Healthwatch Somerset E-bulletins

Our monthly news round-up.  Click on the title to view and download.

Never miss an edition: Subscribe here and it will be delivered straight to your inbox.

• E-bulletin April 2022
• E-bulletin March 2022
• E-bulletin February 2022
• E-bulletin January 2022
• E-bulletin December 2021
• E-bulletin November 2021
• E-bulletin October 2021
• E-bulletin September 2021
• E-bulletin August 2021
• E-bulletin July 2021
• E-bulletin June 2021
• E-bulletin May 2021
• E-bulletin April 2021
• E-bulletin March 2021
• E-bulletin February 2021
• E-bulletin January 2021

Other publications for reference

These are published either by us or partner organisations, and relate to areas of Healthwatch Somerset’s work to view and download:

Healthwatch Somerset and what we do – Leaflet, October 2017

How you can volunteer with Healthwatch Somerset – Leaflet, October 2017

Brand Guidelines
A guide to the brand and communications style of Healthwatch Somerset – 2017

Every Complaint Matters Briefing
Healthwatch England – March 2016

An Overview of the Legal Requirements for a Local Healthwatch
Healthwatch England – August 2013

Healthwatch Somerset Archive

A list of the reports completed up to 30 September 2017 by the previous service provider (The Care Forum).  Please contact us to request a PDF version to be emailed to you.

Annual Reports:  2016-17  |  2015-16  |  2014-15  |  2013-14

Enter & View Reports

How Connected Are You? Survey – September 2017
Healthwatch Somerset identified there was a need to find out from local people how connected they feel and why.  We also sought to find out how being connected affects feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Bridgwater Parent Support Group – June 2017
Members of this support group run by the Parent Carer Forum shared their concerns and experiences with Healthwatch Somerset.

Information stand at Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton – May 2017
The Healthwatch Somerset Enter and View Team engaged with members of public at Musgrove Park Hospital to gather their feedback about health and social care services.

Compass Carers Support Group, Bishops Lydeard – May 2017
Healthwatch Somerset engaged with members of the carers support group, who meet monthly at Quantock Vale Surgery, Bishops Lydeard.

Compass Carers Support Group, Ilchester – May 2017
Healthwatch Somerset engaged with members of the carers support group who meet monthly at the GP Medical Centre in Ilchester.

Compass Carers Support Group, Martock – May 2017
Healthwatch Somerset engaged with members of the carers support group who meet monthly at the GP Medical Centre in Martock.

Hearing Voices Support Group Taunton – April 2017
Healthwatch Somerset visited the Hearing Voices support group in Taunton to introduce Healthwatch and to listen to any issues or concerns the group wanted to discuss.

SAAFA Engagement Report – February 2017
Healthwatch Somerset attended a meeting of representatives from SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Association) to hear about their issues and concerns on health and social care in the area.

Young Healthwatch Report – November 2016
Healthwatch Somerset ran a series of focus groups with young people based at Burton’s Orchard in Taunton.  The aims of the focus groups were to explore young people’s experience of leaving care and to involve them in starting to plan their own consultation with other care leavers.

Post-polio Syndrome Consultation Report – November 2016
Healthwatch Somerset consulted with members of the Somerset Polio Support Group to document the care they receive from the NHS in relation to their condition, at both primary and hospital level, in order to raise the understanding of PPS with NHS health commissioners.

Somerset Polio Foundation Support Group – September 2016
Healthwatch Somerset returned to visit the Taunton Support Group to find out how their report on Post-Polio syndrome was progressing and to hear the key issues identified so far.

Parkinson’s UK Support Group, Burnham-on-Sea – July 2016
Healthwatch Somerset engaged with the Burnham-on-Sea Support Group to hear their experiences of accessing health and social care services in the area.

Rethink Advice Day – July 2016
Healthwatch Somerset gave a presentation on patient and public engagement at this advice day hosted by Rethink to raise awareness of Healthwatch and its work.

Early Supported Discharge, Independent Patient Engagement Report – May 2016
Early Supported Discharge is a service that aims to help patients who have suffered a stroke to be discharged from hospital sooner and to carry out rehabilitation at home rather than in hospital.

Frome and District Day Centre – May 2016
Healthwatch Somerset engaged with Frome and District Day Centre to hear their experiences of accessing health and social care services in the area.

Availability of hearing aid batteries in Bridgwater: You said, we did – May 2016
Healthwatch Somerset was contacted by the secretary for Bridgwater Senior Citizens Forum. A request for action was raised regarding the availability of hearing aid batteries in the Bridgwater area.

Active and In Touch Frome – April 2016
Active and In Touch Frome is a group of volunteers who visit, help and befriend people who have become isolated or out of touch with the community around them.

Post-Polio Support Group, Taunton – December 2015
This report details the engagement that Healthwatch Somerset has had with the Taunton Post-Polio Support Group, the issues that arose around the understanding among professionals about post-polio syndrome and the ongoing joint work to highlight these with commissioners, GPs and health professionals.