1. Making mental health support better for young people more at risk of mental illness

    Report -

    Young people need more flexible, creative solutions to give them the information and support they need to stay mentally well.

  2. New autism service for young people to be introduced locally

    News -

    A new autism service for young people is due to start in the autumn thanks to the lobbying of Pinpoint, our Healthwatch and the National Autistic Society.

  3. Report on the state of health and care in England

    News -

    A ‘perfect storm’ could be brewing for people using mental health, learning disability and autism services, warns the Care Quality Commission.

  4. Improving the NHS for people with autism and learning disabilities

    News -

    People with autism and learning disabilities say they need much more support and help to live full, healthy and productive lives, reveals a new report from Healthwatch.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. Young people say what they need from mental health services

    Report -

    Young people told us they need better support when moving from children's to adults' mental health services. And their suggestions are helping health and care planners think about how to improve care.

  9. Have your say on our area's new Autism stategy

    News -

    Your views are wanted on new plans on how to support autistic children, young people and adults in Peterborough over the next five years.

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

  12. 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.

  13. 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.

  14. 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

  15. 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.

  16. 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.

  17. 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.

  18. 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.

  19. 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.

  20. 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.

  21. 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.

  22. 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.

  23. 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.

  24. 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.

  25. 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.

  26. Report shines light on Covid health and care struggles

    Report -

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

  27. 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.

  28. 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.

  29. 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.

  30. 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.

  31. 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.

  32. 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.

  33. 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.

  34. 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.

  35. 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.

  36. '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.

  37. 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.

  38. 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.

  39. How new Health and Care Experience profiles can help improve care

    News -

    Our Healthwatch was involved in an innovative pilot project to help health and care systems across the country understand how well they are supporting people in their communities who may face more barriers to care.

  40. People from South Asian communities say what they want from diabetes care

    Report -

    Local people from South Asian communities told us how services could better help them manage their diabetes. And their suggestions are helping local health and care planners to improve the support people get.

  41. Lack of NHS dental appointments widens health inequalities

    News -

    A new survey of public attitudes to NHS dentistry shows that half of the adults in England find dental charges unfair amid escalating living costs. Healthwatch has warned decision-makers that NHS dentistry is in desperate need of reform.

  42. 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.

  43. Call for Deaf volunteers to help improve adult social care

    News -

    Join the Sensory Impairment Partnership Board and help improve health and social care services for people with sensory impairments.

  44. The new Integrated Care System (ICS) can and should do health and care services differently

    Blog -

    Healthwatch Deputy Chair Philippa Brice reflects on our Championing Access Health and Care Summit. And how the new NHS structure is an opportunity to involve people in developing services that work better for everyone.

  45. There's never been a more important time for Healthwatch

    News -

    More than 100 people joined us for our Championing Access Health and Care Summit in Peterborough earlier this month, just one week into the life of the new NHS structure.