1. Annual Report 2016-17

    Report -

    In this Annual Report we share our key challenges and successes, as we continued to engage with the public to understand people’s experiences of health and social care to make a difference.

  2. How connected are you?

    Report -

    We 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.

  3. Information stand at Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton

    Report -

    Our Enter and View Team engaged with members of public at Musgrove Park Hospital. We spoke to people and recorded their comments about health and social care services, and we gave out dozens of leaflets, and ‘How Connected Are You?’ Surveys.

  4. Post Polio Syndrome consultation in Somerset

    Report -

    We 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.

  5. Somerset Polio Foundation Support Group

    Report -

    In September 2016 we returned to visit this group to find out how their report on Post Polio Syndrome (PPS) was progressing and to hear the key issues identified so far.

  6. Post Polio Support Group, Taunton

    Report -

    This report details our engagement with Taunton Post Polio Support Group, the issues around the understanding among professionals about Post Polio Syndrome and the ongoing joint work to highlight these with commissioners, GPs and health professionals.

  7. Active and In Touch Group, Frome

    Report -

    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. We were asked to give the group a talk on our work and the role of Healthwatch.

  8. Parkinson’s Support Group, Burnham-on-Sea

    Report -

    We engaged with the Burnham-on-Sea Support Group to hear their experiences of accessing health and social care services in the area.

  9. Rethink Advice Day

    Report -

    We gave a presentation on our patient and public engagement at this advice day hosted by Rethink to raise awareness of Healthwatch and our work.

  10. Early support discharge - independent patient engagement

    Report -

    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.

  11. Frome and District Day Centre

    Report -

    We engaged with Frome and District Day Centre to hear their experiences of accessing health and social care services in the area.

  12. Availability of hearing aid batteries in Bridgwater: You said, we did

    Report -

    We were 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.

  13. Annual Report 2017-18

    Report -

    Healthwatch Somerset Annual Report 2017-18: A review of our work over the past year and its impact, plus our work planned for 2018-19.

  14. NHS 111 service report: Experiences and views of local people in Somerset

    Report -

    We created a survey that could be accessed online and completed at engagement events. The survey ran from 11 June to 31 August 2018. It asked for the views of local people who had used the service within the last three years.

  15. Annual Report 2018-19

    Report -

    Healthwatch Somerset Annual Report 2018-19: A review of our work over the past year and its impact, plus our work planned for 2019-20.

  16. Guided by you: Annual Report 2019-20

    Report -

    Healthwatch Somerset Annual Report 2019-20: A review of our work over the past year and its impact, plus our work planned for 2020-21.

  17. On equal terms - then and now: Annual Report 2020-21

    Report -

    Healthwatch Somerset Annual Report 2020-21: A review of our work over the past year and its impact, plus our work planned for 2021-22.

  18. Championing what matters to you: Annual Report 2021-22

    Report -

    Healthwatch Somerset Annual Report 2021-22: A review of our work over the past year and its impact, plus our work planned for 2022-23.

  19. Together we’re making health and social care better: Annual Report 2022-23

    Report -

    Healthwatch Somerset Annual Report 2022-23: A review of our work over the past year and its impact, plus our work planned for 2023-24.

  20. Health Visiting Service Report: Views on early years support

    Report -

    We have been talking to local people about their experiences and views of the Health Visiting Service in Somerset. This report tells you what people said when we spoke to them about the service.

  21. NHS Long Term Plan: The views of Somerset residents

    Report -

    This report details engagement work we carried out around the NHS Long Term Plan.

  22. Accessing information about health & support in Somerset: The views of local people

    Report -

    We have been talking to local people about their experiences and views of the accessing health and support information in Somerset. This report tells you what people said when we spoke to them about this.

  23. NHS 111 Out-of-hours service: Public feedback from Somerset, Devon, Plymouth and Torbay

    Report -

    Healthwatch in Somerset, Devon, Plymouth and Torbay joined forces to promote a regional survey to ensure that people using the NHS 111 service had their say on the way it is delivered to them.

  24. The District Nursing Service: People’s experiences of using the service in Somerset

    Report -

    We gathered the views of those currently using the District Nursing Service. We wanted to know what the current strengths and weaknesses were in the delivery of the service to patients in Somerset.

  25. Young Listeners Project Report

    Report -

    Sharing young people’s feedback to improve the health and social care services they use.

  26. The impact of waiting for NHS surgery in Somerset

    Report -

    Somerset’s NHS leaders asked us to help them understand how people are being affected by waiting for surgery to inform their ongoing work to improve support for patients.

  27. Experiences with the NHS 111 service in Devon, Plymouth, Torbay, and Somerset

    Report -

    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.

  28. Same day urgent care in West Somerset

    Report -

    The aim of this project was to gather the views of people living in West Somerset about same day urgent care. Somerset NHS Clinical Commissioning Group asked us to carry out this work as part of a review into how urgent care is provided in Somerset.

  29. People’s experiences of using GP websites to access information

    Report -

    We wanted to understand how the use of digital services by GPs, particularly websites, is affecting the way people access the information and care they need.

  30. Supported transfer of care from hospitals: evaluating people’s experiences to help shape improvements in care

    Report -

    We wanted to explore the quality of the transfer of care process in Somerset and use the experiences of people who have been discharged from hospital with ongoing care needs to guide improvements in the process.

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

    News -

    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.

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

    News -

    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.

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

    News -

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

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

    News -

    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.

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

    News -

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

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

    News -

    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.

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

    News -

    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.

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

    News -

    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.

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

    News -

    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.

  40. What to expect when waiting for care

    Blog -

    Information and advice from Healthwatch England, September 2021

  41. Out and about in the community

    Blog -

    By Tanya Camberwell, Healthwatch Somerset Engagement Officer

  42. Thanks for coming to our roadshow in May

    Blog -

    By Gillian Keniston-Goble, Healthwatch Somerset Manager

  43. Think Pharmacy

    Blog -

    Information and advice from Somerset NHS Clinical Commissioning Group, May 2022

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

    News -

    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.

  45. Share your feedback about Somerset GP websites

    News -

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

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

    News -

    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.

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

    News -

    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.

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

    News -

    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.