1. 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.

  2. Do you need help getting to hospital?

    Advice and Information -

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

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. Annual Report 2014-15

    Report -

    Read all about our year!

  6. The Care Act 2014

    Report -

    There are new duties for local authorities, as well as changes to how care is charged for, who has to pay and how much people will have to pay towards their care.

  7. 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

  8. 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.

  9. Northamptonshire Sustainability Transformation Plan (STP)

    Report -

    The Northamptonshire Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) sets out how health and social care in our county will change over the next five years.

  10. Neighbouring Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STP)

    News -

    If you live near the borders of the county you might be affected by Sustainability and Transformation Plans of neighbouring regions.

  11. 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!

  12. 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.

  13. Do you know what short breaks are?

    Advice and Information -

    An Easy Read Guide about Short Breaks available in Northamptonshire

  14. Most people still getting good care – but health and care system is ‘straining at the seams’, making future quality precarious

    News -

    This year’s State of Care shows that, thanks to the efforts of staff and leaders, the quality of health and social care has been maintained despite very real challenges and the majority of people are getting good, safe care.

  15. 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?

  16. CQC’s new strategy for engaging with the public up to 2021

    News -

    Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published a new strategy for how they will engage with the public to help make them a strong, independent regulator that is always on the side of people using care services.

  17. 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.

  18. 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.

  19. 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.

  20. Understanding healthcare changes in your local area and how your voice matters

    News -

    With the progress in health and care services, there are challenges which hospitals, GP and care services need to face.

  21. 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?

  22. Standing Together to Stay Well this Winter

    News -

    The NHS in Northamptonshire has taken an innovative approach to encourage local people to look after their health this winter to support the national campaign, Stay Well This Winter.

  23. Kettering General Hospital and Young Healthwatch Northamptonshire wins PENNA award in 'Team of the Year' Category

    News -

    Kettering General Hospital and Young Healthwatch Northamptonshire have won a national award for work they have undertaken with young people.

  24. Joint Community Engagement Event – 2 May 2019

    News -

    To inform future changes in the health and care system in the county, Connected Together CIC, Healthwatch Northamptonshire and Northamptonshire Health and Care Partnership (NHCP), held a successful community engagement event with around 90 attendees.

  25. The CQC rates EMAS as ‘Good’ overall and ‘Outstanding’ for caring

    News -

    Congratulations to East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) which was graded overall as 'Good', with 'Outstanding' for the care that it provides, in the recent Care Quality Commission inspection report.

  26. Our Volunteer roles

    Report -

    There are different ways in which you can become involved depending on your interests and how much time you would like to commit.

  27. 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.

  28. Information on Coronavirus

    Advice and Information -

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

  29. 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.

  30. 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.

  31. 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.

  32. 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.

  33. Request help and support - Coronavirus

    Advice and Information -

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

  34. What's the difference between social distancing, self-isolation and shielding?

    Advice and Information -

    Self-isolation, social distancing and shielding have been introduced by the Government to help you and your loved ones stay safe from COVID-19. Find out what they mean in practice and what applies to you.

  35. 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.

  36. Advice for parents during coronavirus - what to do if your child is unwell or injured

    Advice and Information -

    Whilst it is extremely important to follow Government advice to stay at home during this period, it can be confusing to know what to do when your child is unwell or injured.

  37. Cancer and coronavirus

    Advice and Information -

    If you have cancer, it’s understandable you might feel anxious about COVID-19. The Government and the NHS have both confirmed that cancer treatment should continue to be prioritised during the response to the COVID-19 emergency.

  38. Quit for Covid with Public Health Northamptonshire’s Stop Smoking Service

    Advice and Information -

    Public Health Northamptonshire is encouraging smokers to #QuitforCovid, not only to protect themselves but to reduce demand on NHS services.

  39. 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.

  40. 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.

  41. NICE Care Guides

    Advice and Information -

    A list of NICE's social and intermediate care guides

  42. Mental health advice and information

    Advice and Information -

    Local and national organisations that can help you with your mental health.

  43. Transport and Car schemes

    Advice and Information -

    Find local volunteer and community transport schemes to get you to your appointment on time

  44. NHS Dentist Complaints

    Advice and Information -

    NHS dental care is usually very good and most people don’t have any problems. But occasionally things can go wrong. This page tells you where to start if you have a problem with an NHS dentist.

  45. Mental Health Services Complaints

    Advice and Information -

    If you’re unhappy about your treatment for a mental health problem, you may be able to make a complaint.

  46. Complaints about other NHS services

    Advice and Information -

    NHS care is usually very good and most people don’t have any problems. But occasionally things can go wrong. This page tells you more about how to raise concerns about health services that aren’t GPs, hospitals and dentists.

  47. Post COVID-19 Patient information pack

    News -

    The local post COVID-19 Patient information pack has been developed to help patients who have had COVID-19 to recover and manage their symptoms following COVID-19.

  48. What can you expect when you’re discharged from hospital?

    Advice and Information -

    The usual processes the NHS follows to discharge you from hospital have changed since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Here’s what you can expect when it’s time to leave hospital.

  49. Update on dental services for vulnerable groups

    Advice and Information -

    In line with national guidance issued in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, dental practices in the Midlands are currently not providing routine care in the same way as they were prior to the pandemic.

  50. Restoring Breast Screening Services in the Midlands

    News -

    NHS Breast Screening services have been affected by a range of clinical and operational impacts due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Local breast screening services took the decision to reschedule appointments and invitations for tests to a later date.