1. Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Policy

    Report -

    This policy outlines our commitment to equality of opportunity and equal treatment for all staff and volunteers in terms of employment, access to services in the health and social care sector and guidance on anti-discriminatory practice.

  2. 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?

    News -

    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.

  3. Breaking down barriers to cervical screening

    News -

    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.

  4. Take action this World Cancer Day

    News -

    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.

  5. England has returned to Plan A - Covid-19 guidance

    Advice and Information -

    The Government recently announced an easing of a number of Covid-19 restrictions with a move back to Plan A.

  6. Latest update on the Covid-19 vaccination programme

    Advice and Information -

    The vaccination programme has recently been extended to protect clinically vulnerable children aged 5 – 11.

  7. Children's Mental Health Week, 7-13 February

    News -

    To mark this year's Children's Mental Health Week, we compiled resources for children, parents and carers to help you grow together, as well as links to find further support and help if you need it.

  8. Healthwatch Board Meeting in Public - 22nd February 2022

    Report -

    Read more about our first Board meeting in public for 2022. This time our Board members discussed the latest contract monitoring submission, relocation of our offices, and heard an update on the local Integrated Plan Scrutiny.

  9. Supporting recovery after Covid-19

    Advice and Information -

    Everyone who has COVID-19 is affected in different ways and recovers differently.

  10. Need support for an eating disorder?

    Advice and Information -

    Eating disorders are complex mental illnesses that anyone can develop, regardless of age, income and ethnicity. Take a look at some of the common signs of eating disorders and where to go for support if you need help.

  11. Joining up services in East and North Herts

    News -

    A Community Assembly for the East and North Hertfordshire Health and Care Partnership has recently been formed and provides a new opportunity for patient and community voices to be heard.

  12. Putting the voices of children and families first

    News -

    By putting their voices at the centre of our work, we ensured children and families living in Stevenage could share their wants and needs for local health and wellbeing.

  13. Feeling anxious or worried? You’re not alone.

    Advice and Information -

    Stress from the pandemic, lockdowns and the Russia/Ukraine war has taken a toll on all of us - but there is help available.

  14. Working with Local Councillors and Community Groups to Tackle Ethnic Health Inequalities

    News -

    Find out how we helped local councillors shine a light on ethnic health inequalities and how services plan to improve health outcomes for ethnically diverse communities living in Hertfordshire.

  15. Having problems with your GP Practice, but not sure what you can do? We can help.

    Advice and Information -

    Knowing who to speak to about problems with your GP Surgery can be complicated, especially since GP Surgeries have changed how they talk to patients due to the pandemic. Read on to find out what you can do.

  16. Young Carers call for support, not sympathy

    News -

    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.

  17. Help shape local services for low mood and depression

    News -

    Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) wants to hear about your experiences of low mood, sadness or depression so it can provide better support for people now, and in the future.

  18. Creating a world that works for Autistic people

    News -

    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.

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

    News -

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

  20. Never too young for bowel cancer

    News -

    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.

  21. Consultation on the Hertfordshire Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2022

    News -

    The government requires all health and wellbeing boards to produce an assessment of pharmaceutical services in its area, at least every three years.

  22. Care Home Visiting Beyond the Pandemic: share your experiences

    News -

    Do you find your care home visiting arrangements flexible and supportive? Share your experiences of visiting so that we can help care homes to ensure that visits are safe, as well as meaningful, for you.

  23. Going digital: What children and young people with learning disabilities want from a digital health app.

    Report -

    Children and young people with learning disabilities tested the digital health app 'Hear Me Now' to see if and how it could help them better manage their health. This is what they told us.

  24. Healthwatch Board Meeting in Public - 24th May 2022

    Report -

    Read more about our May 2022 Board meeting in public. This time our Board members discussed upcoming changes to the health & care system, changes at Healthwatch England, and our latest contract monitoring return.

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

    News -

    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.

  26. So you're a carer - who looks after you?

    News -

    This Carers Week, from 6-12 June 2022, we are helping highlight the challenges faced by unpaid carers and helping those who don't even realise they are carers to access much-needed support.

  27. MacMillan Cancer Support - Helping those living with and affected by cancer

    News -

    MacMillan has appointed a local Engagement Lead to support those living with cancer in Hertfordshire. If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with cancer, they can help to do whatever it takes to help them live life as fully as they can.

  28. Diabetes Week 2022

    News -

    Organised by Diabetes UK, 13–19 June is Diabetes Week 2022, which aims to raise awareness, provide support and encourage people to share their experience of living with diabetes.

  29. What is Monkeypox?

    News -

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

  30. Healthwatch Board Annual General Meeting - 19th July 2022

    Report -

    Read more about our AGM where we: presented on key messages from our major research project "Making Local Healthcare Equal for All", heard from a local service leader on health & care integration, and reviewed the annual accounts.

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

    News -

    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.

  32. Your Voice matters – read about the work of your Hertfordshire health and care champion in our Annual Report 2021/22

    Report -

    Read about our work during the past year to ensure the patient voice is heard as we continue to have a direct impact on the transformation and development of health and care services across Hertfordshire.

  33. Healthwatch Hertfordshire welcomes new NHS structure

    News -

    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.

  34. Building relationships with Black and Asian community leaders to tackle ethnic health inequalities

    Report -

    Thanks to new and ongoing partnerships with Black and Asian community leaders over the past year, we can share important learning on how services can work to better engage with Black and Asian communities to tackle ethnic health inequalities.

  35. Healthwatch Hertfordshire – Annual General Meeting 19 July 2022

    News -

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

  36. All over-50s to be offered COVID-19 booster and flu jab this autumn

    Advice and Information -

    Everyone aged 50 and over will be among those offered a COVID-19 booster and a flu jab this autumn under plans to increase protection against respiratory viruses ahead of winter.

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

    News -

    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.

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

    News -

    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.

  39. Healthwatch Board Meeting in Public - 23rd August 2022

    Report -

    Read more about our August 2022 Board meeting in public. This time our Board members will be discussing the recently established Integrated Care Board and our role within the restructured health & care system.

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

    News -

    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.

  41. Tackling mental health and substance misuse together

    News -

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

  42. Have you, or someone you care for, used Community Nursing services? We want to hear your views

    News -

    Have you, or someone you care for, ever used Community Nursing services? We are working with other local Healthwatch and NHS England to ensure Community Nursing is working well for patients and carers.

  43. Programme for Covid-19 autumn booster and annual flu jabs announced

    Advice and Information -

    Everyone aged 50 and over, people working in frontline health and social care, and people who are at high risk, will be among those offered a COVID-19 booster and a flu jab this autumn.

  44. What do people think about using data to improve their health?

    Report -

    Working in partnership with the University of Cambridge we explored what people think about the drive to bring together different types of health data to inform care, public health and research.

  45. Making Local Healthcare Equal: Healthcare Concerns in Black and Asian Communities

    Report -

    In our latest report, Making Local Healthcare Equal: Healthcare Concerns in Black and Asian Communities, residents shared powerful stories with us, leading to our NHS taking action in tackling ethnic health inequalities.

  46. Local healthcare needs to tackle discrimination, say Black and Asian communities

    News -

    Our ground-breaking Hertfordshire research has found that up to 45 per cent of Black and Asian respondents felt they had been discriminated against in a healthcare setting, with many believing this was because of their ethnicity.

  47. Healthwatch Hertfordshire Supports Black History Month

    News -

    October is Black History Month and at Healthwatch Hertfordshire we are committed to this year's theme - Time for Change: Actions Not Words.

  48. Visiting Beyond the Pandemic - A Review of Hertfordshire Care Homes

    Report -

    Concerns about flexibility of visiting times in care homes and lack of clarity about restrictions led us to explore what information was available on 135 of our Hertfordshire care home websites.