1. Access to NHS Dental Services during the Christmas and New Year period

    News -

    Tiered restrictions in response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic may differ according to where someone lives. Dental practices will continue to provide services over the Christmas and New Year period although opening hours for practices may vary.

  2. VoiceAbility

    Advice and Information -

    VoiceAbility provide advocacy for people who need help to have their voice heard and to make complaints to health and social care services.

  3. Countywide services

    Advice and Information -

    Visit the West Northamptonshire Council or North Northamptonshire Council (depending on your location) website to find all services they provide, including adult social care, children and families services, and safeguarding of children and adults.

  4. Care Choices

    Advice and Information -

    Need to know more about care and care services in Northamptonshire? Care providers and care homes in the county are listed in the Northamptonshire Care Services Directory.

  5. Residents in Northamptonshire are officially told to ‘Stay at Home, Protect the NHS and Save Lives’

    News -

    The national lockdown restrictions are now in place until further review.

  6. Support At Home - British Red Cross Independent Living Services

    Advice and Information -

    British Red Cross offer short-term practical and emotional support to help people improve their wellbeing and quality of life and live independently in their community. Their services are tailored to each person’s needs and goals.

  7. Elderly Care: A Guide for Families New to Caring

    Advice and Information -

    SuperCarers (a UK organisation that helps families find the best possible elderly care option) has created a guide for families new to caring for elderly loved ones.

  8. Professional Standards Authority

    Advice and Information -

    The Professional Standards Authority helps to protect the public through their work with organisations that register and regulate people working in health and social care.

  9. Information on Modern Slavery

    Advice and Information -

    Modern slavery is the illegal exploitation of people for personal or commercial gain. It covers a wide range of abuse and exploitation including sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, forced labour, criminal exploitation and organ harvesting.

  10. Supporting Independence Programme

    Advice and Information -

    Each year, around one in three people over the age of 65 has a fall, resulting in significant injury. Falls are not an inevitable part of growing older, and there are lots of things you can do to help reduce the risk of falling.

  11. ACTS Amputee Support Group

    Advice and Information -

    ACTS is a group set up by Amputees in the Northampton area to provide support, advice and friendship to other Amputees and those who care for them.

  12. Empowering patients to stay independent after a broken bone

    Advice and Information -

    Strong bones after 50 is a guide that provides jargon-free information to patients and carers for supporting older people who have broken a bone following a fall.

  13. British Heart Foundation Heart Support Group

    Advice and Information -

    British Heart Foundation hosts Heart Support Groups, bringing hope and a healthier lifestyle to thousands of patients and carers across England and Wales.

  14. COVID-19 vaccination advice and information

    Advice and Information -

    Find more information about the COVID-19 vaccination programme here.

  15. Public Health officials praise Northamptonshire’s residents for staying at home, protecting the NHS and saving lives

    News -

    Public Health officials praise Northamptonshire’s residents for staying at home, protecting the NHS and saving lives as COVID-19 cases continue to display a steady drop during national lockdown.

  16. Step 2 on the government’s ‘roadmap’ back to freedom came into effect Monday

    News -

    From Monday 12 April, residents of Northamptonshire and across England will take Step 2 on the four-step ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown.

  17. Northampton Prostate Cancer Support Group

    Advice and Information -

    Supporting men with prostate cancer and their families in the Northampton Area

  18. Experiences of caring during the coronavirus pandemic

    Report -

    Your feedback from 2020 suggested that more people were providing care to their loved ones during the pandemic and the changes to services had put extra strain on carers. In 2021, we set out to find out more about the experiences of unpaid carers.

  19. Annual Report 2020-2021 - On equal terms

    Report -

    This year has been a very difficult one for everybody. While Healthwatch could not visit health and social care premises, we were still able to investigate the impact of the pandemic on people's access to the services that matter to them most.

  20. Stay Connected Locality Newsletter August 2021

    News -

    Download and read Northamptonshire's Children's Trust Locality Newsletter

  21. Belinda Black has been appointed the Interim Chair of Healthwatch England

    News -

    We are glad to announce that Belinda Black has been appointed as the Interim Chair of Healthwatch England.

  22. Join us for the Wellingborough sight loss open day

    News -

    Join us on Monday 20th March for the Wellingborough sight loss open day in partnership with the Macular Society.

  23. Our report on the Young People's Health and Wellbeing survey

    News -

    Young Healthwatch Northamptonshire, supported by Healthwatch East and North Northamptonshire, have released their report on young people’s health and wellbeing in East Northamptonshire.

  24. Unannounced visit to Northampton General Hospital Accident and Emergency Department

    News -

    Volunteers from Healthwatch North and West Northamptonshire visited Northampton General Hospital's A&E department unannounced using their statutory power to conduct Enter and View visits on 31st January 2023.

  25. Unannounced visit to the Kettering General Hospital Accident and Emergency Department.

    News -

    Healthwatch North and West Northamptonshire unannounced visit to Kettering General Hospital Accident and Emergency Department

  26. Access to mainstream crisis services for D/deaf and hard of hearing people

    Advice and Information -

    Shout currently provide a 24/7 free text service for times where D/deaf people feel they need immediate support.

  27. Community Engagement; Carnival 2023

    News -

    We are proud to share our impactful experience at this year’s Northampton Carnival, which was held at the Racecourse on June 10th 2023.

  28. Annual Report 2022-2023 - Together we're making health and social care better

    Report -

    Our 2022-2023 Annual Report is a showcase of the work we completed throughout the last financial year. Read about our year!

  29. Our report on the Change Grow Live Service.

    Report -

    Healthwatch North and West Northamptonshire created a survey to gather experiences from users of the substance misuse service, Change Grow Live.

  30. Corby Urgent Care Centre Visit Report

    Report -

    Our programme to understand more about how local urgent care services are meeting people's needs continues with Healthwatch North and West Northamptonshire recently visiting the Corby Urgent Care Centre. 

  31. Public Advisory Board meeting minutes 24/04/23

    News -

    Our minutes from our public Advisory Board meeting held on 24/04/23.

  32. St Andrew's Healthcare Enter and View Report

    Report -

    Our report on the Enter and View visits we conducted at St Andrew's Healthcare has now been published!

  33. What should you expect from home care services?

    Advice and Information -

    The number of people being cared for in their own homes is increasing but what should you expect from home care services?

  34. Where can I go to get help for my health out of hours?

    Advice and Information -

    Health issues unfortunately don't leave us alone at the weekend and people are often in need of medical assistance out of hours. Using NHS guidelines, we have provided some advice and information on where you can go for help when your GP is closed.

  35. Do you need help getting to hospital?

    Advice and Information -

    Find out what support is available to help you travel to your hospital appointments.

  36. Accessibility checklist for GP surgeries

    Advice and Information -

    Help make sure that your practice meets people’s accessibility requirements using this checklist from Healthwatch Slough.

  37. Annual Report 2014-15

    Report -

    Read all about our year!

  38. Where can I go for help when I’m ill in winter?

    Advice and Information -

    Feeling unwell? Read on for advice about where you can go for help with your health during the winter months.

  39. Northamptonshire Sustainability Transformation Plan (STP)

    Report -

    The Northamptonshire Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) sets out how health and social care in our county will change over the next five years.

  40. Neighbouring Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STP)

    News -

    If you live near the borders of the county you might be affected by Sustainability and Transformation Plans of neighbouring regions.

  41. Most people still getting good care – but health and care system is ‘straining at the seams’, making future quality precarious

    News -

    This year’s State of Care shows that, thanks to the efforts of staff and leaders, the quality of health and social care has been maintained despite very real challenges and the majority of people are getting good, safe care.

  42. How does the NHS in England work? An alternative guide

    Advice and Information -

    How does the NHS in England work? What organisations make it up? And how is it changing over time?

  43. CQC’s new strategy for engaging with the public up to 2021

    News -

    Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published a new strategy for how they will engage with the public to help make them a strong, independent regulator that is always on the side of people using care services.

  44. Free NHS Health Checks for 40 - 74 year olds

    Advice and Information -

    The NHS Health Check is a health check-up for adults in England aged 40 to 74. It's designed to spot early signs of stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes or dementia.

  45. Recently had vomiting and or diarrhoea? Please do not go into A&E or hospitals

    Advice and Information -

    Kettering General Hospital and Nene Clinical Commissioning Group are urging local people not to attend A&E – or visit relatives in hospitals – if they have, or have recently had, vomiting and/or diarrhoea.

  46. Crisis café is here to support you with your day-to-day struggles and mental health difficulties

    Advice and Information -

    Crisis Cafés are an easily accessible service available in the evenings and/or at weekends for people who are finding themselves in a crisis or need support with their mental health.

  47. Understanding healthcare changes in your local area and how your voice matters

    News -

    With the progress in health and care services, there are challenges which hospitals, GP and care services need to face.

  48. How do people feel about their data being shared by the NHS?

    Advice and Information -

    From 25 May, you’ll be able to make a choice about how the NHS uses your confidential patient information for reasons other than your care. 77% of the public say they are confident in the ability of the NHS to protect their patient data. Are you?

  49. Standing Together to Stay Well this Winter

    News -

    The NHS in Northamptonshire has taken an innovative approach to encourage local people to look after their health this winter to support the national campaign, Stay Well This Winter.

  50. Kettering General Hospital and Young Healthwatch Northamptonshire wins PENNA award in 'Team of the Year' Category

    News -

    Kettering General Hospital and Young Healthwatch Northamptonshire have won a national award for work they have undertaken with young people.