News and reports

Did you know you can choose which hospital you go to when referred for a test, diagnosis, or treatment? Find out how.

Ever wondered how you can make a difference and ensure people's views are heard about health and social care?
Volunteer with us and you can

Around one in five GP visits are for non-medical problems. Many things that affect our health can’t be treated by doctors or medicine alone. This includes loneliness, money problems, housing, education or employment status. NHS social prescribing link workers can connect you to the right community groups and services to help support you.

My Voice Matters is ensuring the voice of people with diverse lived experiences and backgrounds are heard.
We are proud to be able to give the opportunity for seldom heard voices to be heard by providers and wider organisations in their own words.

This report was written by Dr Aanchal Rana as a practice track report for the degree of MSc Global and Public Health Policy at the University of Bath.

We offered her access to our team and engagement pathways to support her delivering this piece of work. All opinions and findings are her own.

In this November issue you can find out about Movember and how you can share your views about cancer and information support in Swindon plus much more.

Healthwatch Swindon who exist to be the voice of the patient are currently undertaking a joint project with Macmillian Cancer looking at the best places in Swindon to share cancer information and support.

My Voice Matters is ensuring the voice of people with diverse lived experiences and backgrounds are heard.

We are proud to be able to give the opportunity for seldom heard voices to be heard by providers and wider organisations in their own words, this report has been researched and written by a T-Level student at New College Swindon.

As we embrace autumn's colder days and longer nights, this month we bring you:

Our new research shows worryingly low public confidence in being able to access NHS services. A third of adults in England lack confidence that they can access timely care, including GP services, mental health support and hospital care. Read the findings and our calls to action.

We worked with the NIHR (Clinical Research Network West of England) to understand current perceptions of Health and care research, and what the barriers are.

A review was undertaken by one of our Healthwatch Volunteers with lived experience of cancer asking five questions to understand what online support is offered via the GP surgeries locally. Our findings have been published in a report.

Each cancer support group is different, but many people find it helpful to have support during and after diagnosis. Some also offer advice and support to family and friends of people going through cancer care and beyond.
Listed below are some local and national support groups that people might find helpful. The ones listed are mostly for adult support groups.