1. Don’t Rely on GP Websites for Cancer Information…Speak to your GP

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    With the help of our volunteers we checked 103 local GP websites, and found that while most offered advice for patients about cancer, the quantity and quality of that advice was not always very good.

  2. Covid-19 Patient Experiences – What can Hertfordshire learn?

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    During the first lockdown, we celebrated the NHS and others who put their own health at risk to deliver what services they could. However, there have been challenges and concerns raised about how patients have been affected.

  3. By talking to us you have helped to make Annual Health Checks better

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    We have been working with Herts County Council to find out what people with learning disabilities, their carers and support workers think about Annual Health Checks. The response was fantastic and our report is now available.

  4. Coronavirus Vaccine: Share your thoughts

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    The national COVID-19 vaccination programme is well underway in Hertfordshire, with both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines being given to local residents. Whether you have had the vaccine or not, we want to hear from you.

  5. Survey launched to gain views on end of life care in East and North Hertfordshire

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    Across East and North Hertfordshire, a new survey has been launched to gain vital feedback on end of life care to help improve services and share learnings.

  6. Healthwatch England investigates GP access during COVID-19

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    The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed the way people access their GP practice and a report by Healthwatch England has found not everyone is pleased with these changes.

  7. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has investigated ‘do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation’ decisions made during Covid-19.

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    The CQC said it was unacceptable for any do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DNACPR) decisions to be made without proper conversations with the individual, or an appropriate representative, taking into account their wishes and needs.

  8. Sharing your experiences has made healthcare better for people with a learning disability

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    Local healthcare leaders have made further improvements to Annual Health Checks, in response to our research investigating the experiences of the learning disability community.

  9. NHS sets plan to improve GP access

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    The NHS has published a plan for improving access to GP appointments for patients alongside supporting GPs and their teams.

  10. Do you think you get the healthcare you deserve, regardless of race or ethnicity? Share your views and experiences

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    Everybody is entitled to access equal and fair treatment from the NHS. But current ethnic inequalities in healthcare mean this is not always the case.

  11. Ask your GP to become Veteran Friendly

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    This Remembrance Day, show your support for veterans by encouraging your Hertfordshire GP practice to become Veteran Friendly accredited, so they can provide better care for veteran patients and, in some cases, prioritise their treatment.

  12. Working Together to Improve GP Access

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    By working together with patients, GPs and the NHS, we are helping tackle the widespread concerns voiced by patients about accessing GP services since the pandemic.

  13. What do I do if I’m unwell over the festive period?

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    It can be difficult to know who to contact and what to do if you are unwell during the festive period. Here you’ll find a list of services and when best to contact them.

  14. Breaking down barriers to cervical screening

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    Cervical cancer screening is currently at record lows in England, yet some women with physical disabilities who want this life-saving test are finding it hard to access screening.

  15. Take action this World Cancer Day

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    World Cancer Day, February 4, was an important chance to remind people to take action and help close the gap on health inequalities and save lives through early detection.

  16. Don’t be embarrassed – simple checks save lives

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    April is Testicular Cancer Awareness month. In the United Kingdom, testicular cancer is the most common cancer amongst males aged between 15 and 35.

  17. Never too young for bowel cancer

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    Every 15 minutes somebody is diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK - that's nearly 43,000 people each year – according to figures from Bowel Cancer UK.

  18. What you've been telling us about local services

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    Problems with accessing GP surgeries, waits for hospital appointments and care home visiting rules are some of the top concerns you've been sharing with us over the past six months through our Signposting service.

  19. What is Monkeypox?

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    As you will have heard in the news, monkeypox is a rare viral infection and the risk to the UK population is low.

  20. Armed Forces Day 2022 - How are services supporting our local veterans?

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    Armed Forces Day on Saturday 25th gives us an opportunity to reflect on what has been achieved in the last year to improve access to healthcare for local veterans.

  21. Healthwatch Hertfordshire welcomes new NHS structure

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    Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care System (ICS) today becomes a statutory body, creating new opportunities to feed people’s views into the planning and running of local services – especially the voices of those not being heard now.

  22. Live in the Borough of Broxbourne? Share your experiences of accessing your GP

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    Do you live in the Borough of Broxbourne? Share your views and experiences of accessing your GP so we can work with NHS leaders to improve GP practices in the local area.

  23. Are you a parent or carer? Share your experience of accessing your GP for your child or the young person you care for

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    Are you a parent or carer for someone under the age of 18? Share your experience of accessing your GP for the child or the young person you care for so we can work with NHS leaders to improve GP practices across Hertfordshire.

  24. Honour veteran patients by encouraging your GP to become veteran-friendly

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    GP practices who wish to honour veterans for their service this Remembrance Day are being encouraged to apply for the RCGP's veteran-friendly accreditation.

  25. If you care for someone who couldn’t manage without you, do you get enough GP support yourself?

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    As a carer, we want to know if your GP practice is supporting you and what they do to help you.

  26. Group A Strep - What you need to know

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    Group A streptococcus is a common bacteria that can cause a number of infections, some mild and some more serious. The vast majority are relatively mild, such as throat infections and impetigo.

  27. What do I do if I’m unwell or need help over the festive period?

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    It can be difficult to know who to contact and what to do if you are unwell or struggling at this time of year. Here you’ll find a list of services and when best to contact them.

  28. We want to hear from people with learning disabilities

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    If you are an adult with a learning disability, we want to hear from you.

  29. Parents and carers voice their concerns about accessing GP Practices

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    Many parents and carers have faced serious problems trying to make GP appointments for their child, sometimes waiting more than an hour to speak to a receptionist, only to be told there are no appointments available.

  30. Cheaper HRT for women experiencing menopause symptoms

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    Better access to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) will improve the lives of thousands of women in England who suffer from negative symptoms of the menopause.

  31. Broxbourne residents struggle to access GPs

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    A survey asking Broxbourne residents to tell us about local GP access has shown that 64% of respondents found it ‘difficult’ or ‘very difficult’ to get through to a receptionist by phone – with many waiting up to an hour.

  32. Let’s talk about the Menopause

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    Every woman will go through the menopause, so it is important that primary care services know how they can best support women during this time. Share your views and help the NHS improve the support it offers.

  33. What you've been telling us about local services

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    Access to GPs and dentists, along with issues relating to hospitals and mental health care, are the top concerns you've been sharing with us over the past six months through our Signposting service.

  34. Are you autistic? Share your views on GP services

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    We want to make sure that autistic people are supported in their access and experience of GP services. If you’re autistic, we’d love to hear your thoughts about what your GP practice is doing well and where it could improve to better meet your needs.

  35. Listening to you helped us improve local health and care - our Annual Report 2022/23

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    In our Annual Report 2022/23, read how we made care fairer, tackled the big issues facing local patients and involved communities in our work to ensure the best outcomes for everyone.

  36. How informed are you about Type 2 Diabetes?

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    Diagnoses of Type 2 Diabetes are growing at an alarming rate, so supporting people to reduce or manage their risk is essential. Whether you have been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes or not, we want to hear from you.

  37. What’s your Cervical Screening story?

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    If you’ve been invited to a Cervical Screening, did you attend or was there something preventing you? If you’ve been before, what was your experience like? Please share your thoughts in our survey.

  38. Supportive local pharmacies could do even more

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    We celebrated World Pharmacist’s Day with the launch of our Views on Community Pharmacies Report, which showed 4 in 5 of those surveyed were satisfied with their local pharmacy and wanted them to offer even more services.

  39. Many carers need greater support from their GPs

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    GP practices are a crucial contact point for carers - and the people they care for - yet our recent research showed some local carers often felt alone, unsupported and had to put their own needs aside.

  40. Heart Health – Younger People Need to be Taken Seriously

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    People under the age of 45, particularly men, have told us they want local health services to listen to their concerns and provide better support and care when it comes to heart health.

  41. Calls for Autism Health Checks across Hertfordshire

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    Autism Health Checks are being piloted in Hertfordshire and our latest research shows strong support to extend the programme County-wide, improving healthcare for those who may find it challenging to access GPs.

  42. GPs should better support People with Learning Disabilities

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    We listened to what people with learning disabilities told us about how doctors’ surgeries helped them stay healthy and well and came up with some ideas to make things better in Hertfordshire.

  43. Menopausal Women call for improved GP training

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    Women have told us they would like GPs to be better trained so they are more empathetic, listen to what women are saying and not dismiss their concerns when they ask for help with the menopause or perimenopause.

  44. What should I do if I’m unwell or need help over the festive period?

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    It can be difficult to know who to contact and what to do if you are unwell or struggling at this time of year. Here you’ll find a list of services that can help and when best to contact them.

  45. Small Changes Could Improve Cervical Screening Uptake

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    Giving women more say over their cervical screening – such as allowing them to book appointments online, offering appointments outside normal GP hours and making them aware of adjustments to improve their experience – could all help increase uptake.