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. Our update about COVID-19 and remote working

    News -

    Healthwatch Northamptonshire has been monitoring the rapidly unfolding situation around COVID-19 on a daily basis to consider its impact on how we work and how we best support our staff, volunteers, partners and stakeholders.

  31. 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.

  32. Request help and support - Coronavirus

    Advice and Information -

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

  33. 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.

  34. Accessing dental services in the East Midlands

    Advice and Information -

    An update from NHS England and NHS Improvement Midlands:

  35. 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

  36. 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.

  37. 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.

  38. 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.

  39. 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.

  40. 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.

  41. 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.

  42. 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.

  43. 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.

  44. 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.

  45. 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.

  46. COVID-19 has disproportionately affected Black and Asian people according to latest PHE report. Tell us your experience.

    News -

    Share your story to help services learn and improve from the experiences of people from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds during COVID-19.

  47. Residents of Northampton urged to taken action as cases rise

    News -

    Read the latest important local update about coronavirus.

  48. Great response to local Coronavirus testing from the Northampton community and continued reminder to people of the county to stay vigilant

    News -

    Read the latest important local update about coronavirus.

  49. Young Healthwatch: Letter to past and future me

    News -

    Two volunteers from Young Healthwatch Northamptonshire have written letters that reflect on the Coronavirus pandemic and the impact that it has had. One has been written to their 10-year-old self and one to themself in 10 years time.

  50. COVID-19: What you need to know when visiting a care home

    Advice and Information -

    Take a look at what the guidance around visiting your loved ones in care homes means in practice.