1. Talkback

    Advice and Information -

    Talkback work for and with young people with a disability.

  2. Annual health checks for people with Learning Disabilities

    Advice and Information -

    Healthwatch Essex, in partnership with Mencap, produced a short film encouraging people with learning disabilities to go to their annual health checks.

  3. Young People's Local Support Groups

    Advice and Information -

    Find out more about Young People's local support groups in Milton Keynes. If you need help finding the right support, get in touch with us and we will be able to point you in the right direction.

  4. How can the NHS improve care for autistic people or people with a learning disability?

    News -

    More than 1.2 million people in England have a learning disability and over 600,000 people are living with autism, a lifelong condition.

  5. Our response to CQC's State of Care report for 2018/19

    News -

    Care Quality Commission's report today shows 'perfect storm' brewing for people using mental health and learning disability services.

  6. Healthwatch Milton Keynes Annual Report 2019-20

    Report -

    Welcome to our 2019/20 Annual Report. Every Healthwatch publishes their annual report on 30th June each year.

  7. Healthwatch Milton Keynes Annual Report 2019-20

    News -

    Welcome to our 2019/20 Annual Report. Every Healthwatch publishes their annual report on 30th June each year.

  8. 'I am different, not less.' Experiences of CAMHS and mental health support for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Milton Keynes

    Report -

    We joined forces with Parents and Carers Alliance MK (PACA MK) to investigate the experiences of families using CAMHS and Mental Health support for children and young people with autism and special educational needs.

  9. Autism Task & Finish Group

    Report -

    People in Milton Keynes regularly share with us their frustration at the lack of autism support services, and a need for more knowledge and awareness of the condition amongst health professionals.

  10. "We know we aren’t getting this right." Changes to SEND services in response to our CAMHS report

    Response -

    BLMK Clinical Commissioning Group and Central Northwest London NHS Foundation Trust have responded to our joint report with Parents and Carers Alliance (PACA) MK .

  11. Jake's story: falling through the gaps

    News -

    People often come to us when they are experiencing difficulties in accessing complex care pathways and need some help to navigate them. We heard from the mum of a young man with autism. Jake’s* autism means he has extreme hypersensitivity to pain.

  12. CQC reports serious concerns monitoring the Mental Health Act

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is highlighting the ongoing impact of historic and current system pressures on mental health services, their staff and the people using them.

  13. Recommendations from Healthwatch report, "The public's perspective"

    News -

    Healthwatch England have set out recommendations for NHS decision makers across ten key areas, in their report, 'The public’s perspective: The state of health and social care'.

  14. ADHD and autism: Tackling the long wait for support

    Advice and Information -

    Long wait times for autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) support can have a severe impact on individuals. We look at what people have already told the Healthwatch network.

  15. New video guides help autistic people prepare for health and social care appointments

    Advice and Information -

    Autistic people in Milton Keynes can now get a better understanding of what to expect from screening appointments and other common NHS experiences, thanks to videos produced by Autism Bedfordshire.

  16. Care Homes: Understanding your Rights

    Advice and Information -

    Choosing a care home can be daunting so it's important to have the right information. Find out more about your rights and how to complain if you are not happy.

  17. Healthwatch England urge councils to promote a culture of learning from complaints

    News -

    Local authorities focus on reporting the number of complaints they receive rather than communicating what they are learning. We call for complaints managers to be given more support to help demonstrate how councils respond to feedback from residents.

  18. Friends and Family Test (FFT)

    Advice and Information -

    The Friends and Family Test was created to help the NHS understand whether their patients are happy with the service provided.

  19. "I really need to see a dentist but none are taking on new patients!"

    Advice and Information -

    Getting to see a dentist, both for routine and emergency treatment, is a real problem in Milton Keynes right now.

  20. Waiting lists are inevitable. It's how we manage them that matters.

    News -

    A record-breaking 5.7 million people are waiting for hospital care. In response, the Government is spending an extra £5.9 billion to tackle the problem. Latest Healthwatch research looks at how the backlog is impacting the lives of those waiting.

  21. Statement from CQC on visiting care homes

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission (CQC) have responded to concerns that some care homes are not properly following COVID visiting guidelines.

  22. Accessible information from NHS services: what you should expect

    Advice and Information -

    The Accessible Information Standard is mandatory for all organisations that provide NHS or adult social care. Here’s some key information about the accessible communications you should expect from services.

  23. How long will I have to wait for treatment?

    Advice and Information -

    If you've been referred for hospital treatment, it's highly likely you will have to wait for your appointment.

  24. Celebrating ten years of people speaking up to improve health care

    News -

    This anniversary marks 10 years of Healthwatch. To mark this milestone, we're celebrating the contribution that you have made in improving health and care services in Milton Keynes.