1. Are you worried about how the Covid vaccine might affect your long term condition?

    Advice and Information -

    Many people have been asking us what they should do if they have a long term condition and they want the Covid vaccine. We have some answers.

  2. Inspirational women for International Women's Day

    News -

    To celebrate International Women's Day we chatted to the brilliant Katy Styles. We've worked with Katy many times over the years and we know she has inspired many other people too.

  3. Can I finally hug my Mum in a Care Home?

    News -

    From this week, some visitors are being allowed into Care Homes. But what are the rules and regulations and will you actually be able to hug your loved ones just yet?

  4. What did you tell us in Feb?

    Report -

    Thanks to everyone who shared their story with us over the first two weeks of February despite the big freeze!

  5. Covid and the Vaccines – great news but it’s not all over yet

    Advice and Information -

    The UK government has published their four-step roadmap of a route back to a more normal way of living. In England, the easing of restrictions on our current covid lockdown began on March 8th with the return of schools.

  6. Covid : one year on

    News -

    Today marks a whole year since the Government announced the first lockdown. How has your life changed since then?

  7. Have you had Covid? Are you still struggling?

    News -

    Have you, or someone you know, had Covid and are still feeling the effects four weeks later?

  8. Read what people told us in the last two weeks of Feb

    Report -

    Every day we listen to people who tell us their experience of using Kent's health and social care services right now. Our job is to make sure your voice is heard by the right people, at the right time, in the right way.

  9. Brushing our teeth – what’s it all about?

    Advice and Information -

    It’s all about stopping plaque and tartar build up on our teeth.

  10. We get your vaccine questions answered

    News -

    Every day we’re taking calls from people with questions about the Covid vaccine.
    If we don’t know the answer, we don’t rest until we find it.
    Here are a few of the questions we’ve heard this week. We hope the answers may help you too.

  11. A vaccine with your name on it - book it!

    News -

    There are slots available this week for the Covid vaccine. Have you had yours? Book it today!

  12. Over 1 million Covid vaccines

    News -

    Over 1 million people in Kent and Medway have now received their Covid vaccination. Have you had yours? Tell us about it.

  13. Feeling stressed? You're not alone

    Advice and Information -

    April marks Stress Awareness Month, a national awareness month that has been held every year since 1992 to raise recognition of something we all struggle with from time to time.

  14. Have you ever thought about using Talking Therapies? Maybe you think it might help you, but you’re not sure how?

    News -

    This is your opportunity to have your say about how the Talking Therapy service in Kent currently works and how it could be improved for the future.

  15. Help improve Diabetes services in East Kent

    News -

    A major new project has started to improve diabetes services across East Kent. So now is your chance to get involved and share your thoughts.

  16. Have you experienced End of Life care services recently?

    News -

    The NHS in Kent & Medway are looking to hear feedback from people who have had experience of end of life care services. They want to learn from your feedback to inform a new strategy to help them improve the care offered to people.

  17. Your feedback can help generate change

    Report -

    Every day people contact us to share their story about health and social care services. We're raising these voices to ensure the right people hear the feedback and can make changes as a result. Read our report detailing what people told us in March.

  18. Did you know you can now get Covid tests from your pharmacy?

    News -

    All of us are now being encouraged to take a Covid test regularly even if we don't have any symptoms.

  19. Coronavirus: What does shielding mean?

    Advice and Information -

    Find out more about shielding, who it applies to, and what to do if you're a shielder.

  20. The Healthwatch Kent Guide to Pre-consultation & Engagement

    Report -

    During our work to scrutinise consultations; poor pre-consultation engagement was the main area vulnerable to legal challenge via judicial review.

  21. 42 year olds and over can now get their vaccine

    News -

    The Covid vaccine programme has today been extended and anyone over the age of 42 can now book their vaccine.

  22. Helping our volunteers to learn digital skills

    Report -

    During the pandemic, we wanted to ensure that our volunteers could continue to feel involved and empowered to complete their work in a digital world

  23. How Deaf aware are you?

    Advice and Information -

    The theme of Deaf Awareness Week 2021 is ‘Coming through it together’. As we continue to live with the pandemic, this year’s event aims to raise awareness of Deaf issues while focusing on positivity and togetherness .

  24. What did you tell us in March?

    Report -

    As we reached a year since Covid restrictions began, people continue to contact us to share how they are coping right now. Read our report to find out what people are talking about in March.

  25. Have you booked your Covid vaccine yet?

    News -

    Anyone aged 38 or over , is now entitled to get their Covid vaccination.

  26. Do you really know if you are negative?

    News -

    We might feel fine, but around a third of all people with Coronavirus have no symptoms.

  27. Twin crisis of access and affordability calls for radical rethink of NHS dentistry

    News -

    Healthwatch England warns dental crisis shows no signs of slowing, with four in five people, 80%, struggling to access timely care during the last lockdown.

  28. Over 1 million vaccines in Kent & Medway. Have you had yours?

    News -

    Over 1 million people in Kent & Medway have now had their first dose of the Covid vaccine. Have you had yours? Tell us about it.

  29. Talking about wheelchair services

    News -

    Together with the Kent Physical Disability Forum, and other local groups, we've been working for several years to improve wheelchair services in Kent & Medway.

  30. “I can't ignore the feeling of pride that I enjoy volunteering within this excellent team.”

    News -

    This week we are celebrating!

  31. Are you a patient at Sheppey Healthcare GP Practice?

    News -

    All patients at Sheppey Healthcare GP practice are being asked to share their thoughts to help inform the future of the practice. Is that you?

  32. Celebrating our volunteers all week and every week

    News -

    Our volunteers are our lifeblood. They help us with every aspect of Healthwatch from making decisions about our priorities, listening to patients and ensuring peoples' voices are heard.

  33. Do you live in Canterbury? Have you had your Covid test yet?

    News -

    If you live or work in the Canterbury postcode CT1 or CT27, you are being encouraged to get a Covid test at one of the 5 testing sites in the area.

  34. "Covid was frightening. I couldn't afford to get ill"

    News -

    We're lucky enough to hear from Carers every week so we know just how brilliant they are and how vital it is that they get the support they need. Today marks the start of Carer's Week, and to celebrate we chatted to Jenny who is a Carer.

  35. New research exploring vaccination confidence provides vital lessons for public health campaigns

    News -

    Healthwatch England has joined forces with Traverse to explore vaccination confidence among people from African, Bangladeshi, Caribbean and Pakistani backgrounds living in the UK.

  36. New GP data-sharing system delayed

    News -

    NHS Digital have recently announced plans to allow an NHS system to extract patient data from doctors’ surgeries in England. The new data-sharing system was due to start in July but has now been pushed back to 1 September.

  37. Five principles for post-COVID-19 digital healthcare

    News -

    Healthwatch England has published a new report exploring people's experiences of digital and remote healthcare. They have set out five principles for post-COVID19 care to ensure no one is left behind.

  38. What have we achieved this year?

    Report -

    It's been a year that none of us could have predicted. But what have we achieved?

    Read our annual report to find out what difference we made in 2020/21.





  39. Have you been a patient at Ruby Ward in Medway, or care for someone who has?

    News -

    Would you be willing to share your experience?

  40. Part of a winning team!

    News -

    We've been working with a team of people and organisations to improve the NHS 111 service. That team has won the Partnership Award at the national Health Service Journal annual awards ceremony.

  41. Pharmacies learning lessons in Covid

    Report -

    Last year, over 100 community pharmacists told us what life had been like for them during the first wave of the Covid pandemic. Now, we've gone back to them to see what lessons have been learned since our first report.

  42. Helping you get your vaccine

    News -

    People contact us about a whole range of issues, but this week we were able to help someone get their Covid vaccine.

  43. Have you used the wheelchair service?

    News -

    We've been working for years to help improve wheelchair services and make sure they work well for everyone who uses them.

  44. Share your experience of moving from child to adult mental health services

    News -

    Your story could really help to improve the experience for other people in Kent & Medway.

  45. Your views helped improve non-emergency patient transport services

    News -

    NHS England has published a new report outlining changes to non-emergency patient transport services (NEPTS) and broader NHS transport support. Take a look at what the changes mean for you and your loved ones.

  46. How would you like Kent County Council to spend their money?

    News -

    Kent County Council are starting to think about how they spend their money next year. They need to hear from you about what's important to you and where you would be willing to see change.

  47. Changes to inpatient mental health services

    News -

    Plans have been published to move inpatient mental health beds from Medway to a new, purpose built facility in Maidstone. Now is the time to share your thoughts on the proposals.

  48. Have you used community health services such as Live Well or Release the Pressure?

    News -

    Now is the chance to share your thoughts about these services. Your feedback will help to shape the future of these services.

  49. Join a meeting to hear more about plans for inpatient mental health services

    News -

    Join an online meeting to hear more about the proposal to relocate Ruby Ward from Medway Maritime Hospital to a new purpose-built unit next to Maidstone Hospital.

  50. Are you struggling to get an NHS dentist?

    News -

    You are not alone! More people than ever before have been in touch this month to share their story about finding an NHS dentist and ask for information.