1. Meet our new Chair Stewart Francis

    News -

    Our Healthwatch has appointed a new Chair to succeed Val Moore who is stepping down this month after six years as strategic lead of our organisation.

  2. Are you or your loved one waiting for hospital care? Share you views

    News -

    Millions of people have had their treatment delayed by the pandemic – are you one of them? We want to know if you’re getting the advice, information and support you need while you wait.

  3. Thank you Susan, Nik and Margaret

    News -

    This month we said farewell – and a big thank you – to three of our long-serving Directors.

  4. Tribute to our retiring Chair Val

    News -

    Val Moore, our Chair for the last six years, officially handed in her Healthwatch badge last night.

  5. Talking about my mental health was life-changing

    Blog -

    In this special blog for World Mental Health Day, Associate Director and new graduate Chelsia reflects on how the pandemic has affected young people like her – and highlights some of the practical things she's learned to maintain good mental health.

  6. Tell us your care home experiences

    News -

    The Covid-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on care home residents and on their friends and families and staff.
    Our new survey records your experiences and challenges over the last 12-18 months – and asks what life is like now.

  7. New restrictions recommended in local schools

    News -

    The Directors of Public Health and of Education in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have recommended that secondary schools reintroduce measures to stop the spread of COVID-19.

  8. Remembering Alena

    News -

    The Healthwatch team is deeply saddened to report the passing of Alena Taylor, former Chair of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Physical Disability Partnership Board.

  9. Government action demanded on NHS dentistry

    News -

    Your feedback about problems finding an NHS dentist has resulted in a call to the Government for "vital investment" and a national recovery plan about NHS dentistry services.

  10. Our Leaving Hospital work is shortlisted for a national award

    News -

    Our Healthwatch has been shortlisted for a national award for our work to improve the way patients are discharged from hospital.

  11. Healthwatch Board meeting in public - Wednesday 10 November 2021

    Report -

    Board meeting in public, led by our new Chair Stewart Francis. We be heard about all the Engagement work our team has been doing over the last year and got an update on our 2020 audit of GP websites. The minutes and papers are available here.

  12. 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.

  13. What to expect when waiting for care

    Advice and Information -

    Waiting for planned medical care or surgery can be a frustrating time. That’s why it’s so important that while you wait, you get regular, clear and accessible updates so that you can plan your next steps.

  14. Healthwatch policy - Code of conduct

    Report -

    This policy says how we expect all our staff, Directors and volunteers to behave and support the values of our Healthwatch. It was approved at our Board meeting in November 2021.

  15. Are you able to visit loved ones in local care homes?

    News -

    Limits on visitors at care homes have been lifted in updated Government guidance. But is this making a difference for local families getting to see their loved ones?

  16. Problems getting a Covid-19 booster vaccine tops latest Health and Care Forum

    News -

    Covid-19 booster vaccines and Shared Care Records were two of the big topics of conversation at last week’s Cambridge and South Cambs Health and Care Forum.

  17. QE Hospital update at Fenland and East Cambs Forum

    News -

    New facilities will open at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn early next year. And there could be an announcement on new hospital funding in January.

  18. Christmas wishes to all our communities and our NHS and care teams

    Blog -

    We would like to wish all of our supporters a very happy Christmas.

  19. Get on Board with us – and improve services for everyone

    Blog -

    New members are wanted on the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Partnership Boards. Could you use your knowledge and experience of using social care to help others?

  20. Making care better for people with sensory loss

    Blog -

    We're recruiting volunteers to help improve care services for local people with sight and hearing loss. Like to get involved?

  21. Support to help people waiting for hospital care

    News -

    More than eighty-five thousand people are now waiting for hospital care in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Although this may be just the tip of the iceberg and some are ‘missing’ from this count as they’ve not come forward for treatment.

  22. Help fly the flag for family carers

    Blog -

    We're looking for volunteers from across Cambridgeshire to help make care better for people with disabilities, older people and family carers.
    If you've got lived experience of using social care services, your experience could really help others.

  23. Healthwatch Board Meeting in public - Wednesday 26 January 2022

    Report -

    Our January meeting includes a report about the pandemic experiences of local families with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. We'll also be welcoming three new Directors to the Board.

  24. Meet our new Directors

    News -

    Three new Directors have joined the Healthwatch Board. And Associate Director Chelsia Lake also becomes a Director.

  25. Family breakdown rising for parent carers

    News -

    Parent carers across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are under severe strain looking after their children and young people with additional needs and disabilities.

  26. New Cambridge hospital will find and treat cancer differently hears health and care forum

    News -

    The new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital, the safety of patients waiting for treatment and A&E and outpatient delays at Addenbrooke’s were part of the conversation at Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire Health and Care Forum this month.

  27. 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.

  28. Health Champions' survey underway for Addenbrooke's

    News -

    The new community listening project for Addenbrooke’s Hospital has officially launched.

  29. Your care, your way – Join Healthwatch’s new campaign

    News -

    Clear, understandable information is important to help you make the right health and care decisions. Join our campaign and have your say on what needs to change.

  30. Healthwatch Board Meeting in public - Wednesday 23 March 2022

    Report -

    Our March meeting includes an experiences report on NHS dentistry. This includes an update on the difficulties finding and accessing a dentist – which we first highlighted in 2019 – and the steps being taken to address the problem.

  31. Directors hear update on NHS dentistry problems

    News -

    Continuing NHS dentistry issues, the closure of an NHS Patient Helpdesk supporting people waiting for care, and healthcare for Ukrainian refugees in our area were among the topics discussed at our March Board meeting yesterday.

  32. Life in a care home report

    Report -

    Our new report, Life in a care home, is published today. And tells the experiences of people living at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough care homes during the Covid-19 pandemic and their friends and families.

  33. Insights from our new care home report welcomed

    News -

    Our new Life in a care home report, published today, has been welcomed by local councils and our local NHS as "important" and providing "valuable insights".

  34. Laura champions our campaign to improve information for disabled people

    News -

    If you have a disability, impairment or sensory loss, the Accessible Information Standard gives you a right to health and care information in the way you need it – as well as communications support at appointments.

  35. Lack of NHS dental appointments widens health inequalities

    News -

    A new survey of public attitudes to NHS dentistry shows that half of the adults in England find dental charges unfair amid escalating living costs. Healthwatch has warned decision-makers that NHS dentistry is in desperate need of reform.

  36. Have your say on local services at Healthwatch's Annual Health and Care Summit

    News -

    Championing Access - this year the spotlight is on equal access to health and care services and on the big changes to how services are working.

  37. Call for Deaf volunteers to help improve adult social care

    News -

    Join the Sensory Impairment Partnership Board and help improve health and social care services for people with sensory impairments.

  38. 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.

  39. Healthwatch Board Meeting in public - Wednesday 29 June 2022

    Report -

    At our June meeting, we will be looking at people's experiences of non-emergency patient transport, as well as receiving an update on our community engagement programme and the Adult Social Care Partnership Board project.

  40. Taking your views to the heart of decision making

    News -

    The introduction of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System from 1 July gives us a unique chance to feed people’s views into the planning and running of services – especially the voices of those who are not being heard now.

  41. Championing what matters to you

    News -

    It has been another extraordinary year as Covid-19 has continued to affect everyone’s lives. Our Annual report tells some of our stories from the last twelve months and the difference you’ve made by sharing your experiences of care.

  42. Our annual report 2021 to 2022

    Report -

    Our Annual Report for 2021-22 is published today and highlights the work of our Healthwatch over the last year and shows how your feedback has helped influence improvements in health and care services.

  43. There's never been a more important time for Healthwatch

    News -

    More than 100 people joined us for our Championing Access Health and Care Summit in Peterborough earlier this month, just one week into the life of the new NHS structure.