News and reports

Key information and messages for the public

NHS England has published the long-awaited updates to the Accessible Information Standard.

Local Healthwatch services across England have signed a powerful open letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. We are urging the government to reconsider proposals that would transfer our independent functions, successfully delivered for 13 years, to local authorities and NHS bodies.

The letter, which to date has been signed by 131 Healthwatch Chief Officers/Chairs - representing 86% of the national network - warns that the proposed changes would seriously compromise the independence that makes public feedback effective and trusted.

131 local Healthwatch services across England, including Healthwatch Brighton and Hove, signed a powerful open letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, urging the government to reconsider proposals that would bring public voice functions under the control of local authorities and NHS bodies. Read our letter and response below.

This document describes the health and social care projects that Healthwatch Brighton and Hove will work on over the next year. It also describes internal projects that support the successful operation of our organisation.

NHS Sussex is looking at how the wheelchair service in Sussex works for patients and seeking feedback in a new survey.

Between April 1st 2024 and March 31st 2025, we received 228 enquiries to our helpline. Enquiries were mostly a combination of feedback through our website, emails, phone call messages, and at face-to-face events. Most people were raising concerns or requesting information about services.

The five leading areas of concerns and related complaints raised, in descending
order were:
1. Poor quality of care from a GP.
2. Poor hospital care including ambulance waiting times, treatment waiting
times, A&E, and poor communication of cancelled appointments.
3. Lack of an NHS dentist including emergency dental care.
4. Poor access to a GP appointment, including waiting times for appointments.
5. Social care such as care at home and in care homes.

Some people took the time to make compliments about services.

Our Spotlight is an opportunity to share local projects, organisations and events which benefit the community.

Healthwatch Brighton & Hove undertook an Enter and View visit to the Emergency Department at the Royal Sussex County Hospital - read about what we found and our recommendations.

New research from Healthwatch England shows how important choice is to people when it comes to their care. Read their recommendations to help ensure that people get those choices.

NHS Kent & Medway and NHS Sussex are inviting you to share your views on the NHS 111 service.

A&E patients in Brighton & Hove will see significant changes to the department soon due to a £62 million transformation programme underway at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.