1. Do you need help getting to hospital?

    Advice and Information -

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

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Healthwatch Hertfordshire involved with Research to improve Health and Care in the East of England

    News -

    Communities with the greatest health challenges across the region are set to benefit from government funding awarded to run applied research projects, which can transform the lives of millions of people managing health issues.

  5. 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.

  6. Hertfordshire Transgender Update

    News -

    Nearly £5,000 has been raised to support the work of the Hertfordshire Transgender Implementation Group.

  7. Inaugural Trans Awareness Black Tie Dinner

    News -

    Steve Palmer and Paul Regan recently attended The Inaugural Trans Awareness Black Tie Dinner at the Priory in Hitchin.

  8. Improving Supported Living Services Across Hertfordshire

    Report -

    We helped Hertfordshire County Council find out what people using supported living services wanted, so that their needs could be better met by providers. Read our report to hear what they had to say and how their voices influenced future guidelines.

  9. Digitally Excluded During the Pandemic

    News -

    Find out the reasons for people not being online, and how being digitally excluded has affected people’s experiences during the pandemic.

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

  12. Accessing Dental Services in Hertfordshire 2016

    Report -

    We were asked to support a local Oral Health Needs Assessment on 'Access to Primary Care Dental Services'. Find out what local residents had to say about their experiences of dental services.

  13. 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.

  14. 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.

  15. 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.

  16. 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.

  17. Local people are telling us that they feel their race or ethnicity sometimes affects the quality of healthcare they receive. Do you feel the same?

    News -

    Ethnic inequalities in healthcare mean not everyone receives equal treatment from the NHS. See what people are telling us below, and whether good or bad, share your experience to help make a difference.

  18. Breaking down barriers to cervical screening

    News -

    Cervical cancer screening is currently at record lows in England, yet some women with physical disabilities who want this life-saving test are finding it hard to access screening.

  19. Take action this World Cancer Day

    News -

    World Cancer Day, February 4, was an important chance to remind people to take action and help close the gap on health inequalities and save lives through early detection.

  20. Working with Local Councillors and Community Groups to Tackle Ethnic Health Inequalities

    News -

    Find out how we helped local councillors shine a light on ethnic health inequalities and how services plan to improve health outcomes for ethnically diverse communities living in Hertfordshire.

  21. 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.

  22. What is Monkeypox?

    News -

    As you will have heard in the news, monkeypox is a rare viral infection and the risk to the UK population is low.

  23. Building relationships with Black and Asian community leaders to tackle ethnic health inequalities

    Report -

    Thanks to new and ongoing partnerships with Black and Asian community leaders over the past year, we can share important learning on how services can work to better engage with Black and Asian communities to tackle ethnic health inequalities.

  24. Healthwatch Hertfordshire – Annual General Meeting 19 July 2022

    News -

    Every year our AGM gives an opportunity to reflect and celebrate our achievements.

  25. Local healthcare needs to tackle discrimination, say Black and Asian communities

    News -

    Our ground-breaking Hertfordshire research has found that up to 45 per cent of Black and Asian respondents felt they had been discriminated against in a healthcare setting, with many believing this was because of their ethnicity.

  26. Making Local Healthcare Equal: Healthcare Concerns in Black and Asian Communities

    Report -

    In our latest report, Making Local Healthcare Equal: Healthcare Concerns in Black and Asian Communities, residents shared powerful stories with us, leading to our NHS taking action in tackling ethnic health inequalities.

  27. Healthwatch Hertfordshire Supports Black History Month

    News -

    October is Black History Month and at Healthwatch Hertfordshire we are committed to this year's theme - Time for Change: Actions Not Words.

  28. 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.

  29. Do you need support with the Cost of Living or help keeping warm this winter?

    News -

    Across Hertfordshire, there are a range of services that can help with financial pressures, paying bills, providing food, family concerns, care of older people and more.

  30. The rising Cost of Living is hitting Hertfordshire residents hard - here’s what you’ve told us.

    News -

    Hertfordshire residents say they are using less heating, eating fewer meals and becoming increasingly worried, according to early findings from our Cost of Living survey.

  31. 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.

  32. 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.

  33. 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.

  34. 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.

  35. 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.

  36. 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.

  37. 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.

  38. Our Annual General Meeting 2023

    News -

    Every year our AGM gives an opportunity to reflect and celebrate our achievements.

  39. 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.

  40. 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.

  41. Cost of Living Research Shortlisted for National Award

    News -

    Healthwatch Hertfordshire has been shortlisted for a national award for its Cost of Living research, which has led to local mental health services teaming up with money advice specialists to help those struggling both financially and emotionally.

  42. Using Sexual Health Services – Experiences of Local People

    News -

    Hertfordshire adults generally have good access to local sexual health services, but have told us they want more information about infections, prevention and testing, as well as clinics in more discreet locations and additional online services.

  43. Detecting and Managing Atrial Fibrillation in Black, Asian and other Ethnic Groups in Areas of Deprivation

    Report -

    A local project aimed at improving detection and management of Atrial Fibrillation in ethnically diverse communities has provided valuable insights into work that can be done to prevent heart disease.

  44. Cost of Living Research receives National Accolade

    News -

    Healthwatch Hertfordshire has been commended nationally for its Cost of Living research, which led to local mental health services teaming up with money advice specialists to help those struggling both financially and emotionally.

  45. 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.