1. What should you expect when it comes to care for your teeth?

    Advice and Information -

    Four questions staff should ask you or a loved one about your oral health if you’re a care home resident, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence quick guide.

  2. 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.

  3. Visits to Care Homes in Hertfordshire - Phase 1

    Report -

    The reports from 12 care homes we visited using our legal power to Enter and View.

  4. Visits to Care Homes in Hertfordshire - Phase 2

    Report -

    The reports from 8 care homes we visited using our legal power to Enter and View.

  5. Visits to Care Homes in Hertfordshire - Phase 3

    Report -

    The reports from 9 care homes we visited using our legal power to Enter and View.

  6. Westgate House Care Centre Visits

    Report -

    The reports from our visits to Westgate Care Centre, Ware as requested by Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) and East and North Hertfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (ENHCCG).

  7. Gold Care Homes Ltd Care Home Visits Summary Report

    Report -

    The summary report from our visits to Halcyon Days Care Home, Autumn Vale Care Centre and Heath Lodge Care Home run by Gold Care Homes Ltd following our rolling programme of care home visits.

  8. Involving the Public in the Long Term Plan

    Report -

    When the NHS launched its ambitious long-term plan in 2019, we asked you what you thought local priorities should be. Thanks to your feedback, the NHS should now have a stronger focus on involving the public in changes to community & health services.

  9. 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.

  10. Public Attitudes Towards the Sharing of Health and Care Information

    Report -

    Through our involvement with the Information Sharing work stream of the Better Care Fund Programme, we worked with colleagues from health & social care to better understand people’s views on the way health information is collected, recorded & shared.

  11. Improving the Patient Experience of Making an NHS Complaint

    Report -

    In response to local feedback about complaints processes, as well as Healthwatch England's report 'Suffering in Silence', we launched our own research into how complaints handling works locally, and what could be improved.

  12. Nascot Lawn Health Scrutiny

    News -

    Anxious families now faced with the cold reality of losing the Children’s Disability Unit they rely on.

  13. 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.

  14. 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.

  15. What is Adult Social Care?

    Advice and Information -

    Do you or a loved one need help with social care? Read the article below and find out answers to key questions about who can access adult social care and how to pay for it.

  16. Care Home Visiting Beyond the Pandemic: share your experiences

    News -

    Do you find your care home visiting arrangements flexible and supportive? Share your experiences of visiting so that we can help care homes to ensure that visits are safe, as well as meaningful, for you.

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

    News -

    Problems with accessing GP surgeries, waits for hospital appointments and care home visiting rules are some of the top concerns you've been sharing with us over the past six months through our Signposting service.

  18. 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.

  19. 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.

  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. 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.

  22. 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.

  23. 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.

  24. Seven pieces of information that you should expect to receive after being diagnosed with dementia

    Advice and Information -

    Take a look at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence's (NICE) quick guide to discussing and planning support following a dementia diagnosis.

  25. 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).

  26. 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.

  27. New Report from Carers UK

    News -

    New research by Carers UK shows that 2.6 million have quit their job to care for a loved one who is older, disabled or seriously ill. Almost half a million people have left their job in the last two years alone.

  28. Planning the Future of Mount Vernon Cancer Services for the people of Hertfordshire

    News -

    The review of Mount Vernon Cancer Services is moving into a new engagement stage and project organisers want to hear from you. Find out what is happening now and how you can get involved and have your say.

  29. Carers Call for Action

    News -

    Carers of people who have used psychiatric inpatient services called for more support for both themselves and the person they care for.

  30. Making Carers' Voices Count

    Report -

    Find out how carers, support services and our local mental health Trust took action to improve support for carers when they were most vulnerable.

  31. 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.

  32. 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.

  33. 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.

  34. 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.

  35. 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.

  36. Need support for an eating disorder?

    Advice and Information -

    Eating disorders are complex mental illnesses that anyone can develop, regardless of age, income and ethnicity. Take a look at some of the common signs of eating disorders and where to go for support if you need help.

  37. Young Carers call for support, not sympathy

    News -

    Young Carers, who look after family or friends, have said that having the right support – such as regular short breaks from caring – is one of the best ways to help them.

  38. Going digital: What children and young people with learning disabilities want from a digital health app.

    Report -

    Children and young people with learning disabilities tested the digital health app 'Hear Me Now' to see if and how it could help them better manage their health. This is what they told us.

  39. So you're a carer - who looks after you?

    News -

    This Carers Week, from 6-12 June 2022, we are helping highlight the challenges faced by unpaid carers and helping those who don't even realise they are carers to access much-needed support.

  40. MacMillan Cancer Support - Helping those living with and affected by cancer

    News -

    MacMillan has appointed a local Engagement Lead to support those living with cancer in Hertfordshire. If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with cancer, they can help to do whatever it takes to help them live life as fully as they can.

  41. Tackling mental health and substance misuse together

    News -

    If you need support with drugs or alcohol and your mental health, read on to find out how you can access help.

  42. Have you, or someone you care for, used Community Nursing services? We want to hear your views

    News -

    Have you, or someone you care for, ever used Community Nursing services? We are working with other local Healthwatch and NHS England to ensure Community Nursing is working well for patients and carers.

  43. 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.

  44. If you care for someone who couldn’t manage without you, do you get enough GP support yourself?

    News -

    As a carer, we want to know if your GP practice is supporting you and what they do to help you.

  45. 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.

  46. 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.

  47. 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.

  48. 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.

  49. 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.

  50. 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.