Healthwatch Somerset is the independent champion for people who use health and social care services. We’re here to make sure that those running services put people of Somerset at the heart of care. We want to hear from you We're collecting your stories and experiences about GP surgeries, Dentists, Pharmacies and all other health and social care services. Tell us about your experiences and help shape the future of care. Have your say News & Views To see all news posts, click here Thank you so much for all your help. I had been sent around in circles before coming to you; for you to be so kind and determined was a breath of fresh air. Parent who struggled to find an NHS dentist Upcoming events To see all events, click here No events at the moment subscribe Sign up for our news letter Email First Name Last Name I agree to my data being stored and used in line with the privacy policy. Click here to see the privacy policy Subscribe Thank you for subscribing

Here you can our governance documents and information about how our advisory board keeps us the independent champions of health and social care change in Somerset. Governance Documents Please click on a document below to view/download the document. Complaints Policy Decision Making Policy Advisory Board Terms of Reference What does the Advisory Group do? Our Advisory Group works alongside the local team to play an important role in setting and maintaining the strategic direction of Healthwatch Somerset. It has a significant role to play, ensuring that Healthwatch Somerset adheres to its principles and purpose and operates in a moral and ethical way in the service of the local community. The role includes: Formulating strategy and workplans with the local Manager Ensuring accountability for quality delivery of the strategy and workplan Shaping a positive culture Providing accountability to local people The Advisory Group is formed of volunteers and lay people and is not responsible for the day to day running of Healthwatch Somerset. This is done by a small team of paid staff. Meetings Most of the Advisory Group’s meetings are held in public, with an opportunity to ask questions at the discretion of the chairman; these are not public meetings. There are certain decisions – who we represent and engage with, for example – which have to be taken in a meeting in public. The Advisory Group may hold some meetings in private, if there are confidential issues to discuss, or as briefings to develop our strategy. At other times, the Advisory Group may hold open meetings to capture the experiences of local people who use health or care service Click on a meeting below to open/download a pdf version of meeting agenda/minutes. Agenda for Board Meeting Date of meeting 27 October 2025 Agenda to be agreed Agenda for Board Meeting Date of meeting 28 July 2025 Meeting to discuss Healthwatch Somerset Complaints Process for Website, update on The People’s Vote, and Commissioners Report. Agenda for Board Meeting Date of meeting 23 April 2025 Meeting with an update on Finance; Q4 Commissioners Report, Review Updated Risk Register, Chair, Engagement, Volunteer, and Board Member Activity Reports, Speaker – Sarah Bird, Chief Executive, Timebanking UK Agenda for Board Meeting Date of meeting 12 February 2025 Meeting to discuss Holding to Account: How Well is Your System Working? A toolkit produced by Healthwatch Surrey, review the Healthwatch Somerset Quality Assurance Framework and Action Plan, and review and update the HWS Board Risk Assessment document. Agenda for Board Meeting Date of meeting 27 January 2025 Meeting to discuss Healthwatch Somerset Complaints Process for Website; Update on The People’s Vote; Commissioners Report. Agenda for Board Meeting Date of meeting 3 December 2024 Meeting - Professor David Croisdale-Appleby OBE, Chair of Healthwatch England - Questions and Answers; Workplan Results. Agenda for Board Meeting Date of meeting 9 September 2024 Meeting to discuss Engagement, Volunteer, and Board Member Activity Reports; a brief update on what staff are working on; Hospital at Home Speakers Tracey Evans and Louise Bird from Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. Agenda for Board Meeting Date of meeting 8 July 2024 Meeting to discuss a brief update on what staff are working on; Terms of Reference for Healthwatch Somerset Board, and Decision-Making Policy; Key Performance Indicators; Chair’s Report and Board Members’ Reports; Speaker - Michelle Hawkes, Public Health Specialist, Somerset Council. Agenda for Board Meeting Date of meeting 13 May 2024 Meeting - Welcome from The Advocacy People and the Role of the Advisory Board; Brief Update from Healthwatch Somerset; Key Performance Indicators; Chair to lead discussion. Agenda for Board Meeting Date of meeting 19 February 2024 Meeting to discuss Update of Current Annual Work Programme; Questions about Chair’s Report, Engagement, Volunteer, and Board Members updates; Update from Evolving Communities; An Update on Treatment Escalation Plans. Agenda for Board Meeting Date of meeting 22 January 2024 Meeting to discuss update on recommissioning of Healthwatch Somerset’s Contract; Workplan ideas/peoples’ vote; Update on current projects; and Charitable status – open discussion Reports Reports can be found on our News & Reports page. Our Advisory Group members Gill Keniston-Goble Judith Goodchild Chair Sandra Wilson Vice Chair Bob Champion Debbie Rigby Tony Robinson Sue Thomas Gill Waldron

Health and Social care services in Somerset don’t always get things right. Speaking up when things go wrong is important. Here you can find ways to help you have your say and make a complaint. Help making a complaint Resources to help when you have concerns or a complaint about the NHS NHS Complaints Advocacy is a statutory right, meaning that the general public can receive free, independent and confidential support to get any NHS complaint resolved. Advocacy helps you to understand your options, your rights and helps to make sure your voice is heard. The provider of NHS complaints advocacy in this area is: South West Advocacy Network South West Advocacy Network More information about NHS & social care complaints Healthwatch England have put together some very useful information and guidance on making complaints or raising concerns to the NHS and other health and social care service providers. Visit Healthwatch England's website Whilst the Care Quality Commission (CQC) don't investigate complaints, they do want to hear about concerns, in case they are beginning an investigation. Visit the CQC website

Articles that may not have the most up to date information but are still interesting to read are stored in our archive. Archive This is where we keep news and report articles that may still be interesting but the content may be out of date or superseded. Healthwatch England research: Tell us your story of maternal mental health care Oct 31, 2022 Making it easier for people to get healthcare and support via GP websites Oct 26, 2022 Share your views to help shape NHS Same Day Urgent Care services in Somerset Oct 16, 2022 1 2 3 4 5

Accessibility is important to us, including digital accessibility. Our website is WCAG 2.0 AA certified. Explore our digital accessibility section for help with using digital accessibility tools. Digital Accessibility Digital accessibility tools Digital accessibility tools to support users with a wide range of accessibility requirements are built in to most modern technology. For specific instructions on how to access and use these tools please see the manufacturer's information. Below you can find the links to the most commonly used systems on desktops & laptops or mobiles and tablets. Desktops & Laptops Mobiles & Tablets Accessibility statement This is an accessibility statement from The Advocacy People, in relation to this Healthwatch website. Measures to support accessibility The Advocacy People take the following measures to ensure accessibility of their websites: Include accessibility as part of our mission statement. Include accessibility throughout our internal policies. Appoint an accessibility officer and/or ombudsperson. Assign clear accessibility goals and responsibilities. Employ formal accessibility quality assurance methods. Conformance status The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) define the requirements for designers and developers to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. It defines three levels of conformance: Level A, Level AA, and Level AAA. The Advocacy People's website is partially conformant with WCAG 2.1 level AA. Partially conformant means that some parts of the content do not fully conform to the accessibility standard. Additional accessibility considerations Although our goal is WCAG 2.1 Level AA conformance, we have also applied some Level AAA Success Criteria: Images of text are only used for decorative purposes. Some videos have sign language interpretation. Feedback We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of our website. Please let us know if you encounter accessibility barriers on our website by contacting us on any of the following: 0330 440 9000 info@theadvocacypeople.org.uk PO Box 375, Hastings, TN34 9HU We try to respond to feedback within 2 business days. Technical specifications Accessibility of our website relies on the following technologies to work with the combination of web browser and any assistive technologies or plugins installed on your computer: HTML CSS JavaScript These technologies are relied upon for conformance with the accessibility standards used. Limitations and alternatives Despite our best efforts to ensure accessibility of our website, there may be some limitations. Please contact us if you observe an issue with our website accessibility. Assessment approach The Advocacy People assessed the accessibility of this website by the following approaches: Self-evaluation Evaluation report A statement on our approach to accessibility is available at: https://www.theadvocacypeople.org.uk/how-we-work . Formal complaints To make a formal complaint, please get in touch via 0330 440 9000 info@theadvocacypeople.org.uk PO Box 375, Hastings, TN34 9HU Formal approval of this accessibility statement This Accessibility Statement is approved by: Richard Motley Digital Communications Manager The Advocacy People Date This statement was created on 13th June 2024.

Here you can find helpful advice and information about health and social care related topics along with general interest articles for Somerset. Advice & information Understanding NHS data sharing: What you need to know The NHS and social care use your health information to care for you and also to improve services. They keep it safe and private. If you don’t want your data used for planning or research, you can choose to opt out. Why is data shared? Shared data helps you and the NHS . For example: It brings your records together to improve your care It was used to find the first coronavirus treatment It supported vaccine research Your individual care Health and care staff may use your confi Healthwatch Somerset Nov 28, 2025 What should you expect from the NHS when it comes to accessible information? NHS England has published a refreshed version of the Accessible Information Standard (AIS) which was first released in 2016. Here we look... Healthwatch Somerset Jul 16, 2025 Healthwatch Somerset - Still here, still listening We want to reassure everyone that Healthwatch Somerset continues to operate as usual. The Government has announced plans to end the... Healthwatch Somerset Jul 10, 2025 1 2 3 4 5

If you’d like to get more involved with what we do at Healthwatch Somerset, volunteering is a great way to help make change in health and social care services. Find out more about volunteering opportunities here. Volunteer Make a difference in your local area by giving people the opportunity to speak up about their health and social care Make new friends as you become part of the team Boost your CV as you develop new skills and confidence Use your skills to contribute to the success of Healthwatch across the area Why volunteer with us? Help people in your community have their say on health and social care Our volunteers play a vital role speaking to local people about their experiences and giving them opportunities to share their views and ideas for how services can improve. Many of our volunteers spend time in our community finding out what people think of local services and raising awareness of Healthwatch. What can I do as a volunteer? Our volunteers help us in a number of ways. Whether you have an hour to spare or you're looking for a more regular commitment, there are a range of ways you can get involved. We train some of our volunteers to visit health and social care services and report on people's experiences. You might be observing the service, gathering the views of patients, residents and staff, and contributing to reports which highlight your findings. As a volunteer, you could be attending community events to raise awareness of Healthwatch and encourage people to share their feedback on health and social care in our community. Why do I volunteer? I wanted to give back to the NHS health service that has done so much for my family and Healthwatch gave me that opportunity... - Jan S Volunteer Expression of Interest What type work are you interested in volunteering for (check all that apply) * Required Admin/office work Attending events/stalls Speaking to the public Supporting the governance and decision making of Healthwatch Visiting health and social care settings to see them in action Enter your first name here Enter your email address here Enter your last name here Enter your contact number here Tell us a bit about you and why you'd be a great volunteer I want to subscribe to the newsletter I agree to my data being stored and used in line with the privacy policy. Click here to see the privacy policy Submit Thank you for your interest in volunteering

Without your voice, we can’t champion and campaign for changes in health and social care within Somerset. Let us know what is important to you, Have Your Say by sharing your experiences with us. Have your say Sharing your opinions and telling your stories about your experiences with health and social care helps us to see the bigger picture. This helps health and social care services to see what's going right and what's not, which allows them to focus on providing the best possible service to you. Complete the short form below to have your say ... What type of service would you like to tell us about? (select all that apply) * Required GP services Dentist Pharmacies Hospital inpatient (day treatment or overnight) Hospital outpatients' appointments Mental health support Social care eg care homes Accident and emergency/minor injury units Ambulances and paramedics NHS 111 Other (please tell us about it in the message box below) Enter your first name here Enter your last name here Enter your email address here Enter your message here I want to subscribe to the newsletter I agree to my data being stored and used in line with the privacy policy. Click here to see the privacy policy Submit Thank you for sharing your views with us

Check on our business hours, contact details or use our contact form to directly get in touch with the Healthwatch Somerset team. Contact us On this page you can get in touch using the details below, find directions and opening times for our offices or use the contact form to get in touch with us. Respect for All Healthwatch is committed to treating everyone with respect, and we expect the same in return. We will not tolerate the use of bad language, discrimination, or abusive behaviour towards our staff, volunteers, or partners. Anyone engaging in such behaviour will not be supported or worked with by Healthwatch. Opening Hours Monday 9am 5pm Tuesday 9am 5pm Wednesday 9am 5pm Thursday 9am 5pm Friday 9am 3pm Saturday Closed Sunday Closed Phone 0800 999 1286 Post Healthwatch Somerset, Suite 12, Wellworthys Business Centre, Parrett Way, Colley Lane, Bridgwater, TA6 5LB Contact form Enter your first name here Enter your email address here Enter your last name here Enter your contact number here Enter your message here I want to subscribe to the newsletter I agree to my data being stored and used in line with the privacy policy. Click here to see the privacy policy Submit Thank you for contacting us

Your opinion can make a difference, take part in our surveys and polls to help us campaign for the right changes in health and social care for Somerset. Surveys & polls Live surveys & polls Here you can find all of our live surveys & polls. Sharing your thoughts and opinions on a range of health and social care topics helps us to take action and make the changes you want to see.

Find out all about the latest health and social care news in Somerset or take a look at the latest reports from Healthwatch Somerset. News & reports News Healthwatch Somerset - January 2026 Newsletter Our January Newsletter includes updates about our work, information about health and care services, and helpful advice. Healthwatch Somerset Jan 28 Help decide our health and care priorities for 2026–27 Every year, Healthwatch Somerset creates a work plan for the next 12 months. This plan is shaped by what local people tell us about health and care services in Somerset. The People’s Vote gives you the chance to tell us which topics matter most to you. By sharing your views, you can help decide what we focus on during 2026–27 and help improve services for people across Somerset. Work we are already committed to A common theme in your feedback during 2025 was the quality of c Healthwatch Somerset Jan 8 Healthwatch Somerset - December 2025 Newsletter Our December newsletter includes updates about our work, information about health and care services, and helpful advice. Healthwatch Somerset Dec 22, 2025 1 2 3 4 5 Reports Enter and View report: Elliscombe House Care Home, Wincanton In June 2025 we undertook an Enter and View visit to Elliscombe House to observe the quality of service and talk to people using the service, including residents, relatives and staff. Healthwatch Somerset Aug 26, 2025 Who Cares? Hearing how caregivers view available support and resources in Somerset Triggered by increasing concerns raised by local carers and chosen as a priority through the 2024 People's Vote, our report aims to... Healthwatch Somerset Aug 19, 2025 Neuro rehabilitation in Somerset for people with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) In our latest report, we detail the engagement with ABI survivors and professionals which has revealed gaps in the county's healthcare... Healthwatch Somerset Jul 1, 2025 1 2 3 4 5

We run, host and attend many events each month. Find out more about local events taking place in Somerset and Have Your Say. Events We run and attend multiple events throughout the year, check the calendar below to see what we've got coming up. February 2026 Today Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8