1. 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.

  2. Help shape Plymouth’s disability adaptation services

    News -

    Plymouth City Council are launching an important consultation about how they deliver disability adaptations across Plymouth, and they need your help to spread the word and get involved.

  3. Registering with your GP: understanding your rights

    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.

  4. Do you need help travelling to NHS services?

    Advice and Information -

    Find out what support is available to help you when travelling to your GP, hospital or other NHS services.

  5. Can I access my GP records online?

    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.

  6. Referrals and your right to choose

    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.

  7. Tell us about your referral

    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.

  8. 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

  9. New Changes to the 2025/26 GP Contract

    News -

    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.

  10. GP Strike to go ahead later this month

    News -

    Resident doctors in England will go on strike for five days later this month, the British Medical Assocation has announced.

  11. Healthwatch response to GP Patient Survey 2025

    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.

  12. Physician associate changes will give patients more clarity

    News -

    The independent review of physician and anaesthetist associates' safety and effectiveness has been published. Read our response.

  13. NHS support for refugees and people seeking asylum

    News -

    Are you a refugee or seeking asylum in England? Learn about how to access NHS care and what services you’re entitled to.

  14. Devon Patients have had their say on local practices

    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.

  15. What trans and non-binary people told us about GP care

    Report -

    Latest research shows the barriers that trans and non-binary people face when seeking care.

  16. How to get the most out of your GP appointment

    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.

  17. Protections on NHS letter delivery agreed between Royal Mail, NHS leaders and patient bodies

    News -

    Working with Royal Mail, NHS and patient organisations, our national partners Healthwatch England have written an open letter to Ofcom highlighting the introduction of new protections to ensure reliable and efficient postal service for NHS patients.

  18. What should you expect from the NHS when it comes to accessible information?

    News -

    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.

  19. The updated Accessible Information Standard is now available

    News -

    NHS England has published the long-awaited updates to the Accessible Information Standard. Read our response.

  20. Trans and non-binary people face hurdles at every stage of primary 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.

  21. What are people telling us about three key community services?

    Blog -

    Our insights into people's experiences of using community-based care.