Our annual report, Unlocking the power of people-driven care, highlights how we've worked throughout the year to understand people's health and care needs, and used public feedback to help NHS and social care services in Somerset improve. The report also outlines our work planned for 2025-26. The year in numbers 5094 people shared their experiences of health and social care services with us, helping to raise awareness of issues and improve care. 1364 people came to us for clear advice and information on topics such as how they can find an NHS dentist and how they can make a complaint about their GP surgery. 34 outstanding volunteers supported us last year, giving up 595 hours of their time to make care better for their community. We published 5 reports about the improvements people would like to see to health and social care services. Our priorities for the next year Investigating waiting lists for procedures, including the timing and method of patient contact during waiting periods for medical treatments. Holding an event in October 2025 focusing on accessible information in Somerset health and care. Following up on the Healthwatch England pharmacy survey by looking at the pharmacy provision in Somerset. Working with Somerset Council to listen to people’s experiences of working with micro-providers. Supporting our communities to understand the future NHS 10-year plan and it’s recommendations. These include moving from hospital to the community, embracing digital transformation, and shifting from treatment to prevention. Following up on the recommendations that have been made in our work in 24/25. Read our report Read the full Annual Report 2024-2025 to find out more about our work during the past year. If you need this report in a different format, please email  info@healthwatchsomerset.co.uk   or call 0800 999 1286.

Our June Newsletter includes updates about our work, information about health and care services, and helpful advice. Photo taken at Barrington Court, a National Trust property in Somerset To read our June Newsletter - click on the pdf below If you need this newsletter in a different format, please email: info@healthwatchsomerset.co.uk  or call 0800 999 1286.

You may have become aware over the weekend that the Government intends to close Healthwatch England (and therefore your local Healthwatch). This is to streamline patient safety bodies as part of their new ten-year strategy, to be announced in more detail later this week.   We wanted to reassure you that Healthwatch Somerset are operating as usual and continuing to deliver on ensuring that health and social care works better for people, and remain your source for information, advice and guidance about local services. We have a great workplan of activity to deliver based on what you told us matters to you. We are very much here to listen to what you like about services and what you think could be improved. Whatever the issue, we want to hear about it.    We will be in touch when we have more information about key changes. In the meantime, if you have any concerns, please Contact us Thank you

In our latest report, we talk about people's experiences when trying to make appointments at a local doctor’s surgery in West Somerset In March 2024 we published our report Access to GP appointments in West Somerset   which stated our commitment to revisit the work and collect future feedback. We wanted to understand people's experiences of accessing GP services in Minehead. This report has been created using the feedback we heard from people in Minehead from September 2024 to February 2025. Key findings People are experiencing extended wait times for appointments. The feedback indicated that a lack of GP’s registered at the surgery creates barriers in patient-doctor relationships. The reliance on locum GP’s creates gaps in continuity of care. Read our Report If you need this report in a different format, please email info@healthwatchsomerset.co.uk or call 0800 999 1286

We asked you to help shape our workplan for 2025/26 and our latest report shows the results of what you told us. Each year, we gather information about how local health and social services are running and use it to spot common patterns or issues. Using the intelligence collected over the course of 12 months, alongside wider national considerations, our Advisory Board discuss possible key projects for the next year. Our goal is to listen to what people have to say. We want to make sure that the main projects we choose for the year are sound and clear, and that they truly reflect the needs of the community. Every year, we share a list of the top project ideas with the public, and everyone gets a chance to pick their two favorite options. To find out the result, read our brief report which explains the methods and findings from our public investigation. Read our report If you need this report in a different format, please email  info@healthwatchsomerset.co.uk   or call 0800 999 1286.

Our April Newsletter includes updates about our work, information about health and care services, and helpful advice. A photo of a Camellia flower To read our April Newsletter - click on the pdf below If you need this newsletter in a different format, please email: info@healthwatchsomerset.co.uk  or call 0800 999 1286.

NHS South West have launched a Big Brush Club competition for primary school pupils aged 3-5 years across the South West Image kindly provided by NHS South West. Image credit: Supervised toothbrushing © NHS South West 2025 Primary school pupils from across Somerset and the South West are being invited to enter a competition with a chance to win one of two £50 Amazon vouchers. The competition is part of the NHS South West  work to establish oral hygiene routines in children aged 3-5 years of age and will run until the end of May 2025. Pupils can colour mascot or sing as an individual, group, class or school to enter. Singing entries must record their version of the Big Brush Club toothbrushing song  – anything from 5 up to 30 seconds in duration.  The Big Brush Club is delivered by At Home Dental who were commissioned in 2023 to deliver a three-year supervised toothbrushing campaign across designated primary schools in the South West. For full details of the competion, including how to enter visit the NHS South West Supervised Toothbrushing Scheme webpage. Dentisitry in Somerset In 2023/24 Healthwatch Somerset completed an in-depth report on dentistry across the county gathering feedback from over 1,000 people. A key theme that emerged was strong support from parents for improved access to free dental care for children. In, response, we recommended the introduction of targeted oral health and prevention programmes for school-age children. Mandy Starks, our Engagement Officer who undertook the Dentistry project, said: "I am pleased to see NHS Somerset taking positive action on this recommendation. Supervised toothbrushing schemes are now being introduced in schools across Somerset. It is crucial to teach children about good oral health, this is a vital step toward improving long-term dental health outcomes for children". Download and read our full report with key points and recommendations: Dentistry in Somerset: Access, affordability, and the impact on oral health

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. The report examines ten key areas of care, including GPs, dentists, hospitals and social care, based on the experiences of 65,000 patients. While much of the support the NHS provides is good, the research has found accessing this support in the first place remains the biggest challenge people face. ' The public's perspective: The state of health and social care ' highlights the following: barriers and delays to timely care affect nearly every part of the NHS and social care system; and when combined with issues such as the cost of living, this situation risks widening existing health inequalities. For example, people in deprived areas wait longer for some care than those in affluent areas. Financially struggling individuals often avoid healthcare due to additional costs like travel. And many people are turning to private dental care due to a lack of access to NHS dentists. In order to further explore access discrepancies between better-off people and those on lower incomes, Healthwatch England commissioned a poll looking at the use of private care today. Key findings People who are more financially comfortable were much more likely to be able to access free or discounted private GP appointments through their work than those who were less financially comfortable.  People in better jobs/financial positions were much more likely to access health-related workplace perks and healthy living perks. ​ Some, particularly young people, were advised to consider paying for private care by NHS staff.  What people told Healthwatch England The poll conducted by Savanta on 24 and 25 September with 1,758 adults living in England from a nationally representative sample of the UK, highlights the following: People in better-paid jobs are more likely to have private care provided through work People with higher incomes are more likely to have work-based or private health insurance, free or discounted access to private healthcare, and healthy living perks than those with lower incomes. Two in five (40%) of employed people describing their financial status as 'very comfortable' have access to free or discounted private GP appointments through their place of work.  This compared to 16% who described themselves as 'quite comfortable', and around 10% as 'just getting by' and 'really struggling'.  Private GP appointments through work are available to a third, 33%, of the highest earners (those earning over £76k), compared to just one in 25, four per cent, of those earning up to £21k. ​ Private mental health appointments through work are available to 23% of the highest earners (those earning over £76k) compared to just 3.5% of those earning up to £21k. ​ Private physiotherapy appointments through work are available to one in eight, 13%, of the highest earners (those earning over £76k) compared to just one per cent of those earning up to £21k. People turn to private care when unable to get NHS treatment Nearly a third (28%) of all the respondents said they had accessed private healthcare in the last year (either private health or dental care). The most common reasons given for accessing private healthcare were:  people felt they'd receive better quality care (37%)  the waiting list was too long (34%) they paid for a procedure available on the NHS but not in their region (22%). One in five (18%) of those who hadn't used private healthcare in the last year had considered doing so. ​The most common reasons given for considering private healthcare were:  Over half, 52%, of the respondents felt they might receive better quality care. Over a third, 34%, said there was a long waiting list on the NHS; and 15% said the service they wanted wasn't available on the NHS. Some people are being signposted to go private One in seven (14%) of the respondents reported that an NHS professional had advised them to consider paying for a private health service in the last year. The largest group advised to go private were young people below 30 years. We know this group is already more likely to avoid accessing NHS services, such as dentists and GPs, due to associated costs and travel fares. Louise Ansari, CEO at Healthwatch England, said:  "With access to NHS care remaining the most significant challenge people report to us nationwide, we're seeing a two-tier system emerge where access to healthcare services is often available faster to those with money to pay for it. "Our polling shows, for example, that people who are more financially comfortable are much more likely to be able to access free or discounted private GP appointments through their work than those who are less financially comfortable. We are also concerned that one in seven people who answered our poll said they have been advised to consider paying for a private health service by NHS professionals, which many cannot afford. "We know that many people, especially those on lower incomes, disabled people, carers and younger people, face real challenges accessing care and if they can access services, they sometimes choose not to attend GP or dental appointments or buy prescription medications to avoid extra costs." Two-tier health system  Healthwatch is seeing a two-tier system emerge, where healthcare services are accessible only to those who can afford it. The ongoing struggles to access care are deepening the existing health inequalities while putting the lives of many people at risk. There's a body of research showing that people who live in deprived areas face ongoing challenges in accessing care and have poorer health outcomes.  According to the  Office for National Statistics (ONS) data , GP practices in the most deprived areas have around 300 more patients per fully qualified doctors compared to the least deprived areas.   Healthwatch England's research on the cost of living  earlier this year showed people struggling financially or who received income from benefits, and young people were more likely to avoid going to the dentist, attending/ travelling to a GP appointment or buying over-the-counter medication. Healthwatch England want to see a health and care system that works for everyone and have issued calls to action setting out immediate solutions for the NHSE, commissioners and service providers. While healthcare leaders have recognised growing health inequalities and have taken some action to tackle access issues, faster progress is needed with national recovery plans, and a greater focus on ending inconsistent experiences across different areas and demographics. 1. Improve access for the most vulnerable by ensuring that: Commissioners and providers take all opportunities to provide early or ongoing support through additional staff roles, including mental health practitioners, peer support workers, and school-based teams.  The NHS covers transport and accommodation costs where patients choose to travel for quicker treatment at another setting Better signposting to support services, including voluntary organisations and services that support unpaid carers. 2. Improve patient communications by ensuring that: There are improvements to online referral trackers, so people waiting for care know what is happening with their care.  More proactive NHS communications with patients while they wait for treatment. Single points of contact, either in person, over the phone, or via the NHS app, so patients waiting for care can give feedback about issues or changes in their condition.

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. We wanted to better understand how people in West Somerset are accessing GP services to help identify ways to make it easier for them to get the care they need. Key messages Personalised care and positive patient-provider relationships are important and enhance people’s overall satisfaction with healthcare services. People prefer to book appointments in person, so healthcare providers should accommodate diverse preferences and communication styles among patients. Good communication, accurate prescription management and responsive emergency care in the community are very important. Read our report If you need this report in a different format, please email  info@healthwatchsomerset.co.uk  or call 0800 999 1286.

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. 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. We wanted to understand people’s current experiences of dental care in Somerset – what care and treatment people require, what is available via the NHS, and what is preventing people from accessing the dental care they need to stay healthy and well. We also wanted to find out what people are doing to maintain good oral health and hygiene. Key messages Cost of dentistry:  Families, older people and vulnerable groups, such as people who are experiencing homelessness, are worried about the costs of dentistry and this has been made worse by the cost of living crisis. Challenges seeking NHS dental care:  843 respondents (71%) reported difficulties trying to see an NHS dentist in the past year. Shortage of NHS dentists:  436 respondents (37%) expressed a pressing need for more NHS dentists in Somerset. Residents reported difficulty in finding NHS dentists accepting new patients, with waiting lists extending up to eight years. Lack of access to emergency dental care:  There is a lack of access to emergency dental services, which means people are more likely to self-medicate or visit A&E for treatment. Pregnant women struggling to access NHS dentistry: 12 respondents reported difficulty getting NHS dental care while pregnant. While the number may seem small, it is concerning as government guidelines say that pregnant women should get free dental care because pregnancy can affect their dental health. Oral hygiene:  Respondents answers revealed a range of oral hygiene practices. However, the data also suggests a need for increased knowledge and awareness regarding maintaining optimal oral health. It is crucial to address this gap in understanding, as poor oral care has implications for overall health. Read our report If you need this report in a different format, please email  info@healthwatchsomerset.co.uk  or call 0800 999 1286.

Are you struggling to find an NHS dentist? The new dental recovery plan might help you get the dental care you need. On 7 February 2024 the Government published a dental care recovery plan . This is an issue we’ve been campaigning on for many years, as it’s the second top problem reported to us by the public.  Check out how this might affect you and how NHS dentistry appointments will hopefully become easier to get. I haven’t been able to find a dentist offering any NHS appointments for a long time – does this plan mean I’ll be able to? The plan recognises that your ability to get NHS dental care has been difficult, particularly since the pandemic. The plan proposes a variety of initiatives, backed by £200m of Government funding, to offer up to 2.5m appointments to people across England: A ‘new patient payment’ - like a bonus – of between £15 and 50 - will be paid to dentists for every new person they see on the NHS if the person has been unable to be seen in the past two years.  New mobile dental vans will see and treat people in 12 remote areas. A £20k ‘golden hello’ payment will be offered to 240 dentists to work in ‘dental deserts’ if they agree to stay in the area for three years. An increase in the minimum amount of payment all dentists get for NHS work. How can I find out if dentists in my area have taken up these bonus payments and are offering more NHS appointments? The Government says it will soon roll out a national marketing campaign to encourage people who've struggled to find an NHS dentist in recent years to contact dental practices.  You can look up the NHS website’s ‘find a dentist’ tool to see if your practice is taking on new patients.  Dentists must keep these listings up to date, but availability can change quickly, so you may need to ring around.   Find out how to get an NHS dentist When will extra appointments start to be offered? Bonus payments will be offered to dentists from March 2024, but it’s down to individual practices to decide if they will take up these incentives to provide more NHS appointments. You may need to check at various times throughout the year with different practices.  Will I have to prove that I haven’t been able to be seen on the NHS in the past two years? It’s likely new patients will have to sign a form declaring that they haven’t been seen on the NHS for the past two years, if the dental practice they use is claiming the bonuses.  Are the new patient appointments for adult or child patients? Extra appointments are aimed at both adults and children. Do I have to use the dental practice nearest me? If you are easily able (and can afford) to travel outside of your area, you can try to be seen at any NHS dental practice in England.  Dentists don’t work the same way as GPs – they get paid per treatment, not per patient and don’t formally ‘register’ patients. Dentists may agree to see you regularly and put you on an informal list, but they are under no obligation to keep seeing you as an NHS patient permanently.  Will I have to pay for dental treatment under this new initiative? Yes, you will pay NHS dental charges unless you are exempt.  You do not pay any NHS dental charges if you are:  on low-income benefits  you are pregnant or have given birth in the past 12 months  you’re aged under 18 (or under 19 and in full-time education) Check out our article about getting the most out of your next appointment, including information on costs. Top 10 ways to get the most out of your next dental appointment Is my area one of the 12 covered by new mobile dental vans? Mobile dental vans will be in Devon, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Norfolk, Suffolk, Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Dorset, Cornwall, North Yorkshire, and Northamptonshire.   They will be staffed with salaried dentists, nurses and technicians to see and treat patients who find it difficult or unaffordable to travel long distances to the nearest NHS permanent dental practices.  The Government is currently choosing a company from which to buy dental vans and details are still awaited on when they’ll be launched, how many days they’ll be in an area each week and how you will find out where they will be.  Sign up for regular newsletters with Healthwatch Somerset to stay informed. Will my area be getting one of the 240 dentists who're being offered ‘golden hellos’ to work in certain parts of England? The Government says it will decide on locations ‘in the coming months’. It will review the effectiveness of the £20k bonus payments in attracting dentists to ‘underserved’ areas before deciding whether to extend the scheme. I’m struggling to afford charges for NHS dental appointments or treatment. Will this plan help me? This plan has no changes to the level of NHS dental charges. After last year’s 8.5% increase in dental charges – the biggest since 2006 – we called for a freeze on future charges.  If you do not qualify for an exemption from dental charges, you may still be eligible for some help towards the costs by applying through the NHS low income scheme .  I’ve got a young family, or I’m expecting a baby. Will there be more support to help my kids have healthy teeth? The plan also announced the Smile for Life initiative , which will advise  families at Family Hubs in 75 council areas and nurseries on oral health for babies and how to instil good tooth-brushing habits in children.

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. The Somerset Carers Engagement Project, led by Evolving Communities and Healthwatch Somerset, is working independently on behalf of Somerset’s Integrated Care Board (ICB) which includes Somerset Council and Somerset NHS. It aims to ensure the voices of unpaid carers, both adults and young carers, are heard and used to shape the direction of health and social care services in Somerset. The Commitment to Carers is a statement that acknowledges the issues and challenges faced by unpaid carers and sets out the values and principles that health and social care services should adopt to ensure effective support for unpaid carers. The new Commitment to Carers is being produced with carers and those who work with and support carers, and it will be formally adopted by Somerset ICB in early 2024. It will inform and influence all other strategies, commissioning decisions and service developments in the future. Pictured: Siana Paginton shared her moving story of growing up as a young carer. She highlighted the impact this had on her wellbeing, education and career choices, and explained how social care and support, when it eventually arrived, made such a positive difference. Co-production workshop The recent collaborative workshop brought together over 130 different stakeholders, including unpaid carers, professionals from health and social care, and decision-makers from Somerset Council and NHS Somerset. The event featured a diverse and engaging programme, including keynote addresses from key figures such as Councillor Heather Shearer, Associate Lead Member for Somerset Council Children’s Social Care & SEND; Jonathan Higman, Chief Executive of NHS Somerset; and Paul Coles, Service Director for Adult Social Care Commissioning in Somerset. There were insightful and moving presentations from carers and those who work to support carers, and expert presentations and discussions on various aspects of unpaid caregiving. Highlights from the event included: Facilitated conversations:  Participants engaged in open and group conversations, sharing personal accounts, perspectives and visions for the future of unpaid care in Somerset. Young carers focus:  Special sessions were dedicated to understanding the unique needs and perspectives of young carers, ensuring their inclusion in the commitment to carers initiative. Addressing challenges:  Sessions explored the challenges and issues faced by parent carers, strategies for removing barriers to inclusion, and the importance of collaboration across sectors. Future planning:  The event concluded with a forward-looking session led by Andrew Henon, Somerset Carers Engagement Project Lead, emphasising the commitment to embedded practice, co-production, and continuous improvement. Pictured left to right: Alison Birkett, who read her poem, ‘Where is my man’, about caring for her husband who had dementia; Andrew Henon, Somerset Carers Engagement Project Lead; Siana Paginton, who shared her story of being a young carer; Councillor Heather Shearer, Associate Lead Member for Childrens Social Care & SEND; Gill Keniston-Goble, Healthwatch Somerset Manager; and Jonathan Higman, Chief Executive NHS Somerset. Andrew Henon commented: “The collaborative working event marked a crucial step towards renewing our commitment to unpaid carers in Somerset. The valuable insights gained from diverse perspectives will contribute significantly to shaping the Commitment to Carers 2024, ensuring it reflects the needs and aspirations of our community. I want to thank everyone who attended on the day and helped make it such an energising and valuable event, as well as the many carers who could not join us due their caring responsibilities, but who have contributed in other ways.” Next steps Feedback and findings from the event will be analysed and combined with other evidence, data and reports, including insight gained by talking to carers across Somerset and case studies of unpaid carers’ experiences. The information gathered will inform the final Commitment to Carers, to be formally adopted by NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB) in early 2024.