1. People are increasingly avoiding NHS appointments and prescriptions due to cost of living, Healthwatch England warns

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    With spiralling costs of living, Healthwatch England is warning people are making changes to how they use health and social care services, which can have an adverse impact on their health and wellbeing.

  2. Healthwatch Somerset Annual Report: Working together to improve health and social care

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    Last year, we supported over 4,370 people to have their say on health and social care and to get information and advice about local services.

  3. ‘Review culture’ is on the rise, yet only one in ten people feedback on health services

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    As Healthwatch marks its tenth anniversary this week, Healthwatch Somerset joins the 152 local Healthwatch across England to appeal for more people to feedback on NHS care.

  4. Improving access to mental health support for young people in Somerset

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    We've launched a new project with the aim of improving access to mental health support for young people and their families, guardians and carers.

  5. Evaluating people’s experiences of being transferred from hospital to care at home or in the community

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    Our new report evaluates people’s experiences of being discharged from hospital to be cared for at home or in a residential or community care setting.

  6. Healthwatch England research: Six-week postnatal checks are failing many new mothers

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    Healthwatch England, is warning that six-week postnatal checks – required of GPs in England – are failing many new mothers.

  7. Project launched in Bridgwater to improve health of people with chronic respiratory disease

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    Our new community project asks people in Bridgwater to get involved to improve the health and wellbeing of those living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

  8. Healthwatch England research: Tell us your story of maternal mental health care

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    Healthwatch is launching a national survey to understand if care works for new mothers and birthing parents.

  9. Making it easier for people to get healthcare and support via GP websites

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    Our new report looks at people’s experiences of using GP websites to access healthcare services and information, highlighting that improvements are needed to make it easier for more people to get good care and support online.

  10. Share your views to help shape NHS Same Day Urgent Care services in Somerset

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    The NHS is reviewing how it provides Same Day Urgent Care in Somerset, and we want to hear your views to help shape and improve access to services in the future.

  11. Healthwatch Somerset’s Annual Report shows how public feedback has improved health and care

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    Last year (April 2021-March 2022), we supported almost 2,900 people to have their say on health and social care and to get the right information and advice about local services.

  12. Healthwatch Somerset welcomes the Integrated Care System and new opportunities to put people at the heart of care

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    As Somerset’s new Integrated Care System (ICS) becomes a statutory body and formally starts work on 1 July 2022, we look forward to a productive partnership to make care better.

  13. Healthwatch England news: Lack of NHS dental appointments widens health inequalities

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    A new survey of public attitudes to NHS dentistry shows that half of the adults in England find dental charges unfair amid escalating living costs.

  14. Share your feedback about Somerset GP websites

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    We are investigating people’s experiences of using GP websites to get health and wellbeing information and support.

  15. Healthwatch report highlights ongoing public concerns about NHS 111 service in Devon and Somerset

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    People who use NHS 111 in Devon and Somerset have reported ongoing concerns about the quality of the service, with the most common complaints being about long waiting times and difficulty getting through on the phone.

  16. Healthwatch recommends improved communication and support for patients waiting for surgery in Somerset

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    In our recent survey, patients who are waiting for planned surgery in Somerset reported a lack of communication from hospitals and many felt their health and wellbeing had deteriorated while waiting for treatment.

  17. Young people tell Somerset’s health and social care services: communicate better to care better

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    In our new report out today, young people are calling on the county’s health and social care services to improve how they communicate – with each other and with young people – to improve how they care.

  18. Local Healthwatch seeks public feedback on NHS 111 to help the service improve

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    A new public survey has been launched to find out more about local people’s experiences of using the NHS 111 service in the region.

  19. Are you or your loved ones waiting for hospital care? Share your experience with Healthwatch England

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    Millions of people have had their treatment delayed by the pandemic – are you one of them?

  20. New study asks people how they’ve been affected by waiting for surgery in Somerset

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    As the number of patients waiting for surgery continues to grow, nationally and in southwest England, we are asking people about their experiences of being referred for surgery in Somerset and how they have been affected by waiting times.

  21. Annual report highlights how Healthwatch Somerset has supported the public throughout the pandemic

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    Over the last year (April 2020 to March 2021), during the pandemic, 2,387 Somerset residents shared their feedback on the county’s health and social care services with us or sought information and advice on how to access the care and support they needed.

  22. Changes to Somerset’s District Nursing Service: What patients and carers want to see

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    Our new report out today, shows that people who receive care and support at home from the District Nursing Service, would like to see the introduction of weekend and evening visits, but many people are more cautious about the introduction of digital consultations.

  23. New public engagement programme to drive improvements in local health and social care

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    We have announced the areas we will investigate this year, to make sure that local people’s views and experiences are used to drive and support improvements in local services.

  24. What do you think about Somerset’s District Nursing Service? What works well and what could be improved?

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    We want to know what people think about the care they have received from Somerset’s District Nursing Service, to help the service develop and improve how it cares for local people.

  25. Healthwatch report highlights inconsistencies in NHS 111 service in Somerset and Devon

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    A joint report released today by a group of local Healthwatch in the South West, shows that although the NHS 111 service in Somerset and Devon is rated highly by the public, there are inconsistencies in the quality of the service.

  26. Healthwatch Somerset asks young people ‘How could health and social care services work better for you?’

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    What’s it like being a young person using health, social care and wellbeing services in Somerset, and what changes do young people want to see?

  27. Healthwatch Somerset reveals what Somerset residents are saying about health and care during COVID-19

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    Our new report out today reveals local people’s experiences of health and social care during the first six months of COVID-19.

  28. Local Healthwatch plea for public feedback on NHS 111 service

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    A new public survey has been launched to find out more about local people’s experiences of using the NHS 111 service in the region.

  29. Somerset care homes – before and during COVID-19: Healthwatch Somerset reports

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    Today we have published four reports about care homes in Somerset – three reporting on the quality of care in Somerset care homes prior to COVID-19 from a residents perspective, and a fourth looking at the challenges faced by care home staff during the pandemic.

  30. Healthwatch Somerset launches #BecauseWeAllCare campaign

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    We have joined local and national health and care organisations calling on Somerset residents to give feedback about their care during coronavirus (COVID-19) to help services reflect, recover, and improve.

  31. Healthwatch Somerset Annual Report: Listening to local people helps make health and social care better

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    Over the last year, more than 1,400 people shared their views on the county’s health and social care services with us, helping to make care better for local people.

  32. Caring during COVID-19: Healthwatch Somerset shines a spotlight on unpaid care

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    It’s national Carers Week (8-14 June) and we want to know about your experiences of being an unpaid carer or being cared for during COVID-19, to help local services understand how to provide better social care and support.

  33. Healthwatch Somerset thanks inspiring volunteers who help make health and social care better

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    It’s Volunteers’ Week 1-7 June, so we are is sending a huge ‘Thank You’ to the inspiring volunteers who help to make health and social care better for local people.

  34. Living with dementia during lockdown – sharing stories to raise awareness and help make care better

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    During Mental Health Awareness Week (18-24 May), we are highlighting the care and support needs of people living with dementia and their families, and the particular pressures of life under lockdown due to coronavirus.

  35. Healthwatch Somerset announces new projects to help make health and care better for local people

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    We are looking forward to helping health and social care services develop and improve with the announcement of several new projects for the year ahead.

  36. Share your stories to help health services adapt during coronavirus

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    We have launched a new survey asking local people to share their stories to help identify how health and care services are adapting and working well during the coronavirus outbreak, and to highlight common challenges that need to be addressed.

  37. Healthwatch Somerset’s Readers Panel can help organisations communicate about coronavirus

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    We can help health and social care organisations to communicate clearly and effectively with local people about the coronavirus and the impact on services and support.

  38. Coronavirus: Healthwatch Somerset helps people find information about local health and social care services

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    As local health and care services come under increasing pressure due to the coronavirus, and access to services becomes more challenging, we are reminding people that we're here to help.

  39. Accessing GP primary care in Somerset: What works for you and what doesn’t?

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    We are asking local people to complete a survey to share their experiences of accessing primary care through GP surgeries in Somerset.

  40. Make your voice count – Help shape the future of health and care services in Somerset

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    We are calling on local people to make sure their voice is heard and reflected in proposals being drawn up by Somerset NHS health and care services, for changes to community-based services and non-emergency care.

  41. Join the new virtual quality improvement panel at Dorothy House

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    Help shape the future of services for people living with a life-limiting illness.

  42. Local Board members wanted to help shape Somerset health and care

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    We are the county’s independent health and social care champion and are seeking people with a passion for seeing local health and social care services change for the better.

  43. Dorothy House Hospice Care seeks to improve services for people with life-limiting illness

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    Dorothy House Hospice Care wants to hear from those with a life-limiting illness, their carers and families about what Day Services they think would improve their wellbeing.

  44. National research launched on mental health statistics

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    The UK’s largest independent regulator of official statistics wants to hear from patients, carers and their families about how they access and use statistics on mental health in England.

  45. Hundreds share how they look for help when ill in Somerset

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    People in Somerset looking for health advice and support want to see better access to their GP to get the information they need, rather than looking online for help.

  46. Healthwatch calls on health professionals in Somerset to enable new parents to talk about mental health

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    As the independent health and social care champion for Somerset, we are calling on local services to make more space for new parents in the county to talk about their mental health.