1. 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.

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

    News -

    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.

  3. Calls for Autism Health Checks across Hertfordshire

    News -

    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.

  4. Mount Vernon Cancer Centre Review – Engagement Events

    News -

    We need your help to plan the future of Mount Vernon Cancer Centre services.

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

    News -

    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.

  6. Herts County Council: Direct Payments Survey

    News -

    It’s survey time!

  7. Changes to Integrated Musculoskeletal (MSK) Service in Herts Valley – COVID 19 Update

    Advice and Information -

    The Integrated Musculoskeletal (MSK) services in Herts Valleys have now moved all appointments to either virtual or telephone appointments.

  8. Proposed move of Moorfields Eye Hospital

    News -

    Plans are in place to move Moorfields Eye Hospital to a new location and design a new patient friendly centre.

  9. Mount Vernon Cancer Centre Review – Update

    News -

    Healthwatch Hertfordshire alongside Healthwatch Hillingdon has been supporting the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre Review led by NHS England Specialised Commissioning.

  10. Postponement of Healthwatch activity during the coronavirus outbreak

    Advice and Information -

    In light of recent Public Health and Healthwatch England advice we have been reviewing our activity in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

  11. Coronavirus Advice – Updated on 19th May 2020

    Advice and Information -

    In response to the current crisis surrounding coronavirus (COVID-19), please see below some key information that we hope will be useful to the public within Hertfordshire and beyond.

  12. Non-Emergency Patient Transport Survey

    News -

    The East of England Ambulance service took over the contract for Non-Emergency Patient Transport in October 2018. This means that they now provide the service across Hertfordshire instead of the previous provider.

  13. East & North Herts CCG – have your say on proposed changes to Urgent Care Centre opening hours

    News -

    East and North Hertfordshire CCG is talking to the public, NHS staff and stakeholders about its proposal to close the Urgent Care Centre at the New QEII Hospital overnight.

  14. Mount Vernon Cancer Centre Review

    News -

    The Mount Vernon Cancer Centre provides outpatient chemotherapy, nuclear medicine, brachytherapy and haematology as well as radiotherapy.

  15. Viewpoint get involved with service commissioning

    News -

    Throughout April and May, Drug and Alcohol commissioners asked Viewpoint to be involved in the commissioning of a new housing service for homeless people with addiction issues.

  16. Proposed Changes to Moorfields Eye Hospital

    News -

    A formal public consultation has been launched on a proposal to move the services of Moorfields Eye Hospital in City Road, London to a new centre in King’s Cross.

  17. Royal Free Pharmacy and Phlebotomy

    News -

    In March 2019, the contract for the outpatient pharmacy at the Royal Free Hospital which was provided by Lloyd’s pharmacy ran out. As a result, the service is currently being provided by the newly established Royal Free London Pharmacy Services.

  18. Have your say on how the NHS should change in Hertfordshire

    News -

    People keen to influence the future of the NHS in Hertfordshire are being encouraged to make their views known at a number of events this month.

  19. IVF Treatment Returns

    News -

    In October 2017, Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group (HVCCG) took the decision to withdraw all funding for IVF treatment, which is one of several techniques to help people with fertility problems having a baby.

  20. NHS Long Term Plan

    News -

    With growing pressure on the NHS – an ageing population, more people living with long-term conditions, and lifestyle choices affecting people’s health – changes are needed to make sure everybody gets the support they need.

  21. Big Changes to Adult Community Care

    News -

    Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group, who cover the Three Rivers, Decorum, Watford, St Albans, and Hertsmere areas, have awarded the adult community health care contract to Central London Community Health Care Trust.

  22. CQC Announces new Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has appointed Kate Terroni as Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care and starts her new role in May.

  23. New Trust Chief Executive ‘returns’ to her home town and county

    News -

    Christine Allen has been appointed as Chief Executive of the West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust. Born in Watford she is a high achiever with an impressive track record as a leader in the NHS.

  24. Winter Pressures

    Advice and Information -

    Though winter is often thought of as a cheerful time of festivity and family, the colder months can exacerbate some of the daily challenges of later life, from isolation to fuel poverty.

  25. Dorothy Hosein named as Interim Chief Executive

    News -

    Ambulance bosses have announced today that Dorothy Hosein has joined the service as interim CEO.

  26. Consultation: Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2018

    News -

    Hertfordshire County Council have asked us to let you know about a current consultation: The Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2018.

  27. East of England Ambulance Service to provide non-emergency transport Service

    News -

    The East of England Ambulance has been awarded a caretaker contract to provide non-emergency patient transport in Bedfordshire, Luton and Hertfordshire.

  28. NHS 111 First

    Advice and Information -

    To keep urgent NHS services safe and to make sure that they are available for everyone who needs them, an appointment system for urgent and emergency care is being introduced across the country from 1 December.

  29. 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.

  30. Involving the Public in the Long Term Plan

    Report -

    When the NHS launched its ambitious long-term plan in 2019, we asked you what you thought local priorities should be. Thanks to your feedback, the NHS should now have a stronger focus on involving the public in changes to community & health services.

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

    Report -

    Our report on people's experiences of health, social care and community support during the pandemic is published today. It contains the views of more than 660 Hertfordshire residents. Find out what people told us.

  32. Mount Vernon Cancer Centre Review: UPDATE

    News -

    We have some news on the latest with the Mount Vernon Cancer Review.

  33. Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTs) Patient Experience Survey

    Report -

    We carried out a short survey to understand service user experiences of Non-Emergency Patient Transport, provided by the East of England Ambulance Service in Hertfordshire. Find out what people told us here.

  34. Experiences of Annual Health Checks: Voices from the Learning Disability Community

    Report -

    Annual Health Checks for people with learning disabilities were being missed, or not done properly by local GP’s. This is how we helped.

  35. Nascot Lawn update

    News -

    Legal agreement to fund Nascot Lawn in Watford has finally been completed

  36. Mount Vernon Cancer Centre Review

    News -

    NHS organisations in the East of England and North London are working together to review services at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre and resolve concerns about the ageing estate, support facilities and patient pathways.

  37. Sharing your experiences of Community and Enablement Services

    News -

    Healthwatch Hertfordshire has been working with Newton Europe to ensure service user experiences fed into their work on improving community and acute services.

  38. Connect Health Mystery Shop and Clinic Survey of the PhysioLine Service in West Hertfordshire

    Report -

    What’s it like having a Physiotherapy assessment on the telephone and what do patients think of the physiotherapy service provided by Connect Health in West Hertfordshire? Read our report to find out what they said.

  39. 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.

  40. Planning the Future of Mount Vernon Cancer Services for the people of Hertfordshire

    News -

    The review of Mount Vernon Cancer Services is moving into a new engagement stage and project organisers want to hear from you. Find out what is happening now and how you can get involved and have your say.

  41. Welwyn Garden City Urgent Care Centre – decision made on opening hours

    News -

    Welwyn Garden City’s Urgent Care Centre (UCC) is to close overnight, due to very low numbers of patients using its services at night for a number of years.

  42. Improving Dental Information Online

    Report -

    During the past 18 months, patients have found it very difficult to find up-to-date information about NHS dental practices. Read our report to find out why and how patients could be better supported to find the information they need.

  43. Improving Dental Information Online

    News -

    During the past 18 months, patients have found it very difficult to find up to date information about NHS dental practices. Read our report to find out why and how patients could be better supported to find the information they need.

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

    News -

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

  45. 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.

  46. 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.

  47. 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.

  48. 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.