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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.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 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.News -
The NHS Peninsula Cancer Alliance and Macmillan Cancer Support are undertaking a survey to understand how cancer affects the feelings and emotions of patients, their families, and/or carers.News -
New research from our national partners Healthwatch England reveals costs of additional eye care services are likely to deter some people from visiting opticians altogether.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.Blog -
Our insights into people's experiences of using community-based care.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.