News and reports

Healthwatch Cambridgeshire and Peterborough held its Annual Summit on 8th October 2025 at the Delta Marriott Hotel in Huntingdon. The event welcomed over 200 people, bringing together members of the public, patients, and leaders across health and care. The day provided an opportunity to share experiences, celebrate local achievements, and discuss priorities for improving services across the region. Participants heard from retired Olympic Gymnast Louis Smith MBE, key speakers, took part in breakout sessions, and explored how partnership working can strengthen the voice of local people. The summit highlighted the importance of collaboration in shaping a more responsive and inclusive health and care system.

We introduce our report on the day along with the slide presentations and notes from the breakout sessions.

Healthwatch Cambridgeshire and Peterborough’s latest Enter and View report highlights overwhelmingly positive experiences from patients using the new Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) in Ely and Wisbech. The visits, carried out in August 2025, found that people valued shorter waiting times, modern facilities, and kind, attentive staff. However, the report also identifies opportunities to improve accessibility and communication, particularly around appointment locations, transport, and patient information, as lessons are shared to inform the development of the forthcoming Peterborough CDC.

Many people looking after family members or friends are reaching breaking point due to not getting the support or recognition they need. This article signposts you to local and national support to help you in your caring role.

Our Annual Summit event, held on Wednesday 8th October 2025 at the Delta Marriott Hotel, Huntingdon, will place mental health firmly under the microscope. Hear from mental health services and people with lived experiences as we discuss what is working well and what needs improvement.

A new Healthwatch England report, Recognising ADHD: How to improve support for people who need it, reveals the growing challenges adults face in getting assessed and supported for ADHD. It highlights long waits, limited access to services, and the serious impacts ADHD can have on people’s daily lives – particularly for those who are undiagnosed or awaiting assessment.

Healthwatch England has recently published their response to the updated Accessible Information Standard (AIS), a key initiative designed to ensure that health and care services communicate effectively with people who have communication needs or disabilities.

If you're looking for something relaxing, creative, or just a bit different to do, we recommend checking out Arthur’s Shed – a hidden gem of free wellbeing workshops in Cambridge.

Healthwatch Cambridgeshire and Peterborough welcomes the news that over 14,000 additional NHS dental appointments are now available locally for people who need urgent care.

A consultation event was held on 16th October 2024 with members of our Partnership Boards. This provided an opportunity for people’s experiences of housing adaptations to be shared, resulting in valuable feedback that informed amendments incorporated into the proposed policy.

A round-up of discussion and action points from our recent Fenland and East Cambs Health and Care Forum, held on 10 July at the Queen Mary Centre in Wisbech. If you missed this free public event, you can catch up on the details below.

Would you like to join our next Fenland and East Cambs Health and Care Forum? It's on 9 October 2025, from 10am to 12:30pm at the Queen Mary Centre, Wisbech, PE13 2PE. Everyone is welcome – just turn up! Refreshments available.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has downgraded the rating for how well-led Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is overall from good to requires improvement following an inspection in February this year.

While we await the outcome of proposed changes to the Health and Social Care Act currently before Parliament, it is becoming increasingly clear that the local Healthwatch network will close as part of national reforms.

Read the latest statement from Jess Slater, CEO at Healthwatch Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.