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. NHS Long Term Plan: The views of Somerset residents

    Report -

    This report details engagement work we carried out around the NHS Long Term Plan.

  17. 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.

  18. 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.

  19. 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.

  20. Healthwatch Somerset welcomes the Integrated Care System and new opportunities to put people at the heart of care

    News -

    As Somerset’s new Integrated Care System (ICS) becomes a statutory body and formally starts work on 1 July 2022, we look forward to a productive partnership to make care better.

  21. Healthwatch report highlights ongoing public concerns about NHS 111 service in Devon and Somerset

    News -

    People who use NHS 111 in Devon and Somerset have reported ongoing concerns about the quality of the service, with the most common complaints being about long waiting times and difficulty getting through on the phone.

  22. Local Healthwatch seeks public feedback on NHS 111 to help the service improve

    News -

    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.

  23. Are you or your loved ones waiting for hospital care? Share your experience with Healthwatch England

    News -

    Millions of people have had their treatment delayed by the pandemic – are you one of them?

  24. 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.

  25. Healthwatch report highlights inconsistencies in NHS 111 service in Somerset and Devon

    News -

    A joint report released today by a group of local Healthwatch in the South West, shows that although the NHS 111 service in Somerset and Devon is rated highly by the public, there are inconsistencies in the quality of the service.

  26. Local Healthwatch plea for public feedback on NHS 111 service

    News -

    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.

  27. 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.

  28. Make your voice count – Help shape the future of health and care services in Somerset

    News -

    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.

  29. 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.

  30. 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.

  31. Join a People’s Panel

    News -

    Have your say on the future of health and social care in Somerset – by joining a new Public and Patient People’s Panel.

  32. Improving Lives Strategy

    News -

    We will be monitoring the progress of a new strategy, launched this month by Somerset’s Health and Wellbeing Board.

  33. Hundreds of people reveal their experiences of Somerset’s 111 non-emergency phone line service

    News -

    We are calling for the NHS non-emergency phone line to provide better communication with the public.

  34. There’s still time to give your views on Somerset’s 111 service

    News -

    People in Somerset are being urged to give their views on using the county’s 111 non-emergency phone line.

  35. Views wanted to help improve Somerset’s failing 111 service

    News -

    People in Somerset are being asked for their views on using the county’s 111 non-emergency phone line.

  36. Healthwatch Somerset welcomes new announcement

    News -

    As the county’s independent health and care champion, we welcome news a new provider will run the out-of-hours GP services in the county.

  37. 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.

  38. 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.

  39. 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.

  40. 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.

  41. Empowering Bridgwater residents to live well: Focus group aims to help transform lives of COPD patients

    News -

    The Victoria Park Community Centre in Bridgwater, Somerset, will host an important event on Thursday 30 November, from 10am to 3pm, dedicated to enhancing the lives of Bridgwater residents who live with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

  42. Are you struggling to see an NHS doctor in Somerset?

    News -

    We are asking people to share their experience of booking face-to-face appointments with their GP to help improve access to GP services in the county.

  43. Reaching out: Looking at mental health support for young people in Somerset

    Report -

    We have been working with our young volunteers to investigate how accessible young people’s mental health services are in Somerset, and to understand how access to support could be improved.

  44. Improving access to young people’s mental health services

    News -

    In our latest report, we call on those responsible for young people’s mental health services to improve awareness, availability and access to mental health support for young people.

  45. 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.

  46. Access to GP appointments in West Somerset

    Report -

    As part of our Somerset-wide project, we decided to carry out some focused work looking at access to health and social care services in West Somerset.

  47. 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.