1. Temporary change to opening hours for New QEII Hospital Urgent Care Centre due to COVID-19 pandemic

    Advice and Information -

    From today onwards (Monday 11 January), the New QEII Hospital Urgent Care Centre for minor illnesses and injuries in Welwyn Garden City will close its doors to new patients at 10pm every day. It will reopen at 8am every morning.

  2. Coronavirus Vaccine: Share your thoughts

    News -

    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.

  3. Hertfordshire Covid-19 Vaccination update

    Advice and Information -

    The national vaccination programme is well underway in Hertfordshire and both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines are being given to local people.

  4. COVID-19 Vaccination – Book your appointment if eligible

    Advice and Information -

    To ensure that everyone who is most at risk from COVID-19 can get protected as quickly as possible, the NHS is calling those in the first four priority groups to contact and book their vaccine, if they haven’t got an appointment yet.

  5. Not being registered with a GP practice could delay receiving your COVID-19 vaccination

    Advice and Information -

    To ensure you are offered the COVID-19 vaccine, it is very important that you are registered with a GP practice. Not being registered with a GP practice could delay receiving your vaccination.

  6. Healthwatch England investigates GP access during COVID-19

    News -

    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.

    News -

    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. Dentistry During Covid-19

    News -

    Healthwatch England warns the dental care crisis shows no signs of slowing, with four in five people (80%) struggling to access timely care between January and March 2021.

  9. Covid-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions

    Advice and Information -

    The COVID-19 vaccine is our best defence against the virus, alongside effective social distancing, wearing a mask and washing your hands. Getting vaccinated means protecting yourself and may also help to protect your family and friends.

  10. Healthwatch Board Annual General Meeting - 13th July 2021

    Report -

    Read more about our 2021 AGM, where the members approved the accounts, we took a moment of pause to reflect on the past year - and we heard from guest speaker Jim McManus, Director of Public Health for Hertfordshire.

  11. Covid-19 safety measures stay in place at healthcare settings

    Advice and Information -

    Official message from NHS England - Anyone using or visiting healthcare settings must continue to wear a face covering and stick to social distancing rules.

  12. What are people telling us about the COVID-19 vaccines?

    Report -

    The UK's COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been the most significant public health exercise in recent history. While the rollout has been an incredible achievement, we wanted to understand people's motivations to either receive or refuse the vaccine.

  13. What are people telling us about the COVID-19 vaccines?

    News -

    Our report detailing what people told us about the COVID-19 vaccines has been published and contains the views of more than 1,800 Hertfordshire residents. Find out what people told us.

  14. The Health Foundation publish their COVID-19 impact inquiry report

    News -

    As the success of the COVID-19 vaccination programme sets the UK on a course towards recovery, it is essential that we learn lessons from the past 18 months.

  15. Young people aged 12-15 are being encouraged to have a COVID-19 vaccination

    Advice and Information -

    The Government are encouraging all 12–15 year olds to have their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

  16. People living in the poorest areas waiting longer for hospital treatment

    News -

    The King’s Fund and Healthwatch England have jointly called for urgent action to address hospital waiting lists and improve patients’ experience of delays to treatment.

  17. NHS sets plan to improve GP access

    News -

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

  18. Feeling the effects of Long COVID? There is help available.

    Advice and Information -

    For some people who have had Coronavirus (COVID-19), their symptoms can last for a long time after the initial infection has gone.

  19. NHS dentistry: Healthwatch England has co-signed an open letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer

    News -

    Healthwatch England has co-signed an open letter addressed to the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak calling for a recovery plan for NHS dentistry.

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

    News -

    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.

  21. Bereavement Advice and Support in Hertfordshire

    Advice and Information -

    Losing a loved one can be very distressing and affects us all in many different ways. Some of the physical and emotional challenges can start even before the loss of life itself.

    It is important to know there is help and support available.

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

    News -

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

  23. Plans to accelerate Covid-19 booster vaccination programme

    Advice and Information -

    The Government recently announced plans to accelerate the booster vaccination programme in England.

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

    News -

    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.