1. 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.

  2. Helping to shape and improve Health and Social Care Services in Hertfordshire

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    Our Annual Report 2019/20 is now published online. The report details the work that we have been doing over the past year to help the patient voice in Hertfordshire and to recommend improvements to health and social care services.

  3. End of Life Steering Group – can you help?

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    The End of Life Steering Group for the Hertfordshire and West Essex STP wants to understand the current provision of bereavement services available to communities across Hertfordshire and West Essex in order to identify gaps in service provision.

  4. 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.

  5. Improving Health Outcomes for people with a Learning Disability

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    We worked with our Learning Disability Service Watch Group to co-produce an Annual Health Check research project. The focus of the work was to investigate the uptake and quality of Annual Health Checks from the Learning Disability Community.

  6. Health and Social Care Bill moves through Parliament

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    A Health and Social Care Bill was introduced to Parliament in early July.

  7. 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.

  8. Healthwatch Hertfordshire has begun work to help end race and ethnic inequalities in local healthcare

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    We have just launched a new project working with local communities and NHS services to improve equality and inclusiveness within the NHS.

  9. Local people are telling us that they feel their race or ethnicity sometimes affects the quality of healthcare they receive. Do you feel the same?

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    Ethnic inequalities in healthcare mean not everyone receives equal treatment from the NHS. See what people are telling us below, and whether good or bad, share your experience to help make a difference.

  10. Young Carers call for support, not sympathy

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    Young Carers, who look after family or friends, have said that having the right support – such as regular short breaks from caring – is one of the best ways to help them.

  11. Creating a world that works for Autistic people

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    April is World Autism Month and the focus this year is increasing understanding and acceptance of people with autism, to create a world where people with autism can reach their full potential.

  12. 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.

  13. 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.

  14. Healthwatch Hertfordshire – Annual General Meeting 19 July 2022

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    Every year our AGM gives an opportunity to reflect and celebrate our achievements.

  15. Joining up services in East and North Herts – One year on

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    It's nearly a year since we launched a Community Assembly for the East and North Herts Health and Care Partnership (ENHHCP) with our first meeting in September 2021. Find out more about our work so far.

  16. Tackling mental health and substance misuse together

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    If you need support with drugs or alcohol and your mental health, read on to find out how you can access help.

  17. How worried are you about the Cost of Living crisis?

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    Rising bills, food, and the general Cost of Living is hitting people hard. We are working with Hertfordshire County Council to understand what impact this is having, so we can better help you cope during the winter and beyond.

  18. Do you need support with the Cost of Living or help keeping warm this winter?

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    Across Hertfordshire, there are a range of services that can help with financial pressures, paying bills, providing food, family concerns, care of older people and more.

  19. The rising Cost of Living is hitting Hertfordshire residents hard - here’s what you’ve told us.

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    Hertfordshire residents say they are using less heating, eating fewer meals and becoming increasingly worried, according to early findings from our Cost of Living survey.

  20. Hertfordshire Trust first with new app for victims of domestic abuse

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    Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is the first NHS Trust in England to launch a domestic abuse app, which will enable staff to quickly refer victims of domestic abuse for free support and legal advice.

  21. Fair access for care home visitors

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    Thanks to our audit of care home websites and a visitor survey across the County, two new guides have been published to provide clarity about visiting since the pandemic.

  22. 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.

  23. 9 in 10 Herts residents have been affected by Cost of Living

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    Our latest report - Cost of Living Crisis: The Impact on Hertfordshire Residents - reveals 6500 residents who responded to our survey have felt the impact of rising costs.

  24. Specific groups in Hertfordshire have been disproportionately affected by the Cost of Living Crisis

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    Our report - Cost of Living Crisis: The Impact on Hertfordshire Residents - found that certain sectors of society have been disproportionately impacted by rising costs.

  25. 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.

  26. 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.

  27. Cost of Living Crisis: The Impact of our Research

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    As a direct result of our Cost of Living research, local mental health services have teamed up with Hertfordshire County Council’s Money Advice Unit to provide help for those struggling financially and emotionally.

  28. Using Sexual Health Services – Experiences of Local People

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    Hertfordshire adults generally have good access to local sexual health services, but have told us they want more information about infections, prevention and testing, as well as clinics in more discreet locations and additional online services.

  29. Herts Drug and Alcohol Recovery Services Improving Lives

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    Drug and alcohol recovery and reintegration services in Hertfordshire have been positively described as “life-changing” by service users and carers.

  30. Cost of Living Research receives National Accolade

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    Healthwatch Hertfordshire has been commended nationally for its Cost of Living research, which led to local mental health services teaming up with money advice specialists to help those struggling both financially and emotionally.