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Our report following a visit to Willow Ward in Bridgwater, which has 10 beds and provides a countywide inpatient mental health rehabilitation service for people who live with long term mental health problems. -
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Our report following a visit to Rowan Ward in Yeovil, which has 18 beds, providing assessment and treatment primarily for adults of working age experiencing an acute mental health problem. -
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Our report following a visit to St Andrews Ward in Wells, which has 14 beds, providing assessment and treatment primarily for adults of working age experiencing an acute mental health problem. -
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Active and In Touch Frome is a group of volunteers who visit, help and befriend people who have become isolated or out of touch with the community around them. We were asked to give the group a talk on our work and the role of Healthwatch. -
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Our report following a visit to Wessex Ward in Bridgwater, that provides beds for up to 12 young people. -
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We were contacted by the secretary for Bridgwater Senior Citizens Forum. A request for action was raised regarding the availability of hearing aid batteries in the Bridgwater area. -
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We engaged with Frome and District Day Centre to hear their experiences of accessing health and social care services in the area. -
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Early Supported Discharge is a service that aims to help patients who have suffered a stroke to be discharged from hospital sooner and to carry out rehabilitation at home rather than in hospital. -
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In this Annual Report we share our key challenges and successes, as we continued to engage with the public to understand people’s experiences of health and social care to make a difference. -
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We gave a presentation on our patient and public engagement at this advice day hosted by Rethink to raise awareness of Healthwatch and our work. -
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We engaged with the Burnham-on-Sea Support Group to hear their experiences of accessing health and social care services in the area. -
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Our report following a visit to Pyrland Ward in Taunton. Wards one and two each have 14 beds, providing assessment and treatment for older people suffering from acute mental problems such as depression, anxiety and bi-polar disorder, along with dementia and other confused states, often with high levels of aggression. -
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Our report following a visit to Magnolia Ward in Yeovil, which has 14 beds, providing assessment and treatment for older people suffering from dementia and other confused states. -
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In September 2016 we returned to visit this group to find out how their report on Post Polio Syndrome (PPS) was progressing and to hear the key issues identified so far. -
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We identified the area of mental health as part of their our plan priorities from 2015-2016. -
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We consulted with members of the Somerset Polio Support Group to document the care they receive from the NHS in relation to their condition, at both primary and hospital level, in order to raise the understanding of PPS with NHS health commissioners. -
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We ran a series of focus groups meeting with young people based at Burton’s Orchard in Taunton. The aims of these groups were to explore young people’s experience of leaving care and to involve them in starting to plan their own consultation with other care leavers. -
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Help shape the future of services for people living with a life-limiting illness. -
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Our report following a visit to Oak Lodge in Chard, which is a purpose-built care home and provides accommodation for frail older people. -
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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. -
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Our report following a visit to Oak Meadows in Taunton, a care home that was adapted some years ago from an original military building on the site. The home specialises in the care of older people living with dementia. -
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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. -
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Our report following a visit to Centenary House, a residential care home in Shepton Mallet, which is able to care for up to 13 residents. -
Advice and Information -
If you or a loved one are affected by incontinence, find out where you can go for support. -
News -
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. -
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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. -
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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. -
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We explain why it’s important to have a plan in place, should you or a loved one become critically ill. -
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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. -
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By Tanya Camberwell, Healthwatch Somerset Engagement Officer -
Advice and Information -
If you are experiencing or feel at risk of domestic abuse, or are worried about someone who might be, find out where you can go for advice and help. -
News -
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. -
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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. -
Blog -
Shepton Mallet resident Bob became a full-time carer when he retired from a long career with the ambulance service. -
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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. -
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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. -
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Healthwatch Somerset Annual Report 2019-20: A review of our work over the past year and its impact, plus our work planned for 2020-21. -
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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. -
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By Tanya Camberwell, Healthwatch Somerset Engagement Officer -
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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. -
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We wanted to find out about the challenges faced by care home staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to understand how they have managed during this time. We held a focused feedback interview with a local care home; this is what they told us. -
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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. -
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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. -
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We gathered real-time feedback on local health and social care services during the pandemic from the views of Somerset residents, to provide information that services can learn from once the outbreak has passed.
