Healthwatch Dorset News, Blog & Events
Find out what Healthwatch Dorset is up to in our updates below, plus other local health and care sector news from around Dorset and beyond.
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Healthwatch England report: Faster progress needed to tackle barriers to care
Access to care is the main concern people have shared with Healthwatch in the past year. A new report by Healthwatch England looking at health and social care from the patients' perspective has warned that we risk "a two-tier health and care system" unless the NHS...
New report provides valuable insights to enhance mental health services for young people in Dorset
Our new report Your Mind, Your Say, provides valuable insight from young people to help inform NHS Dorset’s current review of young people’s mental health services. The report builds on our 2020 pre-pandemic research, to assess if previous recommendations for...
Improving patient access to urgent and emergency care in Dorset: Our new report
In our latest report, we explore the challenges faced by patients as they navigate urgent and emergency healthcare services in Dorset, identifying ways to improve people’s understanding and access to these vital services.
Healthwatch Dorset Annual Report: Working together to improve health and social care
Last year (April 2022-March 2023), Healthwatch Dorset supported over 2,000 people to have their say on health and social care and to get information and advice about local services. In its latest Annual Report, Together we’re making health and social care better,...
‘Review culture’ is on the rise, yet only one in ten people feedback on health services
As Healthwatch marks its tenth anniversary this week, Healthwatch Dorset joins the 152 local Healthwatch across England to appeal for more people to feedback on NHS care. People are nearly four times more likely to share their thoughts on a dinner out or takeaway than...
Healthwatch England research: Six-week postnatal checks are failing many new mothers
Healthwatch England, is warning that six-week postnatal checks – required of GPs in England – are failing many new mothers. As part of their review of maternal mental health care, the patient champion has analysed experiences of pregnancy and post-natal care since...
New report reveals ongoing crisis in Dorset NHS dentistry and recommends reform of how dental care is provided
Healthwatch Dorset, the county’s health and social care champion, has published a new report highlighting the ongoing difficulties people are experiencing accessing NHS dental care in Dorset, as they are across the country. The report, titled Why are people finding it...
People are increasingly avoiding NHS appointments and prescriptions due to cost of living, Healthwatch England warns
The number of people avoiding an NHS appointment because they can’t afford travel almost doubled between October and December as the cost of living crisis is forcing many to change how they use health and care services. Over a third (39%) of people say the changes...
Dorset NHS launch new Hospital Carer Passport in response to carers feedback
On Carers Rights Day (24 Nov 2022), hospitals across Dorset will launch a new Hospital Carer Passport to help carers be recognised and supported while they are caring for someone who is in hospital. This new scheme meets one of the recommendations made by Healthwatch...
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