1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  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. Healthwatch Board meeting in public - Weds 8 May 2019

    Report -

    Our Board will hear from Dr Mark Sanderson, Medical Director of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough CCG, who will talk about the local development of primary care networks.

  6. Get patients involved with the help of our Patient Participation Group toolkit

    Report -

    Establishing an effective Patient Participation Group (PPG) allows people to get involved with their local GP surgery and help to improve care.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. Report following our visit to Boroughbury Medical Centre

    Report -

    Read about our visit to Boroughbury Medical Centre on 11 July 2017 using our legal power to enter and view.

  12. Report following visit to Old Fletton Surgery

    Report -

    Read about our visit to Old Fletton House surgery 11 July 2017 using our legal power to enter and view.

  13. 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.

  14. 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.

  15. We're here ... and we're listening

    Blog -

    It's business as usual for Healthwatch says CEO Sandie Smith. And it's more important than ever for local people to tell us how their health and care has been affected during the coronavirus crisis.

  16. 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.

  17. 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.

  18. 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?

  19. Getting the most out of online and telephone appointments

    News -

    Our Healthwatch supported a national study into people's experiences of online and telephone consultations.

  20. Final survey briefing flags lonely motherhood journeys for some new mums

    News -

    Our third and final briefing from our three-month Covid-19 survey is published today.

  21. Covid-19 survey briefing 3

    Report -

    The third - and final - briefing from our three-month Covid-19 survey is published today.

  22. Giving GP Websites a Check-up

    Report -

    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.

  23. 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.

  24. 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.

  25. 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.

  26. 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.

  27. 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.

  28. 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.

  29. Report calls for national review of GP services

    News -

    The way we use our GP practices has fundamentally shifted as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

  30. 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.

  31. Why ReSPECT matters in decisions near the end of life

    News -

    The local NHS has responded to a letter from us promising improvements to end of life care for people in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

  32. 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.

  33. Data sharing of GP patient records

    News -

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

  34. 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.

  35. 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.

  36. 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.

  37. Access to healthcare remains a big issue for people locally

    News -

    GP care, difficulties finding an NHS dentist and hospital outpatient appointments are the top three topics that people talked to us about last month.

  38. Are you or your loved one waiting to get a GP referral? Share your views

    News -

    Have you or your loved one struggled to get a GP referral for tests or treatment?

  39. How your feedback is helping to improve end of life care

    News -

    Thanks to the feedback you shared, NHS and care services have worked hard to improve the support people and their families get near the end of life.

  40. Healthwatch recruiting Community Researcher volunteers for new projects

    News -

    Recruitment of Healthwatch Community Researchers volunteers is under way to help us conduct projects and speak to local people about their experiences...and we are looking for more to join us in St Neots, St Ives and Peterborough.

  41. 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.

  42. Plans being developed to provide for patients after West Cambs Federation ceases trading

    News -

    Efforts are underway to support patients who have been affected by West Cambs Federation ceasing trading.

  43. What is social prescribing?

    Advice and Information -

    NHS social prescribing link workers can connect you to the right community groups and services to help support you.

  44. Enhancing community voice: The vital role of Patient Participation Groups at Healthwatch Health and Care Forums

    Blog -

    Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) play a crucial role in connecting communities with healthcare providers, ensuring that the patient's voice is heard and valued. One impactful way for PPGs to boost their impact is by actively participating in local Healthwatch Health and Care Forums. In this blog post, we explore the significance of PPG involvement in these Forums and how it contributes to fostering a more patient-centred healthcare system.