1. Honour veteran patients by encouraging your GP to become veteran-friendly

    News -

    GP practices who wish to honour veterans for their service this Remembrance Day are being encouraged to apply for the RCGP's veteran-friendly accreditation.

  2. Feeling Good Week 2023 - Applications are open!

    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 by raising awareness of mental health and showing where help can be found within communities.

  3. 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.

  4. What do you think of our services?

    News -

    Those who commission our work would like to hear from people who have used our services.

  5. Group A Strep - What you need to know

    News -

    Group A streptococcus is a common bacteria that can cause a number of infections, some mild and some more serious. The vast majority are relatively mild, such as throat infections and impetigo.

  6. 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.

  7. Tell us how you feel about taking part in research for the NHS

    News -

    Have you ever taken part in NHS research – sometimes known as clinical research? Or perhaps you thought about it, but decided against it? To support the NHS in improving research, we want to find out why you may or may not choose to take part.

  8. NHS Talking Therapies

    Advice and Information -

    NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression is the new name for Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) mental health services.

  9. Do you know about your heart health?

    News -

    Heart disease is one of the main causes of death and disability in the UK, so supporting people to manage and reduce their risk is essential. We want to find out how to help you improve your heart health.

  10. Views of parents of children and young people accessing local GP services heard in new survey

    Report -

    Local NHS leaders have reiterated their commitment to supporting patients and working to improve access to services with the publication of a Healthwatch report into access to general practice services for parents of children and young people.

  11. Parents and carers voice their concerns about accessing GP Practices

    News -

    Many parents and carers have faced serious problems trying to make GP appointments for their child, sometimes waiting more than an hour to speak to a receptionist, only to be told there are no appointments available.

  12. Views of Broxbourne residents accessing local GP services heard in new survey

    Report -

    Local NHS leaders have reiterated their commitment to supporting patients and working with them to improve access to general practice services in Broxbourne with the publication of a report by Healthwatch Hertfordshire.

  13. Become a Patient Volunteer for the South and West Hertfordshire Health and Care Partnership Co-production Board

    News -

    The South and West Hertfordshire Health and Care Partnership is looking for Patient Volunteers with an interest in health and wellbeing to join its Co-production Board. Find out how you can get involved.

  14. 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.

  15. Hertfordshire Trust first with new app for victims of domestic abuse

    News -

    Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is the first NHS Trust in England to launch a domestic abuse app, which will enable staff to quickly refer victims of domestic abuse for free support and legal advice.

  16. Broxbourne residents struggle to access GPs

    News -

    A survey asking Broxbourne residents to tell us about local GP access has shown that 64% of respondents found it ‘difficult’ or ‘very difficult’ to get through to a receptionist by phone – with many waiting up to an hour.

  17. Research for All - Come Along to our Public Events

    News -

    Come and tell the NHS how research could be more inclusive and find out what progress has been made so far.

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

    News -

    Access to GPs and dentists, along with issues relating to hospitals and mental health care, are the top concerns you've been sharing with us over the past six months through our Signposting service.

  19. Full funding for new local hospitals confirmed

    News -

    The Government has given the green light to build new hospitals in Watford and Harlow, confirming full funding for the much-needed projects.

  20. Fair access for care home visitors

    News -

    Thanks to our audit of care home websites and a visitor survey across the County, two new guides have been published to provide clarity about visiting since the pandemic.

  21. Your views are helping make NHS research more inclusive

    News -

    We have been helping the local NHS develop a more inclusive, accessible and effective approach to research activity. Find out what people have told us and what happens next.

  22. Listening to you helped us improve local health and care - our Annual Report 2022/23

    News -

    In our Annual Report 2022/23, read how we made care fairer, tackled the big issues facing local patients and involved communities in our work to ensure the best outcomes for everyone.

  23. Tell us what you think about Voluntary and Community Services

    News -

    On behalf of Hertfordshire County Council, we want to find out what you think of local voluntary and community services.

  24. 9 in 10 Herts residents have been affected by Cost of Living

    News -

    Our latest report - Cost of Living Crisis: The Impact on Hertfordshire Residents - reveals 6500 residents who responded to our survey have felt the impact of rising costs.

  25. Specific groups in Hertfordshire have been disproportionately affected by the Cost of Living Crisis

    News -

    Our report - Cost of Living Crisis: The Impact on Hertfordshire Residents - found that certain sectors of society have been disproportionately impacted by rising costs.

  26. Cost of Living Crisis: Impact on Hertfordshire Residents

    Report -

    In our latest report - Cost of Living Crisis: Impact on Hertfordshire Residents - more than 7000 local people shared many difficult stories of how they were being impacted by rising costs.

  27. How informed are you about Type 2 Diabetes?

    News -

    Diagnoses of Type 2 Diabetes are growing at an alarming rate, so supporting people to reduce or manage their risk is essential. Whether you have been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes or not, we want to hear from you.

  28. Annual Report 2022/23 - Listening to you helped us improve local health and care

    Report -

    In our Annual Report 2022/23, read how we made care fairer, tackled the big issues facing local patients and involved communities in our work to ensure the best outcomes for everyone.

  29. Find out about the vaccinations on offer this winter across Hertfordshire to protect people against flu and COVID-19

    Advice and Information -

    NHS England is moving forward the timetable for the autumn COVID-19 and flu vaccine rollouts.

  30. 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.

  31. 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.

  32. Many carers need greater support from their GPs

    News -

    GP practices are a crucial contact point for carers - and the people they care for - yet our recent research showed some local carers often felt alone, unsupported and had to put their own needs aside.

  33. Feeling Good Week 2024 - Applications are open!

    News -

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

  34. Heart Health – Younger People Need to be Taken Seriously

    News -

    People under the age of 45, particularly men, have told us they want local health services to listen to their concerns and provide better support and care when it comes to heart health.

  35. Shared Care Record - Connecting health and care information

    Advice and Information -

    The Hertfordshire and West Essex Shared Care Record connects GP practices, hospitals, hospices, out-of-hours/community/mental health services and adult social care information for health professionals.

  36. 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.

  37. Did you know we can help with Social Care?

    Advice and Information -

    Many people think we only help with issues relating to health, but if you have concerns about Social Care services and need assistance or advice, we are here for you.

  38. Community Assembly: News and Update

    News -

    On 24th November, we held our latest Community Assembly. If you weren’t able to join us, this article summarises some of the key discussions and provides information about how to get involved next time.

  39. Menopausal Women call for improved GP training

    News -

    Women have told us they would like GPs to be better trained so they are more empathetic, listen to what women are saying and not dismiss their concerns when they ask for help with the menopause or perimenopause.

  40. 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.

  41. Cost of Living Crisis: The Impact of our Research

    News -

    As a direct result of our Cost of Living research, local mental health services have teamed up with Hertfordshire County Council’s Money Advice Unit to provide help for those struggling financially and emotionally.

  42. Local Health and Care Providers respond to our questions following the Lucy Letby Verdict

    Report -

    Following the tragic events at the Countess of Chester hospital, people using health services across Hertfordshire needed to know how similar incidents would be prevented, identified and dealt with.

  43. Hertfordshire Adult Referral Hub Mystery Shop

    Report -

    A telephone mystery shop of Hertfordshire’s Adult Referral Hub has found a professional, friendly service, although some improvements are needed to make it easier to speak to the right person or service.

  44. Community Assembly: News and Update

    News -

    Friday 16th February saw the first Community Assembly of 2024 with an energetic and engaged cross-sector member turn-out. If you weren’t able to join us, this article provides a summary of the key issues discussed.

  45. Central London Community Healthcare (CLCH) NHS Trust Patient Representatives

    Advice and Information -

    CLCH is looking for Patient Representatives to help improve services, develop new ideas, better understand diverse health needs and focus on what matters most to patients.

  46. Community Assembly - Year in Review 23-24

    News -

    Since it was launched in September 2021, the Community Assembly for the East and North Herts Health and Care Partnership has grown from strength to strength. Chaired by Healthwatch Hertfordshire, the Assembly has explored issues of concern and heard about some exciting new projects aimed at improving patient experience.

  47. Herts Trusts achieve Veteran Aware accreditation

    News -

    Two Hertfordshire NHS Trusts have earned Veteran Aware accreditation, recognising their expertise in addressing the needs of the Armed Forces Community when providing community-based healthcare services.

  48. The Accessible Information Standard - What you can expect from services

    Advice and Information -

    A year ago the Accessible Information Standard came into force. It requires any organisation providing NHS or social care to communicate in a way that everybody can understand. Here's a reminder of what you should expect.