1. What should you expect when it comes to care for your teeth?

    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.

  2. Quality Checkers Enter and View Reports: August 2018 - April 2019

    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.

  3. Swindon Polish Catholic Mission Survey

    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.

  4. Annual Report 2014/15

    Report -

    Read our annual report for 2014/15 to find out about the work we've done and our plans for the year ahead.

  5. Oral health and dental services in Swindon survey

    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.

  6. Ambience Dental Practice Enter and View report - March 2019

    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.

  7. 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.

  8. Euro Dental Quality Checkers Enter and View Report - July 2019

    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.

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

  12. 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.

  13. SpeakUp2020: Share your views and help make the NHS better

    News -

    New campaign calls on Swindon residents to share to their experiences of NHS services to help make care better for all.

  14. Review of Special Care Dentistry in the South West

    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.

  15. How to get an NHS dentist appointment during COVID-19

    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.

  16. Community Pot 2020/21: Swindon SEND Families Voice Survey Report

    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.

  17. Healthwatch Swindon Quarter 1 Report - 2020/21

    Report -

    Find out about the work we have carried out from April 2020 to July 2020 in our Quarter 1 report . Read more.

  18. COVID-19 Insight Report

    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.

  19. SW England Oral Health Needs Assessment Patient & Public Survey - October 2020

    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.

  20. Dental charge freeze ends causing price thaw and increase

    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.

  21. Healthwatch warns of dentistry crisis as public concerns continue

    News -

    New data gathered by Healthwatch England shows access to NHS dentistry remains a huge problem for the public amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

  22. Which dentists are taking on NHS patients and offering appointments?

    News -

    Find out which dentists are taking on NHS patients in Swindon and who are offering appointments here.

  23. Mouth Cancer prevention and spotting the symptoms

    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.

  24. Twin crisis of access and affordability calls for a radical rethink of NHS dentistry

    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.

  25. Healthwatch Swindon - Quarter 4 Performance Report 2020/21

    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.

  26. Annual Report 2020/21

    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.

  27. Access to NHS Dental Treatment

    News -

    With so many NHS Dentists at capacity, find out how to access urgent Dental care here.

  28. Good News

    News -

    Help us spread a little Joy and share your Good News Story.

  29. Dental Access Report

    Report -

    Over the last few months we have been investigating how easy is it to access NHS Dentistry across Swindon.

  30. Lack of NHS dentists in Swindon could be changing thanks to you!

    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.

  31. Our position on NHS dentistry

    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.

  32. New report calls for fundamental reform of NHS dental care

    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.

  33. Annual NHS Dental Statistics for England - our response

    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.

  34. What is the impact of vaping and access to dentistry on young people?

    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.

  35. What the new dental recovery plan means for you

    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.

  36. 10 top tips to get the most out of your dental appointment

    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.

  37. 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.

  38. Do you need help getting to hospital?

    Advice and Information -

    Find out what support is available to help you travel to your hospital appointments.

  39. NHS Long Term Plan

    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.

  40. Healthwatch Swindon Quarter 4 Report - 2018/19

    Report -

    Find out about the work we've carried out in January 2019 to April 2019.

  41. Annual Report 2013/14

    Report -

    Read our annual report for 2013/14 to find out about the work we've done and our plans for the year ahead.

  42. 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.

  43. 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.

  44. What can you expect when you’re discharged from hospital?

    Advice and Information -

    It’s vital that when it’s time for you to leave hospital, you have all the medication, information and support in place to help you keep getting better.

  45. 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.

  46. 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.

  47. 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.

  48. Great Western Hospital and Coronavirus

    News -

    Managing the response to the Coronavirus is Great Western Hospital's number one priority. Read more to find out what measures they are taking and which services are affected by this,

  49. Nightingale Hospital Bristol

    News -

    NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSEI) South West region has asked North Bristol NHS Trust to oversee the new NHS Nightingale Hospital Bristol alongside its existing group of hospitals. Read more.