1. 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.

  2. Quick poll results - Over half of you told us you find making a GP appointment difficult!

    News -

    Our September quick poll asked you how you find making an appointment with your GP surgery. Thank you to the 213 people who took part!

  3. 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?

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. Ever wondered what we do and how we can help you? This one minute video explains it all!

    Blog -

    Healthwatch Northamptonshire is the county's independent health and care champion. This short video explains in just one minute what our organisation is all about.

  8. Quick poll results - Two-thirds of you told us you use libraries at least every two weeks

    News -

    Our November/December quick poll asked you about how you use libraries. Thank you to the 70 people who took part!

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. Quick poll results - You told us how you felt about Out of Hours being moved nearer to A&E

    Response -

    Your questions regarding our “Out of Hours” quick poll have been answered!

  12. Young Healthwatch Northamptonshire is the first group in the county to win the Investing in Children Award

    News -

    This is a massive achievement for all the inspirational young people involved with Healthwatch Northamptonshire

  13. Healthwatch Northamptonshire appoints new Chair, Dr David N Jones

    News -

    Healthwatch Northamptonshire is the independent champion for health and social care in the county. After a robust recruitment process, Dr David N Jones has become the new Chair from April 2018 to June 2020.

  14. Healthwatch Northamptonshire receives Investing In Volunteers award

    News -

    Healthwatch Northamptonshire has gained the Investing in Volunteers award, in recognition of how we support our volunteers to shape local health and social care services.

  15. Six things you should expect from social care support

    Blog -

    How can you feel listened and involved in decisions about YOUR social care? Here are six things you should expect from care services, according to new guidelines.

  16. Quick poll results - Over half of you were happy with your dental care, but some of you highlighted several issues

    Report -

    When it comes to easy access to NHS dental care appointments, the majority of our respondents did not seem to have any issues.

  17. Getting help to overcome abuse: a quick guide for young people

    Advice and Information -

    The new guide published by NICE and SCIE explains what young people should expect from services and how to get the right support.

  18. 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?

  19. Getting the basics right for people who are Deaf

    Blog -

    Thanks to Sandra, NHS England is improving the way they communicate with people who are Deaf or hard of hearing.

  20. CQC publishes its review of how local health and social care systems work together in Northamptonshire

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published its findings following a review of health and social care services in Northamptonshire.

  21. Quick poll results - Three-quarters of you would like to be involved in producing your care plan

    Report -

    Our June 2018 quick poll asked you about how you want to be involved in planning for your care as you get older.

  22. Support for elderly people and families at risk as Council struggles to contain financial pressures

    News -

    The annual meeting of Healthwatch Northamptonshire, held on Thursday 19 July, heard from Healthwatch Chair Dr David N Jones about the very serious situation facing the county council with grave implications for adult and children’s services.

  23. Healthwatch Network Awards 2018 shortlist announced - Three nominations for Healthwatch Northamptonshire!

    News -

    After reviewing over 170 entries, Healthwatch England has announced all of the finalists for the Healthwatch Network Awards 2018.

  24. 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.

  25. Healthwatch Northamptonshire wins national award

    News -

    We are very pleased to have been recognised at the Healthwatch England Conference Awards in Stratford upon Avon last week, attended by all 152 local Healthwatch!

  26. Free guides available to support the health and wellbeing of carers

    Advice and Information -

    NHS England has co-produced a free guide that provide older people with practical advice to support healthy caring.

  27. Meet the new Chair of Young Healthwatch Northamptonshire!

    News -

    We would like to introduce you to the new Young Healthwatch Northamptonshire Chair - Tanzi Chaudhury

  28. Young Healthwatch Northamptonshire takes part in Takeover Day

    News -

    Young Healthwatch Northamptonshire took part in Takeover Day at Kettering General Hospital.

  29. West Northamptonshire Council South Northamptonshire Area: Mental health, loneliness and wellbeing

    Advice and Information -

    Want to spend more time outdoors? Or fancy a brush with art?

  30. Healthwatch Northamptonshire Visit to St Andrew’s Healthcare

    News -

    Healthwatch Northamptonshire visited St Andrew’s Healthcare last week to meet with their CEO, Katie Fisher, senior managers and take a tour of some of the facilities and the grounds.

  31. Kettering General Hospital and Young Healthwatch Northamptonshire shortlisted for National Award

    News -

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

  32. New online system to cut Blue Badge application time

    Advice and Information -

    People eligible for Blue Badges can apply in a fraction of the previous time, thanks to a new system in Northamptonshire.

  33. Successful procurements mean Corby’s Urgent Care Centre will continue and an extra 1,000 NHS appointments a month will be available via a brand-new service

    Advice and Information -

    NHS Corby Clinical Commissioning Group has successfully procured two new contracts - meaning Corby’s Urgent Care Centre (UCC) service will continue and a new service providing 1,000 extra GP related appointments a month will be on offer to patients.

  34. 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.

  35. How can you change the way mental health services are run in Northamptonshire? #WhatWouldYouDo

    Blog -

    Healthwatch England need your help to understand how services can change to benefit your local community.

  36. Young Healthwatch Northamptonshire and Shooting Stars premier video about visit to Kettering General Hospital

    News -

    Young Healthwatch Northamptonshire and Shooting Stars teamed up to create a short film about their visit to Kettering General Hospital.

  37. Joint Community Engagement Event – 2 May 2019

    News -

    To inform future changes in the health and care system in the county, Connected Together CIC, Healthwatch Northamptonshire and Northamptonshire Health and Care Partnership (NHCP), held a successful community engagement event with around 90 attendees.

  38. Thank you: Nearly 300 people told Healthwatch Northamptonshire what they think would make health and care better

    News -

    Local people shared their views about how they want local health and care services to improve.

  39. Healthwatch says thank you to volunteers who help to shape health and care in Northamptonshire

    Blog -

    This Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June), Healthwatch Northamptonshire is looking forward to celebrating the work of our local community and promoting the valuable positive impacts volunteers have on our society.

  40. Healthwatch Northamptonshire's 5 ways to wellbeing

    News -

    Northamptonshire Health and Care Partnership (NHCP) have asked us to make a pledge called #mywellbeingpledge to take steps for ourselves and for others to look at our mental health, just as much our physical health.

  41. Volunteering with Healthwatch helps lawyer understand issues clients may face

    Blog -

    Veronica Male is a Chartered Legal Executive at a Northamptonshire solicitors, specialising in Court of Protection work and has been a volunteer with Healthwatch Northamptonshire for almost 2 years.

  42. Carers Week pledge

    Blog -

    This #CarersWeek we pledge to connect carers to each other and to information and support with caring.

  43. The CQC rates EMAS as ‘Good’ overall and ‘Outstanding’ for caring

    News -

    Congratulations to East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) which was graded overall as 'Good', with 'Outstanding' for the care that it provides, in the recent Care Quality Commission inspection report.

  44. Our Volunteer roles

    Report -

    There are different ways in which you can become involved depending on your interests and how much time you would like to commit.

  45. Finding out more about Continuing Health Care

    Advice and Information -

    Continuing Health Care is social care arranged and funded by the NHS for people who have been assessed as needing care to manage a health problem.

  46. The experiences of children and young people of health services

    Report -

    Healthwatch Northamptonshire wanted to seek the views of children and young people directly in a different and engaging way.

  47. Young Healthwatch Resources

    Advice and Information -

    Take a look at Healthwatch Northamptonshire’s 10 top tips when engaging with children and young people – produced by EMAHSN (East Midlands Academic Health Science Network).

  48. Have you had a bad experience of NHS administration? We need your views.

    News -

    Have you had problems with NHS administrative processes, such as booking appointments, referrals, prescriptions or other correspondence with NHS services? We want to hear how people's care experience has been affected by poor NHS administration.