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Advice and Information -
Four questions staff should ask you or a loved one about your oral health if you’re a care home resident, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence quick guide. -
Report -
This is a brief final report about nine quality checking Enter and View visits to GP practices and dental surgeries in Swindon undertaken by supported volunteers with learning disabilities. -
Report -
This impact report outlines our findings after we spoke to members of the Swindon Polish community to ask their views of health and social care and accessing services. -
Report -
Read our annual report for 2014/15 to find out about the work we've done and our plans for the year ahead. -
Report -
We wanted to find out if the dental system works for all who use it, as well as speaking to those who are not having their needs met. -
Report -
This enter and view visit was carried out with volunteers from Swindon Advocacy Movement and is part of our quality checkers project, which looks at health and social care services from the perspective of someone with a learning disability. -
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. -
Report -
This enter and view visit was carried out with volunteers from Swindon Advocacy Movement and is part of our quality checkers project, which looks at health and social care services from the perspective of someone with a learning disability. -
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. -
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. -
News -
Make sure you know the 2019 Christmas and New Year opening times for your pharmacy, optician or dentist in Swindon. Read more. -
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. -
News -
New campaign calls on Swindon residents to share to their experiences of NHS services to help make care better for all. -
Report -
In 2019 the Commissioning Support Unit carried out a review of special care dentistry in the South West and asked local Healthwatch to help carry out a survey of patients using this service in each local area. Find out more about the work we did. -
Advice and Information -
Routine dental care has had to change because of COVID-19, with social distancing rules making it difficult to access services. Here’s some information on how to access an NHS dentist during the pandemic. -
Report -
Late in 2019 we invited bids from non-profit organisations in Swindon for a small amount of funding to undertake a survey with their contacts or members.Swindon SEND Families Voices was one of the recipients of this fund. Find out more. -
Report -
Find out about the work we have carried out from April 2020 to July 2020 in our Quarter 1 report . Read more. -
Report -
In April we launched out COVID-19 insight survey inviting Swindon residents to tell us their experiences of accessing health and social care during the pandemic. Find out what people told us. -
News -
NHS England and NHS Improvement South West want to understand more about oral health (mouth care and dental health) of people who live in the South West. Take the survey, and have your say. -
News -
A six-month freeze on dental charges brought on by the first wave of the pandemic is due to end next month. In turn, patients will see a rise in dental fees across all NHS Dental Practices as part of a five-year spending review plan. -
News -
New data gathered by Healthwatch England shows access to NHS dentistry remains a huge problem for the public amid the COVID-19 pandemic. -
News -
Find out which dentists are taking on NHS patients in Swindon and who are offering appointments here. -
Advice and Information -
Mouth cancer is otherwise known as oral cancer and is where a tumour forms in the mouth. Regular self-checks and awareness of symptoms are key to early detection and resolution. We explore what to look out for and how to keep your mouth healthy. -
News -
New data indicates the dental crisis shows no signs of slowing, with four in five people (80%) struggling to access timely care during the last COVID-19 lockdown.
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Report -
The Healthwatch Advisory Board set our priorities in April 2020. Part of our focus has been on providing up-to-date information on health and social care services. In this report, we explore what we have heard from people and how we responded. -
Report -
Read our annual report for 2020/21 and find out about all the hard work carried out by our team and our wonderful volunteers throughout the year. -
News -
With so many NHS Dentists at capacity, find out how to access urgent Dental care here. -
News -
Help us spread a little Joy and share your Good News Story. -
Report -
Over the last few months we have been investigating how easy is it to access NHS Dentistry across Swindon. -
Report -
Thanks to you, NHS England will take several steps to ensure better dental support for people with complex problems and improve the information for those trying to find an NHS dentist. Read our report of our latest findings here. -
News -
Communities across England have made it clear that NHS dentistry needs to be fixed – so it’s affordable and accessible. Read more about our evidence and what changes we’re calling for the NHS and Government to make. -
News -
A new report by MPs into dental care, which draws upon the experiences people have shared with us, has called for urgent reform so more people can access an NHS dentist. -
News -
New figures published today in the annual report on NHS Dental Statistics for England in 2022-23, show that NHS dentists still see fewer people than pre-pandemic. Read our response. -
Response -
Two of our volunteers have developed surveys to go alongside engagement work about the impact of Vaping and Dentistry on Young People across Bath and North East Somerset and Swindon. -
Advice and Information -
Are you struggling to find an NHS dentist? The new dental recovery plan might help you get the dental care you need. -
Advice and Information -
Everyone should be able to access good quality NHS dental services. Take a look at our top tips to help you get the most out of your next dental appointment. -
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. -
Report -
What changes do people want to make to local NHS services? Read our report to find out what people were telling us in Swindon. -
Report -
We carried out an announced Enter and View visit to The Orchards Residential Home in July 2019. -
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). -
Report -
We carried out an announced Enter and View visit to Ashbury Lodge Care Home in September 2019. -
Report -
We carried out an announced Enter and View visit to Seahorses Care Home in November 2019 with our team of volunteers. Read more. -
News -
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has reported on its 10 December 2019 inspection of Seahorses, a care home in Chiseldon. It has been rated overall “Good”. Read more here. -
News -
In the UK alone, more than 920,000 people are living with dementia. The Alzheimer's Society expects this to rise to over a million by 2024. Monday 17 May sees the launch of Dementia Action Week. We look at what's on offer and how you can help?
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Advice and Information -
Receiving a dementia diagnosis can be a life-changing event, but knowing what support is available to you and what steps to take next can help you or a loved one process the diagnosis and plan for the future. -
Report -
Swindon Healthwatch and First City have worked together to understand what the people of Swindon think about the future of community care, now, next year and next decade. -
Report -
My Voice Matters is ensuring the voice of people with diverse lived experiences & backgrounds are heard.
We are proud to be able to give the opportunity for seldom heard voices to be heard by providers & wider organisations in their own words. -
News -
This month we bring you a personal account of a loved one with dementia and the barriers they faced accessing care, our report for Macmillan sharing where the people and communities of Swindon would like to find cancer information and support along with our review of the chemotherapy services at Great Western Hospital. All this and more in Your April News. -
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.