1. Healthwatch wants equal access to shaping maternity services for all new and potential parents

    Report -

    Healthwatch Cambridgeshire has found that local people don’t all have the same chance to feedback on their experience of maternity care due to inequalities in funding local Maternity Service Liaison Committees (MSLCs).

  2. Making tongue tie services better for babies and breast feeding mums

    Report -

    Local health commissioners confirm that tongue tie services are available on the NHS in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Plans to improve them are to be included in the local Better Births Plan for maternity services.

  3. How Rachel is helping to improve maternity care

    Blog -

    Rachel James, Chair of Rosie Maternity Voices, talks to us about improving services for new and potential parents at the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge.

  4. Fertility service suspension to be reviewed

    News -

    Healthwatch wants Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group to reverse its 2017 suspension of fertility services.

  5. Mental health and parenthood

    News -

    New mums and dads in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have contributed their personal stories to a new Healthwatch England report 'Mental health and the journey to parenthood'.

  6. 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.

  7. Healthwatch challenges decision to suspend fertility services

    Report -

    The decision to suspend IVFservices in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough is against national guidance and will have a huge impact on those affected, particularly poorer people.

  8. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. Tell us your story of maternal mental health care

    News -

    Pregnancy is a major life event for any family. It can be joyful and fulfilling but also challenging. We’re supporting a national survey to understand how well care works for new mothers and birthing parents. Share your story

  11. Six-week postnatal checks are failing many new mothers

    News -

    Deep-dive analysis of experiences of 2,693 new mothers and birthing parents shows that six-week postnatal checks – required of GPs in England - are failing many new mothers.

  12. 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.

  13. 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.

  14. 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.

  15. 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.

  16. 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.

  17. First Steps to Health report published

    Report -

    Over 1,000 people told us what their First Steps to Health would be in an innovative survey to find out about local people's attitudes to using primary care services.

  18. 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.

  19. 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.

  20. 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.

  21. 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.

  22. 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.

  23. 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.

  24. 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.

  25. 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?

  26. 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.

  27. Using health services in lockdown - Rob's experience

    Blog -

    Rob is one of the 19,000+ people in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough who have been shielding for the last four months. As shielding is due to be paused tomorrow, he reflects on his experience of care.

  28. Giving GP Websites a Check-up

    Report -

    Our new report out today looks at how easy it is to find information on GP websites across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough .

  29. 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.

  30. Staying well this winter

    News -

    People across Cambridgeshire 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.

  31. 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.

  32. Call out to South Asian community for diabetes care experiences

    News -

    South Asian people living in Cambridgeshire are being asked to share their diabetes experiences.

  33. 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.

  34. 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.

  35. 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.

  36. Sandie praises local NHS efforts to tackle 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.

  37. Data sharing of GP patient records

    News -

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

  38. 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.

  39. 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.