How we work

We’re here to to find out what matters to you and to help make sure your views shape the support you need.

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Who we are and what we do

Healthwatch Kent is your local health and social care champion. If you use GPs and hospitals, dentists, pharmacies, care homes or other support services in your area, we want to hear about your experiences. We are independent and have the power to make sure NHS leaders and other decision makers listen to local feedback and improve standards of care. We can also help you to find reliable and trustworthy information and advice. Last year, the Healthwatch network helped nearly a million people like you to have your say and get the support you need.

Healthwatch Kent is part of a network of over 150 local Healthwatch across the country. We’re here to listen to the issues that really matter to people in Kent and to hear about  your experiences of using local health and social care services. We’re entirely independent and impartial, and anything you share with us is confidential. Healthwatch uses your feedback to better understand the challenges facing the NHS and other care providers and we make sure your experiences improve health and care for everyone – locally and nationally. We can also help you to get the information and advice you need to make the right decisions for you and to get the support you deserve.

It’s really important that you share your experiences – whether good or bad, happy or sad. If you’ve had a negative experience, it’s easy to think there’s no point in complaining, and that ‘nothing ever changes’. Or, if you’ve had a great experience, that you ‘wish you could say thank you’. Remember, your feedback is helping to improve people’s lives. So, if you need advice, or you’re ready to tell your story – we’re here to listen.

Tell your story/Get help

How we can help you?

If you’ve recently visited your GP, or local hospital, or used any health and care services in Kent we want to hear from you. Whether you’ve had a good or bad experience, we can use your feedback to improve services for everyone and we have the power to make NHS leaders and other care providers listen to what you have to say. We’re completely independent and impartial and anything you say is confidential. We also offer information and advice to help you to get the support you need. Our service is free, simple to use and can make a real difference to people in Kent and beyond.

Our approach

People's views come first - especially those who find it hardest to be heard.

We champion what matters to you and work with others to find ideas that work. We are independent and committed to making the biggest difference to you. 

Downloads

If you want to know a bit more about how we work, you may like to read these two documents;

  • Maintaining our independence and our statutory duties
  • Governance & accountability
Maintaining independence & carrying out Healthwatch activity
Governance process & accountability

How do we make our decisions?

Our Steering Group is made up of volunteers who come together every month to talk about our progress and determine our priorities. At the beginning of every year they agree what we will focus on and work with us to ensure we hear from as many people as we can and generate as much positive change as possible. They are a dedicated group of people and we are very lucky to have them!

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Advice and information

Find out about more about how we can help you access the support you need to live well.

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Our volunteers

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Find out more about our volunteers

Meet our volunteers

Our staff

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Meet our staff and volunteers.

Meet the team

You Said We Did

We hear so much from people using health and social care services in Kent. See what we have heard and what we have done to make a change. 

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Work with us

If you are an organisation looking to work with us on a project, get in touch and tell us more.

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