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. 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.

  17. Does the NHS have to provide an interpreter?

    Advice and Information -

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

  18. 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.

  19. 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.

  20. How to stay well this winter

    Advice and Information -

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

  21. 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.

  22. 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.

  23. 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.

  24. 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.

  25. 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.

  26. 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.

  27. 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.

  28. Young Listeners Project Report

    Report -

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

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

    Blog -

    By Max Popham, Healthwatch Somerset Youth Engagement Officer

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

    Blog -

    By Max Popham, Healthwatch Somerset Youth Engagement Officer

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

    Blog -

    By Max Popham, Healthwatch Somerset Youth Engagement Officer

  32. 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?

  33. 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.

  34. 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.

  35. 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.

  36. 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.

  37. “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

  38. 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.

  39. 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.

  40. 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.

  41. 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.

  42. 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.

  43. 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.

  44. Have your say - Easy Read

    Report -

    Download an Easy Read version of our 'Have your say' form.

  45. Who we are and what we do

    Report -

    Here are some Easy Read resources to explain who we are and what we do.

  46. Referrals and your right to choose

    Advice and Information -

    Did you know you can choose which hospital you go to when referred for a test, diagnosis, or treatment? Find out how.

  47. Can I access my GP records online?

    Advice and Information -

    From 31 October 2023, GP surgeries must give patients online access to their new health record entries. Find out what information is in your record and how to access it.

  48. 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.