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. World Patient Safety Day: Shining a spotlight on patient engagement to support safer care across Somerset

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    Together with NHS Somerset, we are shining a spotlight on patient and family engagement for safer care across Somerset for World Patient Safety Day on 17 September.

  9. What’s your experience of NHS dental care in Somerset?

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    Share your feedback by 31 October 2023 to help improve access to NHS dentistry.

  10. Empowering Bridgwater residents to live well: Focus group aims to help transform lives of COPD patients

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    The Victoria Park Community Centre in Bridgwater, Somerset, will host an important event on Thursday 30 November, from 10am to 3pm, dedicated to enhancing the lives of Bridgwater residents who live with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

  11. Are you struggling to see an NHS doctor in Somerset?

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    We are asking people to share their experience of booking face-to-face appointments with their GP to help improve access to GP services in the county.

  12. Improving access to young people’s mental health services

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    In our latest report, we call on those responsible for young people’s mental health services to improve awareness, availability and access to mental health support for young people.

  13. Healthwatch England report: Faster progress needed to tackle barriers to care

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    Access to care is the main concern people have shared with Healthwatch in the past year. A new report by Healthwatch England looking at health and social care from the patients' perspective has warned that we risk "a two-tier health and care system" unless the NHS takes faster action to tackle access issues.

  14. Collaborative event sets the stage for renewed commitment to Somerset’s unpaid carers

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    The Somerset Carers Engagement Project recently achieved a significant milestone in its mission to empower and support unpaid carers across the county when it held a major collaborative event to inform Somerset's renewed Commitment to Carers.