1. We take your views to Parliament

    News -

    Last week, we travelled to London to join forces with more than 100 fellow local Healthwatch organisations at our annual parliamentary reception.

  2. Jane’s Story: Booking a smear test

    Blog -

    Five million women are invited for a smear test, but 1 in 4 women don't attend their smear test. Why is that? We assume it is because people are worried about the procedure. Could it be in part because people are struggling to get an appointment?

  3. What did people from Folkestone tell us?

    Report -

    Last month we visited Folkestone & Hythe District Council to talk to their staff about their experiences of local health & social care services. We met 230 people in total during our visit.

  4. Spotlight on GP services

    Report -

    Since April 2017 we have heard from 365 people about their experience of GP services in Kent.

    Although we hear lots of positive stories, we've heard 394 negative comments.

  5. Your vote determines our priorities

    News -

    All this week we are asking people to get involved in our campaign #YourChoiceOurPriority where we give you the power to choose our priorities for the year.
    Over the 7 days we will be asking you to vote for what you think we should prioritise.

  6. Spotlight on Gypsy & Traveller communities

    Report -

    Kent has one of the highest populations of Travellers in the UK.

    At Healthwatch Kent we regularly visit Traveller sites to hear directly from the community about the issues they face about health and social care services.

  7. Spotlight on Learning Disabilities

    Report -

    In the second of a new series of reports, we have highlighted the feedback we’ve heard from people with learning disabilities.

    Everything we have heard from people is included in the report.

  8. Have you struggled to get a GP appointment? Tell us about it!

    News -

    In the news this weekend, we've heard new figures showing that many people struggle to get an appointment with their GP.

  9. 3 alternatives when you can't get GP appointment

    Advice and Information -

    It’s never great when you can’t get a GP appointment in a moment of need

  10. Help shape Urgent Treatment Centres in North Kent

    News -

    Plans are being developed for Urgent Treatment Centres across the UK. The Centres would treat all minor illnesses and injuries for all age groups in one place.

  11. What should happen when GP surgeries close or merge?

    Report -

    Healthwatches across the South East have heard from people who are concerned about their GP surgery either closing or merging.

  12. You have chosen our priorities and we have listened

    News -

    Over 7,800 saw our vote and hundreds of you voted, so thank you!

  13. Commissioners respond to our GP report

    News -

    In March we published a report detailing all the feedback we had heard from Kent residents about GP services.

  14. Urgent care in Dartford, Gravesham & Swanley is going to change. Get involved

    News -

    A formal public consultation has been launched this month to decide the location of a new Urgent Treatment Centre in Dartford, Gravesham & Swanley area.

  15. We hear from children and young people

    Report -

    Children and young people from across Kent & Medway have talked to us about their experience of using health and social care services.

  16. Working with PPG groups

    News -

    This week, we took part in a conference to bring together all the Patient Participation Groups across Kent.

  17. M20 closures!.... There’s no stopping us

    News -

    There was no chance our Helpline team weren't getting to the busy Boughton Monchelsea’s village Community Coffee Morning last Saturday.

  18. State of the Nation by the Care Quality Commission

    News -

    Today the Care Quality Commission have published their State of the Nation report which is their annual assessment of health and social care services across the country.

  19. Have you heard that the Clinical Commissioning Groups are going to merge?

    News -

    Currently in Kent & Medway, we have eight Clinical Commissioning Groups who are responsible for commissioning our health services.
    From April 1st 2020, GPs have voted for all the CCGs to merge into one single Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

  20. Feedback from people with Asthma

    News -

    Today we chatted with people about what it is like to have Asthma and how things could be improved

  21. Talking about End of Life services

    News -

    We recently had the opportunity to chat with a group of Carers about End of Life services in North Kent.

  22. GP Walk In service at Northfleet closes today

    News -

    Today the walk in GP clinic at Northfleet has closed. It’s not new news as the decision was announced some months ago, and is part of plans to create an Urgent Treatment Centre in the area following a public consultation earlier in the year.

  23. Do you live in or near Hextable?

    News -

    Are you a patient at Hextable GP surgery? If so, you are being asked to share your thoughts about the future of Hextable Surgery

  24. Hextable Surgery to become part of Cedars Surgery, Swanley

    News -

    The Hextable Surgery will become a branch of Cedars Surgery, Swanley, on Tuesday 1st September 2020.

  25. Are you registered at New Road GP surgery in Folkestone?

    News -

    The surgery has had to close temporarily after 8 members of staff have tested positive due to Coronavirus.

  26. A vaccine is getting closer

    News -

    The last few days have brought great hope to us all as we've watched the first Kent residents get vaccinated against Coronavirus.

  27. Do you use Orchard surgery in Lydd?

    News -

    The GPs who provide care at Orchard surgery have decided to close the practice from 30th April 2021.

    Are you a patient there? We have the information you need.

  28. 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?

  29. Helping people to get registered with a GP

    News -

    Many people come to us because they are struggling to register with a GP near to them. This month we've been able to help two families to get registered.

  30. Getting you answers about the GP eConsult service

    News -

    Many of you have been in touch to share your experience of using the GP eConsult service. We shared your stories with the right decision makers and we've got an update for you.

  31. Needing the NHS while out at sea

    Report -

    Being a fisherman is a tough job. It's dangerous with long hours and in difficult conditions. They also work unsociable hours making it hard for fishermen to use public services.

  32. What is a GP referral and how can you get one?

    Advice and Information -

    When you need specialist NHS support, like hospital tests or treatment, you often need a referral from your GP first. Find out what this includes and what to expect.

  33. What people have told us about general practice

    Report -

    This report presents the feedback received from people via Healthwatch Kent, Healthwatch Medway and Kent and Medway Voice about their experiences of general practice from November 2022 to April 2023.

  34. Primary care work

    News -

    In May, Healthwatch England shared their initial response to the Government's Primary Care recovery plan and what it would mean for you and your loved ones.

  35. 10 top tips to get the most out of your GP appointment

    Advice and Information -

    We know from our conversations with the public that some patients report feeling rushed during appointments and struggling to make themselves heard. Here are some tips that could help you get the most out of visiting your GP.

  36. Meet the people using their voice to make a difference to care of others

    News -

    Five people and groups have been shortlisted for a national award that celebrates local people who, through their dedication, have helped improve health and care for their community.

  37. Older People's Forums to get involved in

    Advice and Information -

    Every District in Kent has an established Older Peoples’ Forum and together they have reached thousands of older people in the past year offering information, practical support, advice and friendship.

  38. Focus on Hidden Carers

    Report -

    What's it like being a carer and how much support are you getting? We wanted to make sure people knew what it was like to be a carer in Kent.

  39. We hosted Sir Robert Francis QC

    News -

    Sir Robert became a household name back on 2012 when he lead the independent review into the Mid Staffordshire Hospital scandal.

  40. Safeguarding: How to recognise abuse and neglect

    Advice and Information -

    There are different kinds of abuse and it can happen anywhere. Abuse occurs when someone exploits another person or treats them in a way that harms or hurts them. It can happen once or on multiple occasions.

  41. We are winners!!!

    News -

    We have been recognised as highly commended in the Championing Diversity & Inclusion category at the 2019 Healthwatch Network Awards last night.

  42. All adults with learning disabilities are now being offered the vaccine

    News -

    All adults with learning difficulties are to be offered the Covid vaccine as part of the priority groups.

  43. If you're D/deaf and use East Kent Hospitals, we can help you to get an interpreter

    News -

    D/deaf patients are now being offered a free card that clearly indicates that they need a British Sign Language interpreter when they have an appointment at East Kent hospitals. Get in touch if you want yours.

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

    News -

    This week we are celebrating!

  45. Help the Non Emergency Patient Transport Service to be better

    News -

    If you need help to attend an NHS appointment, you may have used the Non Emergency Patient Transport Service to help you get there.
    This is a free transport service that is available to some, but not all, patients based on their eligibility.

  46. Giving the Trans & Non-binary community in Kent a voice

    Report -

    For six months we have been working with the Trans & Non-binary community here in Kent listening to their experiences and exploring what could be changed to support them better.

  47. Spotlight on reducing digital exclusion

    Report -

    Many organisations in Kent are working hard to tackle the inequality caused by our increasing reliance on technology. We decided to review one of these projects to see what difference it is really making to people.

  48. Kent NHS trusts not consistently meeting the legal rights of deaf and blind patients to accessible information

    News -

    Local NHS trusts are only partially meeting their legal duty to help people with additional communication needs, new findings show.

  49. Making it easier for people with learning difficulties to attend hospital appointments in East Kent

    Report -

    We've been working with East Kent Hospitals for several years now helping them to make it easier for people with learning difficulties to attend a hospital appointment. Check out what's changed as a result.

  50. What difference have we made this month?

    News -

    A highlight this month has been helping a young pregnant woman, who was homeless, to get the dental care that she needed.