1. 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.

  2. Improving training for future healthcare workers

    Report -

    Across the end of 2022 and early 2023, Healthwatch Kent conducted ward visits to understand the traits that people valued from Allied Health Professionals.

  3. Pharmacies open during August Bank Holiday

    Advice and Information -

    Preparing for your pharmacy needs during the coming bank holiday

  4. Our impact in dentistry

    News -

    In June we released out Annual report, which you can download at the bottom of this page. It shows the various ways Healthwatch continues its efforts to ensure the public experience is heard.

  5. Influence domestic violence support services

    Advice and Information -

    People over the age of 55 are less likely to use specialist services to support them if they are in an abusive relationship.

  6. Mental health together

    Advice and Information -

    A new NHS service called Mental Health Together will soon be available to patients in East Kent in the latest phase of its roll-out across Kent and Medway.

  7. Have you used non-urgent patient transport to get to a healthcare service or appointment?

    Advice and Information -

    Even if you are likely to access this transport facility, it is important you are aware of planned changes.

  8. Patients to benefit from new multimillion-pound surgical hub

    Advice and Information -

    Healthwatch Kent are working in partnership with Maidstone Hospital who are developing an FAQ for patients thinking of using the Kent and Medway Orthopaedic Centre.

  9. Raising the voice of seldom heard communities to shape access equipment services

    Advice and Information -

    We continue our support of the NHS and Kent County Council in hearing from the public to codesign the future of their Integrated Community Equipment Services (ICES).

  10. Listening to public experience in hospitals and around how they access care

    Report -

    Across the end of 2022 and early 2023, Healthwatch Kent conducted ward visits to understand the traits that people valued from Allied Health Professionals to improve training for future healthcare workers.

  11. What to watch for in your health and community this month

    Advice and Information -

    Each September multiple awareness raising campaigns are running, some focused on specific weeks or days.

  12. Listening to seldom heard voices

    News -

    Last month we shared about how West Kent’s community larders continue to grow. The Shepway larder supports an average of 300 people and provides more than 500 bags of shopping a month. A second community larder now supports Park Wood.

  13. How Healthwatch support seldom heard voices

    News -

    We continue our support of the NHS and Kent County Council in hearing from the public to codesign the future of their Integrated Community Equipment Services (ICES).

  14. Supporting joined up and equal social and health care provision and access

    News -

    Healthwatch Kent works to improve the experience of being a Kent resident regarding social needs, health and wellbeing. To do this we support the Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) which are the NHS organisation form that replaced Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in 2022.

  15. Understanding Care Homes near you

    Advice and Information -

    Having concluded our visits to 15 Care Homes across Kent & Medway talking to residents, their families and staff about the Enhanced Health in Care Home programme we have now completed our stakeholder facing report and have now shared our findings with Aging Well.

  16. What to watch for in your health and community this month - October

    Advice and Information -

    Each October multiple awareness raising campaigns are running, some focused on specific weeks or days.

  17. Helping you understand and shape your experience of Integrated Care

    Advice and Information -

    The ICB have published various priorities within their interim strategy.

  18. Addressing wider determinants of health

    Advice and Information -

    The wider determinants of health are a diverse range of social, economic and environmental factors which influence people’s mental and physical health.

  19. How Healthwatch addresses Health inequalities

    News -

    Healthwatch has adopted a more structured approach to help those most affected by differences in the provision of and access to health and social care.

  20. A wedge approach to tackling health inequalities: Women’s Health

    News -

    Earlier this year Healthwatch England published it’s position on Women’s Health. They outlined what they were calling for to improve and tackle health inequalities for women.

  21. How to stay well this winter

    Advice and Information -

    Tips to help you stay well this winter and get the care you need.

  22. What is menopause and what are the signs?

    Advice and Information -

    With more than thirty recognised symptoms of menopause and growing
    awareness of the impact on day-to-day life, knowing what to look out
    for and what support is available can help you.

  23. What is SAD, and how can you manage it?

    Advice and Information -

    Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression triggered by seasonal changes. One in twenty people in the UK are diagnosed with the condition, with men more likely to be diagnosed with SAD than women.

  24. What to watch for in your health and community this month - November

    Advice and Information -

    Each November multiple awareness raising campaigns are running, some focused on specific weeks or days.

  25. Stammer is one of the biggest challenges in accessing healthcare services. 

    News -

    People with stammers face a variety of challenges in accessing healthcare services. In the UK a survey showed 1.8% of people have stammer.

  26. Accessibility to healthcare can vary significantly based on the needs of the individual.

    News -

    Stammer is one of the biggest challenges in accessing healthcare services. 

  27. Are you a carer? Are you getting the help and support available? 

    News -

    In the UK it is believed seven million people are voluntarily providing care and/or support to family and/or friends. And that many of these are either not accessing or are not aware of the help and support available to them. 

  28. What barriers women report to experience when accessing healthcare?

    News -

    Women have a wide variety of experiences when accessing healthcare. However, a majority of women found that healthcare professionals were not listening or respecting them. There are several reasons that have been reported for these issues.

  29. Public consultation on Health Based Places of Safety

    News -

    In February 2023, Kent and Medway ICB and Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT) launched a public consultation on Health Based Places of Safety. These are the facilities KMPT provides for adults needing emergency care and assessment under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act.

  30. Are you struggling to feel positive about Christmas? Are you going to be alone for Christmas? 

    Advice and Information -

    While for many of us Christmas is a time for celebration and spending time with our loved ones, sadly that is not the case for all of us.