1. Registering with your GP: understanding your rights

    Advice and Information -

    People have told us they can have problems registering with a GP. This article explains more about your rights and what do to if you are refused the right to register.

  2. Do you need help travelling to NHS services?

    Advice and Information -

    Find out what support is available to help you when travelling to your GP, hospital or other NHS services.

  3. Getting the most out of the virtual health and care experience

    Advice and Information -

    With more and more appointments happening online, we've put together some tips on how to get the most out of the virtual health and care appointments both for patients and health and care professionals.

  4. Primary Care Services Report

    Report -

    Find out how primary care and community services are meeting people's needs in Stoke-on-Trent.

  5. Virtual Visit to the Royal Stoke University Hospital Fracture Clinic

    Report -

    Find out people's experiences of the Royal Stoke University Hospital fracture clinic.

  6. Access to Primary Care and Digital Exclusion

    Report -

    How has the increasing use of digital health services, affected people's access to care?

  7. Primary Care Survey Report

    Report -

    Read the results of our survey asking members of the public about their experiences of accessing primary care services in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

  8. Annual-Report-Stoke-on-Trent-2016-17

    Report -

    This year it came to our attention that homeless individuals in our City were finding it difficult to access GP services and receive the treatment that they required.

  9. Healthwatch Stoke-on-Trent Annual Report 2017/18

    Report -

    You need services that work for you, your family and your friends. That is why we want you to share your experiences of using health and care with us – both good and bad. We use your voice to encourage those who run services to act on what matters to you.

  10. Healthwatch Stoke-on-Trent Annual Report 2018/19

    Report -

    The most common themes we hear about are GP services, Mental Health Services, Social Care, and Hospitals and to ensure that we
    address your concerns and compliments we share your stories with relevant people and incorporate your priorities into our work programme.

  11. Urging residents of Stoke-on-Trent to contact their GP if they’re worried about signs of dementia

    Advice and Information -

    By seeking help from your GP and getting an early diagnosis can get the right support in place to live well with dementia.

  12. Enter and View Report Trent Vale Medical Practice

    Report -

    Healthwatch Stoke-on-Trent were informed verbally, of a younger patient who was not registered with the Practice being refused an appointment and being told to go to Haywood Hospital instead. This may not actually have been the case, but our visit was to ask about the incident and check procedures at the Practice and see how it operated generally.

  13. Enter and View Report Hanley Health Centre GP Practice

    Report -

    Healthwatch Stoke-on-Trent had been informed by a patient of the Practice that they had inadvertently been prescribed incorrect medication during one of her appointments which luckily was spotted by her normal pharmacist. This particular medication could have caused harm to the patient.

  14. Enter and View Report Trentham Mews GP Practice

    Report -

    Healthwatch Stoke-on-Trent had been informed, via the CQC inspection published in December 2018, that Trentham Mews surgery had been told that two areas of their work ‘required improvement’. These were: ‘Are services safe’ and ‘Are services well-led’.

  15. Public Experience of Primary Care Services during the Coronavirus Pandemic

    Report -

    Since the occurrence of the coronavirus pandemic, GP services have been required to adapt and alter the way that services are delivered. As such, appointment methods, bookings and direct communication between practice and patient have been at the heart of crucial service changes.

  16. NHS Long-Term Plan

    Report -

    With growing pressure on the NHS such as an ageing population, more people living with longterm conditions and lifestyle choices affecting people’s health, changes are needed to make sure everybody gets the support they need. The NHS has produced a Long-Term Plan1, setting
    out the measures it intends to take to address changing need.

  17. Managing your Blood Test Appointments Online

    Advice and Information -

    Managing your health online isn't always simple. So we have put together a guide to walk you through booking and cancelling your blood tests online through the UHNM Patient Connect online booking system.

  18. Health Secretary Thérèse Coffey on GPs and cost of living

    News -

    In her speech to the Conservative Party Conference today, the health secretary repeated much of what she had announced on 22 September in ‘Our Plan for Patients’, with slightly less rigid language over patient access to GPs.

  19. Cost of living: People are increasingly avoiding NHS appointments and prescriptions

    News -

    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 they have made to their lives due to the cost of living crisis have affected their mental health.

    • Women are disproportionately affected by spiralling costs, with 35% saying their mental health has got worse over the last two months, compared to 26% of men.

  20. 'Referrals black hole’ - new findings of people’s experiences of GP referrals

    News -

    One in five people we spoke to with a GP referral for specialist care had bounced back to general practice. This suggests potentially serious issues with referral processes. Healthwatch England are calling for more to be done to understand people’s experience of getting a referral.

  21. Shaping our workplan: What matters to you?

    News -

    Each year, your local Healthwatch puts together a work programme that reflects the health and social care needs of the area.

  22. Getting health-related help during Bank Holidays

    Advice and Information -

    Throughout this coming May there will be multiple bank holidays, meaning that some services, including ourselves, will be closed or opening with reduced hours.

  23. Only 7% of people had a good understanding of gynaecological symptoms before experiencing them

    News -

    When asked if they had a good understanding of gynaecological issues before it happened to them or a friend or family member:
    • Only 5% said they had a good understanding of gynaecological cancers
    • Only 7% said they had a good understanding of gynaecological symptoms
    • 5% said they had a good understanding of HPV (human papilloma virus)
    • 15% said they had a good understanding of cervical screening

  24. Living with Long-term Conditions Report

    Report -

    We spoke to 197 people in Stoke-on-Trent who are living with a long-term condition(s) to find out more about their experiences.

  25. Parkinson's Provision

    Report -

    This report provides an analysis of Parkinson’s Provision in and around Stoke-
    on-Trent from a service user perspective.

  26. Cancellations of NHS care having serious impacts on two thirds of patients, new data shows.

    News -

    · Impact of NHS pressures revealed in a new survey of 1084 people whose care has been cancelled this year.
    · Over one in three, 39%, have experienced cancellations or postponements of care two or more times.
    · Disruptions to care disproportionately affect unpaid carers, neurodivergent people, and those on lower incomes, widening existing health inequalities.
    · Healthwatch England urges healthcare leaders to act on the number of cancellations, especially those that occur at the last minute, and ensure more significant support for those most affected.

  27. Third of people in England lack confidence they can access critical NHS services

    News -

    Healthwatch England has warned that people need more confidence that the NHS can provide timely care as the winter period approaches. A third of adults in England lack confidence that they can access timely care, including GP services, mental health support and hospital care.

  28. Living with Parkinson's Disease Report

    Report -

    We spoke to 39 people in Stoke-on-Trent who are either living with Parkinson's disease or are a carer for someone who is. We found out about their experiences of receiving support, care and treatment.

  29. Can I access my GP records online?

    Advice and Information -

    From 31 October 2023, GP surgeries must give patients online access to their new health record entries. Find out what information is in your record and how to access it.

  30. Referrals and your right to choose

    Advice and Information -

    Did you know you can choose which hospital you go to when referred for a test, diagnosis, or treatment? Find out how.

  31. What is social prescribing?

    Advice and Information -

    NHS social prescribing link workers can connect you to the right community groups and services to help support you.

  32. How to get the most out of your GP appointment

    Advice and Information -

    Do you struggle to speak to your doctor about your medical concerns? You’re not alone. Take a look at our top tips to make the most of your GP appointment.

  33. Registering with your GP: understanding your rights

    Advice and Information -

    You've told us that you've experienced problems registering with a GP. This article explains more about your rights and what to do if you're refused the right to register.

  34. How do I get a fit note?

    Advice and Information -

    Find out what a ‘fit note’ is, when you might need one and how to get one.

  35. What is flu and how do I get the flu vaccine?

    Advice and Information -

    Understanding the symptoms of flu and what the flu vaccine is helps you make informed decisions about your health.

  36. What help can you get to pay for your prescriptions?

    Advice and Information -

    The cost of living crisis has put many people under financial strain, and prescription costs are more than some can afford. Find out what help is out there to help you cover the cost of your medication.

  37. Barriers and inequalities in cervical screening - Healthwatch England

    Blog -

    This week is Cervical Cancer Prevention Week. Our new blog brings together some of the key challenges people have shared about cervical screening with local Healthwatch and outlines the steps we are taking nationally to address those.

  38. Improving the wait for cancer care - Healthwatch England

    News -

    In July last year, we published our findings of experiences you shared about trying to get cancer care. Thanks to this insight, the NHS has simplified their process so people can better understand what to expect.

  39. NHS promises better access to GP services - Healthwatch England

    News -

    The NHS published their primary care recovery plan last May, and thanks to so many of you sharing your feedback about your experiences, we ensured it promised lots of changes.

  40. Accessing health and care services when you live alone - Healthwatch England

    News -

    We explore the three main challenges people face accessing health and care services when they live alone with limited or no support.

  41. Top tips to get the most out of your GP appointment

    Advice and Information -

    Do you struggle to speak to your doctor about your medical concerns? You’re not alone. Take a look at our top tips to make the most out of your GP appointment.