1. Do you need help getting to hospital?

    Advice and Information -

    Find out what support is available to help you travel to your hospital appointments.

  2. 3Rs - Exploring People's Experiences of Reablement Services

    Report -

    Healthwatch undertook a 12-month project looking into people's experiences of rehabilitation, reablement and recovery services. This work included a series of enter and view visits, followed by one to one interviews with patients after discharge.

  3. Healthwatch Discharge Report: July and August 2014

    Report -

    The Healthwatch Special Inquiry into hospital discharge took place during July and August 2014. The theme of this work was identified nationally by Healthwatch England, and implemented locally by Healthwatch in Bristol, BANES, South Glos and Somerset

  4. Thornbury Hospital Enter and View 2018

    Report -

    Healthwatch South Gloucestershire Enter and View report Thornbury Hospital on 7 February 2018.

  5. Skylark Rehabilitation Unit, Enter and View 2018

    Report -

    Healthwatch South Gloucestershire Enter and View report: Skylark Rehabilitation Unit 13 June 2018.

  6. Elgar Enablement Unit - Southmead Hospital Enter & View 2018

    Report -

    Healthwatch South Gloucestershire was asked to undertake an Enter and View visit to Elgar Enablement Unit directed by South Gloucestershire’s Health Scrutiny Committee. This took place on 8 October 2018.

  7. Southmead Hospital Emergency Department Enter and View 2018

    Report -

    Hivewatch undertook the Enter and View visit to Southmead Emergency Department on 11 October 2018 with the aim of assessing the ED experience for people with learning difficulties. The findings of the visit can be found in this report.

  8. NHS Long Term Plan launched

    News -

    The 10-year plan includes measures to prevent 150,000 heart attacks, strokes and dementia cases, and better access to mental health services for adults and children.

  9. Callington Road Hospital, Enter and View

    Report -

    Healthwatch South Gloucestershire & Bristol Enter and View authorised representatives undertook one Enter and View visit to Aspen Ward, Laurel Ward and Elizabeth Casson House on 19.10.15

  10. Callington Road Hospital Report 6.10.15

    Report -

    Healthwatch South Gloucestershire & Bristol Enter and View authorised representatives undertook one Enter and View visit to Lime Ward and Silver Birch Ward on 6.10.15

  11. Southmead Hospital mental health services

    Report -

    Healthwatch South Gloucestershire & Bristol Enter and View authorised representatives undertook one Enter and View visit to Southmead Hospital Mental Health Services on 25.9.15

  12. Engagement Report on the NHS Long Term Plan

    Report -

    The NHS has produced a Long Term Plan, setting out all the things it wants health services to do better for people across the country. For these plans to work, the NHS needs to shape local plans based on local needs.

  13. Healthwatch response to North Bristol Trust’s Equality Delivery System

    Report -

    Healthwatch Bristol and Healthwatch South Gloucestershire volunteers and staff met with Lesley Mansell, Equality and Diversity Manager at North Bristol Trust (NBT), on 30 November 2016.

  14. Comparison Table of 2014 and Nov 2015 Southmead Hospital

    Response -

    Recommendations and Responses

  15. Healthwatch Discharge Report: July and August 2014

    Report -

    The Healthwatch Special Inquiry into hospital discharge took place during July and August 2014. The theme of this work was identified nationally by Healthwatch England, and implemented locally by Healthwatch in Bristol, BANES, South Glos and Somerset

  16. Southmead Hospital Enter and View Report

    Report -

    As you will probably be aware, Healthwatch has been working hard to consult patients and members of the public about Southmead Hospital.

  17. Brunel Neurological Alliance - Neurological Survey May 2014

    Report -

    A report on the experience of people living with neurological conditions in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire

  18. Raising Concerns about Nurses or Midwives

    Advice and Information -

    The Nursing and Midwifery Council have produced a new leaflet for patients, carers and the public called Raising concerns about a nurse or midwife.

  19. Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Rehabilitation and Reablement Review

    Report -

    November project update report for the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Rehabilitation and Reablement Review

  20. Hospitals need to 'shift the mindset' so patients know their complaints will bring about positive changes

    News -

    More hospitals should use their complaints system in a positive way to demonstrate to the public they can make improvements. Healthwatch wants hospitals to build patient trust so they know comments can bring about clear results.

  21. Latest Enter and View Elgar House

    Report -

    Read our review on Elgar House, Southmead Hospital, where we observed the facilities and spoke to patients on the ward. We found delays in sorting patients' care at home leading to prolonged stays.

  22. Latest guidance on attending appointments and new visitor restrictions at local hospitals

    News -

    Hospitals trusts covering Bristol, South Glos and Weston hospitals have said appointments are continuing as normal there is no need to ring and check. However, visiting patients has been suspended except in certain circumstances.

  23. NHS Nightingale Bristol will open to day patients

    News -

    The NHS Nightingale Hospital in Bristol is to open for children and adults’ routine appointments to ease pressures on hospitals in the region caused by Covid-19.

  24. Do you need A&E? Ring NHS 111 for urgent care if not life-threatening

    News -

    Many patients who go to A&E could be treated more appropriately, often more quickly by another NHS service. This is why NHS 111 First has launched to get you and your family the care you need without waiting a long time at A&E.

  25. Healthier Together recognised for collaborative working

    News -

    The Healthier Together Partnership has been officially recognised as an Integrated Care System by NHS England/Improvement. This group of 10 organisations works collaboratively to improve health and care across Bristol, North Somerset and South Glos.

  26. Healthwatch discusses Covid-19 pressures on BRI's A&E department on Radio Bristol

    News -

    The pandemic has led to delays in patients getting seen at Bristol Royal Infirmary’s A&E department due to high demand and lack of staff, a new report has found.

  27. South Glos chosen to become an ‘accelerator site’ in NHS mission to tackle waiting lists

    News -

    Bristol, North Somerset and South Glos will receive a share of £160 million in an NHS plan to test new ways of reducing the elective care waiting lists post Covid-19.

  28. Pharmacy spotlight: Sadik Al-Hassan, Well Pharmacy

    Advice and Information -

    Sadik Al-Hassan, Senior Pharmacist and Area Operations Manager for Well Pharmacy, spoke to Healthwatch South Gloucestershire about what pharmacies can offer, and how they can help take the pressure off GPs and A&E departments.

  29. Improving stroke services in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire

    News -

    Stroke services in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire could be set to change as part of a public consultation on proposed improvements.

  30. Next steps for stroke services to be decided

    News -

    Sit in on the decision-making process and hear the results of the Clinical Commissioning Group's recent consultation on how to improve stroke services and save lives in the Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire area.

  31. Medical care at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston rated 'good' by CQC - but concerns raised over patient safety

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission's inspection of Weston General Hospital in June left the independent regulator 'significantly concerned about the safe care and treatment of patients receiving medical care'.

  32. Mental health services for children, young people, and older people must improve, says independent regulator

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission has published its latest report on community mental health services for children and young people, and hospital wards for older adults, provided by Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust.

  33. Have your say: attending Southmead Hospital A&E department

    News -

    Staff at Southmead Hospital need your feedback to find how patient care at their A&E department can be improved. If you've attended A&E as a walk-in during November or December 2021, you can help by filling in our anonymous survey.

  34. Recommendations to improve local stroke services agreed by NHS commissioners

    News -

    The Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group said the changes will mean fewer people die or experience long-term disability following a stroke. Services are expected to be fully in place from November 2022.

  35. Local NHS renews campaign to encourage people with non-life-threatening medical conditions to call 111 first

    News -

    The NHS in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire is encouraging people to contact NHS 111 for help with urgent but not life-threatening medical needs, rather than going straight to local A&E departments.

  36. Report: experiences of attending Southmead A&E during the COVID-19 pandemic

    Report -

    North Bristol NHS Trust asked us to carry out a survey with people attending A&E at Southmead Hospital. We found that the management of people's long-term conditions in the community needs to improve, to reduce some of the pressure on A&E.

  37. Provider of NHS 111 services in South Gloucestershire rated 'Outstanding' by independent regulator

    News -

    Practice Plus Group - NHS 111 South West, who have a contact centre in Bristol and answer NHS 111 calls from people across the South West, were found to be safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led by the Care Quality Commission.

  38. "This is another scandal where it’s clear that lessons from past tragedies haven’t been learnt" - Healthwatch England's response to the Ockenden review

    News -

    Healthwatch England has responded to the Independent Review of Maternity Services at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, led by Donna Ockenden. The review examined almost 1,600 clinical incidents and found repeated failures in care.

  39. Annual Report 2021/2022

    Report -

    Your feedback helps us influence positive change and encourages the improvement of local NHS health and social care services. Take a look at everything we've been up to throughout 2021/2022.

  40. 'The barriers to accessing timely care can put people’s lives at risk' - Healthwatch England's response to the Care Quality Commission's 'State of Care' report

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. Their latest report sets out the challenges the NHS and social care sector face: 'the health and care system is gridlocked, unable to operate effectively.'

  41. Experiences of being in hospital for people with a learning disability and autistic people

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission says people with a learning disability and autistic people "continue to face barriers when accessing health care and treatment" after collecting people’s experiences from 8 hospital trusts in England.

  42. Hundreds more people to benefit from NHS care in the comfort of their own homes this winter

    News -

    The NHS@Home service offers hospital-level care and remote monitoring in an individual’s home, providing an alternative to hospital admission, or helping them to return home promptly following an inpatient stay.

  43. Long stay and rehabilitation mental health wards rated 'good' by independent regulator

    News -

    Three of the four wards for working age adults managed by Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust were inspected by the Care Quality Commission in January 2023.

  44. Safety concerns raised after inspection of acute psychiatric wards and psychiatric intensive care units

    News -

    Sexual safety incidents on mixed wards and environmental risks were among the issues identified by the Care Quality Commission, independent regulator for health and social care services in England.

  45. 'One patient was waiting over 9 hours to be collected' - Care Quality Commission raises concerns over waiting times for community transport provider E-Zec Medical Transport Services Ltd

    News -

    The independent regulator for health and social care services in England undertook an inspection of E-Zec Medical Transport Services Ltd in January 2023.

  46. Continuity of care is crucial to addressing perinatal mental health

    News -

    Research shows that continuity of care - receiving care from the same midwife or team of midwives - is best practice in maternity care. But we spoke to new mothers whose experiences show that services don’t always implement it.

  47. Annual Report 2022/2023

    Report -

    Last year, 793 people shared their experiences of health and social care services with us. Our annual report sets out how your comments and concerns have had a real impact on local health and social care services.

  48. The infopool: information for people affected by prostate cancer

    Advice and Information -

    The infopool is a new website offering simple, clear information about prostate cancer. It will help you understand the different tests and treatments available, and includes information on clinical trials you may be suitable for.

  49. British Sign Language first aid resources now available from St John Ambulance

    Advice and Information -

    St John Ambulance has set up the CPR Community Network to ensure that everyone has access to basic life support training in person, online or by using their Resource Hub to give you the confidence to respond in an emergency.

  50. E-Zec Medical Transport re-inspected by regulator following warning notice

    News -

    In the latest inspection, carried out in July 2023, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) focused on the areas highlighted in the warning notice issued in January. The service remains rated as 'requires improvement'.