1. What should happen when GP surgeries close or merge?

    Report -

    Healthwatches across the South East have heard from people who are concerned about their GP surgery either closing or merging.

  2. We hosted Sir Robert Francis QC

    News -

    Sir Robert became a household name back on 2012 when he lead the independent review into the Mid Staffordshire Hospital scandal.

  3. You have chosen our priorities and we have listened

    News -

    Over 7,800 saw our vote and hundreds of you voted, so thank you!

  4. Calling all young people : make your voice heard

    News -

    We want to hear what's good, or not so good, about children's and young people's services in Kent & Medway.

  5. Commissioners respond to our GP report

    News -

    In March we published a report detailing all the feedback we had heard from Kent residents about GP services.

  6. A new hope for people living with Dementia in Dover

    News -

    A new village that will support people with Dementia to live healthier and happier lives is to open this year in Dover.

  7. Focus on nursing care at home on the Isle of Sheppey

    Report -

    On the Isle of Sheppey, 700 people receive nursing care at home from Virgincare. We wanted to hear what their experience was like.

  8. Help IASK plan upcoming events to launch their new website

    News -

    IASK is planning to hold several events across Kent to launch their new website and raise the profile of IASK (Information, Advice and Support Kent).

  9. The Healthwatch Guide to Public Consultations

    Report -

    This guide is intended to support commissioners and service providers to deliver genuine, meaningful public consultations.

  10. Volunteers’ Week 2019: Why I volunteer

    Blog -

    Volunteering is a great way to gain experience and develop new skills, which is why ex-teacher Lyn and her husband John decided to get involved with all of us at Healthwatch Kent.

  11. Dentists : The Tooth Be Told

    Report -

    In 2016 we spoke to 44 people about their experience of going to the dentist.

    In 2017 we wanted to find out what had changed as a result.

  12. Have your say about Outpatients in Dartford, Gravesham & Swanley

    News -

    Outpatients services in Dartford, Gravesham & Swanley are set to change as part of a new transformation programme launched by NHS.


  13. What did people tell us about being discharged from hospital in East Kent?

    Report -

    Over 190 people shared their experience of being discharged from the three hospitals in East Kent in 2018.

  14. What have we changed in A&E?

    Report -

    Our volunteers spoke to 138 patients during visits to every Accident & Emergency department in Kent.

    We made a number of recommendations based on their feedback.

  15. Healthwatch Kent comments on the BBC story about Cancer waiting times

    Response -

    The BBC has today published figures about waiting times for cancer treatment. The national target for hospitals is that patients are treated within 62 days after being referred by their GP.

  16. Get involved with the changes to health and social care in East Kent

    News -

    Those of you who live in East Kent will be well aware that plans are being developed to transform and improve services for local residents.
    The public are now being invited to evaluate the options before the public consultation later in the year.

  17. Annual Report 2018/19

    Report -

    Another year is over which means a new annual report!

  18. Why it’s important to review the care of people with dementia

    Report -

    Read Healthwatch England's latest research to find out if people with dementia are getting the support they need.

  19. Making your voice heard: Wheelchair services

    News -

    Earlier this year, we started to hear a number of serious stories from patients and professionals about wheelchair services.

  20. Apollo 11: What medical milestones have happened since?

    News -

    Saturday 20th July 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of man landing on the moon. It was considered a huge milestone for science and mankind, but what big turning points have happened medically since then?

  21. Kent and Medway: helping plan for the future

    News -

    As you might know by now, the NHS in Kent and Medway is planning for its future. They've now shared more detail on what they want to do for you!

  22. Healthwatch Kent scruitinises the North Kent Urgent Care Review

    News -

    Urgent Care services in Dartford, Gravesham & Swanley are being reviewed with a view to making changes.

    Healthwatch has a statutory responsibility to scruitinise the process of change to ensure the voice of residents has been heard.

  23. Patient feedback drives improvements for partially sighted patients in Maidstone

    Report -

    Partially sighted patients will now find it easier to attend an appointment at Maidstone Hospital thanks to feedback from patients.

  24. Healthwatch Kent visits 24 Care Homes in Kent

    Report -

    Across the country, Independent Age has been working with Healthwatch to explore what people are looking for when choosing a care home.

  25. What is Extra Care Housing?

    Advice and Information -

    Extra care Housing is spreading around Kent's towns but what exactly is it?

  26. Healthwatch Kent comments on the CQC rating of South East Coast Ambulance Service

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission has announced today that the ambulance service, which serves Kent, has been rated as ‘Good’ and the Trust will now exit Special Measures.

  27. Our volunteers make improvements at Darent Valley Hospital

    News -

    Our volunteers in North Kent had a very positive morning at Darent Valley Hospital this month talking to 25 people about their experiences of the Emergency Department.

  28. Who is hearing your thoughts on Care homes?

    News -

    Kent and Medway Quality Surveillance Group came together last week asking the question, where do you share your experiences about care homes?

  29. Help the NHS improve services for children and young people

    News -

    We recently spoke to nearly 300 people in Kent about children and young people’s services. Now the NHS is seeking people to get involved and help shape health and social care services for young people across Kent.

  30. Urgent care in Dartford, Gravesham & Swanley is going to change. Get involved

    News -

    A formal public consultation has been launched this month to decide the location of a new Urgent Treatment Centre in Dartford, Gravesham & Swanley area.

  31. Healthwatch Kent shortlisted for national award

    News -

    We've been nominated for a national award in recognition of the work we've done to ensure the challenges that people with additional communication needs face when attending a hospital appointment is heard and understood by decision makers.

  32. Help turn the national NHS plan into a Kent & Medway vision

    News -

    You’ve probably heard about the NHS Long Term Plan in the news.

    The Long Term Plan is a national vision for our health services over the next 10 years.

  33. We hear from children and young people

    Report -

    Children and young people from across Kent & Medway have talked to us about their experience of using health and social care services.

  34. Working with PPG groups

    News -

    This week, we took part in a conference to bring together all the Patient Participation Groups across Kent.

  35. The reality of autism for young people and their families in Kent

    Report -

    We hear about the difficulties families face when accessing support for their children who may be autistic. We wanted to explore the issues in more detail and gather more feedback about services for children and young people who have autism.

  36. Healthwatch Kent met with senior NHS leaders this week to discuss their concerns about how NHS contracts will happen in the future.

    News -

    This week we gathered senior commissioners to discuss how health services could be commissioned in the future.

  37. Update on the East Kent Transformation

    News -

    This week we joined the first of three sessions to discuss the options for the transformation of services in East Kent.

  38. Our report details the reality of living with autism in Kent

    News -

    A new report details the challenges that families face when trying to get support for a child with autism.

  39. Mental health: Tips for starting the conversation

    Advice and Information -

    When talking about mental health, one of the biggest obstacles is opening the conversation. So here are some tips you can use when a friend, family member or colleague might be struggling with their mental health.

  40. We take pride at Pride

    News -

    Thanks to everyone who stopped by to chat to us at Dover Pride today!

  41. M20 closures!.... There’s no stopping us

    News -

    There was no chance our Helpline team weren't getting to the busy Boughton Monchelsea’s village Community Coffee Morning last Saturday.

  42. Safeguarding: How to recognise abuse and neglect

    Advice and Information -

    There are different kinds of abuse and it can happen anywhere. Abuse occurs when someone exploits another person or treats them in a way that harms or hurts them. It can happen once or on multiple occasions.

  43. Tips to keep your little ones healthy (and at school)

    News -

    With the schools opening up again for the new academic years the NHS have released a toolkit for parents to help keep your little snappers healthy, and in school.

  44. You Said We Did in 2021 and 2022

    Report -

    What have we done with your voice

  45. You Said, We Did 2023

    Report -

    What have we done with your voice in April?

  46. You Said We Did April 2016 - December 2020

    Report -

    What have we done with your voice between April 2016 and March 2019?

  47. Healthwatch and Dartford Gravesham, Swanley CCG hit the highstreet

    News -

    To make sure you have your voice heard on the plans to create a new Urgent Treatment Centre in Gravesend or Dartford, we headed out with Dartford, Gravesham & Swanley Clinical Commissioning Group.