Our Reports

Publications from Healthwatch Dorset

A complete list of our latest reports and publications for download relating to health and care services in Dorset.

What to do if you need information in a different format

For accessible PDF, large print, Easy Read, audio recording or braille:

We will try our best to meet every request for information in an alternative format. See our Accessibilty Statement

Easy Read guides

To help make sure that we are accessible and clear to everyone, we have put together some easy read guides which helps explain our role and what we do.

Healthwatch Dorset Reports

Our published reports from 1 April 2019 to view and download are listed here.

For publications completed by the previous service provider (Help and Care/Healthwatch Dorset CIC), please click on the Legacy tab above.


Voiceless, unheard and socially excluded
Accessing health and care while homeless or vulnerably housed
[Download PDF 2MB]
Healthwatch Dorset – September 2024

The value of listening: Healthwatch Dorset Annual Report 2023-24
A review of our work over the past year and its impact, plus our work planned for 2024-25
[Download PDF 1MB]
Healthwatch Dorset – June 2024

Your Mind, Your Say
Young people’s views of mental health services in Dorset
[Download PDF 2MB]
Healthwatch Dorset – October 2023

Improving patient access to urgent and emergency care in Dorset
Why are people confused about what services to use?
[Download PDF 4MB]
Healthwatch Dorset – October 2023

Together we’re making health and social care better: Healthwatch Dorset Annual Report 2022-23
A review of our work over the past year and its impact, plus our work planned for 2023-24
[Download PDF 1MB]
Healthwatch Dorset – June 2023

Why are people finding it difficult to access NHS dental care in Dorset?
A follow-up report looking at what care is available and how people are affected by a lack of access to treatment
[Download PDF 1MB]
Healthwatch Dorset – February 2023

Dentistry data for local Healthwatch in the South West
Quarterly feedback to the NHS Local Dental Network (LDN)
[Download PDF 100KB]
December 2022

Dentistry data for local Healthwatch in the South West
Quarterly feedback to the NHS Local Dental Network (LDN)
[Download PDF 239KB]
October 2022

Carers experiences of the Dorset Home First service
Discharging patients from hospital and supporting them to recover at home
[Download PDF 1MB]
Healthwatch Dorset – September 2022

Championing what matters to you: Healthwatch Dorset Annual Report 2021-22
A review of our work over the past year and its impact, plus our work planned for 2022-23
[Download PDF 1MB]
Healthwatch Dorset – June 2022

Dorset County Hospital A&E: People’s experiences – What works well and what could be improved?
[Download PDF 6MB]
Healthwatch Dorset – April 2022

Accessing NHS dental care in Dorset
[Download PDF 2MB]
Healthwatch Dorset – February 2022

Young Listeners Project: Bringing positive change to young people’s health and care services in Dorset
[Download PDF 2MB]
Healthwatch Dorset – November 2021

Promoting the voices of homeless communities in Dorset
Working with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to tackle inequalities in health and social care
[Download PDF 2KB]
Healthwatch Dorset – October 2021

Poole Hospital A&E: Local people’s experiences
What works well and what could be improved?
[Download PDF 3MB]
Healthwatch Dorset – September 2021

On equal terms: Healthwatch Dorset Annual Report 2020-21
A review of our work and its impact for 2020-21 and our plans over the next year
[Download PDF 2MB]
Healthwatch Dorset – June 2021

Covid-19 vaccination survey – summary of initial findings
[Download PDF 228KB]
Healthwatch Dorset – March 2021

Mental Health in Community Care – Working together to improve mental health support in our community
1. Full report [Download PDF 1MB]
2. Summary [Download PDF 461KB]
Healthwatch Dorset – December 2020

Right By You: What would you change about local cancer support services in West Dorset?
[Download PDF 2MB]
Healthwatch Dorset – 2020

Dorset health and social care during COVID-19: What local people told us
[Download PDF 2MB]
Healthwatch Dorset – November 2020

What is it like to live and work in a care home during COVID-19?
[Download PDF 1MB]
Healthwatch Dorset – July 2020

Your Mind, Your Say: Young People’s views of mental health services in Dorset
1. Full report
– August 2020 [Download PDF 1MB]
2. Summary
– May 2020 [Download PDF 386KB]
Healthwatch Dorset

Guided By You: Healthwatch Dorset Annual Report 2019-20
A review of our work and its impact for 2019-20 and our plans over the next year
[Download PDF 2MB]
Healthwatch Dorset – June 2020

What matters to people using Poole Hospital Accident & Emergency?
[Download PDF 843KB]
Healthwatch Dorset – February 2020

NHS Long Term Plan: The views of Dorset residents
[Download PDF 765KB]
Healthwatch Dorset – July 2019

Healthwatch Dorset Local Board minutes

Summary minutes from our Local Board meetings to view and download:


Board Meeting – 15 January 2024
[Download PDF 77KB]

Board Meeting – 28 November 2023
[Download PDF 103KB]

Board Meeting – 11 September 2023
[Download PDF 59KB]

Healthwatch Dorset Archive

Publications completed up to 31 March 2019 by the previous service provider (Help and Care/Healthwatch Dorset CIC) are listed below. Please contact us to request a PDF version to be emailed or digitally transferred to you.


Impact Report 2019 – June 2019
This annual report for 2018/19 is authored by Healthwatch Dorset CIC about their work being completed as the previous provider.

Going HomeMarch 2019
A report on people’s experiences of transfer of care.  Some people had told Healthwatch Dorset that after being an in-patient in hospital, they faced issues once they were transferred from hospital back to their place of residence, including problems with packages of care, and lack of information about what to expect post-transfer in terms of self-management.  Some of these issues can lead to emergency re-admissions.

Making more voices heard 2017/18March 2019
This report gives a snapshot of the wide range of community investment projects that Healthwatch Dorset had funded over the previous last 18 months.

Check-up: access to NHS dental services in care homes in DorsetFebruary 2019 
Healthwatch Dorset undertook a survey that asked homes about their experiences of accessing dental services for their residents, including whether they were experiencing any barriers to services, and what areas of improvement (if any) they would identify for service providers and/or commissioners to address.

Dorset Clinical Services Review (CSR) – October 2018
An information sheet about what the review is and what it will mean for health services in Dorset.

Be yourself; everybody else is taken – September 2018
A digital project created to allow younger people to talk about their lives and personal experiences in any way that suited them.

Choosing a Care HomeSeptember 2018
A short guide illustrating five steps to choosing a care home.

70th birthday card to our NHS – July 2018
Feedback to the NHS with seven things that matter to patients and service users, and seven things that they would change in NHS and social care services.

Baby StepsApril 2018 
An investigation by Healthwatch Dorset into the experience of Maternity Services in Dorset by people with protected characteristics.

Community Investment Projects: making more voices heardFebruary 2018
This report gives a snapshot of the wide range of community investment projects that Healthwatch Dorset had funded over the previous last 18 months.

Previous Annual Reports:

  • 2017/18: A year in review – Also Easy Read version available
  • 2016/17: A year in review – Impact
  • 2015/16: A year in review – Spotlight
  • 2014/15: A year in review – Loud & Clear, making your voices heard
  • 2013/14: A year in review

Registering with a GP practice and booking appointmentsJuly 2017 
An investigation into what patients need to do to register with a GP practice in Dorset and make appointments.

I’m still me – March 2017
A look at how care homes in Dorset support people to live active, independent lives.

Dorset’s Clinical Services Review – 2017
Healthwatch Dorset’s view of the public consultation carried out by the NHS (Dec 2016 to Feb 2017) about a full-scale review of how health services are run in the county, covering both community services and hospital services.

Evolving Voices2017
A review of how Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust collects and acts on feedback and insight.

Fobbed OffJuly 2016 
This report sets out the facts of the feedback we received from survey respondents regarding experiences of making a complaint about NHS Foundation Trust services in Dorset.

Something to complain about?  RevisitedMarch 2015
A follow up report to see how easy it is to find the right information and support to make a complaint about GP services.

Where the heart is – an investigation into care home services – 2015
The report documents the findings of an investigation into people’s experiences of home care across Dorset and Poole – the objectives of the work being to gather views of service users which can directly influence the future commissioning, design and delivery of home care services.

Louder & Clearer: making more of Dorset’s voices heard2015
This report gives a summary of the each community investment project that Healthwatch Dorset had funded in the year 2014-2015.

Primary care dental services in Dorset2015
Healthwatch Dorset undertook a review of NHS dental services in Dorset, Poole and Bournemouth to ascertain whether people can easily access current information about which practices are accepting new NHS patients, and identify if dental charges are made clear to people.

PerspectivesJune 2014
Phase 1 report about experiences and reflections on common mental health issues and assets in Dorset.

Something to complain about?April 2014
Healthwatch Dorset’s report looks at how easy it is to find the right information and support to make a complaint about GP services.

Every one matters: feedback on Dorset’s Hospitals2014
This document serves to provide a brief summary of what local people have told us about their experiences of hospital services in the county.  One of the best ways of learning how services can, and need to, improve is to listen to feedback from patients, both good and bad.

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