News and reports

High blood pressure (also called hypertension) affects around one in three adults in the UK - yet most people don’t know they have it. You can have high blood pressure and feel completely well, but over time it increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.

Women who have been affected by trauma and faced social challenges spoke to us about their experiences. We wanted to understand the barriers they face when trying to access health and care services.

LGBTQIA+ people have worse access to healthcare, outcomes and experiences than the general population.

Vaping can harm brain development and lead to addiction. It may also increase the risk of anxiety, mood problems, and trouble sleeping. Young people aged 12 - 25 from Swindon spoke to us about why young people vape and what support would help them stop.

Food insecurity is a growing issue across the UK, and is closely linked to health inequalities. We looked at the experiences of 78 people facing food insecurity across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire.

The experience of unpaid carers across BathNES, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW).

The experience of unpaid carers across BathNES, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW), when someone they are caring for refuses to accept help that could benefit them.

Our 2024/2025 annual report shares how we've listened and championed the voices of people, partners and organisations across Swindon, to help shape health and social care services.

This Code of Conduct sets out the expectations Healthwatch Swindon has of all those who work or carry out activities for it, in a voluntary or paid capacity, including trustees, employees, students and volunteers.

The NHS is encouraging online access across many service areas. We wanted to find out what this digital push means for patients.

Young people who engage in substance misuse frequently encounter considerable barriers to accessing essential mental health support. Our latest report highlights the urgent need for integrated services that address both mental health and substance misuse.

This research carried out by one of our Young Healthwatch volunteers highlights the concerning rise in vaping among adolescents in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) and Swindon, driven by curiosity, stress, peer pressure, normalisation of vaping and ease of access.