Healthwatch Somerset newsletter May 2026
- Healthwatch Somerset
- 6 minutes ago
- 8 min read
Catch up with the latest news about our work and updates about local health and care services.
April 2026 in numbers
A brief summary of team achievements in April.
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These figures may be higher, as it can be difficult to record every contact and piece of feedback.
Don’t miss your spring COVID-19 vaccination
If you are eligible for a spring COVID-19 vaccination, book your appointment now.
In Somerset, people aged 75 and over, people living in older adult care homes, and people with a weakened immune system are eligible for extra protection this spring.
You can book online, on the NHS App, by calling 119, or by visiting a walk-in site. For full details including the NHS England British Sign Language service go to the NHS Somerset website.
We continue to work for you
The King’s Speech on Wednesday 13 May 2026 confirmed that the Government plans to introduce the NHS Modernisation Bill.
If this Bill becomes law, it could affect the future of NHS England and Healthwatch across the country. Full details and timescales have not yet been published. The Bill must still go through Parliament, and it could still be challenged or changed before anything is final.
At this stage, there are still many unanswered questions about what any future changes could look like locally or nationally, including how people’s experiences of care would be gathered in future.
While national discussions continue, we want to reassure everyone that Healthwatch Somerset continues to operate as usual.
Further information can be found on Healthwatch England news pages.
People in Somerset help choose our priorities for 2026/27
We are pleased to announce the launch of our People's Vote report.
161 local people have helped us decide which health and care issues to focus on in the year ahead.
We asked people across the county to vote on the health and care topics they felt mattered most. The results will help shape our work in 2026/27 and make sure local people’s experiences stay at the heart of decision-making.
Your feedback gives an important picture of what matters most to people in Somerset right now. We will use this insight to guide our engagement and research work over the coming year.
Read the full report: The people’s voice: What matters most to you in Somerset health and care services 2026/27
How the Without Borders Café brings people together
As part of Refugee Week, from 15 to 21 June 2026, we wanted to share the work of the Without Borders Café in Taunton. The café gives refugees, asylum seekers and local people a safe and welcoming place to meet, share food, and build friendships.
Run by Charis and partner organisations, the café helps people feel included, build confidence and connect with their community. It also creates space to celebrate different cultures through food and conversation.
When we visited the café, we met with a woman who we first spoke to months ago at a support session for women from Afghanistan. She told us then that she hoped to cook and share food from her home country.
It was lovely to see her now doing just that. Her story shows how important welcoming spaces like the Without Borders Café can be for people starting a new life in a new country.
More community events are expected across Taunton during Refugee Week. These usually include opportunities to come together, share food, music and culture, and show support for people seeking sanctuary.
For the latest updates, visit the Taunton Welcomes Refugees website or read about the Vigil for Peace.
Changes to free prescription charge rules
From 15 April 2026, some people in Somerset may need to check whether they still qualify for free NHS prescriptions.
This is because Income Support and income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance will no longer count as exemption benefits after this date.
If you are moving onto Universal Credit, it is important to know that this does not automatically mean you can get free prescriptions.
If you are unsure, it is a good idea to check before collecting your medicines so you do not get a penalty charge. Find out if you can get free prescriptions.
NHS waiting times improve, but pressures remain across key services
According to The Health Foundation, the NHS in England has met its main target for planned treatment waiting times, with more people receiving care within 18 weeks. This is a positive step and shows the hard work of NHS staff is making a difference.
However, the report says performance is still falling short in other important areas, including A&E waits, ambulance response times and cancer care. Millions of people are still waiting too long for treatment, and progress is uneven across services.
The Health Foundation says the improvements are encouraging but warns that long-term investment in staff, buildings, and equipment will be needed to deliver lasting change and improve patients’ experiences across the NHS.
For more detail read Progress – but is it enough? What the latest NHS waiting times mean for elective recovery - The Health Foundation.
New Somerset film helps young carers feel seen and heard
Young carers from schools across Somerset have helped create a new film about what everyday life can look like when you are caring for someone at home. Sixteen children and young people, aged five to 18, took part and shared their own stories, including the worries they carry and the hopes they have for the future.
We know young carers are quietly doing so much in families and communities across Somerset. It is important that they feel seen, listened to and supported. The film, Small Shoulders: when childhood carries more than it should, gives young carers a chance to share what life can be like and helps others understand why the right support at the right time can make such a difference.
The Young Carers in Schools award helps schools recognise when a child may be caring for someone at home and respond with the right support. In Somerset, schools can get free guidance through the programme so staff feel more confident spotting young carers early and helping them feel understood, included and able to do well at school.
The learning disability register: are you in?
Mencap’s I’m In campaign is encouraging more people with a learning disability to join their GP’s learning disability register (LDR). Being on the register can help people get the right support, including a free annual health check from age 14.
Mencap says people with a learning disability die, on average, nearly 20 years younger than people without a learning disability, and many of these deaths could be avoided. If you or someone you support has a learning disability, you can find out everything you need to know about the learning disability register on Mencap’s website. They also have an Easy Read letter building tool so you can communicate your request with your GP surgery to be added to the LDR.
We have signed up to support the campaign as an organisation and will be highlighting the benefits of joining your GP’s LDR through our work.
A welcoming space for dads in West Somerset
Dads in West Somerset are being invited to join The Dad Club a project from Home-Start West Somerset. The Dad Club offers a friendly space where fathers can meet, chat and support each other.
The group offers relaxed activities including seafront walks, pop-up barber sessions, trips out and one-to-one support, helping dads feel less isolated and more linked in to their community.
If you’re a dad looking to meet others, have a chat or get some extra support, you can contact Daniel James, Dad Club Coordinator, on 07483 123652 or email dan@homestart-westsomerset.org.uk.
You can also find out more through their social media pages, the handle is @Thedadclubwestsomerset on Facebook and Instagram.
Feel good through the power of music
A new music therapy group from the MHAÂ for people aged 55+ in Taunton, is offering a welcoming space to relax, connect, and enjoy music in whatever way feels right for you.
Music therapy is a structured, evidence-based activity led by trained therapists that supports emotional wellbeing, communication and social connection. Familiar music can help spark memories, lift mood and provide gentle cognitive stimulation, while shared sessions can reduce stress and create opportunities to meet others.
The best part? You do not need any musical experience and there is no pressure to take part in a certain way. Whether you sing along, try an instrument, tap your feet, or simply sit back and enjoy the music, everyone is welcome.
The sessions run on Mondays from 2:00–3:00pm at Lisieux Way Methodist Church in Taunton, with tea and coffee available.
Extra support and companionship coming to Yeovil Hospital
People receiving end-of-life care at Yeovil Hospital will now have access to extra support and companionship, thanks to the expansion of Marie Curie’s Hospital Companion Service. The service has already been supporting people in other parts of Somerset and is now reaching more patients and families locally.
Trained volunteers offer a friendly presence, emotional support, and time to listen – helping people feel less alone during what can be a difficult time. The service can also give families and carers the chance to take a short break, knowing their loved one has someone there with them.
Small acts of kindness can make a big difference, and this expansion is a positive step in helping people receive compassionate support when they need it most.
Join us in June 😎
Drop in and talk to us about your experiences or for information and advice about health and care services in Somerset.
Date and times | Details |
June 2, 2026 10:30am to 12:30am | Taunton Library Paul St, Taunton, TA1 3XZ |
June 4, 2026 10:00am to 12:00pm | South Petherton Community Library 3 St James's St, South Petherton, TA13 5BS |
June 9, 2026 10:30am to 12:30pm | Porlock Community Library The Old School Centre, High St, Porlock, Minehead, TA24 8NP |
June 12, 2026 10:00am to 1:00pm | St Mary’s Church, St Mary Street, Bridgwater, TA6 3EQ |
June 13, 2026 10:00am to 4:00pm | Collett Park, Park Rd, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5BP |
June 16, 2026 11:00am to 1:00pm | Yeovil Library King George Street, Yeovil, BA20 1PY |
June 19, 2026 10:30am to 12:30pm | Wells Library Union St, Wells, BA5 2PU |
June 23, 2026 10:00am to 12:00pm | Waffle over waffles at The Waffle Hub Community Café Methodist Church, 35A College St, Burnham-on-Sea, TA8 1AS |
June 25, 2026 11:00am to 1:00pm | Langport Library Whatley, Langport, TA10 9RA |
June 27, 2026 09:30am to 4:30pm | Morganians Rugby Club, Chedzoy Lane, Bridgwater, TA7 8QW |
June 30, 2026 11:00am to 1:00pm | Crewkerne Library Falkland Square, Crewkerne TA18 7JS |
Other important dates
Date | What | Find out more |
1 to 7 June | Volunteers week | |
8 to 14 June | Carers week | |
10 June | Age without limits day | |
14 June | World blood donor day | |
9 to 15 June | Men’s health week | |
15 to 21 June | Learning disability week | |
15 to 21 June | Refugee week | |
22 June | Windrush day | |
1 to 30 June | Pride month |
Want us to share your news?
Do you have any health and care news or events you would like us to include in our June 2026Â newsletter? If so, please send us you text with an accompanying image to info@healthwatchsomerset.co.uk before Friday 12 June 2026.
Get in touch
Share your experiences of health and care services in Somerset so we can help influence change and make services better.
Have your say using our website contact form, or call us free on 0800 999 1286.
Do you have questions about health and care ‘jargon’? We can help, email you enquiries to info@healthwatchsomerset.co.uk or call us free on 0800 999 1286.
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Healthwatch Somerset, Suite 12, Wellworthys Business Centre, Parrett Way, Colley Lane, Bridgwater, TA6 5LB
The Healthwatch Somerset service is run by The Advocacy People, an independent charity - Charity No. 1080679 limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales with Company No. 3963421. The registered office is at PO Box 375, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 9HU