1. Complaints advocacy

    Advice and Information -

    Information about complaints advocacy and other advocacy services from VoiceAbility in Northamptonshire

  2. Tips and Tools to Help You Make a Complaint About Health Services

    Advice and Information -

    Some links and organisations for advice about how to make a complaint

  3. Whistleblowing - How a staff member can report a problem in the NHS or an Adult Social Care Service

    Advice and Information -

    NHS and adult social care are usually very good and most people don’t have any problems. But occasionally things can go wrong.

  4. Making a complaint about social care services – What should you expect?

    Advice and Information -

    Healthwatch England has been working with the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman to develop a Single Complaints Statement for both professionals and the public

  5. Young Healthwatch Northamptonshire Annual Report 2019-20

    Report -

    Young Healthwatch Northamptonshire has had a busy year!

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

    News -

    Read the latest important local update about coronavirus.

  7. 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.

  8. Visits to mental health crisis support services in Northamptonshire

    Report -

    Healthwatch Northamptonshire has been carrying out a series of visits to NHS and Social Care funded services in Northamptonshire to ascertain the experience and opinions of service users, with a particular focus on mental health.

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. Help health and social care services recover from COVID-19 #BecauseWeAllCare

    News -

    Two-thirds of people in England say they are more likely to act to improve health and social care services since the outbreak of COVID-19. You can help improve care in Northamptonshire by joining our campaign #BecauseWeAllCare.

  12. 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.

  13. 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.

  14. Healthwatch Northamptonshire response to Corby Urgent Care Centre judicial review ruling

    News -

    Healthwatch Northamptonshire is pleased to hear that the Judicial Review brought against Corby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) by the residents of Corby has been upheld.

  15. Healthwatch Northamptonshire and Corby Clinical Commissioning Group reopen discussions about the future of Corby Urgent Care Centre

    News -

    The Chairs of Corby CCG and Healthwatch Northamptonshire and the Chief Executives have met to review the outcome of the recent Judicial Review of Corby Urgent Care Centre.

  16. Healthwatch Northamptonshire voices its concerns about the impact of the disruption to exams on the health and wellbeing of young people and their families

    News -

    During this time of distress caused by the exam results confusion, here are some sources of support

  17. 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.

  18. 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.

  19. 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.

  20. 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.

  21. 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.

  22. Getting the most out of the virtual health and care experience

    Advice and Information -

    Working with National Voices, Traverse, and PPL, Healthwatch England put together some tips on how to get the most out of the virtual health and care appointments both for patients and health and care professionals.

  23. Managing hearing loss and tinnitus during Covid-19

    Advice and Information -

    Find out about services and help available for those with hearing loss and Tinnitus during Covid-19 and how professionals can communicate better with people with hearing loss

  24. Northampton Borough and Corby Borough removed from the government watch list

    News -

    Northampton and Corby has now been removed from the Government watch list for Coronavirus this week

  25. 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.

  26. New NHS COVID-19 app

    News -

    The NHS COVID-19 app has been launched to help notify users if they have come into contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19.

  27. 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.

  28. Local services for young people and their mental health

    Advice and Information -

    We understand that during these difficult times, young people particularly might struggle with their mental health. There are local services available to help you or someone you know.

  29. World Mental Health Day 2020

    News -

    For World Mental Health Day (Saturday 10 October), we are reflecting on this year and how difficult it has been on people's mental health. You can find services here if you need support.

  30. Northamptonshire placed in Tier 1 on COVID-19 Alert System

    News -

    The Prime Minister announced on 12 October that Northamptonshire will be placed in Tier 1 of the new three-tiered COVID-19 alert system. Lucy Wightman, Director of Public Health at Northamptonshire County Council, gave the following statement:

  31. 15 Steps Visits to Kettering General Hospital: Summary and Impact Report

    Report -

    Two of our volunteers visited wards and departments at Kettering General Hospital 43 times between April 2019 to March 2020 to provide the hospital with feedback using the 15 Steps Challenge tool. Their findings have been summarised into a report.

  32. Healthwatch Northamptonshire volunteers shortlisted for national award for their visits giving feedback to Kettering General Hospital

    News -

    Healthwatch Northamptonshire volunteers Sheila White and Wendy Patel have been shortlisted for a prestigious national award for undertaking 43 visits to 50 wards and departments at Kettering General Hospital (KGH) between April 2019 and March 2020.

  33. Remote accessibility for D/deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people—what can you do?

    Advice and Information -

    Find out how to better communicate with people with hearing loss during the pandemic

  34. Northamptonshire’s Community Resilience hub continues to provide support for the most vulnerable

    News -

    The countywide Community Resilience hub was set up at the start of April to help those needing support or assistance during periods of isolation or for those who are vulnerable.

  35. Flu vaccinations for Carers

    News -

    Public Health Northamptonshire and Northamptonshire Clinical Commissioning Group are calling on carers to get their free flu vaccine. Having the flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and anyone that you care for from flu.

  36. Watch our 2019-20 Annual Meeting

    News -

    Our annual meeting was held virtually via Zoom on 29 October 2020 at 11am and was a success; streaming to viewers Live on YouTube

  37. 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.

  38. Do you know what to do if an adult is at risk of harm and abuse?

    News -

    Northamptonshire Safeguarding Adults Board has launched an online survey to find out people’s understanding of safeguarding and if they know how to raise a concern if someone they know is at risk of harm and abuse.

  39. Sheila and Wendy win prestigious national award for Healthwatch Northamptonshire

    News -

    Two of our dedicated volunteers who made an amazing 43 trips to inspect 36 wards and departments in a year at Kettering General Hospital have won Healthwatch Northamptonshire a national award.

  40. 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.

  41. Virtual Visiting and Covid arrangements at local hospitals

    Advice and Information -

    Innovative ‘virtual visiting’ live links at Kettering and Northampton General Hospital are supporting hundreds of local families who can’t visit their loved ones in hospital.

  42. Are you accessible for people with any level of hearing loss?

    Advice and Information -

    Deafconnect is the only charity in Northamptonshire supporting deaf people of all ages. They are continuing to provide support and services throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

  43. Northamptonshire is placed in Tier 2 of the three tier COVID-19 alert system

    News -

    The Government has announced that Northamptonshire will be placed in Tier 2 of the three tier COVID-19 alert system, starting on Wednesday 2 December.

  44. NHS 111 First

    News -

    A new national programme called NHS 111 First, which encourages patients to contact NHS 111 before attending an Emergency Department (A&E) so they can be directed straight to the right service for their needs, is now live.

  45. The way health and care professionals in Northamptonshire use the information they hold about you is changing

    News -

    Local providers of health and social care have a duty to keep complete, accurate and up-to-date information about your care to ensure you can receive the best possible treatment and support.