offered face-to-face to those who need it

    News -

    NHS England has issued new guidance to GP practices across the country on facilitating more face-to-face appointments for patients.

  10. Twin crisis of access and affordability calls for a radical rethink of NHS dentistry

    News -

    New data indicates the dental crisis shows no signs of slowing, with four in five people (80%) struggling to access timely care during the last COVID-19 lockdown.

  11. Perspectives on primary care part 1: Mothers of young children

    News -

    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.

  12. Hospital changes improve patient satisfaction

    News -

    Local Healthwatch made 600 visits last year to find out how people feel about the quality of health and care services. We spoke to Healthwatch Lancashire to find out how patients felt about changes that were made to a nearby hospital.

  13. VacciNation: Exploring vaccine confidence

    Report -

    Our new research explores vaccine confidence amongst people from African, Bangladeshi, Caribbean, and Pakistani backgrounds. We want to understand these barriers to ensure key lessons are taken forward for future public health campaigns.

  14. Reflections on making people’s voices count

    News -

    Katherine Rake looks back at the factors that are helping Healthwatch amplify the voice of health and social care consumers.

  15. New research exploring vaccination confidence provides vital lessons for public health campaigns

    News -

    Healthwatch England has joined forces with Traverse to explore vaccination confidence among people from African, Bangladeshi, Caribbean and Pakistani backgrounds living in the UK.

  16. Do you need proof of address to register with a GP?

    News -

    The answer is, in short no, but this was one of the 10 common problems we found when our network spoke to over 11,000 people about their experiences of primary care. Here are examples of what local Healthwatch have been doing to tackle this problem.

  17. Our Public Committee Meeting June 2021 supporting materials

    Report -

    Take a look at our papers for our June Committee meeting.

  18. New GP data-sharing system delayed - our response

    Response -

    We have joined forces with leading patient groups to respond to the Government's plans around GP data sharing.

  19. Locked out: Digitally excluded people’s experiences of remote GP appointments

    Report -

    The move to more digitally-led healthcare has worked well for some but excluded others over the past year. Our report explores how people have been excluded and what needs to happen to get the care they need.

  20. Maternity services: findings from the Healthwatch network

    Report -

    Our new report, published today, highlights five common concerns that people across England have shared with Healthwatch about maternity services.

  21. Our financial performance and position 2013/14

    Report -

    Find out about more about our financial performance and position for the financial year 2013/14.

  22. Our Annual Report 2013/14

    Report -

    Our Annual Report, Loud and Clear: Making your voice heard highlights our work and the work of the Healthwatch network over the past 12 months.

  23. Five principles for post-COVID-19 digital healthcare

    News -

    Our new report explores people's experiences of digital and remote healthcare and sets out five principles for post-COVID19 care to ensure no one is left behind.

  24. 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.

  25. Healthwatch England Chair reappointed for a three-year term

    News -

    The Cabinet Office has announced that the term of our current Chair, Sir Robert Francis QC, has been extended until June 2024.

  26. Suffering in silence

    Report -

    This report highlights what people have told the Healthwatch network about their experience of making a complaint about health and social care services.

  27. Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion - Our plan for 2021-22

    Report -

    Find out how we will continue to put Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the heart of our work.

  28. My expectations for raising concerns and complaints

    Report -

    What should people expect when it comes to raising concerns and complaints about health and social care? Our new report explains.

  29. The State of Support 2014/15

    Report -

    Find out what funding the Healthwatch network has received to carry out its statutory activities for 2014/15.

  30. Our business plan 2015-16

    Report -

    Our business plan outlines how we plan to meet our strategic priorities from April 2015 to March 2016.

  31. Our public Committee Meeting October 2014 - supporting materials

    Report -

    Find out what happened at our public Committee Meeting.

  32. 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.

  33. Hospital policies on making a complaint - FOI results

    Report -

    Our new evidence raises further concerns about the defensive and obstructive culture around complaints in the NHS.

  34. Proposed standards for complaints advocacy

    Report -

    We have worked with users, providers and commissioners of complaints advocacy services to create a vision of what a good complaints advocacy service should look like.

  35. Every complaint matters - a seven-point plan for the NHS and social care

    Report -

    Our seven-point action plan to help ensure that the complaints system gives patients what they need and ensures the NHS and social care services can learn from their mistakes.

  36. Safely Home - what happens when people leave hospital and care settings

    Report -

    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.

  37. Our letter to Julia Cumberlege to share what people have told Healthwatch about maternity services.

    Response -

    NHS England has announced a national review of maternity services in England.

  38. State of Support - Local Healthwatch finances 2015/16

    Report -

    This report outlines the funding each local Healthwatch has received to deliver their statutory activities based on survey results from 148 local Healthwatch, working across 152 local authority areas.

  39. Primary Care: A review of local Healthwatch reports

    Report -

    Find out what we found when our network spoke to more than 11,000 people and visited over 550 GP surgeries, pharmacies and opticians across the country.

  40. Patient data is crucial for the planning of health services - and so is building trust in how the NHS uses it.

    News -

    The NHS’s plans to better use data held by GPs to support planning services and research has sparked a lot of discussion in recent weeks. We have been sharing your views to help shape the debate.

  41. 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.

  42. Our Annual Report 2014/15

    Report -

    Find out what we, along with the Healthwatch network, have achieved over the past year.

  43. Our Annual Governance Statement 2014/15

    Report -

    Find out more about the processes and procedures in place for Healthwatch to carry out its functions effectively.

  44. What's the point? Nothing ever changes

    News -

    You might think your feedback doesn’t have the power to change how health and social care services run. We want to show you how that isn’t the case.