1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. Plan reveals local health and care priorities for next five years

    News -

    Helping people in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire to stay healthy and independent in old age will be a top priority for local health and care leaders over the next five years. Read more.

  6. Dementia charity launches Musical Tea month

    News -

    Playlist for Life, a Music and Dementia charity, has launched a Musical Tea Campaign to help people stay connected while social distancing continues. The charity is asking people to hold various virtual musical tea events throughout October.

  7. Age UK to celebrate delivery of 12,000 hot meals to the elderly through new social enterprise

    News -

    In March this year, Age UK launched a pre-planned start-up social enterprise called Meals + with just a single customer, oven, freezer, and delivery vehicle. This week they will deliver their 12,000th hot meal.

  8. Government launch a consultation to raise accessibility standards on new homes

    News -

    The importance of suitable homes for older and disabled people has been recognised by the launch of a government consultation to raise accessibility standards for new homes.

    The consultation will run until 11:45 pm on 1 December 2020.

  9. Ventilation key component in reducing spread of COVID-19 government film reveals

    News -

    A new short film released by the government shows how coronavirus lingers in enclosed spaces, and how to keep your home ventilated.

  10. Homecare workers to be tested weekly for COVID-19

    News -

    Care workers looking after people in their own homes will be offered weekly coronavirus tests from today (Monday 23 November), the government has announced.

  11. Extremely vulnerable offered free sunshine vitamin to help them through the Winter

    News -

    More than 2.5 million vulnerable people across England will be offered free vitamin D supplements for the winter, the government has announced.

  12. Local health and care organisations to partner up to improve patient experience

    News -

    NHS England and Improvement (NHSEI) has announced that Health and care organisations in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW) are to join up as they meet the criteria to become an integrated care system.

  13. Shielding for the clinically extremely vulnerable to stop from 1st April

    News -

    More than 3.79 million clinically extremely vulnerable people in England will be informed they are no longer advised to shield from Thursday 1 April 2021.

  14. Good News

    News -

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

  15. What should you expect from home care services?

    Advice and Information -

    The number of people being cared for in their own homes is increasing but what should you expect from home care services?

  16. Where can I go to get help for my health out of hours?

    Advice and Information -

    Health issues unfortunately don't leave us alone at the weekend and people are often in need of medical assistance out of hours. Using NHS guidelines, we have provided some advice and information on where you can go for help when your GP is closed.

  17. Do you need help getting to hospital?

    Advice and Information -

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

  18. Thinking about end of life care for you and your family

    Advice and Information -

    End of life care is support for people who are in the last months or years of their life. The guidance on the NHS website helps you know what to expect, how to plan ahead and how to manage your day to day decisions.

  19. 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.

  20. Healthwatch Swindon Quarter 4 Report - 2018/19

    Report -

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

  21. Healthwatch Swindon Quarter 3 Report - 2018/19

    Report -

    Find out about the campaigns and projects we have been working on from October to December 2018.

  22. 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.

  23. Annual Report 2016/17

    Report -

    Read our annual report for 2017/18 to find out about the work we've done and our plans for the year ahead.

  24. 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.

  25. 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.

  26. 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.

  27. NHS England Patient Registration Confirmation Exercise

    Report -

    This is a snapshot report of NHS England Patient Registration Confirmation Exercise relating to GP practices

  28. The Orchards Care Home Enter and View Report - July 2019

    Report -

    We carried out an announced Enter and View visit to The Orchards Residential Home in July 2019.

  29. Ridge Green Medical Practice Enter and View report - February 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.

  30. Old Town Surgery January 2019 Enter and View report

    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.

  31. Moredon Medical Centre and IMH Hub Enter and View report January 2019

    Report -

    This was an unannounced Enter and View visit to Moredon Medical Centre/GP surgery and to the IMH telephone contact centre/hub.

  32. 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.

  33. Patient Participation Forum - September 2019 Meeting Notes

    Report -

    Take a look at our meeting notes and presentation slides from our Patient Participation Group Forum held at Sanford House on 4 September 2019.

  34. Patient Participation Forum - May 2019 Meeting Notes

    Report -

    Take a look at our meeting notes from our Patient Participation Group Forum held at Sanford House on 2 May 2019.

  35. Patient Participation Forum - March 2019 Meeting Notes

    Report -

    Take a look at our meeting notes and presentation slides from our Patient Participation Group Forum held at Sanford House on 13 March 2019.

  36. Patient Participation Forum - January 2019 Meeting Notes

    Report -

    Take a look at our meeting notes and presentation slides from our Patient Participation Group Forum held at Sanford House on 14 January 2019.

  37. Patient Participation Forum - November 2018 Meeting Notes

    Report -

    Take a look at our meeting notes from our Patient Participation Group Forum held at Sanford House on 19 November 2018.

  38. Patient Participation Forum - May 2018 Meeting Notes

    Report -

    Take a look at our meeting notes and presentation slides from our Patient Participation Group Forum held at Sanford House on 23 May 2018.

  39. Patient Participation Forum - January 2018 Meeting Notes

    Report -

    Take a look at our meeting notes and presentation slides from our Patient Participation Group Forum held at Sanford House on 10 January 2018.

  40. Patient Participation Forum - September 2018 Meeting Notes

    Report -

    Take a look at our meeting notes and presentation slides from our Patient Participation Group Forum held at Sanford House on 10 September 2018.

  41. Patient Participation Forum - October 2017 Meeting Notes

    Report -

    Take a look at our meeting notes from our Patient Participation Group Forum held at Sanford House on 27 October 2017.
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  42. Patient Participation Forum - June 2017 Meeting Notes

    Report -

    Take a look at our meeting notes and presentation slides from our Patient Participation Group Forum held at Sanford House on 12 June 2017.

  43. Patient Participation Forum - April 2017 Meeting Notes

    Report -

    Take a look at our meeting notes and presentation slides from our Patient Participation Group Forum held at Sanford House on 5 April 2017.

  44. Patient Participation Forum - February 2017 Meeting Notes

    Report -

    Take a look at our meeting notes and presentation slides from our Patient Participation Group Forum held at Sanford House on 9 February 2017.

  45. Healthwatch Swindon Advisory Group

    Report -

    Each quarter we meet with our Advisory Group to decide which areas in health and social care we should focus on. This is a vital part of Healthwatch because it ensures we are independent and that the work we do is informed by members of the public.

  46. 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.

  47. Hermitage Surgery Quality Checkers Enter and View Report - November 2018

    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.

  48. Park Lane Practice Quality Checkers Enter and View Report - October 2018

    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.

  49. Crossroads Surgery Quality Checkers Enter and View Report - August 2018

    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.

  50. Taw Hill Medical Centre Enter and View Report - July 2018

    Report -

    In July 2018 we visited Taw Hill Medical Centre to find out more about the range of services provided, to compare the experience of users, patients and staff with that at other practices and to make practical recommendations about physical aspects.