Reaching out to our local community
We believe those who make decisions about health and social care can best improve services if they listen to people's experiences and feedback. We want everyone in Somerset to be included in the conversation, so we strive to hear from as wide a range of people as possible from our diverse communities. We share your views with those providing health and care services to help create positive change.
We understand that factors such as culture, location, wealth, education, environment and discrimination can lead to worse health outcomes, and we support the consensus that this must change. At Healthwatch, we stand ready to help by doing more to amplify the voices of communities that go unheard and reduce the barriers they face.
Making it easier for people to use GP websites
We looked at people’s experiences of using GP websites to access healthcare services and information, highlighting that improvements are needed to make it easier for more people to get good care and support online. NHS Somerset are using your feedback to help improve digital services.
Advocating for fairer dentistry
NHS dentistry is in desperate need of reform as people in every part of the country struggle to access and pay for dental care. We continue to work with Healthwatch England to move NHS dentistry up the political agenda, and we report regularly on the situation in Somerset and the South West to the NHS Local Dental Network to make sure patient voice informs decisions about the development of NHS dental care.
The impact we made during the pandemic
Since COVID-19 struck, it's more important than ever to listen and support people to get the care they need.
Through the local Healthwatch network, thanks to rapid public feedback about people's experiences of health and care services, we have been able to help the national and local response to COVID-19. We're making sure that everyone can use health services, including those that don't have the internet.
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Local people's experiences of COVID-19
During the pandemic, we heard from people across Somerset about their experience of COVID-19 and how this affected their health and wellbeing.
