1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. NHS survey seeks views on next steps to further improve services at Weston General Hospital

    News -

    The NHS in Weston-super-Mare, Worle and surrounding areas is asking local people to respond to a survey about its vision and ambition to secure Weston General Hospital as a thriving hospital at the heart of the community.

  5. Provider of NHS 111 services in North Somerset 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.

  6. North Somerset Prioritisation Panel February 2022 - minutes

    Report -

    On the February 15 2022, our Prioritisation Panel came together to discuss the health and social care issues you've raised, and what Healthwatch North Somerset can do to bring about change.

  7. The public agenda for our next Prioritisation Panel on May 17

    News -

    See how we work out the main health and care priorities for North Somerset from your feedback. Our meeting at 12:00pm on May 17 is where we action your comments or concerns with providers to ensure what you tell us makes a difference.

  8. "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.

  9. Get involved in turning the plans for Weston General Hospital into action

    News -

    Doctors, nurses and other health professionals have worked with the public and staff to draw up plans for the future of Weston General Hospital. The public have the opportunity to share their feedback at a range of public engagement events.

  10. Have your say: what keeps you happy, healthy and well?

    Advice and Information -

    That’s the question being asked by the new Integrated Care System (ICS) for Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, as it launches a wide-ranging public engagement exercise to shape priorities for health and care in the years ahead.

  11. What is Enter and View?

    Advice and Information -

    As a local Healthwatch, we are able to visit health and social care services (such as hospitals and GP surgeries) and see them in action. This is called 'Enter and View'. Our goal is to identify what's working well and where improvements are needed.

  12. Disabled people being left behind due to a lack of accessible healthcare information

    News -

    Disabled people and people with sensory loss have a legal right to get health and social care information in a way that's accessible for them. Yet Healthwatch England has found one in five people struggle to understand the information they receive.

  13. Weston General Hospital rating moves up from 'inadequate' to 'requires improvement'

    News -

    The hospital was rated 'inadequate' in June 2021 by the Care Quality Commission, after the independent regulator of health and social care in England raised concerns over patient safety.

  14. Where can I get digital support?

    Advice and Information -

    Technology can make it easier to access information and care, but can also pose challenges for those without the skills or confidence to use the internet. Here are all the places you can get digital support in North Somerset.

  15. '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.'

  16. Public living rooms set up to help local residents struggling with rising energy prices

    Advice and Information -

    A public living room is somewhere people can go to stay warm and have a hot drink as the cost of living crisis continues. North Somerset Council has mapped the public living rooms opening over the coming weeks.

  17. 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.

  18. Findings: what keeps you happy, healthy and well?

    News -

    Earlier this year, the local Integrated Care Board asked residents for feedback on what keeps us all well, what support we need, and what barriers to keeping well exist. Here's what you said.