1. Celebrating ten years of people speaking up to make care better

    News -

    As we mark our 10th anniversary, Healthwatch Cambridgeshire and Peterborough is highlighting the difference the public have made to improve NHS and social care services.

  2. World Blood Donation Day: Save Lives, Give Blood #WBDD

    Advice and Information -

    As we celebrate World Blood Donation Day, it’s important to note the crucial role each of us can play in saving lives through a simple act of generosity: giving blood.

  3. Healthwatch recruiting Community Researcher volunteers for digital inclusion project

    News -

    Healthwatch Cambridgeshire and Peterborough is launching a new community listening project focusing on the issue of digital inclusion and its impact on access to health and care services.

  4. Join the Lifesaving Movement: Organ Donation Week

    Advice and Information -

    Organ donation – a simple act with the power to save lives. Organ Donation Week is here, and we’re spreading awareness about the life-changing impact of organ donation. Let's delve into why registering your decision with the NHS Organ Donor Register is so vital and how it can make a remarkable difference.

  5. 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.

  6. Cambridge University Hospitals sets up helpline for patients following data breach

    News -

    Cambridge University Hospital (CUH) has issued an apology to its patients following two data breaches resulting from Freedom of Information responses made in 2020 and 2021, one relating to maternity patients, and one relating to cancer patients. In total, 22,446 patients have been affected.

  7. Joy Marketplace – helping to connect our communities

    Advice and Information -

    Joy Marketplace provides local health professionals, community and voluntary organisations access to an online directory of local non-clinical services and support available to help improve the health and wellbeing of local people across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

  8. Local Health and Care Forum welcomes Chair of Healthwatch England

    News -

    Our Fenland & East Cambridgeshire Health and Care Forum welcomed a special guest on 8th February, as the Chair of Healthwatch England, Professor David Croisdale-Appleby, attended.

  9. Say goodbye to smoking: Tips for quitting on No Smoking Day

    Advice and Information -

    No Smoking Day is a reminder for individuals to kick the habit and embrace a healthier lifestyle. Whether you're a long-time smoker or just starting out, it's never too late to quit and it’s one of the best decisions you can make for your health and well-being. In this article, we'll discuss why quitting is important and provide some simple tips to help you on your journey to becoming smoke-free.

  10. Enhancing community voice: The vital role of Patient Participation Groups at Healthwatch Health and Care Forums

    Blog -

    Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) play a crucial role in connecting communities with healthcare providers, ensuring that the patient's voice is heard and valued. One impactful way for PPGs to boost their impact is by actively participating in local Healthwatch Health and Care Forums. In this blog post, we explore the significance of PPG involvement in these Forums and how it contributes to fostering a more patient-centred healthcare system.

  11. Have your say on creating Healthy Places

    News -

    Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council’s joint public health team is inviting residents to have their say on how new and existing communities can be healthy, supportive and inclusive.

  12. Have your say on new rights for patients

    News -

    The Government has launched a consultation on the NHS Constitution, which sets out your rights as an NHS patient. Read why it's important to have your say.

  13. Spring COVID-19 vaccination programme now open

    News -

    The spring COVID-19 vaccination programme is now underway. If you are aged 75 and over, or six months and over with a weakened immune system, please do take up the offer of the spring COVID-19 vaccination as it will help protect you from serious illness.

  14. The Accessible Information Standard - What you can expect from services

    Advice and Information -

    The Accessible Information Standard is mandatory for all organisations that provide National Health Service (NHS) or adult social care. Here’s some key information about the accessible communications you should expect from services.

  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. Better care needed for local Gypsies, Romany and Travellers

    Report -

    Gypsies, Romany and Travellers make up the largest minority ethnic communities in Cambridgeshire yet are more likely to have poor health than other local people.

  17. Healthwatch calls for improvements in local wheelchair services

    Report -

    The wheelchair service is often poorly co-ordinated, with people waiting too long for wheelchairs and repairs says Sitting Comfortably, our new report published today.

  18. New Healthwatch report calls for better information for disabled people

    Report -

    Health and care services are not always offering people with sensory and learning disabilities information in a format they can understand. The law says that they must do this.

  19. Packed room for launch of new Healthwatch Accessible Information report

    News -

    A successful launch event shows there is still much to do to achieve Accessible Information as Standard

  20. Enzo speaks up about better information for people with learning disabilities

    Blog -

    Enzo Petruziello works to ensure people with disabilities can access the services they want and need. He provides disability awareness training and encourages friends with disabilities to speak up about their needs.

  21. Local people influence future of Minor Injuries Units

    News -

    Health commissioners listen to local people in plans to develop Local Urgent Care hubs in the Fens and East Cambridgeshire.

  22. Healthwatch helps to improve accessible information for disabled people

    News -

    Local NHS Trusts and care organisations are improving the information they give to disabled people.

  23. Healthwatch Board meeting in public - Wednesday 15 November 2017

    Report -

    At this meeting we will be talking about our Accessible Information as Standard report, published 8 November 2017.

  24. Healthwatch Board meeting in public - Weds 14 November 2018

    Report -

    At this meeting the Board will get an update on the progress made by local providers regarding the NHS Accessible Information Standard.

  25. Helping to tackle health inequalities

    News -

    Information from our 2016 'Our Health Matters' project to listen to the health experiences of local Gypsies, Roma and Travellers, has fed into a new House of Commons Committee report, published last week.

  26. New patient group gets policy change at hospital trust

    News -

    A new patient group - recruited with help from Healthwatch - is up and running, aiming to help shape policy and services at local hospitals.

  27. Our volunteers' programme earns UK quality award

    News -

    Healthwatch is toasting its volunteers after being awarded the Investing in Volunteers (IiV) award.

  28. Sensory Impairment Partnership Board Minutes April 2021 to March 2022

    Report -

    Read more about the issues discussed by the Sensory Impairment Partnership Board this year.

  29. Tackling disability hate crime

    Blog -

    It’s Hate Crime Awareness Week 2023. Our Partnership Development Manager Graham Lewis talks about how our Healthwatch and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Partnership Boards are highlighting disability hate crime.

  30. Report shines light on Covid health and care struggles

    Report -

    The final report from our three-month Covid survey is published today.

  31. Making sure you count - the national census is coming

    News -

    The census is coming. By taking part, you can help inform decisions on services that shape your community, such as healthcare, education and transport.

  32. HIV in 2021 - tackling the stigma

    Blog -

    As part of LGBTQ+ History Month, Sharron Spindler, Chief Executive of local sexual health charity Dhiverse, tells us that modern treatments make HIV a manageable long-term condition. But outdated attitudes and stigma remain a barrier to diagnosis.

  33. 'Co-pro' champ Enzo is improving services for all

    News -

    Enzo, from Peterborough, is a long serving member of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Learning Disability Partnership Board.

  34. Helping people get online and access services locally

    News -

    Digital exclusion is more complicated than just not having a computer and in this workshop at our recent 'On Equal Terms' conference, we explored what the issues are and some of the work being done locally to tackle it.

  35. How new Health and Care Experience profiles can help improve care

    News -

    Our Healthwatch was involved in an innovative pilot project to help health and care systems across the country understand how well they are supporting people in their communities who may face more barriers to care. 

  36. People from South Asian communities say what they want from diabetes care

    Report -

    Local people from South Asian communities told us how services could better help them manage their diabetes. And their suggestions are helping local health and care planners to improve the support people get.

  37. 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.

  38. 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.

  39. The new Integrated Care System can and should do health and care services differently

    Blog -

    Healthwatch Deputy Chair Philippa Brice reflects on our Championing Access Health and Care Summit. And how the new NHS structure is an opportunity to involve people in developing services that work better for everyone.

  40. Disabled people report being blocked from NHS care due to poor communications

    News -

    One in four disabled people reported being actively refused communication support in a national deep-dive analysis of people's experiences of getting information in the way they need it.

  41. Physical Disability Partnership Board Minutes April 2020 to March 2021

    Report -

    Read the minutes from Physical Disability Partnership Board over the last year.

  42. Physical Disability Partnership Board Minutes April 2022 to March 2023

    Report -

    Read the minutes from Physical Disability Partnership Board over the last year.

  43. Sensory Impairment Partnership Board Minutes April 2020 to March 2021

    Report -

    Read more about the issues discussed by the Sensory Impairment Partnership Board this year.