1. Where can I go to get help for my health out of hours?

    Advice and Information -

    Health issues unfortunately don't leave us alone at the weekend and people are often in need of medical assistance out of hours. Using NHS guidelines, we have provided some advice and information on where you can go for help when your GP is closed.

  2. Making choices about the end of life

    News -

    Most people want to die at home, but the reality is that the majority of us are spending our last days in hospital.

  3. Teething problems affect Trust IT change

    News -

    Some patients have had problems with appointment bookings at Hinchingbrooke and Peterborough City Hospitals following a recent update to their IT systems.

  4. Join your local NHS Trust

    Advice and Information -

    NHS Foundation Trusts are accountable to patients and members of the public who have the right to become members. Find out how to get involved and have a say on what happens in our local NHS Trusts.

  5. Help keep vulnerable adults and children safe from harm

    Advice and Information -

    Abuse can happen anywhere, by anyone. Some forms of abuse and neglect are obvious. Others are hidden. You can help by spotting and reporting any signs of neglect or exploitation of children or adults at risk.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. Finding an NHS Dentist in Peterborough

    Advice and Information -

    Everyone should be able to get the care and advice they need to keep their teeth, gums and mouth healthy. But lots of people tell us how hard it is to find an NHS dentist in Peterborough.

  9. A successful Annual Conference

    News -

    It was wonderful to see lots of people at the Healthwatch Peterborough Annual Conference today (Thursday 8 June), giving us a chance to let people know how we have been serving them over them over the past year.

  10. Non-essential appointments and procedures to be postponed

    News -

    The local NHS is postponing all non-essential appointments from 20 March to help it deal with the pressures caused by COVID-19 coronavirus.

  11. 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.

  12. Virus forces changes to way hospital patients are discharged

    News -

    The coronavirus crisis has put huge pressure on our local hospitals. To make sure they can look after people with acute needs, hospitals are changing the way patients no longer needing a bed are discharged.

  13. Helping to talk about death and bereavement

    News -

    Next week is Dying Matters Awareness Week - helping people to raise the conversation about dying, death and bereavement.

  14. Coronavirus government update May 11

    News -

    A "conditional plan" to begin lifting England's coronavirus lockdown was announced yesterday by the government.

  15. Someone I love has died - bereavement support

    Advice and Information -

    Take a look at our advice article on the organisations and groups that can support you if you’re grieving.

  16. Latest guidance on testing for coronavirus

    Advice and Information -

    Free testing for coronavirus (Covid-19) from the NHS has ended for most people in England.

  17. Lockdown lifts - from 4 July

    News -

    Prime Minister Boris Johnson says lockdown will be “safely eased” in England next month.

  18. 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.

  19. Let's restart health services together

    News -

    Healthwatch Chair Val Moore was on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire on Monday calling for local people to be involved and informed about restarting local NHS services.

  20. We give GP websites a check-up

    News -

    Our new report - Giving GP Websites a Check-up - is out today and looks at how easy it is to find information on GP websites across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

  21. Delays and cancellations: people need information says our Chair

    News -

    Coronavirus has had a big impact on the health system – resulting in delayed or cancelled operations, treatment, screenings and referrals for local people.

  22. Staying connected: not everyone’s online

    News -

    The Covid-19 outbreak and social distancing rules have affected the way organisations and support groups meet.

  23. Summit for Peterborough - city must stay vigilant

    News -

    Peterborough is now off the coronavirus watch list – but people must stay vigilant.

  24. What you’ve been telling us

    News -

    People in and around Peterborough have been in contact with Healthwatch on a whole range of health and care issues since lockdown started in March.

  25. Looking after your mental health

    Advice and Information -

    This article focuses on tackling anxiety and highlighting the importance of taking care of your mental health.

  26. Green light to UTC move - but not until 2021

    News -

    Plans to relocate Peterborough’s Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) and GP Out of Hours Service to the city hospital site will go ahead – but not before next April at least.

  27. New vaccine hopeful but stick to lockdown rules

    News -

    Prime Minister Boris Johnson is urging people to continue with the lockdown rules and basic hygiene advice and not get distracted by news of the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine progress.

  28. Update on dental services

    News -

    The Covid shutdown of dental services across our area aggravated existing problems around access to high street NHS dental care.

  29. Making GP websites clearer for patients

    News -

    A new information checklist has been developed by our Healthwatch volunteers to help GP surgeries make their websites clear and accessible for patients.

  30. Stay patient for the vaccine urges CEO Sandie

    News -

    The Covid-19 vaccines are here and rolling out across our area. But please stay patient, our Healthwatch CEO Sandie Smith told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire listeners this week.

  31. NHS under pressure

    News -

    Many NHS staff are about to start their second year on the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic. And lots of local people have told us how hard they are finding the current lockdown.

  32. 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.

  33. Celebrating NHS staff achievements with HUC

    News -

    Healthwatch Chair Val was delighted to be one of this year's judges at the recent HUC staff awards - celebrating the achievements of staff and teams within our local NHS 111 and out of hours' GP service provider.

  34. Vaccinations for people with learning disabilities

    News -

    People with learning disabilities in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are now getting their Covid-19 vaccinations.

  35. Do you know anyone who could benefit from a GP Access card?

    News -

    Previously known as My Right to Healthcare, GP Access cards allow people who aren't registered with a GP practice, have no fixed address or identification to communicate their right to healthcare.

  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. 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.

  38. Are you on a hospital waiting list?

    News -

    It’s an anxious, unsettling and frustrating time for many local people who are having to wait for non-urgent treatments and procedures as well as appointments and tests.

  39. 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.