1. Health Based Place of Safety in Devizes gets positive reviews from people detained there under the Mental Health Act

    News -

    After receiving negative publicity because of the temporary closure of the Place of Safety facilities in Swindon and Wiltshire, Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group appointed Healthwatch Swindon, with the support of Healthwatch Wiltshire, to speak to people who have stayed there to find what they really thought of the Devizes facility.

  2. E-zec Medical Transport Services provide non-emergency patient transport across BaNES, Swindon, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire

    News -

    From 1 June 2019 the non-emergency patient transport service in Bath and North East Somerset, Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire will be provided by E-zec Medical Transport Services - a family run company focused on delivering high quality, safe, effective transportation for patients to and from a healthcare setting.

  3. CQC place urgent conditions on Swindon’s Moreden Medical Centre

    News -

    After a recent inspection the Care Quality Commission has placed Moredon Medical Centre in special measures. Read more.

  4. Our Health, Our Future

    News -

    Our Health, Our Future is a collaborative campaign coordinated by Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire CCGs on behalf of the wider STP which encourages people living in the three regions to reflect on their own experiences of healthcare and look at how services can be improved for the future.

  5. Our annual report highlights barriers that people with learning disabilities face accessing health services

    News -

    As health and social care champion, we have been supporting people with learning disabilities by visiting GP and dental practices in Swindon to assess how the services meet their needs. Read more.

  6. Eldene Surgery & The Phoenix Surgery - CQC reports

    News -

    Eldene Surgery and The Phoenix Surgery rated as 'Inadequate' by the Care Quality Commission after a recent inspection. Read more.

  7. Criticism of moving Swindon's walk-in health centre

    News -

    Moving an NHS walk-in health centre to Great Western Hospital will disadvantage the very people it was meant to serve, says a senior councillor. Read more.

  8. NHS Swindon CCG is seeking views from people who have used the Walk-in Centre Service

    News -

    NHS Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is currently seeking the views of people who have used the Walk-in Centre service based at the Swindon NHS Health Centre in Islington Street in the town centre in the past 12 months.

  9. Primary Care Networks

    News -

    Primary Care Networks are a key part of the NHS Long Term Plan. They bring together general practices so that they can work together at scale so that they can share costs, provide more services to patients and integrate health and care.

  10. Your wish lists for health and care services in Swindon revealed

    News -

    Hundreds of people in Bath & North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire have shared their views on how to improve NHS health services where they live.

  11. Abbey Meads Medical Group - CQC Report

    News -

    Abbey Meads Medical Group rated as 'Inadequate' by the Care Quality Commission after a recent inspection. Read more.

  12. Public meetings give people chance to hear more about IMH involvement with local primary care

    News -

    Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group will hold two public meetings next month to give local people the chance to learn more about how five GP practices became involved with the Integral Medical Holdings (IMH) Group.

  13. Three local NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups take steps to become one organisation

    News -

    Three groups responsible for the planning, buying and monitoring of health services in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire could become one single organisation as soon as April 2020.

  14. Great Western Hospital pioneers new approach to caring for older patients

    News -

    A more specialist approach to caring for the hospital's oldest patients has improved the quality of care and waiting times. Read more about the approach and its results.

  15. Royal Voluntary Service - Craft & Gardening Sessions

    News -

    Royal Voluntary Service (Wiltshire) is excited to announce their new weekly craft and gardening sessions in partnership with Therapeutic Work In Gardening Swindon (TWIGS).

  16. New online appointment tool to improve patient experience at the Great Western Hospital

    News -

    Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is introducing local patients to a new online appointment service, aiming to improve patient experience and reduce the number of missed appointments.

  17. First of new providers for five GP practices in Swindon announced

    News -

    Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group is able to announce the first of the new providers that will offer long-term support to the GP practices previously involved with the Integral Medical Holdings (IMH) Group.

  18. Update on new providers for five IMH practices

    News -

    Following the announcement of Integrated Medical Holding's (IMH) withdrawal, the CCG provided the five practices with practical support to keep services running as close to normal as possible. Since then new providers have been allocated to several of the practices. Find out more.

  19. Healthwatch calls on health professionals in Swindon to make more space for new parents to talk about their mental health

    News -

    Independent health and social care champion Swindon is calling on local services to make more space for new parents in Swindon to talk about their mental health.

  20. Boobs, Balls or Bums? Let’s Talk About Cancer

    News -

    Old Town Surgery, together with Nationwide Building Society, are holding an event on Tuesday 5 November giving advice on coping with cancer. Read more.

  21. Eldene Surgery patients invited to meet GP practice’s new provider

    News -

    Patients of Eldene Surgery will have the chance to say hello to their GP practice’s new provider organisation at a drop-in event next month. Find out more here.

  22. What is Healthwatch Enter and View?

    News -

    We have the power to 'Enter and View' providers of health and social care, such as hospitals, care homes and dentists, and to observe and report on how those services are being run.

  23. Update on PET-CT services in the Swindon area

    News -

    The NHS is committed to detecting more cancers earlier to save more lives. That means a major increase in scanning and diagnostics, so patients can easily access services like PET-CT scanning. Find out more.

  24. Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to take on two Swindon GP practices

    News -

    Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will take on the provision of services at two Swindon GP practices previously managed by the Integral Medical Holdings Group (IMH).

  25. The Orchards rated overall Good by CQC (but requires improvement under “Safe”)

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission has published its report of a recent unannounced inspection at The Orchards Care Home in Wroughton. They rated it overall Good. Read more here.

  26. New provider for Phoenix Surgery marks full withdrawal of IMH from primary care in Swindon

    News -

    Phoenix Surgery in Toothill will soon join forces with a neighbouring GP practice in a move that draws a line under the involvement of the Integrated Medical Holdings Group (IMH) with primary care in Swindon.

  27. Growing pressures on access and staffing risk creating ‘perfect storm’ for people using mental health and learning disability services

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) annual assessment of the state of health and social care in England shows that quality ratings have been maintained overall – but people’s experience of care is determined by whether they can access good care when they need it.

  28. Three local NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups to merge next April

    News -

    Three groups responsible for the planning, buying and monitoring of health services in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire are to become a single organisation in April 2020. Read more.

  29. Community Pot Fund - Working with the Nepalese Association in Swindon

    News -

    In May this year were were invited by the Nepalese Association of Swindon to attend one of their meetings and talk about our work. Since then we have commissioned the group, through our 'Community Pot Fund', to speak to their members about health and social care in Swindon.

  30. Enter and View Volunteer Roles with us

    News -

    We are always looking for volunteers to join our team. Read more to find out about our Enter and View volunteer roles.

  31. Our Ambassador Volunteer Role

    News -

    We are always looking for volunteers to join our team. Read more to find out about our Ambassador volunteer roles.

  32. Our Healthwatch Volunteer Roles

    News -

    We are always looking for volunteers to join our team. Read more to find out about our volunteer roles.

  33. Our Advisory Group Volunteer Role

    News -

    We are always looking for volunteers to join our team. Read more to find out about our Advisory Group volunteer roles.

  34. Survey for service families in Oxfordshire

    News -

    Our colleagues from Healthwatch Oxfordshire are conducting a major survey into the experiences of service families using health and social care services in the county. Find out more.

  35. Occupational Therapists: Supporting patients to be at home

    News -

    This week is Occupational Therapy Week, 4-8 November, and the Occupational Therapy team at Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust want to champion the impact of Occupational Therapy on the lives of patients and the communities they live in. Read more.

  36. CCG seeks patients to help improve local cancer care

    News -

    Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group is calling on people who have recently been treated for cancer to join local clinicians in looking at how care can be improved for future patients. Find out more.

  37. The SEND Annual Satisfaction and Strategy Consultation Surveys

    News -

    Swindon Borough Council has launched two surveys and is asking for feedback on the delivery of their services and planning ahead for Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND). Find out more.

  38. Swindon Safeguarding Partnership Website

    News -

    The new Swindon Safeguarding Partnership website has launched. Find out more here.

  39. Stopping the spread of Norovirus

    News -

    With winter now here more people are getting sick with Norovirus. Find out what you can do to stop the spread of the illness. Read more.

  40. 100,000 more people to be given personal health budgets

    News -

    A change in law means people who use wheelchairs or need mental health support will have greater choice and control in managing their own health and care. Find out more.

  41. Great Western Hospital cardiac physiology team win prestigious national award

    News -

    The cardiac physiology team at Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have been awarded the Cardiac Physiology Award of Excellence by University of Southampton. Find out more.

  42. Healthwatch Swindon Volunteers Awarded Room to Reward Short Break

    News -

    Earlier this year we nominated three of our volunteers to receive a 'Room to Reward' break - a free short break in a hotel - as a thank you from us for their hard work. Find out more.

  43. Swindon Christmas and New Year Opening Times: Dentists, Opticians & Pharmacy

    News -

    Make sure you know the 2019 Christmas and New Year opening times for your pharmacy, optician or dentist in Swindon. Read more.

  44. Speak out during the festive period

    News -

    Some people can find the winter months difficult - and that's okay. There are some steps you can take to help manage your mental health during this time. Read more.

  45. Are you aged over 50 and interested in vaccinations?

    News -

    Researchers at the University of Bristol are looking to work with a group of public contributors on research projects linked to vaccination in older adults. Read more.

  46. Walk-in Centre to scale back services ahead of full withdrawal

    News -

    Healthcare in Swindon is set to change from next year when the town’s Walk-in Centre is taken out of service. Read more about what this means for you.

  47. New Independent Chair appointed to lead Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire health and care system

    News -

    Health and care leaders from Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW) have appointed a new Independent Chair. Read more.

  48. What do we do when we are doing and Enter and View visit?

    News -

    In this case study we talk about what happens when we go to a service and carry out and Enter and View visit. Read more.