1. DR RANJ CALLS ON PUBLIC TO SPARE 3 MINUTES TO FEEDBACK ON HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE SERVICES

    News -

    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.

  2. One week to go to give your views on the NHS in Devon

    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.

  3. NHSE national director set to retire

    News -

    The seniormost medic in the NHS in England is stepping down.

  4. Healthwatch response to NHS England reform

    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.

  5. The NHS 10 Year Plan in Devon - Your priorities for change

    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.

  6. New domestic abuse service launches in Devon

    News -

    A new domestic abuse support service is set to launch in Devon.

  7. Healthwatch response to the latest British Social Attitudes Survey results

    Response -

    Satisfaction with health service is at lowest recorded levels. Read the response from our national partners Healthwatch England.

  8. Four things people want from the 10-Year NHS Plan

    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.

  9. How to access mental health support if you have gender, sexuality or relationship diversity

    Advice and Information -

    Mental health problems are more common among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) people. If you are struggling, feel alone or need a little help, then check out our guide on how you can get the support you need.

  10. Does the NHS have to provide an interpreter?

    Advice and Information -

    Do you know about your rights to language support in NHS settings?

  11. Cost of Living Feedback Report

    Report -

    Healthwatch England recently published their findings and a set of immediate actions for the Government and the NHS, in relation to the cost of living and the detrimental impact it is having on people’s decisions about their own health and wellbeing.

    In light of these findings, we wanted to find out if the cost of living was having an impact on people in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay and if so, in what way.

    60 people responded to the survey and the survey ran throughout March to May 2023.

    By Healthwatch in Devon, Plymouth, and Torbay

  12. Accessing services in Devon: Feedback from the Deaf community

    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 information

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

    Advice and Information -

    The Accessible Information Standard is mandatory for all organisations that provide National Health Service (NHS) or adult social care.

  14. Healthwatch response to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s report

    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.

  15. NHS in Devon prepares for Easter weekend

    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.

  16. Healthwatch report on people's experiences of using opticians

    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.

  17. Help the NHS in Devon this bank holiday weekend

    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.

  18. How to improve ADHD support for people

    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.

  19. Torbay's Voluntary Network Celebrates Milestones at Annual Celebration

    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”.