1. 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.

  2. Should I see a pharmacist instead of a doctor?

    Advice and Information -

    ​​​​​​​Avoid the wait at the GP and know when to visit your pharmacist instead. Look at how your pharmacist can help you.

  3. Sorting out a problem with healthcare

    Advice and Information -

    NHS care is usually very good and most people don’t have any problems. But occasionally things can go wrong. Find out how to complain about healthcare services.

  4. Community Values Panel helps NHS

    News -

    A unique approach to tackling funding issues in our local NHS has been highlighted in our newly-published Community Values Panel reports.

  5. Over the counter medicines on prescription - can our NHS afford this?

    Report -

    Big savings can be made for the NHS if people buy over the counter medicines rather than ask for them on prescription.

  6. First findings published from our Covid-19 survey

    News -

    Communications with patients and service users must be a priority as health and care services restart following the peak of the pandemic.

  7. Covid-19 briefing 1

    Report -

    The first findings from our Covid-19 survey are published - revealing people's experiences of health, care and community support during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.

  8. How are people with sensory impairments coping in the pandemic?

    Blog -

    Imagine trying to socially distance or navigate a new supermarket layout if you can't see. Or how about trying to communicate with a health professional wearing a mask if you rely on lip-reading?

  9. Staying well this winter

    News -

    People across Peterborough are being urged not to delay getting help for their health this winter. And our local NHS services say they are here to help you stay well, safely.

  10. Public consultation on raising the age for free NHS prescriptions

    News -

    Your views are wanted on Government plans to change the upper age for free NHS prescriptions.

  11. Covid safety measures stay in place at healthcare settings

    News -

    Anyone using or visiting healthcare settings must continue to wear a face covering and stick to social distancing rules.

  12. What you've been telling us about local services

    News -

    Care from your GP surgery, difficulties finding an NHS dentist and waits for hospital appointments are amongst the top experiences you've been sharing with us over the last three months.

  13. The Integrated Care System – One year on

    News -

    In this article, we explain the role of Integrated Care Boards and Integrated Care Systems, identify their different roles, and look at how Healthwatch works with them.

  14. Support available when you have a terminal illness - planning end of life care

    Advice and Information -

    Palliative care is support for people who are in the last months or years of their life. We have pulled together some guidance to help you know what to expect, how to plan ahead and make decisions about your future care.

  15. Healthwatch calls for improvements in local wheelchair services

    Report -

    The wheelchair service in Peterborough is often poorly co-ordinated, with people waiting too long for wheelchairs and repairs says a new report published today.

  16. New Healthwatch report calls for better information for disabled people

    Report -

    Health and care services are not always offering people with sensory and learning disabilities information in a format they can understand. The law says that they must do this.

  17. Packed room for launch of new Healthwatch Accessible Information report

    News -

    A successful launch event shows there is still much to do to achieve Accessible Information as Standard

  18. Enzo speaks up about better information for people with learning disabilities

    Blog -

    Enzo Petruziello works to ensure people with disabilities can access the services they want and need. He provides disability awareness training and encourages friends with disabilities to speak up about their needs.

  19. Healthwatch helps to improve accessible information for disabled people

    News -

    Local NHS Trusts and care organisations are improving the information they give to disabled people.

  20. Healthwatch Board meeting in public - Wednesday 15 November 2017

    Report -

    At this meeting we will be talking about our Accessible Information as Standard report, published 8 November 2017.

  21. Healthwatch Board meeting in public - Weds 14 November 2018

    Report -

    At this meeting the Board will get an update on the progress made by local providers regarding the NHS Accessible Information Standard.

  22. Helping to tackle health inequalities

    News -

    Information from our 2016 'Our Health Matters' project to listen to the health experiences of local Gypsies, Roma and Travellers, has fed into a new House of Commons Committee report, published last week.

  23. New patient group gets policy change at hospital trust

    News -

    A new patient group - recruited with help from Healthwatch - is up and running, aiming to help shape policy and services at local hospitals.

  24. Know your NHS rights and responsibilities

    Advice and Information -

    The NHS Constitution is a useful document to know – setting out what patients, the public and the staff working for it can expect from the NHS.

  25. Report on accessibility of information at Peterborough City Hospital

    Report -

    Report following our visit to Peterborough City Hospital on 3 October 2016 to see how they are providing accessible information for disabled people.

  26. Helping disabled people "Access Health" in Peterborough

    News -

    Three young people from City College Peterborough are working with us on an important new project to help improve access to GP services for disabled people.

  27. Will’s story

    News -

    South Cambridgeshire resident Will lost too much weight and became unwell with untreated Crohn’s disease after struggling to communicate with health professionals. Will is Deaf and uses British Sign Language.

  28. Working with inmates at HMP Peterborough

    News -

    We have worked with male and female inmates at the city’s combined prison to improve their health and wellbeing and engage with health and care users whose voices are often not heard.

  29. Tackling disability hate crime

    Blog -

    It’s Hate Crime Awareness Week 2023. Our Partnership Development Manager Graham Lewis talks about how our Healthwatch and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Partnership Boards are highlighting disability hate crime.

  30. Report shines light on Covid health and care struggles

    Report -

    The final report from our three-month Covid survey is published today.

  31. Remembering the HIV and AIDS crisis

    Blog -

    February is the month where the UK celebrates the history of LGBT people and their achievements.
    So, for those who don’t know me, I’m Graham, the Partnership Development Manager here at Healthwatch. I’m also Gay.

  32. Making sure you count - the national census is coming

    News -

    The census is coming. By taking part, you can help inform decisions on services that shape your community, such as healthcare, education and transport.

  33. Health and care for the LGBTQ+ community

    Advice and Information -

    This article highlights some of the health issues – and inequalities – facing the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer or questioning plus (LGBTQ+) community.

  34. Following my dreams - and becoming a mum

    Blog -

    In this personal blog for LGBTQ+ History Month, our Healthwatch CEO, Sandie Smith, reflects on the road to parenthood – and the joy of being a mum.

  35. HIV in 2021 - tackling the stigma

    Blog -

    As part of LGBTQ+ History Month, Sharron Spindler, Chief Executive of local sexual health charity Dhiverse, tells us that modern treatments make HIV a manageable long-term condition. But outdated attitudes and stigma remain a barrier to diagnosis.

  36. Helping to tackle vaccine hesitancy

    News -

    Our Engagement Officer Rebwar has been helping to get Covid-19 vaccination, testing and self-isolation information out to different communities in Peterborough and Fenland.

  37. Eight ... and counting

    Blog -

    Our Healthwatch is eight years old this month. Here, CEO Sandie Smith reflects on a unique 12 months. And thanks everyone who has supported us and shared their experiences to help us learn from the pandemic.

  38. Autistic Voices Report captures local people's lived experiences

    Report -

    Autistic Voices, our new report about the health and care experiences of autistic people from Peterborough and Cambridgeshire, is published today.

  39. Autistic Voices report will help shape new autism strategy for our area

    News -

    Our new report highlighting the health and care experiences of autistic people from Peterborough and Cambridgeshire is published today.

  40. Making it easier for Deaf people to share their views

    News -

    Today, as part of Deaf Awareness Week, we have launched our new British Sign Language survey to help Deaf people share their views on health and social care services locally.

  41. Healthwatch conference looks at tackling health inequalities - book now

    News -

    Bookings are now open for 'On equal terms" our Healthwatch Conference and AGM, in July. The spotlight will be on the issue of health inequalities and looking at how people can be better involved in developing services that work well for everyone.

  42. 'Co-pro' champ Enzo is improving services for all

    News -

    Enzo, from Peterborough, is a long serving member of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Learning Disability Partnership Board.

  43. How online therapy appointments can open treatment to more people

    News -

    Gary Lee, a local NHS therapist, spoke at our 'On equal terms' conference last week and shared how online therapy appointments were opening up treatment to people who would not have been able to access it before.

  44. Helping people get online and access services locally

    News -

    Digital exclusion is more complicated than just not having a computer and in this workshop at our recent 'On Equal Terms' conference, we explored what the issues are and some of the work being done locally to tackle it.