1. Domiciliary Care Lay Monitoring Pilot Project Report

    Report -

    Healthwatch Northamptonshire has been working in partnership with Northamptonshire County Council on a pilot project to monitor the quality of home (domiciliary) care services.

  2. Report on the Domiciliary Care Lay Monitoring Project Phase 2: November 2014 – March 2015

    Report -

    We have been finding out what people who use domiciliary care and their families think about the quality of this essential service.

  3. Annual Report 2014-15

    Report -

    Read all about our year!

  4. A summary of parents’ experiences of using the health visiting service in Northamptonshire

    Report -

    Healthwatch Northamptonshire volunteers interviewed 221 parents in 8 locations across Northamptonshire. We found that the majority of parents were satisfied with the service in general, especially when they had specific concerns.

  5. Home care services: What people told Healthwatch about their experiences

    News -

    Over the last year, the number of local Healthwatch citing improvements to home care services as a priority for their community has doubled. A new report explains what people have told Healthwatch about their experience of home care.

  6. CQC publishes its review of how local health and social care systems work together in Northamptonshire

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published its findings following a review of health and social care services in Northamptonshire.

  7. Quick poll results - Three-quarters of you would like to be involved in producing your care plan

    Report -

    Our June 2018 quick poll asked you about how you want to be involved in planning for your care as you get older.

  8. Free guides available to support the health and wellbeing of carers

    Advice and Information -

    NHS England has co-produced a free guide that provide older people with practical advice to support healthy caring.

  9. Finding out more about Continuing Health Care

    Advice and Information -

    Continuing Health Care is social care arranged and funded by the NHS for people who have been assessed as needing care to manage a health problem.

  10. Information on Coronavirus

    Advice and Information -

    Read the advice and information from NHS England, Public Health England and Northamptonshire councils about the Coronavirus.

  11. Coronavirus: Advice from other organisations

    Advice and Information -

    It can be hard to keep up with the constantly changing and evolving nature of guidance and help with coronavirus. Here are some links to different national organisations and their advice.

  12. Healthwatch Northamptonshire’s support for health and care services and the people using them during the pandemic

    News -

    As a statutory body, Healthwatch has the role of working with others to both help communities have clear and accurate information and advice and safeguard the rights and wellbeing of people who use health and social care services.

  13. Coronavirus: Local services and updates

    Advice and Information -

    The links on this page are to help you find information about local services and updates relating to coronavirus all in one place.

  14. Planning care at the end of life

    Advice and Information -

    With the current coronavirus pandemic, it’s important that you and your loved ones discuss your preferences for end of life care. This is especially important if you have been identified as high risk of severe illness if you catch COVID-19.

  15. Continue to seek medical help for serious conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic

    Advice and Information -

    The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak means you should only leave your home if it's essential, but you should still seek help if you have a serious health condition or concerning symptoms.

  16. Share your experience of health and social care services during the COVID-19 pandemic so we can help services better help you

    News -

    During the current crisis, it is really important that we hear about your good and bad experiences of health and social care.

  17. Anglian Water Support

    Advice and Information -

    If you think you’ll have difficulty paying your water bill, Anglian Water has lots of help and support available to you, from providing flexible and affordable payment plans - to guiding you to external help and benefits.

  18. Information and Signposting

    Advice and Information -

    Healthwatch Northamptonshire's information and signposting support is confidential and free. Below are some useful links or search our advice and information page for lots more articles.

  19. Northamptonshire Adult Social Services Independent Service User Survey

    Report -

    Last year Northamptonshire County Council commissioned us to find out what changes are needed in the way they provide adult social care.

  20. The future of health and social care in Northamptonshire workshop report

    Report -

    On the 14 May 2015 Healthwatch Northamptonshire invited the heads of the local health and social care providers to a workshop to discuss the future of health and social care in Northamptonshire.

  21. VoiceAbility

    Advice and Information -

    VoiceAbility provide advocacy for people who need help to have their voice heard and to make complaints to health and social care services.

  22. Countywide services

    Advice and Information -

    Visit the West Northamptonshire Council or North Northamptonshire Council (depending on your location) website to find all services they provide, including adult social care, children and families services, and safeguarding of children and adults.

  23. Call Care

    Advice and Information -

    Call Care supports individuals and their family in maintaining a healthy, safe and independent life in their own home.

  24. Support At Home - British Red Cross Independent Living Services

    Advice and Information -

    British Red Cross offer short-term practical and emotional support to help people improve their wellbeing and quality of life and live independently in their community. Their services are tailored to each person’s needs and goals.

  25. Supporting Independence Programme

    Advice and Information -

    Each year, around one in three people over the age of 65 has a fall, resulting in significant injury. Falls are not an inevitable part of growing older, and there are lots of things you can do to help reduce the risk of falling.

  26. Experiences of caring during the coronavirus pandemic

    Report -

    Your feedback from 2020 suggested that more people were providing care to their loved ones during the pandemic and the changes to services had put extra strain on carers. In 2021, we set out to find out more about the experiences of unpaid carers.

  27. Annual Report 2020-2021 - On equal terms

    Report -

    This year has been a very difficult one for everybody. While Healthwatch could not visit health and social care premises, we were still able to investigate the impact of the pandemic on people's access to the services that matter to them most.

  28. 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?

  29. 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.

  30. Fighting flu – winter vaccination is everybody’s business

    Advice and Information -

    Last year nearly 2,400 people had to be admitted to hospital with flu or flu-related complications. Find out how you can prevent the spread of flu.

  31. The use of additional services at local pharmacies - Findings from our Make Your Voice Count survey

    Report -

    We asked people about their opinions and use of additional services at their local pharmacies, besides dispensing and disposal of medication and advice on treatment of minor conditions.

  32. How can your pharmacy help you?

    Advice and Information -

    Did you know that pharmacies provide advice and information on minor illnesses and ailments? Take a look at how they an help you.

  33. Speak up and help improve services in Northamptonshire

    News -

    We all love the NHS, but let’s make it even better this year. Tell us about your experiences of health and social care, and the changes that you would like to see made locally, in our online survey. #SpeakUp2020

  34. Where can I go for help when I’m ill in winter?

    Advice and Information -

    Feeling unwell? Read on for advice about where you can go for help with your health during the winter months.

  35. The ‘Big Ideas’ people in Northamptonshire think would improve local health and care services

    Report -

    Healthwatch Northamptonshire and NHCP NHS Long Term Plan community engagement report now published!

  36. What would to do to improve local health services? #WhatWouldYouDo

    News -

    With growing pressure on the NHS – people living longer, more people living with long-term conditions, and lifestyle choices affecting people’s health – changes are needed to make sure everybody gets the support they need.

  37. Northamptonshire Health, Care and Wellbeing Plan

    News -

    Join the conversation and have your say

  38. Free NHS Health Checks for 40 - 74 year olds

    Advice and Information -

    The NHS Health Check is a health check-up for adults in England aged 40 to 74. It's designed to spot early signs of stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes or dementia.

  39. Have you had a bad experience of NHS administration? We need your views.

    News -

    Have you had problems with NHS administrative processes, such as booking appointments, referrals, prescriptions or other correspondence with NHS services? We want to hear how people's care experience has been affected by poor NHS administration.

  40. Community pharmacy opening hours during the COVID-19 pandemic

    Advice and Information -

    The joint COVID-19 Northamptonshire Strategic Coordination Centre* has issued an update about pharmacy opening hours, including over the Easter weekend:

  41. Northamptonshire parents urged not to miss regular child health checks and life-saving vaccinations

    Advice and Information -

    Clinicians in Northamptonshire are urging parents not to let coronavirus fears stand in the way of bringing their children for regular vaccination appointments and GP health checks.

  42. Do you have a long term health condition? Have you had your flu vaccine? If not get in touch with your GP or a local pharmacy.

    Advice and Information -

    For most healthy people, the seasonal flu is mostly unpleasant. However, if you have a serious long term health condition if you have a BMI over 40, you are at particular risk from the more serious effects of flu.

  43. Pharmacy Inspection Report website

    Advice and Information -

    Members of the public can now find out if a pharmacy inspected since April 2019 has met or has not met all of the standards for registered pharmacies.

  44. Gluten Free Food Supply in Northamptonshire

    News -

    Your feedback is sought by NHS England and Improvement about the prescribing of gluten free food by pharmacies in Northamptonshire.

  45. Annual Report 2021-2022 - Championing what matters to you

    Report -

    Our 2021-2022 Annual Report looks at the work that we completed last year whilst still being limited by the new ways of working. Despite the year's challenges we continue to work relentlessly to ensure the public's voice was heard.

  46. Annual Report 2022-2023 - Together we're making health and social care better

    Report -

    Our 2022-2023 Annual Report is a showcase of the work we completed throughout the last financial year. Read about our year!

  47. Pharmacy First

    Advice and Information -

    Get help without a GP appointment.