1. How volunteering with us helped Tanzi secure her university place

    Blog -

    Congratulations to Tanzi, our Young Healthwatch Northamptonshire Chair, who has been a volunteer with us for four years.

  2. Ever wondered what we do and how we can help you? This one minute video explains it all!

    Blog -

    Healthwatch Northamptonshire is the county's independent health and care champion. This short video explains in just one minute what our organisation is all about.

  3. Six things you should expect from social care support

    Blog -

    How can you feel listened and involved in decisions about YOUR social care? Here are six things you should expect from care services, according to new guidelines.

  4. Getting the basics right for people who are Deaf

    Blog -

    Thanks to Sandra, NHS England is improving the way they communicate with people who are Deaf or hard of hearing.

  5. How can you change the way mental health services are run in Northamptonshire? #WhatWouldYouDo

    Blog -

    Healthwatch England need your help to understand how services can change to benefit your local community.

  6. Healthwatch says thank you to volunteers who help to shape health and care in Northamptonshire

    Blog -

    This Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June), Healthwatch Northamptonshire is looking forward to celebrating the work of our local community and promoting the valuable positive impacts volunteers have on our society.

  7. Volunteering with Healthwatch helps lawyer understand issues clients may face

    Blog -

    Veronica Male is a Chartered Legal Executive at a Northamptonshire solicitors, specialising in Court of Protection work and has been a volunteer with Healthwatch Northamptonshire for almost 2 years.

  8. Carers Week pledge

    Blog -

    This #CarersWeek we pledge to connect carers to each other and to information and support with caring.

  9. Healthwatch Northamptonshire - protecting the rights and interests of people using health and social care in Northamptonshire during the pandemic

    Blog -

    A message from our Chair, Dr David N Jones

  10. Help local NHS staff transport their uniforms safely with drawstring bags

    Blog -

    Do you want to help the NHS while having something to do at home? Join in with making drawstring uniform bags for NHS staff.

  11. Update your first aid kit with the new My Health and Care Directory smartphone app

    Blog -

    People across Northamptonshire can now benefit from quick and easy access to the latest information about local health and care services – thanks to the launch of a brand new smartphone app.

  12. NHS warning as winter vomiting bug closes 1,000 hospital beds

    Advice and Information -

    Find out more about how you can prevent the spread of winter norovirus

  13. 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.

  14. Where can I go to get help for my health out of hours?

    Advice and Information -

    Health issues unfortunately don't leave us alone at the weekend and people are often in need of medical assistance out of hours. Using NHS guidelines, we have provided some advice and information on where you can go for help when your GP is closed.

  15. Do you need help getting to hospital?

    Advice and Information -

    Find out what support is available to help you travel to your hospital appointments.

  16. What should you expect when it comes to care for your teeth?

    Advice and Information -

    Four questions staff should ask you or a loved one about your oral health if you’re a care home resident, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence quick guide.

  17. Thinking about end of life care for you and your family

    Advice and Information -

    End of life care is support for people who are in the last months or years of their life. The guidance on the NHS website helps you know what to expect, how to plan ahead and how to manage your day to day decisions.

  18. Accessibility checklist for GP surgeries

    Advice and Information -

    Help make sure that your practice meets people’s accessibility requirements using this checklist from Healthwatch Slough.

  19. Where can I go for support for my mental health as a parent?

    Advice and Information -

    We've pulled together a number of services for parents in need of support for their mental health. Read more to find out where you can go to get the help you need.

  20. Seven pieces of information that you should expect to receive after being diagnosed with dementia

    Advice and Information -

    Take a look at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence's (NICE) quick guide to discussing and planning support following a dementia diagnosis.

  21. 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.

  22. Our vision, values and strategy

    Advice and Information -

    Find out about Healthwatch North and West Northamptonshire's vision, values and strategy

  23. 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.

  24. Carers' Voice Northamptonshire

    Advice and Information -

    Carers' Voice Northamptonshire has now closed but please contact Healthwatch Northamptonshire with any feedback or Northamptonshire Carers for any guidance or support.

  25. 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.

  26. 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.

  27. Tips for choosing a care home

    Advice and Information -

    Finding a suitable care home for you or a loved one can be difficult. Healthwatch England has pulled together some of the best tips provided by the NHS and other organisations in England to help you make the right choice.

  28. What can I expect from young people’s mental health services?

    Advice and Information -

    Young people may need help with a range of issues at different points in their life. Find out what you can expect from mental health services, to make sure you get the support you need.

  29. Do you know what short breaks are?

    Advice and Information -

    An Easy Read Guide about Short Breaks available in Northamptonshire

  30. Protect your unborn baby this winter with a free flu jab

    Advice and Information -

    Pregnant women in Northamptonshire are being urged to have their free flu vaccination to help keep themselves and their unborn baby safe and well.

  31. How does the NHS in England work? An alternative guide

    Advice and Information -

    How does the NHS in England work? What organisations make it up? And how is it changing over time?

  32. 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.

  33. Recently had vomiting and or diarrhoea? Please do not go into A&E or hospitals

    Advice and Information -

    Kettering General Hospital and Nene Clinical Commissioning Group are urging local people not to attend A&E – or visit relatives in hospitals – if they have, or have recently had, vomiting and/or diarrhoea.

  34. Crisis café is here to support you with your day-to-day struggles and mental health difficulties

    Advice and Information -

    Crisis Cafés are an easily accessible service available in the evenings and/or at weekends for people who are finding themselves in a crisis or need support with their mental health.

  35. Getting help to overcome abuse: a quick guide for young people

    Advice and Information -

    The new guide published by NICE and SCIE explains what young people should expect from services and how to get the right support.

  36. How do people feel about their data being shared by the NHS?

    Advice and Information -

    From 25 May, you’ll be able to make a choice about how the NHS uses your confidential patient information for reasons other than your care. 77% of the public say they are confident in the ability of the NHS to protect their patient data. Are you?

  37. 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.

  38. West Northamptonshire Council South Northamptonshire Area: Mental health, loneliness and wellbeing

    Advice and Information -

    Want to spend more time outdoors? Or fancy a brush with art?

  39. New online system to cut Blue Badge application time

    Advice and Information -

    People eligible for Blue Badges can apply in a fraction of the previous time, thanks to a new system in Northamptonshire.

  40. Successful procurements mean Corby’s Urgent Care Centre will continue and an extra 1,000 NHS appointments a month will be available via a brand-new service

    Advice and Information -

    NHS Corby Clinical Commissioning Group has successfully procured two new contracts - meaning Corby’s Urgent Care Centre (UCC) service will continue and a new service providing 1,000 extra GP related appointments a month will be on offer to patients.

  41. 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.

  42. Young Healthwatch Resources

    Advice and Information -

    Take a look at Healthwatch Northamptonshire’s 10 top tips when engaging with children and young people – produced by EMAHSN (East Midlands Academic Health Science Network).

  43. Information on Coronavirus

    Advice and Information -

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

  44. 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.

  45. 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.

  46. Our strategy and work plan 2020 - 2021

    Advice and Information -

    The Healthwatch Northamptonshire annual plan helps provide commissioners and key stakeholders with an overview of planned activity for the next 12 months.

  47. Public asked to comply with guidance on the wearing of face coverings

    Advice and Information -

    As restrictions ease and more businesses and amenities open up across Northamptonshire, Public Health Officials are urging the public to comply with the guidance on the wearing of face coverings.

  48. Request help and support - Coronavirus

    Advice and Information -

    How to request support from volunteers if you are self-isolating in Northamptonshire and need help.