1. 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.

  2. Quick poll results - Over half of you were happy with your dental care, but some of you highlighted several issues

    Report -

    When it comes to easy access to NHS dental care appointments, the majority of our respondents did not seem to have any issues.

  3. The experiences of children and young people of health services

    Report -

    Healthwatch Northamptonshire wanted to seek the views of children and young people directly in a different and engaging way.

  4. Information on Coronavirus

    Advice and Information -

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

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. Accessing dental services in the East Midlands

    Advice and Information -

    An update from NHS England and NHS Improvement Midlands:

  9. 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.

  10. New urgent dental care services in Northamptonshire

    Advice and Information -

    People in need of the most urgent dental care in Northamptonshire can now access one of eight new Urgent Dental Centres (UDCs) which are open across the county.

  11. 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.

  12. 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.

  13. An update on the restarting of NHS dental services in the Midlands

    Advice and Information -

    The NHS Dental Services in the Midlands has sent us this new update about the restarting of dental services in the Midlands.

  14. An update on the restarting of NHS dental services in the Midlands following the introduction of further national restrictions

    Advice and Information -

    Although tighter national restrictions came into force on 5 November, in response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, dental practices will continue to remain open.

  15. Access to NHS Dental Services during the Christmas and New Year period

    News -

    Tiered restrictions in response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic may differ according to where someone lives. Dental practices will continue to provide services over the Christmas and New Year period although opening hours for practices may vary.

  16. 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.

  17. 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.

  18. What can your NHS dentist do for you? - Guidance from NHS England

    Advice and Information -

    NHS England and NHS Improvement has produced this national guidance leaflet to help explain how NHS dental services work

  19. Update on access to NHS Dental Services in the Midlands - March 2021

    Advice and Information -

    We are aware that people in Northamptonshire are finding it difficult to access NHS dental treatment and we are discussing the issues with NHS England. The NHS England Midlands Dental Commissioning Team have sent us the following new update.

  20. Twin crisis of access and affordability calls for a radical rethink of NHS dentistry

    News -

    Healthwatch England warns dental care crisis shows no signs of slowing, with four in five people who contacted Healthwatch (80%) struggling to access timely care between January and March 2021.  

  21. Stakeholder NHS dentistry and Covid-19 update - June 2021

    Advice and Information -

    We are aware that people in Northamptonshire are finding it difficult to access NHS dental treatment and we are discussing the issues with NHS England. The NHS England Midlands Dental Commissioning Team have sent us the following new update.

  22. 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.

  23. What to do it you are struggling to find a dentist

    Advice and Information -

    It is currently very difficult to find an NHS dentist and the number of people contacting us for help continues to increase. We are raising this issue with health planners at a local and national level and giving people the following advice.

  24. Calls for a recovery plan for NHS dentistry

    News -

    Access to dental care continues to be an issue you are raising with us locally and it is also a national issue that Healthwatch England is working on. Healthwatch England co-signed an open letter addressed to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

  25. NHS dentistry and Covid-19 update - November 2021

    Advice and Information -

    Access to NHS dental care continues to be an issue you are raising with us locally, which we have been raising with NHS England. The NHS England Midlands Dental Commissioning Team have sent us the following new update.

  26. 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.

  27. 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!

  28. 10 top tips to get the most out of your dental appointment

    Advice and Information -

    Everyone should be able to access good quality NHS dental services. Take a look at our top tips to help you get the most out of your next dental appointment.

  29. 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.

  30. 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.

  31. Annual Report 2014-15

    Report -

    Read all about our year!

  32. 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.

  33. 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.

  34. 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.

  35. 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.

  36. 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.

  37. 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.

  38. 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.

  39. 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.

  40. 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.

  41. 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.

  42. 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.

  43. 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.

  44. Call Care

    Advice and Information -

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

  45. 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.

  46. 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.

  47. 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.

  48. 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?