1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. "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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. 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.

  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. 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.

  12. 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.

  13. Mental health support hub

    Advice and Information -

    If you are struggling with your mental health, or someone you know is, please don't suffer in silence. Help is out there.

  14. 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.

  15. 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.

  16. NHS patients to be offered the chance to travel for treatment

    News -

    NHS patients who have been waiting the longest for treatment will be offered the opportunity to travel to a different hospital, if it means they could be seen sooner.

  17. What is a virtual ward?

    Advice and Information -

    With more and more appointments happening online, we've put together some tips on how to get the most out of the virtual health and care appointments both for patients and health and care professionals.

  18. 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.

  19. Faster progress needed to tackle barriers to care

    News -

    New HWE research shows that in the past year, access to primary care is the main concern for patients across England.

  20. 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.

  21. 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'.

  22. Supporting local women with their health

    News -

    Each month we run a ‘Let’s Talk’ discussion group for local women of all ages, to
    explore experiences of specific women’s health issues.

  23. 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.

  24. The Great Big MK GP survey - it's back

    News -

    Have you seen your GP, or tried to make an appointment, in the last 12 months? If so, we'd like to hear about it.

  25. We've been commended for improving care for D/deaf people in MK

    News -

    We've been commended at the National Healthwatch Impact Awards this week for helping to improve care for local D/deaf people.

  26. 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.

  27. Our priorities for 2024-25

    News -

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

  28. 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.

  29. Deaf awareness Week 2024

    News -

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