1. What support can I get as a carer?

    Advice and Information -

    Many people who provide unpaid care are unaware of their rights. Find out more about the help and support you are entitled to.

  2. Planning care at the end of life

    Advice and Information -

    We explain why it’s important to have a plan in place, should you or a loved one become critically ill.

  3. How to stay well this winter

    Advice and Information -

    Tips to help you stay well this winter and get the care you need.

  4. Bridgwater Parent Support Group

    Report -

    Members of this support group run by the Parent Carer Forum shared their concerns and experiences with us. Many of the group had common issues with assessments and having their needs met at GP surgeries.

  5. Compass Carers Support Group, Bishops Lydeard

    Report -

    We engaged with members of the carers support group, who meet monthly at Quantock Vale Surgery, Bishops Lydeard. We informed the group about our work and role of Healthwatch and listened to their queries and concerns about the health and social care services that they use. We also introduced our survey on ‘How Connected are You?’

  6. Compass Carers Support Group, Ilchester

    Report -

    We engaged with members of the carers support group who meet monthly at the GP Medical Centre in Ilchester. We informed the group about our work and role of Healthwatch, and listened to their queries and concerns about the health and social care services that they use. We also introduced our survey on ‘How Connected are You?’

  7. Compass Carers Support Group, Martock

    Report -

    We engaged with members of the carers support group who meet monthly at the GP Medical Centre in Martock. We informed the group about our work and role of Healthwatch, and listened to their queries and concerns about the health and social care services that they use. We also introduced our survey on ‘How Connected are You?’

  8. Somerset Young Carers report: You said, we listened

    Report -

    Our Manager and a Local Board member attended a Young Carers Forum meeting to hear the views of young carers on the Somerset Young Carers Service. This took place at the Young People’s Centre in Street.

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

    News -

    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.

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

    News -

    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.

  11. Bob’s story: Caring for your family in retirement

    Blog -

    Shepton Mallet resident Bob became a full-time carer when he retired from a long career with the ambulance service.

  12. Support for unpaid carers in Somerset

    Blog -

    We invited Fiona Harvey, Carers Service Coordinator for the Community Council for Somerset, to tell us about support for unpaid carers in Somerset as COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease.

  13. Carers Rights Day – 25 November 2021

    Blog -

    Know your rights and get the support you need

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

    News -

    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.

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

    News -

    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.

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

    News -

    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.

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

    News -

    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.

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

    News -

    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.

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

    News -

    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?

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

    News -

    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.

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

    News -

    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.

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

    News -

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

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

    News -

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

  24. Somerset’s adult safeguarding service to be improved based on new feedback

    News -

    New feedback gathered by us on the county’s Adult Safeguarding service will be used to improve it for the future.

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

    News -

    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.

  26. What is adult social care?

    Advice and Information -

    Do you or a loved one need help with social care? Read the article below to find out answers to key questions about who can access adult social care and how to pay for it.

  27. How to look after yourself while caring for someone else

    Advice and Information -

    Each day 6,000 people become carers. Looking after a loved one can be physically and emotionally exhausting so it's vital that you get the support you need. Find out how you can make sure you look after yourself.

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

    News -

    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.

  29. Making a complaint about social care services – what should you expect?

    Advice and Information -

    Here we look at six things you should expect when making a complaint about social care services.

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

    News -

    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.

  31. How to access mental health support if you have gender, sexuality or relationship diversity

    Advice and Information -

    Mental health problems are more common among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) people. If you are struggling, feel alone or need a little help, then check out our guide on how you can get the support you need.

  32. Does the NHS have to provide an interpreter?

    Advice and Information -

    Do you know about your rights to language support in NHS settings?

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

    News -

    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.

  34. What medical support are you entitled to if you’re new to the UK?

    Advice and Information -

    For new arrivals to the UK it can be confusing where to go if you need medical assistance. Here we outline your rights as a refugee, where you can access emergency help and how to register for a GP.

  35. Looking after your health during the cost of living crisis

    Advice and Information -

    The continuing cost of living crisis is negatively affecting people's physical and mental wellbeing, with vulnerable people and those on lower incomes hit the hardest.

  36. How connected are you?

    Report -

    We identified there was a need to find out from local people how connected they feel and why. We also sought to find out how being connected affects feelings of loneliness and isolation.

  37. Hearing Voices Support Group, Taunton

    Report -

    We visited the Hearing Voices support group in Taunton to introduce our work and the role of Healthwatch and to listen to any issues or concerns the group wanted to discuss.

  38. SSAFA Engagement Report

    Report -

    We attended a meeting of representatives from SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association) to introduce our work and the role of Healthwatch, and to hear their comments, issues and concerns.

  39. Young people’s experience of leaving care

    Report -

    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.

  40. Active and In Touch Group, Frome

    Report -

    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.

  41. Frome and District Day Centre

    Report -

    We engaged with Frome and District Day Centre to hear their experiences of accessing health and social care services in the area.

  42. Young Listeners Project Report

    Report -

    Sharing young people’s feedback to improve the health and social care services they use.

  43. Our first face-to-face meeting brings focus to the project

    Blog -

    By Max Popham, Healthwatch Somerset Youth Engagement Officer

  44. Mindfulness – what is it, and how can it help our Young Listeners?

    Blog -

    By Max Popham, Healthwatch Somerset Youth Engagement Officer

  45. Virtual get together and team building for our Young Listeners

    Blog -

    By Max Popham, Healthwatch Somerset Youth Engagement Officer

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

    News -

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

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

    News -

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

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

    News -

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