1. Do you need help travelling to NHS services?

    Advice and Information -

    Find out what support is available to help you when travelling to your GP, hospital or other NHS services.

  2. Should I see a pharmacist instead of a doctor?

    Advice and Information -

    ​​​​​​​Avoid the wait at the GP and know when to visit your pharmacist instead. Look at how your pharmacist can help you.

  3. Hertfordshire County Council Survey: Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2020

    News -

    Please read more to find out how you can have an impact on the way pharmaceutical services are commissioned in Hertfordshire in the future.

  4. 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.

  5. Staying Well This Winter

    Advice and Information -

    Our local NHS services are here to help you stay well, safely. Do not delay getting help for your health this winter.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. What do you think about your local pharmacy?

    News -

    Pharmacies are often the easiest and quickest way to access non-urgent health care and advice in England. But what do you think about the pharmacy services in your area? To help local pharmacies better support you, we want to hear your views.

  10. How does the NHS in England work and how is it changing?

    Advice and Information -

    Big changes have been happening across England's health and care system.

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

    News -

    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.

  12. Cheaper HRT for women experiencing menopause symptoms

    News -

    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.

  13. Let’s talk about the Menopause

    News -

    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.

  14. Supportive local pharmacies could do even more

    News -

    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.

  15. Sexual Health – what do you need?

    News -

    Hertfordshire County Council want to make sure that everyone has easy access to the tests and treatments they need to reduce Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). To help with this, we want to hear your thoughts and experiences in this survey.

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

    News -

    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.

  17. Someone I love has died - where can I find support

    Advice and Information -

    Take a look at our advice article on the organisations and groups that can support you if you’re grieving.

  18. What's the difference between social distancing, self-isolation and shielding?

    Advice and Information -

    Self-isolation, social distancing and shielding have been introduced by the Government to help you and your loved ones stay safe from COVID-19. Find out what they mean in practice and what applies to you.

  19. 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.

  20. A Message from Our Chief Executive

    News -

    Healthwatch Hertfordshire CEO Geoff Brown reflects on learning from the pandemic from a Healthwatch and patient perspective during an eventful year.

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

    News -

    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.

  22. I’m feeling lonely – where can I get support?

    Advice and Information -

    As older people are at an increased risk of severe illness, NHS and Government guidance advises that older people need to be particularly stringent in following social distancing and staying at home.

  23. Further updates for those shielding

    Advice and Information -

    On the 22nd of June, the Government updated the advice for those shielding. The new advice is being carried out in two phases on 6th of July and 1st of August. The advice takes into account the reduction in COVID-19 infection rates in recent weeks.

  24. Preventing infection in hospitals

    Advice and Information -

    From Monday 15th June in line with Government recommendations, outpatients and visitors attending hospital must wear a face covering at all times to help prevent the spread of injection and keep everyone safe.

  25. An Update for those shielding

    Advice and Information -

    From Monday, 1 June, people who are shielding are able to go out once a day for exercise but they must maintain social distancing.

  26. I’m shielding – where can I find support for my mental health?

    Advice and Information -

    The NHS has contacted people who are at risk of severe illness if they catch coronavirus – this is because they have an underlying health condition which makes them clinically extremely vulnerable.

  27. Those with serious conditions should still seek help

    Advice and Information -

    Data has shown that the number of people going to A&E has dropped, prompting concerns that the seriously ill may be staying away because of concerns about catching coronavirus, or not wanting to place additional burden on the NHS.

  28. Updated advice on the use of Ibuprofen and COVID-19

    Advice and Information -

    The Commission on Human Medicines has now confirmed that there is no clear evidence that using ibuprofen to treat symptoms such as a high temperature can make coronavirus (COVID-19) worse.

  29. Coronavirus: What does Shielding mean?

    Advice and Information -

    You may have heard the word ‘shielding’ in reference to coronavirus. Shielding is the word used to describe how to protect those at highest risk of severe illness if they catch coronavirus.

  30. Planning end of life care – where can I find more information?

    Advice and Information -

    Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the NHS is encouraging people, especially those at the highest risk of COVID-19, to talk about their preferences for end of life care.

  31. Losing a loved one – where to access support

    Advice and Information -

    Grief is something people experience when someone close to use dies. People react in different ways when someone dies, and there is no right or wrong way to feel.

  32. Essential NHS Services remain available to everyone who needs them

    Advice and Information -

    In line with government guidelines, the vast majority of the public in Hertfordshire are protecting themselves and others from coronavirus by staying at home.

  33. Changes to outpatient activity made in response to Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak

    Advice and Information -

    Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, there have been local changes to the NHS provision of non-essential outpatient appointments.

  34. Looking after your mental health during the Coronavirus outbreak

    Advice and Information -

    The Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is affecting all our daily lives. Social distancing and self-isolation in particular can be difficult to cope with, and can have a significant impact on our mental health

  35. 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.

  36. East of England Ambulance Service – Call Out for Temporary Workers and Volunteers

    News -

    How you can contribute to the health service’s efforts in this difficult time - East of England Ambulance Service are looking to recruit temporary workers.

  37. A message from our Chief Executive: What we are doing to help tackle Coronavirus

    News -

    Healthwatch Hertfordshire’s Chief Executive Geoff Brown has an important message for us all.

  38. 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.

  39. 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.

  40. Changes to hospital discharge in response to Coronavirus

    Advice and Information -

    The Coronavirus outbreak is placing huge press on our local hospitals. So that they can look after patients with acute needs, hospitals are changing the way patients are discharged

  41. Patients with Minor Injuries and Illnesses no longer treated at Lister Hospital as NHS Trust plans ahead

    Advice and Information -

    The Coronavirus outbreak is placing huge pressure on our local hospitals. So that they can look after patients with acute needs, hospitals are changing the way patients are discharged.

  42. Getting Local Dentistry Back on Track

    News -

    Healthwatch Hertfordshire has been rallying to help people struggling to access urgent dental care services during the pandemic, ensuring they get the treatment they desperately need.

  43. HPFT webchat service available from 7am-7pm, Monday to Friday

    Advice and Information -

    This live webchat service, which launched in August, has helped over 1,100 people in the first two months, including service users, carers and health and care professionals.

  44. A Message from Our Chief Executive

    News -

    ‘Lockdown’ has been named the 2020 Collins Dictionary word of the year. Others that made the top 10 list included furlough, key worker, self-isolate, social distancing and Coronavirus

  45. 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.

  46. 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.

  47. Travel with confidence during the pandemic in Herts taxis

    Advice and Information -

    Thanks to the new ‘Travel with Confidence’ scheme, people can feel more confident taking a taxi or minicab in Hertfordshire during the Covid-19 pandemic.

  48. 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.

  49. Digital Exclusion Case Studies: Covid-19 Patient Experience

    Report -

    We spoke to people who are digitally excluded to find out their reasons for not being online, and how this has affected their experiences during the coronavirus pandemic.

  50. 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.