1. Report on Brook Milton Keynes

    Report -

    This report contains feedback from young people about services provided by Brook Milton Keynes.

  2. Talkback

    Advice and Information -

    Talkback work for and with young people with a disability.

  3. LGBTQ+ Health Inequalities and Access to Treatment

    Report -

    This report highlights the health inequalities experienced by people when health professionals are unsure how to provide treatment or clinical advice to people with  specific needs,  which may be outside the experience of that professional.

  4. 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.

  5. Pardon? A short film about hearing impairment

    News -

    ‘Pardon?’ is a 12 minute film that pulls ideas from students across a dozen mainstream secondary schools in Milton Keynes.

  6. Listen to us: Young people’s experiences of Health and Social care

    Report -

    Between September 2019 and January 2020, Healthwatch Milton Keynes engaged with a total of 604 young people between the ages of 10 and 21.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. Covid Vaccine information in community languages

    Advice and Information -

    NHS doctors, nurses and other frontline staff have come forward to help reassure communities that COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective and have been independently tested to the highest standards.

  10. Women's Health and wellbeing: have your say on how services can be improved.

    News -

    The Government want to hear views on how women's health and wellbeing in England can be improved. Your response will help to shape the Government's strategy on women's health.

  11. Cancer Education UK launches petition to tackle inequalities in healthcare

    News -

    Cancer Education UK have today launched their campaign to petition for other types of skin coloured prosthetics to be readily available to ethnic minorities

  12. New research exploring vaccination confidence provides vital lessons for public health campaigns

    News -

    Healthwatch England has joined forces with Traverse to explore vaccination confidence among people from African, Bangladeshi, Caribbean and Pakistani backgrounds living in the UK.

  13. New GP data-sharing system delayed - Healthwatch England's response

    Response -

    Healthwatch England have joined forces with leading patient groups to respond to the Government's plans around GP data sharing.

  14. Locked out: Digitally excluded people’s experiences of remote GP appointments

    News -

    The move to more digitally-led healthcare has worked well for some but excluded others over the past year. Our report explores how people have been excluded and what needs to happen to get the care they need.

  15. COVID-19 vaccine round-up: access, attitudes and experiences

    News -

    Thousands of people shared their experiences of the COVID-19 vaccine. Find out what you told us and how we made sure your views were heard.

  16. Non-UK nationals are entitled to free COVID vaccines at walk in clinics

    Advice and Information -

    We have heard reports that some overseas people have been refused the vaccination at walk in centres in Milton Keynes.

  17. Are you or your loved one waiting for hospital care? Tell us your story.

    News -

    Millions of people have had their treatment delayed by the pandemic – are you one of them? We want to know if you’re getting the advice, information and support you need while you wait.

  18. What to expect when waiting for care

    Advice and Information -

    Waiting for planned medical care or surgery can be a frustrating time. That’s why it’s so important that while you wait, you get regular, clear and accessible updates so that you can plan your next steps.

  19. What should happen when you're diagnosed with dementia

    Advice and Information -

    Being diagnosed with dementia can be a big shock, and it can be hard to know what to do next. Take a look at our guide to find out what support you should receive.

  20. Practical advice if you're caring for a loved one with dementia

    Advice and Information -

    We often hear from people who are trying to access the right care and support for their loved one who is living with dementia.

  21. People living in the poorest areas waiting longer for hospital treatment

    News -

    The King’s Fund and Healthwatch England jointly call for urgent action to address hospital waiting lists and improve patients’ experience of delays to treatment.

  22. Have your say on IVF options and gluten-free prescribing in Milton Keynes

    News -

    Our local clinical commissioning group (CCG) have merged with those in Luton and Bedfordshire. This will mean changes to some services.

  23. 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.

  24. Vaginal HRT could be available without prescription

    News -

    Millions of women in the UK go through the menopause each year, with the majority experiencing 'symptoms that can be severe and have a negative impact on everyday life'.

  25. '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.

  26. Mental health difficulties in children and young people: a toolkit for parents

    Advice and Information -

    No parent wants to see their child suffer. Like their physical health, our children’s mental health can change over time, and any child or young person can experience mental health difficulties.

  27. Your Care, Your Way: healthcare information that works for you

    News -

    Everyone should be given healthcare information in the way they need it. Clear, understandable information is important to help you make decisions about your health and care and get the most out of services.

  28. Your Care, Your Way: get involved in our campaign

    News -

    So you can take part in our campaign Your Care, Your Way, we have created our survey in several alternative formats, including Easy Read.

  29. Accessible Information Standard – findings from our Freedom of Information requests

    News -

    Between September and November 2021, Healthwatch England submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to over 200 National Health Service (NHS) provider trusts to gather details on compliance with the Accessible Information Standard.

  30. Accessible Information Standard – Healthwatch recommendations

    News -

    As part of the Healthwatch 'Your Care, Your Way' campaign, we have set out five headline recommendations to help health and care services ensure that people who have communication needs are given their healthcare information in the way they need it.

  31. Many NHS Trusts not supporting equal access to care for deaf and blind people

    News -

    New research shows that many NHS trusts are not meeting their legal duty to help people with additional communication needs.

  32. Lost for words – improving access to healthcare for ethnic minority communities

    Report -

    People with little or no English struggle at all points of their healthcare journey. New Healthwatch research shines a light on barriers and delays to care they often experience and calls for equal access for all.

  33. Perceptions of Health Inequalities in Milton Keynes

    Report -

    When people talk about access to health or care services being a ‘postcode lottery’, they are really describing inequality.

  34. Lack of NHS dental appointments widens health inequalities

    News -

    A new survey of public attitudes to NHS dentistry shows that half of the adults in England find dental charges unfair amid escalating living costs. We have warned decision-makers that NHS dentistry is in desperate need of reform.

  35. Does the NHS have to provide an interpreter if you need one?

    Advice and Information -

    Do you know about your rights to language support when you're in an NHS setting?

  36. Climate change, health inequalities and a greener NHS

    Blog -

    On the day that Milton Keynes could finally call itself ‘officially’ a city, Deputy CEO Tracy Keech and I attended a Climate Change and Health Inequalities conference at the Hotel La Tour in Central Milton Keynes.

  37. NHS acts on your feedback to improve dental care

    Response -

    Thanks to you, the NHS will take several steps to ensure better dental support for people with complex problems and improve the information for those trying to find an NHS dentist. Read our response.

  38. How to access mental health support if you're lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender

    Advice and Information -

    Mental health problems are more common among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ+) people. If you are struggling, feel alone or need a little help, then check out our guide on how you can get the support you need.

  39. First Women's Health Strategy in England to tackle 'gender health gap'

    News -

    Women and girls across England will hopefully benefit from improved healthcare following the publication of the first ever government-led Women’s Health Strategy for England today.

  40. Disabled people report being blocked from NHS care due to poor communications

    News -

    Deep-dive analysis of people's experiences of healthcare communication is a stark reminder of why NHS England and the 42 new Integrated Care Systems need to ensure services abide by the Accessible Information Standard.

  41. Cost of living crisis winter plan from Milton Keynes City Council

    News -

    More than 10,000 children living in Milton Keynes experience the daily burden of poverty*.

  42. Cost of living: People are avoiding NHS appointments and prescriptions

    News -

    New data from Healthwatch England shows a worrying increase in the number of people avoiding vital care. We're calling for urgent action from government and health and care services to ensure rising costs are not a barrier to healthcare.

  43. Let's Talk: Exercise & Self care

    Report -

    We know that an active lifestyle is important to prevent illness and improve our physical and mental wellbeing, helping us to feel our best.

  44. Looking after your health during the Cost of Living crisis.

    Advice and Information -

    The continuing cost of living crisis is adversely affecting people's physical and mental wellbeing, with vulnerable people and those on lower incomes hit the hardest.

  45. What do Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities in our city think about the NHS England vaccinations programme?

    Report -

    NHS England asked us to explore how Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities in MK felt about vaccinations, and how they could make vaccinations more accessible.

  46. 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.

  47. How to access mental health support if you have gender, sexuality or relationship diversity

    Advice and Information -

    Mental health problems are more common among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) people. If you are struggling, feel alone or need a little help, then check out our guide on how you can get the support you need.