1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. Coronavirus government update May 11

    News -

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

  10. Lockdown lifts - from 4 July

    News -

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

  11. 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.

  12. 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.

  13. 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.

  14. 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.

  15. Staying connected: not everyone’s online

    News -

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

  16. Summit for Peterborough - city must stay vigilant

    News -

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

  17. 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.

  18. 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.

  19. 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.

  20. 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.

  21. 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.

  22. 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.

  23. 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.

  24. 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.

  25. Vaccinations for people with learning disabilities

    News -

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

  26. 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.

  27. 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.

  28. 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.

  29. 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.

  30. 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.

  31. Sandie praises local NHS efforts to takle Covid backlog

    News -

    Healthcare staff across our area have been praised by our CEO Sandie Smith for their hard work in helping to tackle the Covid-caused backlog of patients needing care.

  32. Data sharing of GP patient records

    News -

    National plans to share GP patient records for planning and research have been shelved until 1 September.

  33. New urgent treatment centre opens its doors to patients

    News -

    Peterborough's Urgent Treatment Centre has a new home at the city hospital site – and is now open for business.

  34. 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.

  35. 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.

  36. Your views help make changes across the country

    News -

    The views of Peterborough people have helped make national change to health and care across England.

  37. Making services work better by involving the people who use them - through co-production

    News -

    Services that are developed in partnership with the people who use them work better for everyone. Healthwatch's Graham Lewis was joined by Lois Sidney and Dave Lee of the SUN Network to talk co-production at our 'On Equal Terms' conference last week.

  38. Have your say on eligibility for patient transport

    News -

    Your views are wanted in a public consultation on eligibility for non-emergency patient transport services.

  39. Improving GP websites – our reports spark action

    News -

    Over the last year, we’ve been pressing for improvements to GP websites to make them easier for patients to access and find essential information. And at our November Board Meeting we heard action is being taken by our Clinical Commissioning Group.

  40. Shared Care Record plans to make care more joined up

    News -

    A new Shared Care Record system will be introduced across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough over the next two years. And aims to provide a join up of the different health and care records that are held about you.

  41. Your care, your way – Join Healthwatch’s new campaign

    News -

    Clear, understandable information is important to help you make the right health and care decisions. Join our campaign and have your say on what needs to change.

  42. Laura champions campaign to improve information for disabled people

    News -

    If you have a disability, impairment or sensory loss, the Accessible Information Standard gives you a right to health and care information in the way you need it – as well as communications support at appointments.

  43. Have your say on local services at Healthwatch's Annual Health and Care Summit

    News -

    Championing Access - this year the spotlight is on equal access to health and care services. And on the big changes to how NHS and care services are working.

  44. Care this Bank Holiday Weekend

    News -

    Some routine appointments are being postponed this Bank Holiday Monday due to the funeral of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II - but you will be contacted in advance if your care is going to be affected.

  45. Accessible Information Standard – a push for progress

    News -

    Healthwatch England is urging NHS England to make progress in its review of the Accessible Information Standard and ensure that all Trusts across the country comply with its legally-binding requirements.