1. People are increasingly avoiding NHS appointments and prescriptions due to cost of living, Healthwatch England warns

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    With spiralling costs of living, Healthwatch England is warning people are making changes to how they use health and social care services, which can have an adverse impact on their health and wellbeing.

  2. Healthwatch Somerset Annual Report: Working together to improve health and social care

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    Last year, we supported over 4,370 people to have their say on health and social care and to get information and advice about local services.

  3. ‘Review culture’ is on the rise, yet only one in ten people feedback on health services

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    As Healthwatch marks its tenth anniversary this week, Healthwatch Somerset joins the 152 local Healthwatch across England to appeal for more people to feedback on NHS care.

  4. Healthwatch England research: Six-week postnatal checks are failing many new mothers

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    Healthwatch England, is warning that six-week postnatal checks – required of GPs in England – are failing many new mothers.

  5. Project launched in Bridgwater to improve health of people with chronic respiratory disease

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    Our new community project asks people in Bridgwater to get involved to improve the health and wellbeing of those living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

  6. Healthwatch England research: Tell us your story of maternal mental health care

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    Healthwatch is launching a national survey to understand if care works for new mothers and birthing parents.

  7. Making it easier for people to get healthcare and support via GP websites

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    Our new report looks 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.

  8. Share your views to help shape NHS Same Day Urgent Care services in Somerset

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    The NHS is reviewing how it provides Same Day Urgent Care in Somerset, and we want to hear your views to help shape and improve access to services in the future.

  9. Healthwatch Somerset’s Annual Report shows how public feedback has improved health and care

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    Last year (April 2021-March 2022), we supported almost 2,900 people to have their say on health and social care and to get the right information and advice about local services.

  10. Healthwatch Somerset welcomes the Integrated Care System and new opportunities to put people at the heart of care

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    As Somerset’s new Integrated Care System (ICS) becomes a statutory body and formally starts work on 1 July 2022, we look forward to a productive partnership to make care better.

  11. Healthwatch England news: Lack of NHS dental appointments widens health inequalities

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    A new survey of public attitudes to NHS dentistry shows that half of the adults in England find dental charges unfair amid escalating living costs.

  12. Share your feedback about Somerset GP websites

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    We are investigating people’s experiences of using GP websites to get health and wellbeing information and support.

  13. Healthwatch report highlights ongoing public concerns about NHS 111 service in Devon and Somerset

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    People who use NHS 111 in Devon and Somerset have reported ongoing concerns about the quality of the service, with the most common complaints being about long waiting times and difficulty getting through on the phone.

  14. Healthwatch recommends improved communication and support for patients waiting for surgery in Somerset

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    In our recent survey, patients who are waiting for planned surgery in Somerset reported a lack of communication from hospitals and many felt their health and wellbeing had deteriorated while waiting for treatment.

  15. Local Healthwatch seeks public feedback on NHS 111 to help the service improve

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    A new public survey has been launched to find out more about local people’s experiences of using the NHS 111 service in the region.

  16. Are you or your loved ones waiting for hospital care? Share your experience with Healthwatch England

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    Millions of people have had their treatment delayed by the pandemic – are you one of them?

  17. New study asks people how they’ve been affected by waiting for surgery in Somerset

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    As the number of patients waiting for surgery continues to grow, nationally and in southwest England, we are asking people about their experiences of being referred for surgery in Somerset and how they have been affected by waiting times.

  18. Annual report highlights how Healthwatch Somerset has supported the public throughout the pandemic

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    Over the last year (April 2020 to March 2021), during the pandemic, 2,387 Somerset residents shared their feedback on the county’s health and social care services with us or sought information and advice on how to access the care and support they needed.

  19. Healthwatch report highlights inconsistencies in NHS 111 service in Somerset and Devon

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    A joint report released today by a group of local Healthwatch in the South West, shows that although the NHS 111 service in Somerset and Devon is rated highly by the public, there are inconsistencies in the quality of the service.

  20. Healthwatch Somerset asks young people ‘How could health and social care services work better for you?’

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    What’s it like being a young person using health, social care and wellbeing services in Somerset, and what changes do young people want to see?

  21. Healthwatch Somerset reveals what Somerset residents are saying about health and care during COVID-19

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    Our new report out today reveals local people’s experiences of health and social care during the first six months of COVID-19.

  22. Local Healthwatch plea for public feedback on NHS 111 service

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    A new public survey has been launched to find out more about local people’s experiences of using the NHS 111 service in the region.

  23. Healthwatch Somerset Annual Report: Listening to local people helps make health and social care better

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    Over the last year, more than 1,400 people shared their views on the county’s health and social care services with us, helping to make care better for local people.

  24. Healthwatch Somerset’s Readers Panel can help organisations communicate about coronavirus

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    We can help health and social care organisations to communicate clearly and effectively with local people about the coronavirus and the impact on services and support.

  25. Make your voice count – Help shape the future of health and care services in Somerset

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    We are calling on local people to make sure their voice is heard and reflected in proposals being drawn up by Somerset NHS health and care services, for changes to community-based services and non-emergency care.

  26. National research launched on mental health statistics

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    The UK’s largest independent regulator of official statistics wants to hear from patients, carers and their families about how they access and use statistics on mental health in England.

  27. Hundreds share how they look for help when ill in Somerset

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    People in Somerset looking for health advice and support want to see better access to their GP to get the information they need, rather than looking online for help.

  28. Healthwatch calls on health professionals in Somerset to enable new parents to talk about mental health

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    As the independent health and social care champion for Somerset, we are calling on local services to make more space for new parents in the county to talk about their mental health.

  29. How easy is it to access support and advice to help you stay happy & healthy in Somerset?

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    People in Somerset are being asked to share how they access information, support and advice when they are ill, looking after someone or finding it difficult to manage living at home, to help shape local services going forward.

  30. The top four things people in Somerset would like to see improved in local NHS services

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    Hundreds of people in Somerset have shared their views on how to improve NHS health services in the county.

  31. Health visitor still the first point of call when parents of young children need advice and support – new report reveals

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    Parents of young children still prefer to ask their health visitor or GP surgery for health advice and support rather than go to Facebook or consult their Red Book – according to the findings of our survey published today.

  32. People’s real-life experiences of health and social care services in Somerset set out in new report

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    More than 1,800 people have shared their views on the county’s GP surgeries, hospitals and social care over the last year with us – helping to shape and improve those services for all.

  33. Thank you: Over 260 people tell Healthwatch Somerset what they think would make the NHS better

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    Local people share their views about how they want local health services to improve.

  34. Help people with their final wishes for health care – says Somerset man

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    Health and social services should openly talk about end of life care and the wishes of patients – says Healthwatch Somerset volunteer Steve.

  35. Roadshow finishes with more than 400 views on health and care services in Somerset

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    Our roadshow, which travelled almost 260 miles around Somerset to find out the views of local people on health and care services, has finished a seven-day tour with more than 400 views collected.

  36. NHS figures reveal more people with dementia are being admitted to A&E in Somerset

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    More people with dementia are being rushed to hospital emergency departments in Somerset, according to NHS statistics.

  37. Share your views on NHS services for those with learning disabilities and autism in Somerset

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    Hundreds of children have learning disabilities and autism in Somerset and now families are being asked to help shape local NHS services supporting them.

  38. Share your experiences of Health Visiting Services in Somerset

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    Parents of young children in Somerset are being asked to share their views and experiences about the health visiting services they have received in the County, to help shape the service going forward.

  39. Join a People’s Panel

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    Have your say on the future of health and social care in Somerset – by joining a new Public and Patient People’s Panel.

  40. Helping young people have a voice on health and social care in Somerset

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    The health and care issues affecting children and young people in Somerset have been the focus of our recent work.

  41. Improving Lives Strategy

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    We will be monitoring the progress of a new strategy, launched this month by Somerset’s Health and Wellbeing Board.

  42. Hundreds of people reveal their experiences of Somerset’s 111 non-emergency phone line service

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    We are calling for the NHS non-emergency phone line to provide better communication with the public.

  43. There’s still time to give your views on Somerset’s 111 service

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    People in Somerset are being urged to give their views on using the county’s 111 non-emergency phone line.

  44. Views wanted to help improve Somerset’s failing 111 service

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    People in Somerset are being asked for their views on using the county’s 111 non-emergency phone line.

  45. Healthwatch Somerset welcomes new announcement

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    As the county’s independent health and care champion, we welcome news a new provider will run the out-of-hours GP services in the county.

  46. A voice for the people of Somerset

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    People in Somerset will be given a strong voice to air their views on health and care services in the county – thanks to plans by Evolving Communities, the new provider of the local Healthwatch service.

  47. World Patient Safety Day: Shining a spotlight on patient engagement to support safer care across Somerset

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    Together with NHS Somerset, we are shining a spotlight on patient and family engagement for safer care across Somerset for World Patient Safety Day on 17 September.

  48. What’s your experience of NHS dental care in Somerset?

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    Share your feedback by 31 October 2023 to help improve access to NHS dentistry.

  49. Empowering Bridgwater residents to live well: Focus group aims to help transform lives of COPD patients

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    The Victoria Park Community Centre in Bridgwater, Somerset, will host an important event on Thursday 30 November, from 10am to 3pm, dedicated to enhancing the lives of Bridgwater residents who live with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).