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This Share for Better Care Week (24 February – 2 March), Dr Ranj is teaming up with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and Healthwatch England (HWE) to urge people across England to take three spare minutes to feed back on their recent health and social care experiences.News -
Local people in Devon have one week left to share their experiences, views and ideas that will contribute to the development of the national 10-Year Health Plan whilst informing local priorities in Devon.News -
The seniormost medic in the NHS in England is stepping down.Response -
The Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced today that he will bring the NHS back under the control of ministers by abolishing NHS England.Blog -
From November 2024 to February 2025 we worked with NHS Devon to gather over 3,500 of your views, experiences, and ideas, which shaped a new 10 Year Health Plan for the whole of Devon, Plymouth and Torbay.News -
A new domestic abuse support service is set to launch in Devon.Response -
Satisfaction with health service is at lowest recorded levels. Read the response from our national partners Healthwatch England.Blog -
The Government has promised to put in place a 10-Year Health Plan to fix the NHS in England. Our national partners Healthwatch England have outlined the four things that matter most to you and how they should shape the 10-Year Plan. Read their blog below.News -
Patients across eastern Devon have been left struggling to access essential hearing services following what has been described as a chaotic handover of the region's NHS audiology contract.Response -
Following media reports that the Government are abolishing bodies and organisations that unfortunately include Healthwatch England and the local Healthwatch Network, our Chair Dr Kevin Dixon has issued the response below.News -
The Government has released its new 10-Year Health Plan — here’s what it says, and what it could mean for Healthwatch and you.News -
The latest Review of Patient Safety Across the Health and Care Landscape, commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and run by Dr Penny Dash, has been published.Response -
The annual GP Patient Survey is out today. It highlights improvements to how people access care from their GP, pharmacy, dentistry, and other primary care teams. Read the response of our national partner Healthwatch England.News -
The Local Healthwatch Network has announced the launch of a new campaign to advocate for the preservation of an independent public voice in health and care.Blog -
Our insights into people's experiences of using community-based care.Advice and Information -
People have told us they can have problems registering with a GP. This article explains more about your rights and what do to if you are refused the right to register.Advice and Information -
Find out what support is available to help you when travelling to your GP, hospital or other NHS services.Advice and Information -
From 31 October 2023, GP surgeries must give patients online access to their new health record entries. Find out what information is in your record and how to access it.Advice and Information -
Did you know you can choose which hospital you go to when referred for a test, diagnosis, or treatment? Find out how.News -
Our national partner Healthwatch England are asking about your experience of referral for specialist treatment. Has your GP referred you for an assessment or treatment at a hospital or community clinic? Share your story.Report -
In 2022, Healthwatch in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay held a series of meetings with the South West representative of the Royal Association for Deaf People to discuss various concerns that were being raised around access to British Sign Language (BSL) qualified interpreters. These concerns include:
• Interpreters to support appointments in hospital and GP surgeries
• Interpreters to support complaints process
• Access to informationNews -
Following the announcement last month that the government had agreed a new one-year contract with GPs, Healthwatch can bring you more details of what the changes mean to patient care from 1 April.News -
Resident doctors in England will go on strike for five days later this month, the British Medical Assocation has announced.News -
The independent review of physician and anaesthetist associates' safety and effectiveness has been published. Read our response.News -
Are you a refugee or seeking asylum in England? Learn about how to access NHS care and what services you’re entitled to.News -
Patients in Devon have had their say on local practices and generally report a more positive overall experience with their GP practice compared to the national average.Report -
Latest research shows the barriers that trans and non-binary people face when seeking care.Advice and Information -
Do you struggle to speak to your doctor about your medical concerns? You’re not alone. Take a look at our top tips to make the most out of your GP appointment.Response -
Read Healthwatch England's response to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s report, The Safety Gap, on the accessibility of medicines for people with sensory impairments.News -
The NHS in Devon is preparing for the start of the holiday season, as the first of many visitors start to arrive for the Easter weekend.Report -
Research from our national partners Healthwatch England has found that costs for additional services when visiting opticians are a barrier to care for people on low incomes.News -
Ahead of the bank holiday weekend, the advice is to:
• Order and collect any repeat medicines
• Make sure your medicine cabinet is well-stocked
• Make use of community pharmacies
• Look after yourselves and loved ones - check in on vulnerable family members and neighbours.
Report -
The impact ADHD has on people’s lives can be profound and can be spread across multiple areas of their life. Healthwatch England's new report highlights these impacts and the changes they are calling for to ensure everyone gets the support they need.News -
The Torbay Health and Wellbeing Voluntary Sector Network has released its second annual report showcasing an “extraordinary year of community collaboration, impact, and resilience in the face of ongoing economic and social challenges”.Response -
The ADHD taskforce have today published the first part of their report. The final report will be available later this year.Response -
Our national partner Healthwatch England's response to the latest NHS waiting times data.Response -
The Government has announced measures to improve women's experiences with cervical screening. Booking screening should be easier, and lower-risk people will attend fewer appointments.News -
Record numbers of patients in Devon are now accessing healthcare services through the NHS App.Blog -
People in Torbay have improved access to low-level healthcare support after we led on a collaborative Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) prevention project offering free blood pressure and health checks in the local community.News -
The NHS App will be updated to 'democratise' healthcare by giving all patients more access to triage tools and comparison information about providers from the NHS App.News -
NHS England has published the long-awaited updates to the Accessible Information Standard. Read our response.News -
Our national partner Healthwatch England's self-selecting survey of nearly 1,400 trans and non-binary adults highlights that only 53% rate their GP practice as 'good' for general care.