Search
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.Advice and Information -
Do you know about your rights to language support in NHS settings?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 TorbayReport -
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 -
NHS England has published a refreshed version of the Accessible Information Standard (AIS) which was first released in 2016. Here we look at what the standard means for you and and how this has changed with the refreshed version.News -
NHS England has published the long-awaited updates to the Accessible Information Standard. 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 -
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.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.Report -
Latest research shows the barriers that trans and non-binary people face when seeking care.Advice and Information -
Are you a refugee or seeking asylum in England? Learn about how to access NHS care and what services you’re entitled to.Advice and Information -
The new Pharmacy First scheme enables your local pharmacy to treat some common conditions with prescription-only medicines, without you visiting your GP. Find out everything you need to know.Advice and Information -
With living costs so high many people are living under financial strain, and NHS prescriptions cost more than some people can afford. Find out what help is out there to help you cover the cost of your medication.Blog -
New research shows that too many men are missing out on the NHS Health Check, which is essential in preventing illness and saving lives. Read our national partner Healthwatch England's findings and calls to action for healthcare leaders.Blog -
Most men would attend testing if the government introduced a national screening programme for prostate cancer, according to new research from our national partner's Healthwatch England. Read their latest blog below.Advice and Information -
The Accessible Information Standard is mandatory for all organisations that provide National Health Service (NHS) or adult social care.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.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.Blog -
Our insights into people's experiences of using community-based care.Advice and Information -
Healthwatch England have published new research showing that there are significant gaps between the choices patients want when booking a GP appointment and the ones they are offered. But what choices should you get at your GP practice?Advice and Information -
Can't find an NHS dentist? Read our tips on what to do if you’re facing problems finding an NHS dentist taking new patients or if you're struggling with NHS dentistry costs.Blog -
People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are facing long waiting times to get their diagnosis. However, our research reveals that even after they are diagnosed, people face another wait to get the medication they need to help them manage their condition.News -
Living with chronic pain can limit your ability to live and work, yet it is a reality for millions of people in England. Find out the problems people are facing and what services can do to better support people living with pain.Blog -
Patients often report positive experiences for cancer treatment services. Find out what people have told our national partners Healthwatch England about their experiences of cancer care in their blog below.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.Advice and Information -
Find out what support is available to help you when travelling to your GP, hospital or other NHS services.Blog -
Action by health services to help prevent illness and disease or spot conditions early is crucial. But how easy do people find it to get this kind of help so that opportunities to prevent ill health are not missed? Find out in the blog below from our national partners Healthwatch England.Blog -
Thanks to your feedback, our national partners Healthwatch England have advocated for NHS England to publish better data to highlight and address inequalities in people’s experience of waiting for NHS treatment. Read their blog below.News -
This new service is set to begin operating in 2027 and aims to deliver up to 8.5 million extra NHS appointments in its first three years.News -
People in Devon most at risk of becoming seriously unwell from flu this winter are being urged to get their flu vaccine as cases of flu start to rise.News -
NHS Devon is encouraging residents to take control of their health this winter through the NHS App.