1. 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.

  2. Annual Report 2018-19

    Report -

    Read all about our year!

  3. Fifteen Steps for Maternity at Kettering General Hospital

    Report -

    Together with Northamptonshire Maternity Voices Partnership, we carried out a 15 Steps Maternity Visit across both hospital trusts in Northamptonshire – Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital. This is the report for KGH.

  4. Fifteen Steps for Maternity at Northampton General Hospital

    Report -

    Together with Northamptonshire Maternity Voices Partnership, we carried out a 15 Steps Maternity Visit across both hospital trusts in Northamptonshire – Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital. This is the report for NGH.

  5. Maternity services in Northamptonshire: The views of parents

    Report -

    In summer 2017, Healthwatch Northamptonshire worked with Nene NHS and NHS Corby Clinical Commissioning Groups to gather the views and experiences of parents that were currently using or had recently used maternity services in Northamptonshire.

  6. Experiences of pregnancy, birth and onwards: The views of parents about services and support in Northamptonshire

    Report -

    In March 2016, Healthwatch Northamptonshire asked 77 parents with infants or young children their views on the help and support they received during pregnancy, labour and the postnatal period.

  7. Annual Report 2014-15

    Report -

    Read all about our year!

  8. 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.

  9. Annual Report 2013-14

    Report -

    Read all about our year!

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

  12. 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.

  13. Information on Coronavirus

    Advice and Information -

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

  14. 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.

  15. 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.

  16. 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.

  17. 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.

  18. Maternity support during COVID-19

    Advice and Information -

    Read about how coronavirus could affect you, your baby and your pregnancy care.

  19. Annual Report 2019-20 - Guided by you

    Report -

    During 2019-20 we undertook some exciting projects and continued to ensure that the views and needs of the people of Northamptonshire are considered, particularly as services and organisations are restructured.

  20. World Breastfeeding Week - 4 August 2017

    News -

    At this year's World Breastfeeding Week, which took place on the 4 August 2017 at Abington Park, we were joined by Northamptonshire Breastfeeding Alliance, Diana from Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, and Ann and Kate from NGH.

  21. 15 Steps Maternity 'Virtual Visit' report

    Report -

    Volunteers from Northamptonshire’s Maternity Voice Partnership and Healthwatch Northamptonshire conducted a virtual 15 Steps Visit of the labour and postnatal wards at Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital on 30 June 2020.

  22. Are you pregnant? Protect yourself and your unborn baby from flu complications

    Advice and Information -

    Influenza, commonly known as flu, is a highly infectious viral illness. For most healthy people, the seasonal flu is mostly unpleasant. However, those who are pregnant are at particular risk from the more serious effects of flu.

  23. Care Quality Commission

    Advice and Information -

    The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the inspector and regulator for health and adult social care facilities in England.

  24. 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.

  25. 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.

  26. 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.

  27. 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.

  28. Kettering General Hospital Maternity Visit Report

    Report -

    Our initiative to understand more about how local services are meeting people's needs continued as Healthwatch North and West Northamptonshire visited Kettering General Hospital to carry out a 15 steps maternity audit.

  29. Northampton General Hospital Maternity Report

    Report -

    We are pleased to publish our Northampton General Hospital '15 Steps' Maternity Report. This report details the findings from our visit to the Maternity Ward at Northampton General Hospital.

  30. Independent Review of Health and Wellbeing Fora in Northamptonshire

    Report -

    The Northamptonshire Health and Wellbeing Fora enable engagement with a broad range of public sector and voluntary organisations in seven districts and boroughs in the county.

  31. Revolutionising Engagement and Involvement Workshop Report

    Report -

    In May 2016 Healthwatch and the Patient Congress jointly held a public engagement event focusing on ‘Revolutionising Engagement and Involvement’.

  32. The views of parents/carers, staff and volunteers on services for under 5s delivered by Children’s Centres and Library Plus in Northamptonshire

    Report -

    Healthwatch Northamptonshire (HWN) Children, Young People and Families working group visited Library Plus and children’s centre services in Northamptonshire to hear from families, staff and volunteers about the services provided for children under 5.

  33. 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.

  34. 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

  35. 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.

  36. 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!

  37. 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.

  38. Northamptonshire Health, Care and Wellbeing Plan

    News -

    Join the conversation and have your say

  39. 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.

  40. Quick poll results - Two-thirds of you told us you use libraries at least every two weeks

    News -

    Our November/December quick poll asked you about how you use libraries. Thank you to the 70 people who took part!

  41. Quick poll results - You told us how you felt about Out of Hours being moved nearer to A&E

    Response -

    Your questions regarding our “Out of Hours” quick poll have been answered!

  42. Support for elderly people and families at risk as Council struggles to contain financial pressures

    News -

    The annual meeting of Healthwatch Northamptonshire, held on Thursday 19 July, heard from Healthwatch Chair Dr David N Jones about the very serious situation facing the county council with grave implications for adult and children’s services.

  43. 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.

  44. Thank you: Nearly 300 people told Healthwatch Northamptonshire what they think would make health and care better

    News -

    Local people shared their views about how they want local health and care services to improve.

  45. Young people’s experiences of Personal, Social, Health and Education

    Report -

    Young Healthwatch Northamptonshire was commissioned by Public Health Northamptonshire to carry out a review of Personal, Social, Health and Education (PSHE) in Northamptonshire schools. The report has now been published.

  46. New COVID-19 clinics to help self-isolating patients access urgent medical advice

    Advice and Information -

    New temporary clinics are being set up around Northamptonshire to enable people with COVID-19 symptoms to be safely seen face-to-face by a GP or other healthcare professional.

  47. Remote consultations in general practice

    Advice and Information -

    For many people, it’s more convenient to be able to speak to their GP or other healthcare professionals remotely.

  48. 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.

  49. 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.