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 (Optional) Enter your last name here (Optional) Enter your email address here (Optional) Enter your message here I want to subscribe to the newsletter. (Please add your name and email address above). 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

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 As the NHS 10 Year Plan develops, Healthwatch continues to deliver its work plan and work closely with communities and partners across health and care services. We look forward to continuing to listen to local voices and work alongside people and organisations to support positive change. 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

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

There are lots of ways you can get involved with what Healthwatch Somerset are doing. Take a look at job vacancies, volunteering opportunities or come to an event and Have Your Say. Ways to get involved People want health and care that works for them. Our job is to help make this happen, but we need to hear from you to understand what matters. Whether you have a couple of minutes to spare, or can commit to something longer, there are plenty of ways to get involved. Have your say Share your story Have your say The more people share their experiences about NHS and social care, the more services can understand what works, what doesn’t and what people want from care in the future. Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteer Volunteers play a vital role in helping people have their say on health and social care. Volunteering with Healthwatch can help you develop skills, gain experience and make a difference to your community. Work with us Work with us Work with us View jobs Find out more about ways you can work with us and view any current opportunities with our team.

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 17, 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

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 New Deaf Wave website shares health and wellbeing information for deaf young people SignHealth has launched Deaf Wave, a new online space created with deaf young people. It shares information, stories and support in British Sign Language (BSL) and English. Healthwatch Somerset 6 days ago Shortage of Ramipril 1.25mg capsules - what you need to know There are supply problems with Ramipril 1.25mg capsules (a medicine used to treat high blood pressure and other heart and kidney conditions). A national ‘Serious Shortage Protocol’ means your pharmacy may only be able to give you up to one month’s supply at a time. Healthwatch Somerset Apr 30 Healthwatch Somerset - April 2026 Newsletter Our April Newsletter includes updates about our work, information about health and care services, and helpful advice. Healthwatch Somerset Apr 28 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

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

Find local health and social care services in Somerset. Find services It can sometimes be difficult to know how to find the services you need. We've put together a list of resources which can help you. Alternatively, you can get in touch and we'll try to help you find what you're looking for. NHS online 111 online can tell you: where to get help for your symptoms, if you're not sure what to do how to find general health information and advice where to get an emergency supply of your prescribed medicine how to get a repeat prescription 111 online Find a dentist By entering your town or postcode, this website can help you find local dentist surgeries and tell you how to contact them. Find a dentist Social care & support This website can help you to find information on a range of social care & support resources available to you. Social care

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 27, 2022 Share your views to help shape NHS Same Day Urgent Care services in Somerset Oct 17, 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.

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

Healthwatch Somerset listen to what you say about health and social care in Somerset. We gather public opinion and campaign to make change that benefits everyone. Learn more about who we are, what we do and how we do it. About us How sharing your healthcare experiences can help everyone - BSL subtitles Healthwatch England Play Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Now Playing How sharing your healthcare experiences can help everyone - BSL subtitles 00:41 Play Video Now Playing How Healthwatch can help you find health advice and information - BSL subtitles 00:55 Play Video Now Playing Who are Healthwatch? BSL subtitles 00:59 Play Video Easy Read documents Healthwatch Information We are Healthwatch It starts with you Who we are and what we do We are the independent champion for people who use health and social care services. We’re here to make sure that those running services put people at the heart of care. Our sole purpose is to understand the needs, experiences and concerns of people who use health and social care services and to speak out on their behalf. We focus on ensuring that people’s worries and concerns about current services are addressed. We work to get services right for the future. How we work We are here to listen to what you like about services and what you think could be improved. No matter how big or small the issue, we want to hear about it. Where possible, we will let you know when changes are planned to services in our community and help you have a say. We will also encourage those in charge of local care to involve you when changes are being planned to services. You can also speak to us to find information about health and social care services available locally. Our approach People's views come first - especially those who find it hardest to be heard. We champion what matters to you and work with others to find ideas that work. We are independent and committed to making the biggest difference to you. Our Advisory Group Find out about who our members are, what they do and find the latest meeting minutes by visiting the Advisory Group page. Our staff We have a small team of dedicated individuals with a remit to engage with, offer support, signpost and listen to all our local residents experiences and suggestions relating to NHS Health and Social Care services in Somerset. Our staff Kim Sadler Manager Sheila Burridge Volunteer Officer Tanya Camberwell Engagement Officer Mandy Starks Engagement Officer Our volunteers Our volunteers are at the heart of what we do, they support our team with anything from day to day tasks to speaking to the local community. We wouldn't be able to do what we do without their support. If you'd like to find out more about volunteering with Healthwatch, click here . Enter and view Enter and View is one way Healthwatch Somerset can gather information needed about services and collect views of service users, their carers and relatives, as well as staff. Our authorised Enter & View Representatives are: Kim Sadler June Barnes Sheila Burridge Tanya Camberwell Bob Champion Richard Corp Judith Goodchild Helen Hancox Gill Keniston-Goble Alan Kitch Keith Paine Tony Robinson Jill Rossiter Mandy Starks Sue Thomas Gill Waldron Jane Watson Mike Welton Sandra Wilson