1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Mental health tops people's health and care concerns for 2018

    News -

    Our work is shaped by the concerns that local people raise with 152 local Healthwatch. Our annual survey of health and care priorities puts mental health at the top of the list for 2018.

  5. A GP shortfall could be partly plugged by recruits from abroad

    News -

    A GP shortfall could be partly plugged by recruits from abroad

  6. More Clinical Pharmacists set to boost GP services for patients and practices

    News -

    Nearly 34 million patients will benefit from improved GP services as NHS England boosts the number of surgery-based clinical pharmacists that can offer expert medication and treatment.

  7. Wiltshire firm to take over out-of-hours GP service at GWH

    News -

    An out-of-hours GP service will be transferred to a private company next month.

  8. Latest CQC inspection reports for Swindon area rate services as 'Good'

    News -

    Here are the latest CQC inspection reports for the Swindon area as published by the Care Quality Commission during January 2018.

  9. What is an Annual Health Check?

    News -

    Mencap, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Learning Disabilities Observatory have worked together to create an Easy Read leaflet explaining what an annual health check is.

  10. Seven Swindon GP Practices announce Super Partnership

    News -

    Seven Swindon GP practices have today announced a Super Partnership to improve the quality of care to over 75,000 patients across the region.

  11. Supporting young people’s emotional wellbeing and mental health

    News -

    The Kooth service is a key part of Swindon’s drive to improve accessibility, promote resilience and better support young people’s emotional wellbeing and mental health.

  12. Care Quality Commission (CQC) Inspections

    News -

    The CQC has carried out a number of visits to health and social services in Swindon recently. Read on to find out where they went and to read the reports with their findings.

  13. Two Swindon GP practices recognised for making improvements

    News -

    Two Swindon surgeries, Abbey Meads Medical Practice and Eldene Surgery, have received improved ratings from the Care Quality Commission, with each practice now rated as good for the care given to patients.

  14. Healthwatch Goes Live

    News -

    From 1 April 2013 we will be working to represent the views of the public around health and social care in Swindon.

  15. Healthwatch Swindon: Working with young people at school

    News -

    We are talking to local secondary schools and the Colleges to hear the views of students (and staff) about health and care services. We've made some proposals to get them involved which you can see here.

  16. 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.

  17. Healthwatch Swindon at Health Overview & Scrutiny meeting April 2014

    News -

    The Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee meets in public and the next meeting to take place before the May local elections will be on 2 April 2014. Here we share the agenda for the meeting.

  18. 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.

  19. 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).

  20. 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.

  21. 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.

  22. Sir Robert Francis QC confirmed as new Chair of Healthwatch England

    News -

    Sir Robert Francis QC has been appointed today as the new Chair of Healthwatch England, the independent champion for people who use health and social care.

  23. New non-emergency patient transport service across BaNES, Swindon, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire

    News -

    From 1 June 2019 E-Zec Medical Transport will be taking over from Arriva Transport Solutions as the non emergency patient transport provider for B&NES, Swindon and Wiltshire. Find out more.

  24. 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.

  25. 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.

  26. Changes to the way you contact your GP practice

    News -

    Patients from five GP surgeries in Swindon, run by Integrated Medical Holdings (IMH), are being encouraged to call later in the day for non-urgent requests and enquires. Read more.

  27. 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.

  28. 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.

  29. 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.

  30. Our Healthwatch Volunteer Roles

    News -

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

  31. 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.

  32. 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.

  33. 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.

  34. 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.

  35. 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.

  36. 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.

  37. 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.

  38. 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.

  39. 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.

  40. 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.

  41. 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.

  42. 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.

  43. 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.

  44. 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.

  45. Swindon Safeguarding Partnership Website

    News -

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

  46. 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.

  47. 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.

  48. 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.

  49. 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.

  50. 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.