1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. 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

  12. 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.

  13. 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.

  14. 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

  15. 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.

  16. 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.

  17. 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.

  18. 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.

  19. 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.

  20. Coronavirus Vaccine: Share your thoughts

    News -

    The national COVID-19 vaccination programme is well underway in Hertfordshire, with both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines being given to local residents. Whether you have had the vaccine or not, we want to hear from you.

  21. Hertfordshire Covid-19 Vaccination update

    Advice and Information -

    The national vaccination programme is well underway in Hertfordshire and both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines are being given to local people.

  22. COVID-19 Vaccination – Book your appointment if eligible

    Advice and Information -

    To ensure that everyone who is most at risk from COVID-19 can get protected as quickly as possible, the NHS is calling those in the first four priority groups to contact and book their vaccine, if they haven’t got an appointment yet.

  23. Not being registered with a GP practice could delay receiving your COVID-19 vaccination

    Advice and Information -

    To ensure you are offered the COVID-19 vaccine, it is very important that you are registered with a GP practice. Not being registered with a GP practice could delay receiving your vaccination.

  24. 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.

  25. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has investigated ‘do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation’ decisions made during Covid-19.

    News -

    The CQC said it was unacceptable for any do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DNACPR) decisions to be made without proper conversations with the individual, or an appropriate representative, taking into account their wishes and needs.

  26. Covid-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions

    Advice and Information -

    The COVID-19 vaccine is our best defence against the virus, alongside effective social distancing, wearing a mask and washing your hands. Getting vaccinated means protecting yourself and may also help to protect your family and friends.

  27. Healthwatch Board Annual General Meeting - 13th July 2021

    Report -

    Read more about our 2021 AGM, where the members approved the accounts, we took a moment of pause to reflect on the past year - and we heard from guest speaker Jim McManus, Director of Public Health for Hertfordshire.

  28. What are people telling us about the COVID-19 vaccines?

    Report -

    The UK's COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been the most significant public health exercise in recent history. While the rollout has been an incredible achievement, we wanted to understand people's motivations to either receive or refuse the vaccine.

  29. What are people telling us about the COVID-19 vaccines?

    News -

    Our report detailing what people told us about the COVID-19 vaccines has been published and contains the views of more than 1,800 Hertfordshire residents. Find out what people told us.

  30. 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.

  31. Young people aged 12-15 are being encouraged to have a COVID-19 vaccination

    Advice and Information -

    The Government are encouraging all 12–15 year olds to have their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

  32. 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.

  33. 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.

  34. Feeling the effects of Long COVID? There is help available.

    Advice and Information -

    For some people who have had Coronavirus (COVID-19), their symptoms can last for a long time after the initial infection has gone.

  35. Bereavement Advice and Support in Hertfordshire

    Advice and Information -

    Losing a loved one can be very distressing and affects us all in many different ways. Some of the physical and emotional challenges can start even before the loss of life itself.

    It is important to know there is help and support available.

  36. 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.

  37. Plans to accelerate Covid-19 booster vaccination programme

    Advice and Information -

    The Government recently announced plans to accelerate the booster vaccination programme in England.

  38. 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.

  39. England has returned to Plan A - Covid-19 guidance

    Advice and Information -

    The Government recently announced an easing of a number of Covid-19 restrictions with a move back to Plan A.

  40. Latest update on the Covid-19 vaccination programme

    Advice and Information -

    The vaccination programme has recently been extended to protect clinically vulnerable children aged 5 – 11.

  41. Supporting recovery after Covid-19

    Advice and Information -

    Everyone who has COVID-19 is affected in different ways and recovers differently.

  42. Feeling anxious or worried? You’re not alone.

    Advice and Information -

    Stress from the pandemic, lockdowns and the Russia/Ukraine war has taken a toll on all of us - but there is help available.

  43. 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.

  44. All over-50s to be offered COVID-19 booster and flu jab this autumn

    Advice and Information -

    Everyone aged 50 and over will be among those offered a COVID-19 booster and a flu jab this autumn under plans to increase protection against respiratory viruses ahead of winter.

  45. Programme for Covid-19 autumn booster and annual flu jabs announced

    Advice and Information -

    Everyone aged 50 and over, people working in frontline health and social care, and people who are at high risk, will be among those offered a COVID-19 booster and a flu jab this autumn.

  46. 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.

  47. Visiting Beyond the Pandemic - A Review of Hertfordshire Care Homes

    Report -

    Concerns about flexibility of visiting times in care homes and lack of clarity about restrictions led us to explore what information was available on 135 of our Hertfordshire care home websites.

  48. 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.