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. ‘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.

  3. 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?

  4. Thank you: Over 260 people tell Healthwatch Somerset what they think would make the NHS better

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    Local people share their views about how they want local health services to improve.

  5. Help people with their final wishes for health care – says Somerset man

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    Health and social services should openly talk about end of life care and the wishes of patients – says Healthwatch Somerset volunteer Steve.

  6. How does living in a rural area affect access to healthcare?

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    One man shares his views about how NHS services where he lives should change.

  7. Roadshow finishes with more than 400 views on health and care services in Somerset

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    Our roadshow, which travelled almost 260 miles around Somerset to find out the views of local people on health and care services, has finished a seven-day tour with more than 400 views collected.

  8. Former ambulanceman urges people to have their say about changes to the NHS

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    Healthcare in Somerset will only work if people get to have their say – urges former ambulanceman Bob Champion.

  9. Roadshow aims to put Somerset people in the driving seat on health and social care issues

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    Our staff and volunteers will be taking to the roads of Somerset in March to find out what people think about their local health and care services.

  10. “Join us and help give everybody in our community a better future!”

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    New Healthwatch Somerset volunteer Stephen Sharples is urging people in Somerset to be more actively involved in the decisions around their health and wellbeing

  11. Board members wanted to help shape health and social care services in Somerset

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    People with a passion for seeing local health and social care services changed for the better are being sought by us, the county’s independent health and social care champion.

  12. New chair of Somerset’s independent health and care champion announced

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    A former school inspector from North Petherton with a passion for shaping local health services will help to lead our board as the county’s independent health and care champion.

  13. Local volunteer Bob urges others to join him to help shape local health and care services

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    Listening to patients and their experiences of health and care is key to improving these services in Somerset – says local volunteer Bob Champion.

  14. A voice for the people of Somerset

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    People in Somerset will be given a strong voice to air their views on health and care services in the county – thanks to plans by Evolving Communities, the new provider of the local Healthwatch service.

  15. 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.

  16. 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.