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. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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?

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. How easy is it to access support and advice to help you stay happy & healthy in Somerset?

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    People in Somerset are being asked to share how they access information, support and advice when they are ill, looking after someone or finding it difficult to manage living at home, to help shape local services going forward.

  12. The top four things people in Somerset would like to see improved in local NHS services

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    Hundreds of people in Somerset have shared their views on how to improve NHS health services in the county.

  13. 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.

  14. Share your views on NHS services for those with learning disabilities and autism in Somerset

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    Hundreds of children have learning disabilities and autism in Somerset and now families are being asked to help shape local NHS services supporting them.

  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.