About us How sharing your healthcare experiences can help everyone - BSL subtitles Healthwatch England Play Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Now Playing How sharing your healthcare experiences can help everyone - BSL subtitles 00:41 Play Video Now Playing How Healthwatch can help you find health advice and information - BSL subtitles 00:55 Play Video Now Playing Who are Healthwatch? BSL subtitles 00:59 Play Video Easy Read documents Healthwatch Information We are Healthwatch It starts with you Who we are and what we do We are the independent champion for people who use health and social care services. We’re here to make sure that those running services put people at the heart of care. ​ Our sole purpose is to understand the needs, experiences and concerns of people who use health and social care services and to speak out on their behalf. ​ We focus on ensuring that people’s worries and concerns about current services are addressed. ​ We work to get services right for the future. How we work We are here to listen to what you like about services and what you think could be improved. No matter how big or small the issue, we want to hear about it. ​ Where possible, we will let you know when changes are planned to services in our community and help you have a say. We will also encourage those in charge of local care to involve you when changes are being planned to services. ​ You can also speak to us to find information about health and social care services available locally. Our approach People's views come first - especially those who find it hardest to be heard. ​ We champion what matters to you and work with others to find ideas that work. We are independent and committed to making the biggest difference to you. Our Advisory Group Find out about who our members are, what they do and find the latest meeting minutes by visiting the Advisory Group page. Our staff We have a small team of dedicated individuals with a remit to engage with, offer support, signpost and listen to all our local residents experiences and suggestions relating to NHS Health and Social Care services in Somerset. Our staff Gillian Keniston-Goble Manager Karen Ball Information and Signposting Administrator Sheila Burridge Volunteer Officer Tanya Camberwell Engagement Officer Mandy Starks Engagement Officer Our volunteers Our volunteers are at the heart of what we do, they support our team with anything from day to day tasks to speaking to the local community. We wouldn't be able to do what we do without their support. If you'd like to find out more about volunteering with Healthwatch, click here . Enter and view Enter and View is one way Healthwatch Somerset can gather information needed about services and collect views of service users, their carers and relatives, as well as staff. ​ Our authorised Enter & View Representatives are: June Barnes Sheila Burridge Sue Burton Tanya Camberwell Bob Champion Richard Corp Judith Goodchild Helen Hancox Gill Keniston-Goble Alan Kitch Keith Paine Carole Parker-Wilkinson Tony Robinson Jill Rossiter Mandy Starks Sue Thomas Gill Waldron Jane Watson Mike Welton Sandra Wilson

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We visited the Community Diagnostic Centre in January and February 2024 as part of a Healthwatch England project about Diagnostic Centers across the country (see below). We made three separate visits, on different days and times. We carried out 32 interviews with people who agreed to speak to us. We also completed an accessibility audit of the site, which included information about travel routes. Our report covered three main areas: Overall patient experience. Accessibility. Travel The overall report was very positive. You can read our report at the bottom of the page. The Director of Patient Experience and Engagement from Somerset NHS Foundation Trust said: "We all felt that this was a very helpful report which provided a good, independent overview of the facility whilst recognising that public transport issues are a continued challenge. It is great to see such positive feedback and that the facility is making a real difference to our patients." Healthwatch England On 25th October 24 Healthcare Leader published a blog by Louise Ansari , CEO of Healthwatch England on what lessons the Community Diagnostic Centre experience holds for any expansion of community-based care. This article, which highlights several examples of good practice (and areas for improvement!) observed by local Healthwatch teams, follows on from the Healthwatch England report published in August on people’s experiences of using CDCs . You can read our Healthwatch Somerset report below:

In our latest Annual Report,  The Value of Listening , we highlight how we've worked throughout the year to understand people’s health and care needs, and to use public feedback to help NHS and social care services improve care in Somerset. The report also outlines our work planned for 2024-25. The year in numbers 2,621 people shared their experiences of health and social care services with us, helping to raise awareness of issues and improve care. 4,325 people came to us for clear advice and information about topics such as mental health and the cost of living crisis. 35 outstanding volunteers supported us last year, giving up 126 days of their time to make care better for their community. We published eight reports about the improvements people would like to see to health and social care services. Next steps Over the next year, we will keep reaching out to every part of society, especially people in the most deprived areas, so that those in power hear their views and experiences. We will also work together with partners and our local Integrated Care System to help develop an NHS culture where, at every level, staff strive to listen and learn from patients to make care better. Our top three priorities are; 1.       Care at home 2.       Unpaid carers 3.       Pharmacies Read the full Healthwatch Somerset Annual Report 2023-24 to find out more about our work during the past year, including findings and recommendations for changes to services.

Tell us about information available to you, and you could be entered into a draw for a £35.00 Amazon gift voucher. We want to know what young caregivers think about the information they have received or discovered and if it is helpful for them. Qualifying entries  will be put in into a draw, and two entries will each receive a £35.00 Amazon gift voucher. Need support or information? A young carer is under 18 years old and helps take care of a family member or friend who is dealing with health problems, whether those are physical or mental. They might also take care of younger siblings, older relatives, or anyone in their family who needs help. There are an estimated one million young carers across the UK looking after a family member with a disability, illness or mental health problem - some as young as five years old. Why your story is important Personal experiences are powerful stories and have big impacts on service providers which can help make positive changes. Stories are experiences and do not have to be long; we make them anonymous so we will not use your name unless you give us permission. Have questions? Call us free! You can share your experience over the phone. Freephone: 0800 999 1286 Tell us your story online. Print out our story form and send it by post. Our postal address is on the form Michelle Palmer, Project Co-ordinator for Young Carers in Schools  Project Somerset, said: "Young carers can be difficult to identify and through the work being done in schools with the Young Carers in Schools Award, we are increasing our ability to identify and support this often overlooked group of vulnerable young people. That's why this programme is so important. In Somserset there are currently 493 registered young carers; statistically we know that there are likely many more. National figures show that there could be up to one young carer in every five secondary aged pupils." Support and information CCS Somerset Carers service Advice Line:  0800 31 68 600 CCS Somerset Carers service - Advice for Young Carers Somerset Council Somerset Council Young Carers Carers UK Support for Young Carers Carers Trust  Getting support if you are a Young Carer or Young Adult Carer  The Children's Society Young Carers Mobilise How can young carers be supported at home? NHS England Help for young carers Voucher draw terms and conditions: Qualifying entries must meet the following conditions: Entrants must be young carers in Somerset under the age of 18 years who help to look after a relative with a disability, illness, mental health condition, or drug or alcohol problem. The consent section of this form must be completed. Entrants under the age of 16 must have the consent of their parent/guardian/carer which will be confirmed in the consent section of this form. Young carers outside of Somerset will not qualify for the draw. The Somerset area will be confirmed using the postcode given in the consent section. No alternative to the Amazon gift voucher will be offered. Closing date for entries is 31 December 2024. Voucher winners will be chosen at random and will be notified during January 2025 using the details in the consent form. Voucher winners may be asked for additional consent to appear in publicity materials/campaigns.