1. Discussions on Home Care report Dec 2016

    Report -

    A joint project with the Carers Support Centre and Healthwatch South Glos

  2. Bristol Homeless Project is ship shape

    News -

    Flat chance - Healthwatch is supporting an unlikely solution to Bristol's homeless - providing accommodation from shipping containers. A new community is taking shape which is being managed by Help Bristol's Homeless.

  3. Healthwatch guides to help you get online advice and support

    Advice and Information -

    Use our new Healthwatch guides to help you get to grips with using health websites and apps. From Patient Access and NHS App to using Zoom, you can download and print our step-by-step guides.

  4. Julie ready to help as a volunteer NHS Responder

    Blog -

    Our Healthwatch Bristol Area Lead Julie Bird has signed up as an NHS Responder after being moved by her work with Healthwatch - where she heard "heartbreaking" stories from the public in need of help.

  5. New report finds excess deaths among adults receiving social care

    News -

    The COVID-19 pandemic has been felt hardest among those who rely on social care, and those working to care for them, a new report has found.

  6. Some appointments and procedures at Bristol hospitals postponed

    News -

    A number of routine operations and outpatient appointments at Bristol and South Glos hospitals have had to be postponed due to the pressures on services caused by the coronavirus.

  7. Make sure you're on the learning disability register to receive your vaccine

    News -

    Find out more about how to get on your GPs learning disability register to ensure you have the Covid-19 vaccine. Being on the register also means you will be invited to have an important health check-up to pick up any symptoms of illness.

  8. Free virtual monthly drop-in sessions for people who have had strokes, their families, and carers

    News -

    If you or a loved one has suffered a stroke, register for a free, monthly drop-in session to learn more about how to manage life after a stroke.

  9. Our survey to help improve bladder and bowel care features in national showcase

    News -

    Healthwatch Bristol is delighted that our work with Bristol Health Partners on how easy it was for people to get help from bladder and bowel services during Covid-19 has been included in a national research portfolio.

  10. Pulse oximeter rollout to help people recover from COVID-19 at home

    Advice and Information -

    Many people are able to recover from COVID-19 at home. If you are at a higher risk of developing severe illness from COVID-19, you may be eligible for a free pulse oximeter to monitor your health and ensure you can get medical care if you need it.

  11. Hundreds more people to benefit from NHS care in the comfort of their own homes this winter

    News -

    The NHS@Home service offers hospital-level care and remote monitoring in an individual’s home, providing an alternative to hospital admission, or helping them to return home promptly following an inpatient stay.

  12. How can NHS@Home support you this winter?

    Advice and Information -

    NHS@Home offers healthcare in your home or normal place of residence, rather than in hospital. It can offer an alternative to going into hospital when you are unwell, and it can help you return home from hospital more quickly.

  13. CONfidence app for people with bladder and bowel leakage

    Advice and Information -

    The free CONfidence app provides self-help advice and information for people with bladder and bowel leakage, and carers and parents of children with symptoms.

  14. How will we make a difference in 2024-25?

    Report -

    Our workplan sets out the areas of health and social care we will be looking at over the coming financial year. It also outlines the research we plan to carry out in order to help improve local services.

  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. University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust to roll out Trans Awareness training

    News -

    Healthwatch across Bristol, North Somerset, South Glos were delighted to receive an official response from University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust to the Trans report that joint Healthwatch published in June 2018.

  17. Open letter shows progress in reopening health services ahead of winter

    News -

    An open letter outlining plans to get services back to their pre-pandemic levels but still ensure everyone’s safety has been released.

  18. Serious health inequalities for Black pregnant women found - Healthwatch wants real-life experiences to lead change

    News -

    Black women are five times more likely to die during pregnancy and after childbirth latest figures show. (MBRRACE, 2019) Healthwatch wants to hear real experiences so every woman has the right to the best pregnancy and after birth care.

  19. Support for black and ethnic pregnant women after research finds they often receive lower quality of care

    News -

    A new team has been set up in Bristol to ensure pregnant women understand the latest information and guidance and it is made available in languages spoken by the women served by local maternity units.

  20. Helping new parents access local support services

    Response -

    Becoming a new parent comes with challenges, and it's important to get support from your health visitor. We've been working with Bristol's health visiting team, who have now improved the information they give to parents, particularly around feeding.

  21. "This is another scandal where it’s clear that lessons from past tragedies haven’t been learnt" - Healthwatch England's response to the Ockenden review

    News -

    Healthwatch England has responded to the Independent Review of Maternity Services at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, led by Donna Ockenden. The review examined almost 1,600 clinical incidents and found repeated failures in care.

  22. Share your experience: maternal mental health

    News -

    Have you given birth since April 2020? Did you experience any mental health issues or emotional challenges such as low mood before getting pregnant? We'd like to hear your story and find out if you got the support you needed from the NHS.

  23. 'The barriers to accessing timely care can put people’s lives at risk' - Healthwatch England's response to the Care Quality Commission's 'State of Care' report

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. Their latest report sets out the challenges the NHS and social care sector face: 'the health and care system is gridlocked, unable to operate effectively.'

  24. Six-week postnatal checks are failing many new mothers, Healthwatch England warns

    News -

    Many women are struggling to access the support they need for their mental health during and after pregnancy. Only 1 in 5 were satisfied with the time their GP spent talking to them about their mental health at their six-week postnatal check.

  25. Continuity of care is crucial to addressing perinatal mental health

    Blog -

    Research shows that continuity of care - receiving care from the same midwife or team of midwives - is best practice in maternity care. But we spoke to new mothers whose experiences show that services don’t always implement it.

  26. Mental health support during pregnancy or after birth

    Advice and Information -

    If you're pregnant or have recently given birth, it can be difficult to know where to turn if you're struggling with your mental health. We've compiled a list of organisations that offer support for people living in Bristol and the surrounding areas.

  27. Stories from new mothers: accessing maternal mental health services

    Blog -

    Mental health issues are widespread and of significant concern to new parents, but many face substantial difficulties accessing mental health services. Mothers from across the local area told us about their experiences.

  28. Annual Report 2022/2023

    Report -

    Last year, 793 people shared their experiences of health and social care services with us. Our annual report sets out how your comments and concerns have had a real impact on local health and social care services.

  29. Stories from new mothers: the importance of good communication

    Blog -

    The commitment to personalised care has been a cornerstone of NHS policy on maternity care for many years. A crucial part of personalised care is good communication, listening and agreeing on actions together. 

  30. Our statement following the conviction of Lucy Letby

    News -

    Lucy Letby was found guilty on the 21st August 2023 of murdering seven babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2016, while working as a nurse. She was also convicted of trying to kill six other infants.

  31. Maternity services at North Bristol Trust remain rated 'Good' by independent regulator

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission, independent regulator of health and social care services, inspected Maternity Services at North Bristol NHS Trust in November 2023.

  32. Report: Investigating local health inequalities using the Core20PLUS5 approach

    Report -

    102 people in Knowle West, Hartcliffe and Weston-super-Mare spoke to us about their experiences of health and social care. They shared the barriers and failures that prevented them from accessing local services, and what improvements are needed.

  33. Investigation into the Causes of Smoking in Pregnancy

    Report -

    Our stop smoking client consultation report where we asked women why they struggled to stop smoking during pregnancy in Bristol and North Somerset. What did they think about services to help them and how did they work?