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. Raising awareness of diversity

    News -

    A trans health survey carried out by The Diversity Trust and supported by HWNS found that 51 per cent of trans and non-binary patients had self-harmed or injured themselves and 40 per cent had attempted to take their own life.

  3. Healthy Weston - Easy read documents

    News -

    Please click below for an easy read version of the Healthy Weston Documentation.

  4. University hospitals Southampton offer leadership development opportunity

    News -

    University Hospitals Southampton offer leadership development opportunity for aspiring leaders with disabilities.

  5. North Bristol NHS Trust

    News -

    North Bristol NHS Trust Equality Newsletter

  6. Workforce Race Equality Standard data report

    News -

    We are pleased to attach a copy of the 2018 WRES data report, which provides an overview of the data on all nine WRES indicators and makes comparisons to previous years’ data.

  7. Trans health, care and wellbeing report

    Report -

    This report aims to identify the health, care and wellbeing needs of *Trans and **Non-Binary people. This report summarises the evidence, feedback, and experiences, from the Trans and Non-Binary people who took part in the research.

  8. Pride 2019

    News -

    We enjoyed entering a wonderful rainbow world of fun and fiesta at Weston Pride and thanks to everyone who posed with our fluffy photo frame and told us their thoughts on health and social care - it WILL make a difference.

  9. North Somerset statement of action for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

    News -

    It was asked that the Clinical Commissioning Group and the Local Authority jointly submit a written statement to Ofsted following the Ofsted and CQC Inspection in North Somerset.

  10. NHS leaders commit to specialist help support for Veterans in every part of the NHS

    News -

    NHS leaders have confirmed today that specialist health support for veterans will be available in every part of the health service, across the country.

  11. University Hospitals Bristol Statement

    News -

    University Hospital Bristol response to The Diversity Trust and local Healthwatch report, Trans health, care and wellbeing report April 2018

  12. Black History Month Celebration

    News -

    University Hospitals Bristol Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Workers’ (BAMEW) Forum supported by RCN South West invite you to celebrate with them on 17th October 2018.

  13. "My voice - my choice" - Leonard Cheshire

    News -

    A series of workshops are being held in Weston-super-Mare to allow disabled adults to share stories and suggest ways of making it easier to be part of the community.

  14. "The struggle for healthcare when you are deaf" - Terry's story

    Blog -

    While most hearing people take daily communication for granted, there are barriers everywhere for Terry, who is profoundly deaf.

  15. Special Educational Needs and Disability Review

    News -

    Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have published their findings following their joint review of services for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities in North Somerset, which took place 14-18 May 2018.

  16. Black and Ethnic Minority cancer patients encouraged to give feedback

    News -

    NHS England Chief Executive Simon Stevens today issued an appeal for more black and ethnic minority (BME) patients to help improve cancer care by sharing their experiences.

  17. Healthcare communication cards

    News -

    Action on Hearing Loss have a Health and Care Communication Card to support anyone with hearing loss in communicating their needs to health care professionals.

  18. Growing up with hearing loss

    Blog -

    The Reality of Growing Up with Hearing Loss – Action On Hearing Loss: RNID
    Kim’s Blog

  19. Taking pride in equality, diversity and inclusion

    News -

    NHS England will be represented at a series of Pride events this summer. This is first time that members of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender plus staff network will march representing the organisation.

  20. Better care in my hands

    News -

    CQC’s national reports and thematic reviews from the last five years consistently show that some groups of people are less involved in their care than others.

  21. BME Communities are heard

    News -

    A new joint venture will ensure the voice of black and other minority ethnic (BME) communities in North Somerset continues to be heard.

  22. Avon and Wiltshire Partnership

    News -

    Avon and Wiltshire Partnership (AWP) were anonymously nominated for ‘Excellence in Diversity Awards’ earlier this year, and then later shortlisted for the ‘Diverse Company – Public Sector’ category.

  23. British Sign Language Service

    News -

    British Sign Language (BSL) users are now able to get in touch with NHS England’s Customer Contact Centre using a video call supported by a BSL interpreter.

  24. Have your say

    News -

    On Thursday 27th August between 1.00-2.00pm the @NHSEngland twitter channel will dedicate this hour to Learning Disabilities, exploring the latest service model, discussing learning disability services and welcoming feedback via #TransformingCare.

  25. When to call 111

    News -

    A helpful video describing when to call 111 for advice compared to when to call 999 for an ambulance

  26. Women's only support group

    News -

    A women's only support group has been launched for people who need help with addiction and their friends and family.

  27. New review says BAME groups at higher risk of dying from Covid-19

    Report -

    A new review has shown the risk of dying from Covid-19 is higher among Black and Asian Minority Ethnic Groups compared to white groups. Healthwatch awaits recommendations from these findings which will really benefit BAME staff and patients.

  28. Action needed after review shows BAME adversely affected by pandemic

    News -

    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.

  29. NHS Race and Health Observatory

    News -

    A new NHS centre to investigate the effects of race and ethnicity on people’s health has got the go ahead after Covid 19 helped to focus minds on the continuing problem of racism in medicine.

  30. Sir Michael Marmot says Healthwatch can energise and give power to communities

    News -

    Sir Michael Marmot author of the landmark report Marmot Review: Fair Society, Healthy Lives spoke to Healthwatch about how the Covid-19 pandemic has “amplified” health inequalities even further.

  31. Historic turning point - Covid vaccines rolled out to first patients at Southmead Hospital

    News -

    The new Covid-19 vaccine has been rolled out in Bristol today (December 8) – with the over 80s and care home staff first on the list to receive it.

  32. Zoom in for our next Prioritisation Panel meeting on February 23

    News -

    At our Prioritisation Panel you can hear first hand how Healthwatch uses your feedback to understand the city's key health issues and works to bring about resolutions to help everyone have better health and care.

  33. If you have a learning disability you need to be on your GP's learning disability register to have the vaccine

    News -

    Find out more about how to get on your GPs learning disability register to ensure you have the Covid-19 vaccine. Being on the register also means you should be invited to have an important health check-up to pick up any symptoms of illness.

  34. Overcoming concerns about the Covid-19 vaccine if you have a learning disability

    Advice and Information -

    One of our volunteers, Jemma Ballinger, says while it is great news that people on the learning disability register will be prioritised to have the vaccine, they will still often need a lot of reassurance and understanding to receive it.

  35. Vaccine research shows positive reaction among Asian communities

    News -

    Sayd Ahmed from North Somerset Bangladeshi Association has been on a mission to speak to all Asian households in the area to encourage them the Covid vaccine is safe. He told HW he spoke to 2,200 people and they all were in favour of having it.

  36. How to cope with lockdown if you have autism

    Advice and Information -

    Radio presenter and Asperger's champion Alex Manners spoke to Healthwatch ahead of his talk organised by Bristol Autism Support tomorrow (April 7th). His tips for coping with the pressures of Covid-19? "Find a project and focus on the next few days."

  37. Pharmacy spotlight: Day Lewis in Nailsea

    Advice and Information -

    Pharmacies offer a wealth of health and care services and popping in for advice might prevent the need to call 111 or visit your GP

  38. Winterbourne View 10 years on: Supporting those with learning disabilities to stay safe and well

    News -

    People with learning disabilities are still at risk of dying unnecessarily and receive poorer care – 10 years on from the abuse suffered at Winterbourne View.

  39. Why do we need to collect demographic information when you share your views with us?

    Advice and Information -

    When you share your views with us, we ask for demographic information such as your gender, sexual orientation, age, and ethnicity. Here's why we collect this information, and what we use it for.

  40. Face-to-face appointments: know your choices

    Advice and Information -

    Digital appointments don't work for everyone. Many health care services have moved online, but you can still request a face-to-face appointment. Here's what you can expect from the NHS if you need to be seen in person.

  41. Healthwatch BNSSG's code of conduct

    Report -

    Everyone who represents Healthwatch Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire is expected to behave professionally and in support of our values These include being inclusive, transparent, non-judgemental, and independent.

  42. Struggling to access digital services? Take a look at three new booklets, created to help people use the internet

    News -

    Alive, a charity dedicated to improving the quality of life of older people and their carers, have published three booklets with the help of Healthwatch North Somerset to help those who struggle with technology access online services.

  43. Translated COVID-19 advice posters available in 12 languages

    News -

    Posters with the most recent COVID-19 information and recommended steps to keep everyone safe and reduce the spread of the virus are have been translated into 12 different languages, including Somali, Polish, and Gujarati.

  44. People with learning disabilities and their carers are entitled to a free flu vaccination

    Advice and Information -

    Preventing flu can be particularly important for people with a learning disability. Flu can lead to pneumonia and sepsis, which many people with a learning disability are much more vulnerable to than the general population.

  45. 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.

  46. 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.

  47. Introducing HealthClick: free digital skills workshops to help you manage your health online

    Advice and Information -

    Learn about the NHS app, how to order prescriptions, view test results, book GP appointments, and access online consultations at one of our free digital skills workshops. You'll receive 1:1 support and be able to ask questions.

  48. Report: unheard carers from minority groups in North Somerset

    Report -

    People from diverse, often-unheard cultural backgrounds told us about their experiences of looking after a loved one. None considered themselves to be carers, and therefore were not receiving any support from local health and social care services.

  49. 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.