9 Healthwatch staff and volunteers holding certificates and smiling
What is Enter and View?
As a local Healthwatch, we are able to visit health and social care services (such as hospitals and GP surgeries) and see them in action. This is called 'Enter and View'. Our goal is to identify what's working well, and where improvements are needed.
18 July 2022
A cartoon-style illustration of a town, the countryside, and the seaside. Text reads: Tomorrow is yours. Let's be Healthier Together in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. Have your say.
Have your say: what keeps you happy, healthy and well?
That’s the question being asked by the new Integrated Care System (ICS) for Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, as it launches a wide-ranging public engagement exercise to shape priorities for health and care in the years ahead.
4 July 2022
Health Click written in the Healthwatch shades of pink and green. A computer mouse icon is shown to be clicking in the corner.
Introducing Health Click: free digital skills workshops to help you manage your health online
Learn about the NHS app, how to order prescriptions, view test results, book GP appointments, and access online consultations at one of our free digital skills workshops. You'll receive 1:1 support and be able to ask questions.
28 June 2022
A man sitting in a doctor's office, talking to the doctor
How to register with a GP surgery
GPs offer a range of health services, including advice about physical and mental health, treatment, and prescriptions for medicines. To register with a GP, you don't need a fixed address, proof of your immigration status, or identification.
25 April 2022
A pulse oximeter on someone's finger with a stethoscope in the background
Pulse oximeter rollout to help people recover from COVID-19 at home
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.
17 March 2022
Four adults sitting in a living room, smiling, chatting, and drinking from mugs
Working together: co-production in Bristol
Co-production is a way of working that recognises that everyone has a contribution to make. Our goal is to involve people in the planning and designing of our research and project work right from the beginning.
26 January 2022
A jumble of white tiles with black letters on them
NHS jargon and acronyms explained
The NHS sometimes uses jargon and acronyms that can be difficult to make sense of. We've found a selection of reliable resources that explain, in plain English, many of the terms that you may see used in NHS correspondence, online, or in the media.
28 October 2021
Image of a nurse. Text reads: help us help you get the care you need
People with learning disabilities and their carers are entitled to a free flu vaccination
Preventing flu can be particularly important for people with a learning disability. Flu can lead to pneumonia and sepsis, which many people with a learning disability are much more vulnerable to than the general population.
21 October 2021
A pink highlighter being used to tick boxes on a list
How to help someone get the most out of their learning disability Annual Health Check
People with a learning disability may find it hard to know when they are unwell, or to tell someone about it. We've put together a checklist to help people with a learning disability and their carers make the most of their annual health check.
6 October 2021
A woman in a dentist's chair, being shown an x-ray by a male dentist
Advice for NHS Dental Contractors: updating your NHS website profile
Many dental practices are not updating their information on the NHS website. The Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England, and Healthwatch are urging dental contractors to review their profiles, to help patients find dental care more easily.
27 September 2021
A doctor with a stethoscope listening to a patient's chest
Face-to-face appointments: know your choices
Digital appointments don't work for everyone. Many health care services have moved online, but you can still request a face-to-face appointment. Here's what you can expect from the NHS if you need to be seen in person.
6 August 2021
Image of a stethoscope and a laptop
Snapshot: does your GP have a user-friendly website?
Healthwatch volunteers have reviewed nine GP patient websites in Bristol to see how user friendly they are. Thanks to their hard work, Healthwatch Bristol has produced a new website review tool to help GP practices improve the information available.
13 July 2021