1. Healthwatch Brighton and Hove - Board Meeting Papers September 2023

    Report -

    These are the board papers for the Board of Directors meeting held on 11th September 2023.

  2. Have your say - Easy Read

    News -

    Download an Easy Read version of our 'Have your say' form.

  3. Help shape the future of ambulance services - join a new patient forum

    News -

    A new patient forum has been created to hear your views about 999 and 111 services

  4. Annual NHS Dental Statistics for England - Healthwatch England's response

    News -

    New figures published last week in the annual report on NHS Dental Statistics for England in 2022-23, show that NHS dentists still see fewer people than pre-pandemic. Read Healthwatch England's response.

  5. NHS Sussex Survey : Understanding your experiences of Social Prescribing in Sussex

    News -

    NHS Sussex would like to understand the views and experiences of local people who have accessed social prescribing - share your views

  6. NHS Flu and Covid vaccine programmes brought forward due to risk of new Covid variant

    News -

    Thousands of eligible people across Sussex will now be offered a Covid vaccine from 11 September, in line with the latest expert guidance on the new Covid variant.

  7. Support groups for people bereaved by suicide

    Advice and Information -

    Facing the future provides safe online support groups for people bereaved by suicide where they can talk through their feelings with others who have similar experiences.

  8. This week is Know Your Numbers week, get your blood pressure checked

    News -

    Know Your Numbers week is 4-10th September

  9. Third of people in England lack confidence they can access critical NHS services

    News -

    New research by Healthwatch england suggests that people need more confidence that the NHS can provide timely care.

  10. Your experiences of getting prescription medication

    News -

    Healthwatch England highlight the challenges people have recently told us about when trying to get prescription medication.

  11. Public engagement event – St Peter’s Patient Participation Group (6.9.23) and news about their new premises (January 2024)

    Report -

    Healthwatch Brighton and Hove attended the Patient Participation Group (PPG) meeting for St Peter’s GP Practice on 6 September 2023 - read our report to learn what happened and what questions were asked

  12. Advice for patients during the latest industrial action by doctors - September

    News -

    People urged to support the NHS across Sussex during latest consultants’ industrial action in September and October

  13. Updated COVID-19 and flu vaccination information, September 2023

    News -

    People who are most at risk can now book a COVID-19 booster vaccination.

  14. Public engagement event – Brunswick Square festival

    Report -

    At the Brunswick Square festival, Healthwatch Brighton and Hove ran a stall to raise awareness of our organisation and to hear people’s views and experiences of health and social care in the City.

  15. CQC Report: The Broadway Surgery, September 2023

    News -

    Read the latest Care Quality Commission report on The Broadway Surgery

  16. CQC Report: Regency Surgery, September 2023

    News -

    Read the latest Care Quality Commission report on Regency Surgery Surgery

  17. Supporting the development of our local hospital (new Cancer Centre)

    Report -

    Healthwatch, along with other organisations, were recently invited to attend a New Cancer Centre Engagement Workshop on 11th September 2023 held at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

  18. CQC publishes results of national hospital inpatient survey

    News -

    Inpatient care has worsened since 2020, according to the latest national experience survey by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

  19. National suicide strategy sets out plan to cut deaths in at-risk groups

    News -

    The government has published a new national strategy.

  20. SPFT Access to Mental Health Services Survey

    News -

    NHS Sussex are running a survey on how best to enable people who need support and help with their mental health to find and access appropriate local mental health services directly.

  21. Share your thoughts on hospital discharge

    News -

    Have you or a loved one been discharged from hospital in the last 12 months? If yes, we want to hear from you.

  22. Supporting the improvement of patient’s stay at our local Hospitals

    Report -

    Reducing the Length of Patient’s Hospital Stay Engagement Workshop.

  23. Healthwatch statement on the police investigation into services at Royal Sussex Hospital

    News -

    You can read our statement below

  24. New Sussex Cancer Centre – share your thoughts

    News -

    A public exhibition is taking place at Royal Sussex County Hospital main entrance until 5 November, and you can ask questions during an online presentation on 23 October, 6-8pm.

  25. Public consultation opens on a smoke-free generation and vaping

    News -

    The government launched a public consultation this week to seek views from teenagers and adults on its plans to create a smoke-free generation and curb vaping use by young people.

  26. People’s Experiences of long COVID in Sussex: Qualitative engagement

    Report -

    This report is the second of a two-part engagement exercise undertaken by Healthwatch in Sussex exploring the qualitative experiences of long COVID.

  27. CQC's State of Care report - our response

    Response -

    Care Quality Commissions has today published its annual State of Care report, highlighting that a combination of cost-of-living crisis and workforce pressures risks ‘unfair care’ for many people. Read Healthwatch's response.

  28. Kemptown Boot's Pharmacy to close

    News -

    Boots Pharmacy on St James' Street in Kemptown is closing on 20th January 2024.

  29. Healthwatch Brighton & Hove Newsletter October 1st 2023

    News -

    We publish monthly newsletters. See October's below.

  30. What you need to know about Shingles vaccines

    Advice and Information -

    The shingles vaccine helps protect against shingles. It's recommended for people at higher risk from shingles, including all adults turning 65, those aged 70 to 79 and those aged 50 and over with a severely weakened immune system.

  31. Maternal mental health: The changes your feedback made possible

    Blog -

    Earlier this year, HW Brighton & Hove collected your views of maternity and postnatal support. We shared this with Healthwatch England. Thanks to your stories the Government has confirmed plans for NHS England to work with the Royal College of GPs to develop new guidance on 6-8 week postnatal checks to support women’s mental health after giving birth.

  32. Improving the Outpatient experience

    Report -

    Impact has already been made through patient feedback at Healthwatch in Sussex deliberative engagement workshops, April - May 2023.

  33. Healthwatch Brighton and Hove six-month Performance Report (April 1st 2023 to September 30th 2023)

    Report -

    Our six-month performance report demonstrates what we have achieved between April 1st 2023 and September 30th 2023.

  34. CQC report lowers rating for Chalkhill ward (run by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust)

    News -

    Following two inspections in June 2023, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has lowered its rating for Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s child and adolescent mental health (CAMHS) ward at Chalkhill, from 'Good' to 'Requires Improvement'.

  35. Improving the Outpatient experience - Part 2: Information shared with participants

    Report -

    Participant Information provided in conjunction with the Healthwatch in Sussex Outpatient deliberative engagement workshops held April - May 2023.

  36. Enter and View report: The Atrium at the Louisa Martindale Building August 2023

    Report -

    Healthwatch Brighton & Hove undertook an Enter and View visit to the Atrium at the Louisa Martindale Building at the Royal Sussex County Hospital - read about what they found and our recommendations.

  37. Have your say about ambulance services in the South East

    News -

    The South East Coast Ambulance Service is welcoming the public and patients to share their views on the development of their clinical led strategy through an online survey and virtual community forum.

  38. CQC Report: Lavender House, November 2023

    News -

    Read the latest Care Quality Commission report on Lavender House.

  39. Homecare Check Summary Report - Nov 2023

    Report -

    A summary report of our Homecare Check Service from November 2022 to October 2023.

  40. Healthwatch Brighton & Hove Newsletter November 9th 2023

    News -

    We publish monthly newsletters. See November's below.

  41. CQC Report: Bethesda Home, November 2023

    News -

    Read the latest Care Quality Commission report on Bethesda Home.

  42. CQC Report: Hazelgrove Nursing Home, November 2023

    News -

    Read the latest Care Quality Commission report on Hazelgrove Nursing Home.

  43. NHS urged to do more to help patients leave hospital safely

    News -

    Healthwatch England research reveals worrying problems with hospital discharge arrangements. Many people said they are not given the right support or information when being discharged from hospital. Read their experiences and HWE's calls to action.

  44. Emotional support during the perinatal experience - Collective findings Brighton & Hove 2023

    Report -

    We contributed to a nationwide review on maternity services. We spoke to local women and their partners about emotional support during the perinatal experience (pregnancy, birth and post-birth up to one year afterwards) and gave findings to Healthwatch England who called for national policy change.

  45. Healthwatch statement on the police investigation into services at Royal Sussex Hospital (Updated 11.12.23)

    News -

    You can read our statement below

  46. Healthwatch response to news on NHS strikes

    News -

    Doctors’ leaders have struck a deal with ministers that could end the strikes by hospital consultants that have badly disrupted NHS care for months.

  47. New Acute Stroke Centre for West Sussex

    News -

    An Acute Stroke Centre will be developed in Chichester to further improve outcomes for people who experience a stroke.

  48. Support groups for Endometriosis in East Sussex

    Advice and Information -

    A new volunteer-led support group has been created in East Sussex to support the estimated tens of thousands in the county with suspected or diagnosed endometriosis.

  49. A message from NHS Sussex about health and social care services this Christmas & New Year

    News -

    Efforts are underway to ensure that people who need urgent medical help and support can receive the care they need during the festive period. Read more, below.

  50. Pharmacy opening times for Christmas & New Year 2023/24

    Advice and Information -

    Please see the PDF below for the Christmas & New Year Pharmacy opening times in Sussex.