1. How should social care support you?

    Advice and Information -

    People have told us they want to feel listened to and involved in decisions about their social care. Here are six things you should expect from care services, according to new guidelines.

  2. How to stay well this winter

    Advice and Information -

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

  3. Enter and View: Able2achieve

    Report -

    Our report following a visit to Able2achieve in Yeovil, which provides supported living and domiciliary care provision.

  4. 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.

  5. Early support discharge - independent patient engagement

    Report -

    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.

  6. Evaluation of Somerset Safeguarding Service: User feedback process

    Report -

    We worked closely with the Adult Safeguarding Team to design a questionnaire that related to the six principles set out in The Care Act 2014 statutory guidance. We contacted 20 people who had experienced an adult safeguarding intervention in the last two months. Fourteen agreed to take part in the project.

  7. Accessing information about health & support in Somerset: The views of local people

    Report -

    We have been talking to local people about their experiences and views of the accessing health and support information in Somerset. This report tells you what people said when we spoke to them about this.

  8. Care Homes during Covid: Care staff perspective

    Report -

    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.

  9. Accessing health and social care during COVID-19: A Somerset perspective

    Report -

    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.

  10. ‘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.

  11. 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.

  12. 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.

  13. 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.

  14. 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.

  15. NHS figures reveal more people with dementia are being admitted to A&E in Somerset

    News -

    More people with dementia are being rushed to hospital emergency departments in Somerset, according to NHS statistics.

  16. Healthwatch Somerset calls for more feedback from public

    News -

    We are encouraging local people to give their views and experiences of local health and care services following a recently published report on Mendip House in the county.

  17. 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.

  18. Enter and View report: Newholme Care Home, Ruishton

    Report -

    Our report following a visit to Newholme, a residential care home in the village of Ruishton near Taunton, which provides accommodation for people with a learning disability.

  19. 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.

  20. 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.

  21. What should I know before choosing a care home?

    Advice and Information -

    To choose the right care home and support for your needs, or the needs of a loved one, it's important you have the right information to make your decision. Here are six things you should consider when choosing a care home.

  22. What is an NHS and Care Volunteer Responder, and how can I access this service?

    Advice and Information -

    Did you know Volunteer Responders can help you access support and services such as collecting prescriptions and shopping delivery?

  23. 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.

  24. Looking after your oral health while living in a care home

    Advice and Information -

    Living in a care home can increase your risk of oral health problems. That's why knowing what questions to ask care staff about your oral health or loved ones can prevent problems from developing.

  25. How can you find an NHS dentist?

    Advice and Information -

    Are you having trouble finding an NHS funded dentist? Read our tips on what to do if you’re facing problems.

  26. Dentistry data for local Healthwatch: October 2022

    Report -

    Quarterly feedback to the NHS Local Dental Network from local Healthwatch in the South West.

  27. Dentistry data for local Healthwatch: December 2022

    Report -

    Quarterly feedback to the NHS Local Dental Network from local Healthwatch in the South West.

  28. Advocating for fairer NHS dentistry: Dentistry data for local Healthwatch, July 2023

    Report -

    Quarterly feedback to the NHS Local Dental Network from local Healthwatch in the South West

  29. Lack of NHS Dentists in Somerset

    Blog -

    Lack of access to NHS dentists in Somerset is a significant issue raised with us by the public. They have told us that NHS dentists in Somerset are not taking on new patients.

  30. Healthwatch England news: Lack of NHS dental appointments widens health inequalities

    News -

    A new survey of public attitudes to NHS dentistry shows that half of the adults in England find dental charges unfair amid escalating living costs.

  31. Do you or someone you care for use NHS special care dental services in the South West?

    News -

    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.

  32. What’s your experience of NHS dental care in Somerset?

    News -

    Share your feedback by 31 October 2023 to help improve access to NHS dentistry.

  33. Dentistry in Somerset: Access, affordability and the impact on oral health

    Report -

    A lack of access to NHS dentists in Somerset remains a pressing issue, including for parents, vulnerable individuals and those with financial constraints. We have residents who are enduring persistent pain and grappling with unresolved dental issues.

  34. What the new dental recovery plan means for you

    Advice and Information -

    Are you struggling to find an NHS dentist? The new dental recovery plan might help you get the dental care you need.

  35. Top 10 ways to get the most out of your next dental appointment

    Advice and Information -

    How can I get the most out of my next visit to the dentist? Take a look at our tips to help you prepare for your appointment and make sure you understand your treatment and how much it will cost.