News and reports

Large scale research and data collection is needed to tackle “humbling inequalities" in Covid-19 death rates, according to the new Public Health England report. We want our feedback to build an understanding of health experiences of BAME groups.

Police are warning of a new scam where callers pose as NHS Track and Trace advisors who ask the householder to pay £500 to be tested or face a “penalty.”

We are celebrating Volunteers' Week June 1st to 7th by saying a big thank you to our 30 volunteers and 7 trustees who help us at Healthwatch Bristol, North Somerset and South Glos.

We are marking Mental Health Awareness Week by looking at the barriers faced by the deaf community making them twice as likely to develop a mental health condition. Healthwatch is supporting work to help tackle the added difficulties of Covid-19.

We are raising awareness of the difficulties people face getting a diagnosis for Crohn's and Colitis for World IBD Day. TV presenter Rylan Clark talks about the stigma stopping people getting help.

Mental Health Week May 18th – 24th is about kindness and we at Healthwatch want to focus on the phone friends, from Age UK South Glos, who are chatting to older people to help them through this pandemic.

People with disabilities and those who are less mobile may be struggling to attend necessary medical appointments due to reduced transport services.

People are not seeking help for potentially life-threatening health conditions due to the Covid-19 outbreak, Healthwatch has learned.

The health pandemic has resulted in many mental health support services either being suspended or becoming ‘self-service’ over the internet due to social distancing.

Only a small fraction of “at risk” children are taking up the emergency school places which are open to them, prompting concerns that they are facing increased danger during the lockdown.

If you are at home self-isolating and need a support lifeline you can now call our team to find the right type of help from the new army of NHS Responders.

Use our new Healthwatch guides to help you get to grips with using health websites and apps. From Patient Access and NHS App to using Zoom, you can download and print our step-by-step guides.