1. Accessing records online

    News -

    21% of patients in England can now access their medical record online

  2. Weston Hospital acquisition

    News -

    Following their recent board meeting, the NHS Trust Development Authority (NHS TDA) has approved the next stage of Weston Area Health NHS Trust’s acquisition.

  3. People's right to complain

    News -

    Those who witness poor care being denied right to complain by NHS

  4. Care Quality Commission announces partnership

    News -

    Tell us about your care – Care Quality Commission announces new partnership with The Silver Line

  5. Weston General Hospital Inspection

    News -

    Weston General Hospital is due to be inspected by the CQC between January and March 2015.

  6. Mental health service 'gaps'? - tell us your views

    News -

    The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in many mental health support services being suspended or becoming 'self-service' online. We want to help you find the support you need and hear your experiences of online and telephone services.

  7. New crisis support phone service now live

    Advice and Information -

    If you or your loved one feels unsafe, at risk or unable to cope, a new crisis support phone service is now operating in North Somerset.

  8. Passport to help vulnerable cope with hospital visits

    News -

    Carers who assist people with learning disabilities are asked to help make sure their ‘Healthcare Passports’ are up-to-date for any hospital visits during the health pandemic.

  9. Secure patient transport service to change policies following inadequate rating

    News -

    A patient transport service for mental health patients in North Somerset has said they are making changes to how they record journeys – following an inadequate rating from the Quality Care Commission.

  10. New review says BAME groups at higher risk of dying from Covid-19

    Report -

    A new review has shown the risk of dying from Covid-19 is higher among Black and Asian Minority Ethnic Groups compared to white groups. Healthwatch awaits recommendations from these findings which will really benefit BAME staff and patients.

  11. Chat-athon - raising awareness of mental health

    News -

    Happy Talk....Charity We Are Aware is running an all day conversation on Zoom to raise awareness of mental health and the importance of connecting with others to boost your mood!

  12. Volunteers' Week - thank you John!

    Blog -

    Thanks John, your work means patients' voices are heard by key decision makers at local hospitals.

  13. Volunteers' Week - thanks Tim

    Blog -

    Thank you to our volunteer and Director Tim who is keen to raise the profile of Healthwatch wherever he goes. He loves going to hospital meetings and has attended a lot over the last eight years - with the most recent streaming on YouTube!

  14. Weston Hospital update - no new cases

    News -

    There have been no new Covid-19 cases identified at Weston Hospital after inpatients were re-tested this week. Work is ongoing so it can reopen “as soon as possible,” according to the hospital's CEO.

  15. Weston Hospital now fully reopened

    News -

    Weston Hospital has now fully reopened and patients who have an appointment scheduled from today onwards should just attend at their allocated time. The A&E service is also now operational again from 8am to 10pm.

  16. Action needed after review shows BAME adversely affected by pandemic

    News -

    Large scale research and data collection is needed to tackle “humbling inequalities" in Covid-19 death rates, according to the new Public Health England report. We want our feedback to build an understanding of health experiences of BAME groups.

  17. See how we use your views to improve health and care services near you

    Report -

    Read our latest Annual Report for 2019/2020 - we expanded our geographical area and our staff team to make a difference to local health and care services. We take you through our highlights and achievements.

  18. Our latest Enter and View for Graham Road Surgery

    Report -

    We visited Graham Road surgery, Weston, earlier this year to observe the practice in action and talk to patients about their experiences of seeing a GP and further care or treatment. Read what we found and our recommendations for improvements.

  19. Latest Enter and View report: Horizon Health Centre

    Report -

    We visited Horizon Health Centre, Weston, earlier this year to observe the practice on a working day and gather feedback from patients. We heard about difficulties getting appointments and have made recommendations to help patients.

  20. First Do No Harm

    Report -

    First Do No Harm is a report published last week of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review. Read more to learn more about the report, why it was commissioned and its findings.

  21. Shielding stories - an insight into how vulnerable people coped in North Somerset

    Report -

    Older and more vulnerable people have told Healthwatch how they coped with coronavirus with many admitting their mental health had suffered and they often felt lonely.

  22. NHS Race and Health Observatory

    News -

    A new NHS centre to investigate the effects of race and ethnicity on people’s health has got the go ahead after Covid 19 helped to focus minds on the continuing problem of racism in medicine.

  23. Lee left in pain after long wait for hernia op which was cancelled due to Covid-19

    News -

    Communication needs to improve for patients as Lee, of Portishead, was kept waiting for months with a painful hernia. He had no idea if he was on a waiting list for an operation after #Covid-19 struck.

  24. New 24-hour helpline launches for those struggling with affects of pandemic

    News -

    A new 24/7 phoneline to help people cope with the pressures of Covid-19 and beyond has been launched for people in the Bristol, North Somerset and South Glos region.

  25. Jump in coronavirus cases means North Somerset has highest amount per 100,000 people in South West

    News -

    People are being warned to be more vigilant with 53 coronavirus cases reported in the last week in North Somerset. This means it has the highest number of cases per 100,000 people in the South West of 25. The national average is 15.

  26. Open letter shows progress in reopening health services ahead of winter

    News -

    An open letter outlining plans to get services back to their pre-pandemic levels but still ensure everyone’s safety has been released.

  27. Your lockdown mental health - how did you cope?

    News -

    Our new mental health survey has been created with help from people who use Community Mental Health Services. Filling it in for yourself or loved ones will help us understand how services are working for those who need them the most.

  28. Dentistry during Covid-19

    Report -

    Healthwatch Bristol, Healthwatch North Somerset and Healthwatch South Gloucestershire have been gathering feedback about dental practice and treatment throughout the Coronavirus pandemic.

  29. “I feel completely stuck” - Joe shares his experience with mental health services during lockdown

    News -

    Joe, from Clapton-in-Gordano in North Somerset, lives with a mental health condition called depersonalisation disorder.

  30. AGM papers

    News -

    AGM papers for 12th October 6-7pm

  31. We'd like to hear from you about Bladder and Bowel services during Covid-19

    News -

    Bladder and Bowel problems are not openly talked about and affect many people. Please help us to understand your needs, experiences and concerns by completing our survey. Closes 30th November.

  32. We'd like to hear from you about Bladder and Bowel services during Covid-19

    News -

    Bladder and Bowel problems are not openly talked about and affect many people. Help us to understand your needs, experiences and concerns by completing our survey by November 30th 2020.

  33. Test and Trace - how can it be improved?

    News -

    Contact tracing is working well in the South West with an 83.3 per cent success rate compared to a national average of 77 per cent.

  34. Sir Michael Marmot says Healthwatch can energise and give power to communities

    News -

    Sir Michael Marmot author of the landmark report Marmot Review: Fair Society, Healthy Lives spoke to Healthwatch about how the Covid-19 pandemic has “amplified” health inequalities even further.

  35. COVID-19 update: advice in different languages

    News -

    CASS have been working closely with the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (BNSSG CCG) over the last few months to ensure all communities in Bristol receive accessible information about COVID-19.

  36. Minutes and recording of our first virtual AGM held in October 2020

    Report -

    Here are the minutes of our first virtual AGM when we welcomed over 40 people to hear about our work and achievements over the last year. There is also a recording of the Zoom meeting held in October.

  37. Historic turning point - Covid vaccines rolled out to first patients at Southmead Hospital

    News -

    The new Covid-19 vaccine has been rolled out in Bristol today (December 8) – with the over 80s and care home staff first on the list to receive it.

  38. Healthier Together recognised for collaborative working

    News -

    The Healthier Together Partnership has been officially recognised as an Integrated Care System as a group of 10 organisations working collaboratively to improve health and care across Bristol, North Somerset and South Glos.

  39. Roll-out for Covid-19 vaccinations starts at two North Somerset sites

    News -

    Local vaccination services run by GPs open this week, as the roll-out of the biggest immunisation programme in NHS history starts

  40. Weston Hospital open to outpatients - attend appointments and A&E as normal

    News -

    Patients should attend outpatient appointments at Weston Hospital as normal despite a rise in Covid-19 admissions. The A & E department is also open but people are advised to call NHS 111 first if it is not a life-threatening emergency.

  41. Want to know more about Healthwatch? Watch our video!

    Advice and Information -

    Do you have questions about what Healthwatch does? Want to know what we do with your feedback, or how you can help improve health and social care services? Watch our video to find out.

  42. Vaccine programme musn't 'breed complacency' says Boris during his visit to Bristol

    News -

    If you’re over 80 and still haven’t had your Covid-19 vaccine the message is – you’ll be contacted very soon. By the end of this week, every neighbourhood area in BNSSG will have a GP practice vaccination centre up and running.

  43. COVID-19 cases in North Somerset up by 10%, as council pledges to increase rapid testing in the community

    News -

    While cases in Bristol and South Gloucestershire have fallen, COVID-19 cases in North Somerset are up by 10%, with a total of 880 cases recorded.

  44. People with substance misuse problems face 'lack of mental health support'

    News -

    Many people are struggling with substance abuse and addiction are stuck in a vicious circle - and vice versa. A contributing factor can be adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).

  45. Allergy advice and the Covid-19 vaccine

    News -

    If you have certain allergies you may be concerned about whether you should get the Covid vaccine. In most cases the vaccine is safe, even for people with a history of reactions to certain drugs and food. Here's the latest allergy information.

  46. Do you need help getting to your COVID-19 vaccination?

    Advice and Information -

    Do you need help with arranging transport for your COVID-19 injection? Have you been contacted about your vaccination but don't have a way of getting to your surgery? Our latest pamphlet contains all the information you need to get there safely.