1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. Enter and View: Able2achieve

    Report -

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

  4. The District Nursing Service: People’s experiences of using the service in Somerset

    Report -

    We gathered the views of those currently using the District Nursing Service. We wanted to know what the current strengths and weaknesses were in the delivery of the service to patients in Somerset.

  5. ‘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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

  12. 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.

  13. 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?

  14. 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.

  15. What should you expect from home care services?

    Advice and Information -

    Five things you should expect from home care, domiciliary care or help in the home.

  16. Our complaints process

    Advice and Information -

    Our complaints process outlines how to make a complaint about us and our approach to making sure complaints are resolved. Anyone who is dissatisfied with any aspect of this Healthwatch service provided by Evolving Communities CIC can make a complaint under the Evolving Communities Complaints Policy and Procedure.

  17. Annual Report 2013-14

    Report -

    In this first Annual Report for Healthwatch Somerset, we share our key challenges and successes, as we started to engage with the public and several of the county’s voluntary and community groups, services and networks.

  18. Annual Report 2014-15

    Report -

    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.

  19. Annual Report 2015-16

    Report -

    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.

  20. Annual Report 2016-17

    Report -

    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.

  21. Annual Report 2017-18

    Report -

    Healthwatch Somerset Annual Report 2017-18: A review of our work over the past year and its impact, plus our work planned for 2018-19.

  22. Annual Report 2018-19

    Report -

    Healthwatch Somerset Annual Report 2018-19: A review of our work over the past year and its impact, plus our work planned for 2019-20.

  23. Guided by you: Annual Report 2019-20

    Report -

    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.

  24. On equal terms - then and now: Annual Report 2020-21

    Report -

    Healthwatch Somerset Annual Report 2020-21: A review of our work over the past year and its impact, plus our work planned for 2021-22.

  25. Championing what matters to you: Annual Report 2021-22

    Report -

    Healthwatch Somerset Annual Report 2021-22: A review of our work over the past year and its impact, plus our work planned for 2022-23.

  26. Together we’re making health and social care better: Annual Report 2022-23

    Report -

    Healthwatch Somerset Annual Report 2022-23: A review of our work over the past year and its impact, plus our work planned for 2023-24.

  27. Healthwatch Somerset Annual Report: Working together to improve health and social care

    News -

    Last year, we supported over 4,370 people to have their say on health and social care and to get information and advice about local services.

  28. Healthwatch Somerset’s Annual Report shows how public feedback has improved health and care

    News -

    Last year (April 2021-March 2022), we supported almost 2,900 people to have their say on health and social care and to get the right information and advice about local services.

  29. Annual report highlights how Healthwatch Somerset has supported the public throughout the pandemic

    News -

    Over the last year (April 2020 to March 2021), during the pandemic, 2,387 Somerset residents shared their feedback on the county’s health and social care services with us or sought information and advice on how to access the care and support they needed.

  30. 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.

  31. Healthwatch Somerset Annual Report: Listening to local people helps make health and social care better

    News -

    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.

  32. Healthwatch Somerset thanks inspiring volunteers who help make health and social care better

    News -

    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.

  33. Healthwatch Somerset announces new projects to help make health and care better for local people

    News -

    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.

  34. Local Board members wanted to help shape Somerset health and care

    News -

    We are the county’s independent health and social care champion and are seeking people with a passion for seeing local health and social care services change for the better.

  35. People’s real-life experiences of health and social care services in Somerset set out in new report

    News -

    More than 1,800 people have shared their views on the county’s GP surgeries, hospitals and social care over the last year with us – helping to shape and improve those services for all.

  36. Healthwatch says thank you to volunteers who help to shape local health and care in Somerset

    News -

    We will be celebrating the difference volunteers make to the local community during this year’s Volunteers’ Week, which runs from 1-7 June.

  37. Six years of championing people’s views of health and care in Somerset

    News -

    Today we celebrate six years as the county’s independent health and care champion.

  38. 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.

  39. Roadshow aims to put Somerset people in the driving seat on health and social care issues

    News -

    Our staff and volunteers will be taking to the roads of Somerset in March to find out what people think about their local health and care services.

  40. Healthwatch network reveals top priorities for 2019

    News -

    To mark the start of 2019, Healthwatch England has published its annual network priorities list – setting out the key health and care topics which local teams will be working on over the year ahead.

  41. “Join us and help give everybody in our community a better future!”

    News -

    New Healthwatch Somerset volunteer Stephen Sharples is urging people in Somerset to be more actively involved in the decisions around their health and wellbeing

  42. Board members wanted to help shape health and social care services in Somerset

    News -

    People with a passion for seeing local health and social care services changed for the better are being sought by us, the county’s independent health and social care champion.

  43. Five ways to give feedback to help shape local health and care services in Somerset

    News -

    Share your experiences of local health and care services and make it better for everyone – that’s our message as we celebrate our fifth birthday next week (April 1).

  44. New chair of Somerset’s independent health and care champion announced

    News -

    A former school inspector from North Petherton with a passion for shaping local health services will help to lead our board as the county’s independent health and care champion.

  45. Local volunteer Bob urges others to join him to help shape local health and care services

    News -

    Listening to patients and their experiences of health and care is key to improving these services in Somerset – says local volunteer Bob Champion.

  46. A voice for the people of Somerset

    News -

    People in Somerset will be given a strong voice to air their views on health and care services in the county – thanks to plans by Evolving Communities, the new provider of the local Healthwatch service.

  47. World Patient Safety Day: Shining a spotlight on patient engagement to support safer care across Somerset

    News -

    Together with NHS Somerset, we are shining a spotlight on patient and family engagement for safer care across Somerset for World Patient Safety Day on 17 September.