1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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?

  8. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

  12. 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.

  13. 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*.

  14. 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.

  15. 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.

  16. 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.

  17. 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.

  18. 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.

  19. Planning on getting pregnant?

    Advice and Information -

    If you're planning to get pregnant, now is the best time to focus on your health and wellbeing.

  20. Tackling inequality in Milton Keynes: the Denny Review

    News -

    For three years, the Denny Review has investigated health-related inequalities in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK). The final report and recommendations have now been published.

  21. Inequalities in Milton Keynes

    Report -

    We carried out in-depth engagement and listening activities, to capture experiences of health inequalities within specific communities in Milton Keynes. This report details what we found.

  22. The ICB's plan for a healthy community: a BSL explainer video

    News -

    "Supporting the community to live a longer, healthier, life." That's the plan from our NHS Integrated Care Board.

  23. Developing health and care services for Bletchley: your views

    News -

    In August, we supported the Milton Keynes Health and Care Partnership with a project to develop health and wellbeing services in ‘neighbourhoods’ across Milton Keynes that help us to live longer, healthier lives.

  24. CQC's State of Care report

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission has published its annual State of Care report, highlighting that a combination of the cost-of-living crisis and NHS workforce pressures risk ‘unfair care’ for many people.

  25. Fairer, more accessible social housing for residents

    News -

    As a direct result of your feedback, Milton Keynes City Council’s Housing Team have made changes to their policy on Social Housing Allocation.

  26. 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'.

  27. Calling all women! Take part in NHS research

    News -

    If you have lived, personal experience of health conditions including PCOS or endometriosis, you could play a vital role in NHS Confederation research.

  28. Our priorities for 2024-25

    News -

    These are the projects and health issues that we'll be working on over the next 12 months.

  29. What help can you get to pay for your prescriptions?

    Advice and Information -

    The cost of living crisis has put many people under financial strain, and prescription costs are more than some can afford. Find out what help is out there to help you cover the cost of your medication.

  30. Deaf awareness Week 2024

    News -

    Deaf Awareness Week 2024 takes place between 6-12 May.