1. Where can I go to get help for my health out of hours?

    Advice and Information -

    Health issues unfortunately don't leave us alone at the weekend and people are often in need of medical assistance out of hours. Using NHS guidelines, we have provided some advice and information on where you can go for help when your GP is closed.

  2. Do you need help getting to hospital?

    Advice and Information -

    Find out what support is available to help you travel to your hospital appointments.

  3. Thinking about end of life care for you and your family

    Advice and Information -

    End of life care is support for people who are in the last months or years of their life. The guidance on the NHS website helps you know what to expect, how to plan ahead and how to manage your day to day decisions.

  4. Accessibility checklist for GP surgeries

    Advice and Information -

    Help make sure that your practice meets people’s accessibility requirements using this checklist from Healthwatch Slough.

  5. What is domestic abuse and how can I get support?

    Advice and Information -

    If you are experiencing, or feel at risk of, domestic abuse or are worried about someone who might be, find out where you can go for advice and help.

  6. Getting the most out of the virtual health and care experience

    Advice and Information -

    National Voices, Traverse, PPL and Healthwatch England put together some tips on how to get the most out of the virtual health and care appointments both for patients and health and care professionals.

  7. How to communicate better with people with hearing loss

    Advice and Information -

    COVID-19 poses a unique challenge for health and social care professionals when talking to someone with hearing loss. Here are some important tips to help you communicate effectively.

  8. Feeling Good Week 2021 – Get Involved!

    News -

    Feeling Good Week is a Hertfordshire-wide event that encourages schools and the wider community to promote children and young people’s emotional wellbeing.

  9. Don’t Rely on GP Websites for Cancer Information…Speak to your GP

    News -

    With the help of our volunteers we checked 103 local GP websites, and found that while most offered advice for patients about cancer, the quantity and quality of that advice was not always very good.

  10. Data Sharing and Health – Get Involved!

    News -

    We are working with the University of Cambridge, Public Health England and other local Healthwatch across the East of England to find out what people think about using health data to inform care, public health and research.

  11. 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.

  12. What can you expect when you’re discharged from hospital?

    Advice and Information -

    The usual processes the NHS follows to discharge you from hospital have changed during the coronavirus pandemic. Here’s what you can expect when it’s time to leave hospital.

  13. By talking to us you have helped to make Annual Health Checks better

    News -

    We have been working with Herts County Council to find out what people with learning disabilities, their carers and support workers think about Annual Health Checks. The response was fantastic and our report is now available.

  14. 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.

  15. 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.

  16. Opportunity for Veterans to have their say about access to Healthcare

    News -

    Did you know that according to ONS data, there are approximately 36,000 veterans living in Hertfordshire? However, as in other parts of the country, there is relatively little data on specific health issues or priorities of the veteran community.

  17. 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.

  18. Advice for parents during coronavirus

    Advice and Information -

    Whilst it is extremely important to follow Government advice to stay at home during this period, it can be confusing to know what to do if your child is unwell or injured. Parents should not delay seeking help or advice.

  19. Temporary changes to dental care

    Advice and Information -

    Due to the coronavirus outbreak NHS England have made changes to the way they deliver dental care. To help prevent the spread of coronavirus routine dental care is not currently available and routine appointments will not take place.

  20. 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.

  21. 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.

  22. 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.

  23. 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.

  24. 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.

  25. 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.

  26. Restrictions to visitation made until further notice due to the Coronavirus outbreak

    Advice and Information -

    Following national guidance, there have been restrictions placed on most hospital visitation.

  27. 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

  28. 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.

  29. 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.

  30. 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.

  31. 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.

  32. 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.

  33. Feeling Good Week – February 2020

    News -

    Feeling Good Week is a Hertfordshire-wide event to encourage schools and the wider community to promote children and young people’s emotional wellbeing by raising awareness of mental health and showing where support can be accessed in the community.

  34. Members of the public needed for Public and Community Involvement, Engagement and Participation Coordinating Group

    News -

    The National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) are seeking three members who represent patients, service users, carers and the public to become part of a Public and Community Involvement, Engagement and Participation Coordinating Group (PCEIP).

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

    News -

    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.

  36. Lasting Power of Attorney Online Testing Event

    News -

    Healthwatch Hertfordshire worked with the Office Of the Public Guardian (OPG) to test out a new way for attorneys and donors to give organisations access to view an online summary of a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA).

  37. Important Report on Dual Diagnosis published

    News -

    We have just published our report on Dual Diagnosis, which originated in 2016. The primary focus being to ensure the service user and carer experience fed into the Dual Diagnosis pathway and protocol (now developed).

  38. Herts Pride 2019!

    News -

    On Saturday 31st August we had the pleasure of spending the day at Herts Pride. at Cassiobury Park in Watford. It proved a huge success with over 2,500 people from inside and outside Hertfordshire attending!

  39. Carers’ Involvement: Mental Health Inpatient Discharge – Advisory Group

    News -

    Healthwatch Hertfordshire is working with Hertfordshire University Partnership Trust (HPFT) to research how carers are involved and supported when the person they care for has been discharged from inpatient mental health services.

  40. Lasting Power of Attorney Research

    News -

    The Office of the Public Guardian is developing a new way for attorneys and donors to give organisations, such as hospitals, banks and care homes, access to view an online summary of a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA).

  41. 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.

  42. Visits to St Albans City and Watford Hospitals, West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust

    Report -

    The report from our visits to Accident and Emergency, Minor Injuries, wards and Outpatients at St Albans City and Watford Hospitals using our legal power to Enter and View.

  43. Mount Vernon Cancer Centre Review

    News -

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

  44. HPFT Rated ‘Outstanding’

    News -

    Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) have received an ‘Outstanding’ rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

  45. Meeting with Paul Burstow, STP Chair

    News -

    Yesterday, our Chair Steve and our Chief Executive Geoff met with Paul Burstow, the new chair of the Hertfordshire and West Essex Sustainability Transformation Partnership (STP) and former Minister of State for Care Services.

  46. 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.

  47. 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.

  48. Redbourn Health Centre Meeting

    News -

    Priya recently attended a meeting about the merger of Redbourn Health Centre, which became a part of the Lodge Group in 2018.

  49. Breast Cancer Now: Young Women at Risk Should Get Early Breast Scans

    News -

    A new report gives evidence that lowering the starting age to 35 for some women detects cancers which are significantly smaller in size and less likely to have spread.

  50. Dementia: How Much Do We Know?

    Advice and Information -

    A recent study released by Alzheimer’s Research UK found that half of the adults in the UK are unable to identify any of the key risk factors for dementia.