1. Meet the people using their voice to make a difference to care of others

    News -

    Five people and groups have been shortlisted for a national award that celebrates local people who, through their dedication, have helped improve health and care for their community.

  2. Healthwatch Network Health and Care Priorities for 2019

    News -

    To mark the start of 2019, Healthwatch England is today publishing our annual network priorities list – setting out the key health and care topics our local teams will be working on over the year ahead.

  3. Do you need help getting to hospital?

    Advice and Information -

    Find out what support is available to help you travel to your hospital appointments.

  4. Support for BAME carers

    Advice and Information -

    Local charity Carers Support Centre has produced some short films in different community languages to encourage minority ethnic carers to seek support.

  5. Healthwatch Bristol nominee Errol Campbell comes second at the Healthwatch England Conference 2018

    News -

    Errol Campbell from the Friends of Caswell Thompson, local Bristol hero, was nominated by Healthwatch Bristol for this year’s #ItStartsWithYou award at the Healthwatch England Conference.

  6. University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust to roll out Trans Awareness training

    News -

    Healthwatch across Bristol, North Somerset, South Glos were delighted to receive an official response from University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust to the Trans report that joint Healthwatch published in June 2018.

  7. Prostate Cancer Awareness Day 2018

    Report -

    Members of the Bristol Black and Minority Ethnic Community (BAME) came together on Saturday 26 May 2018 for a day of learning about prostate cancer.

  8. Islamic Fayre engagement

    Report -

    Islamic Fayre engagement

  9. Try January - we're aiming high to get even better patient outcomes

    News -

    Happy New Year and we’re counting down to our big virtual launch event on February 28 to promote priorities for each of our three areas…

  10. Healthwatch joins the City Gathering to help make Bristol a better place to live

    News -

    Our Area Manager, Vicky Marriott, very much enjoyed being part of the biggest ever City Gathering held in Bristol.

  11. Bristol Homeless Project is ship shape

    News -

    Flat chance - Healthwatch is supporting an unlikely solution to Bristol's homeless - providing accommodation from shipping containers. A new community is taking shape which is being managed by Help Bristol's Homeless.

  12. Helping Bristol's homeless during lockdown

    News -

    Are you are a hotelier, B&B or AirBnB owner? If so please consider offering a room so that a homeless person can self-isolate.

  13. New stay safe video in eight different languages

    News -

    A video message to stay safe at home to help stop the spread of the coronavirus in eight languages has been produced and you can click below to see it.

  14. Julie ready to help as a volunteer NHS Responder

    Blog -

    Our Healthwatch Bristol Area Lead Julie Bird has signed up as an NHS Responder after being moved by her work with Healthwatch - where she heard "heartbreaking" stories from the public in need of help.

  15. A big hearty thanks to all our volunteers

    News -

    We are celebrating Volunteers' Week June 1st to 7th by saying a big thank you to our 30 volunteers and 7 trustees who help us at Healthwatch Bristol, North Somerset and South Glos.

  16. Action needed after report shows BAME adversely affected by pandemic

    News -

    Large scale research and data collection is needed to tackle “humbling inequalities" in Covid-19 death rates, according to the new Public Health England report. We want our feedback to build an understanding of health experiences of BAME groups.

  17. Our round up of how we've worked for you this year

    Report -

    Read all about how we expanded our geographical area, our staff team and developed new work areas to ensure we continue to make an impact on health and social care services near you.

  18. NHS Race and Health Observatory

    News -

    A new NHS centre to investigate the effects of race and ethnicity on people’s health has got the go ahead after Covid 19 helped to focus minds on the continuing problem of racism in medicine.

  19. Videos in 10 languages to help more people understand key advice

    News -

    Videos providing important Covid-19 tips and advice are now available in more than 10 languages to reach people in the region who do not speak English as a first language.

  20. Serious health inequalities for Black pregnant women found - Healthwatch wants real-life experiences to lead change

    News -

    Black women are five times more likely to die during pregnancy and after childbirth latest figures show. (MBRRACE, 2019) Healthwatch wants to hear real experiences so every woman has the right to the best pregnancy and after birth care.

  21. May Tanner - Bristol's first black nurse

    News -

    For Black History Month 2020, Healthwatch Bristol is celebrating pioneering black Bristol resident May Tanner, believed to be Bristol Royal Infirmary’s first black ward sister.

  22. COVID-19 - engaging Bristol's black communities

    News -

    Black women have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, says Bristol Area Lead Dr Acomo Oloya. So how do we tackle the issues that have made black communities vulnerable?

  23. Sir Michael Marmot says Healthwatch can energise and give power to communities

    News -

    Sir Michael Marmot author of the landmark report Marmot Review: Fair Society, Healthy Lives spoke to Healthwatch about how the Covid-19 pandemic has “amplified” health inequalities even further.

  24. Dementia carers - our ambitious project to hear your experiences and ensure you have support

    News -

    Caring for someone with dementia takes patience and kindness. It can also take its toll physically and mentally - and if it's a family member you may not get any time off. But is there anyone to care for the carer? Tell HW...your views matter.

  25. Healthwatch is making a difference nationally

    News -

    Healthwatch’s work, highlighting people’s experiences of health and care, has formed part of a major House of Lords report on learning key lessons from the health pandemic.

  26. New report shows Somalis in Bristol hit hard by pandemic

    News -

    More than a third of Bristol Somalis who took part in a Covid-19 study were hospitalised or had family or friends needing admission. New recommendations from the report says Covid information needs to be accessible and in different languages.

  27. Vaccine programme musn't 'breed complacency' says Boris during his visit to Bristol

    News -

    If you’re over 80 and still haven’t had your Covid-19 vaccine the message is – you’ll be contacted very soon. By the end of this week, every neighbourhood area in BNSSG will have a GP practice vaccination centre up and running.

  28. Your latest feedback on local health and care services and how we use it

    News -

    Healthwatch is here to listen to your views and act on them. Problems with getting dental care and your views on making GP appointments were the two biggest concerns you shared with us in our latest feedback summary.

  29. Make sure you're on the learning disability register to receive your vaccine

    News -

    Find out more about how to get on your GPs learning disability register to ensure you have the Covid-19 vaccine. Being on the register also means you will be invited to have an important health check-up to pick up any symptoms of illness.

  30. Overcoming concerns about the Covid-19 vaccine if you have a learning disability

    Advice and Information -

    One of our volunteers, Jemma Ballinger, says while it is great news that people on the learning disability register will be prioritised to have the vaccine, they will still often need a lot of reassurance and understanding to receive it.

  31. New guide on Bristol Muslims to boost understanding of all cultures

    News -

    A new guide has been produced by the Bristol Muslim Strategic Leadership Group and the city council to develop and strengthen Muslim communities in Bristol by sharing information and celebrating differences in local culture.

  32. The public agenda for our next Prioritisation Panel on May 5

    News -

    See how we work out the main health and care priorities for Bristol from your feedback. Our meeting at 11.30am on May 5 is where we action your comments or concerns with providers to ensure what you tell us makes a difference.

  33. Pharmacy spotlight: Ade Williams, Bedminster Pharmacy

    Advice and Information -

    Ade Williams, multi award-winning pharmacist at Bedminster Pharmacy in Bristol, spoke to Healthwatch Bristol about what pharmacies can offer, and how they can help take the pressure off GPs and A&E departments.

  34. Winterbourne View 10 years on: Supporting those with learning disabilities to stay safe and well

    News -

    People with learning disabilities are still at risk of dying unnecessarily and receive poorer care – 10 years on from the abuse suffered at Winterbourne View.

  35. Why do we need to collect demographic information when you share your views with us?

    Advice and Information -

    When you share your views with us, we ask for demographic information such as your gender, sexual orientation, age, and ethnicity. Here's why we collect this information, and what we use it for.

  36. Snapshot: does your GP have a user-friendly website?

    Advice and Information -

    Healthwatch volunteers have reviewed nine GP patient websites in Bristol to see how user friendly they are. Thanks to their hard work, Healthwatch Bristol has produced a new website review tool to help GP practices improve the information available.

  37. Face-to-face appointments: know your choices

    Advice and Information -

    Digital appointments don't work for everyone. Many health care services have moved online, but you can still request a face-to-face appointment. Here's what you can expect from the NHS if you need to be seen in person.

  38. Healthwatch BNSSG's code of conduct

    Report -

    Everyone who represents Healthwatch Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire is expected to behave professionally and in support of our values These include being inclusive, transparent, non-judgemental, and independent.

  39. Translated COVID-19 advice posters available in 12 languages

    News -

    Posters with the most recent COVID-19 information and recommended steps to keep everyone safe and reduce the spread of the virus are have been translated into 12 different languages, including Somali, Polish, and Gujarati.

  40. People with learning disabilities and their carers are entitled to a free flu vaccination

    Advice and Information -

    Preventing flu can be particularly important for people with a learning disability. Flu can lead to pneumonia and sepsis, which many people with a learning disability are much more vulnerable to than the general population.

  41. Join us to mark International Women's Day 2022

    News -

    We'll be at Bristol City Hall, College Green on Saturday 5 March between 10:30am and 4pm - pop by, say hello, and share your views on how health and social care services approach women's health.

  42. Introducing HealthClick: free digital skills workshops to help you manage your health online

    Advice and Information -

    Learn about the NHS app, how to order prescriptions, view test results, book GP appointments, and access online consultations at one of our free digital skills workshops. You'll receive 1:1 support and be able to ask questions.

  43. Have your say: what keeps you happy, healthy and well?

    Advice and Information -

    That’s the question being asked by the new Integrated Care System (ICS) for Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, as it launches a wide-ranging public engagement exercise to shape priorities for health and care in the years ahead.

  44. Disabled people being left behind due to a lack of accessible healthcare information

    News -

    Disabled people and people with sensory loss have a legal right to get health and social care information in a way that's accessible for them. Yet Healthwatch England has found one in five people struggle to understand the information they receive.

  45. Welcoming Spaces open to help Bristol residents struggling with rising energy prices

    Advice and Information -

    A Welcoming Space is a place such as a community centre or place of worship where people struggling with rising energy bills and the cost of living crisis can go to keep warm. Local organisations will be providing emotional and practical support.

  46. Experiences of being in hospital for people with a learning disability and autistic people

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission says people with a learning disability and autistic people "continue to face barriers when accessing health care and treatment" after collecting people’s experiences from 8 hospital trusts in England.