1. 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.

  2. Open letter shows progress in reopening health services ahead of winter

    News -

    An open letter outlining plans to get services back to their pre-pandemic levels but still ensure everyone’s safety has been released.

  3. 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.

  4. Support for black and ethnic pregnant women after research finds they often receive lower quality of care

    News -

    A new team has been set up in Bristol to ensure pregnant women understand the latest information and guidance and it is made available in languages spoken by the women served by local maternity units.

  5. Helping new parents access local support services

    Response -

    Becoming a new parent comes with challenges, and it's important to get support from your health visitor. We've been working with Bristol's health visiting team, who have now improved the information they give to parents, particularly around feeding.

  6. "This is another scandal where it’s clear that lessons from past tragedies haven’t been learnt" - Healthwatch England's response to the Ockenden review

    News -

    Healthwatch England has responded to the Independent Review of Maternity Services at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, led by Donna Ockenden. The review examined almost 1,600 clinical incidents and found repeated failures in care.

  7. Share your experience: maternal mental health

    News -

    Have you given birth since April 2020? Did you experience any mental health issues or emotional challenges such as low mood before getting pregnant? We'd like to hear your story and find out if you got the support you needed from the NHS.

  8. 'The barriers to accessing timely care can put people’s lives at risk' - Healthwatch England's response to the Care Quality Commission's 'State of Care' report

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. Their latest report sets out the challenges the NHS and social care sector face: 'the health and care system is gridlocked, unable to operate effectively.'

  9. Six-week postnatal checks are failing many new mothers, Healthwatch England warns

    News -

    Many women are struggling to access the support they need for their mental health during and after pregnancy. Only 1 in 5 were satisfied with the time their GP spent talking to them about their mental health at their six-week postnatal check.

  10. Continuity of care is crucial to addressing perinatal mental health

    Blog -

    Research shows that continuity of care - receiving care from the same midwife or team of midwives - is best practice in maternity care. But we spoke to new mothers whose experiences show that services don’t always implement it.

  11. Mental health support during pregnancy or after birth

    Advice and Information -

    If you're pregnant or have recently given birth, it can be difficult to know where to turn if you're struggling with your mental health. We've compiled a list of organisations that offer support for people living in Bristol and the surrounding areas.

  12. Stories from new mothers: accessing maternal mental health services

    Blog -

    Mental health issues are widespread and of significant concern to new parents, but many face substantial difficulties accessing mental health services. Mothers from across the local area told us about their experiences.

  13. Annual Report 2022/2023

    Report -

    Last year, 793 people shared their experiences of health and social care services with us. Our annual report sets out how your comments and concerns have had a real impact on local health and social care services.

  14. Stories from new mothers: the importance of good communication

    Blog -

    The commitment to personalised care has been a cornerstone of NHS policy on maternity care for many years. A crucial part of personalised care is good communication, listening and agreeing on actions together. 

  15. Our statement following the conviction of Lucy Letby

    News -

    Lucy Letby was found guilty on the 21st August 2023 of murdering seven babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2016, while working as a nurse. She was also convicted of trying to kill six other infants.

  16. Maternity services at North Bristol Trust remain rated 'Good' by independent regulator

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission, independent regulator of health and social care services, inspected Maternity Services at North Bristol NHS Trust in November 2023.

  17. Report: Investigating local health inequalities using the Core20PLUS5 approach

    Report -

    102 people in Knowle West, Hartcliffe and Weston-super-Mare spoke to us about their experiences of health and social care. They shared the barriers and failures that prevented them from accessing local services, and what improvements are needed.

  18. Investigation into the Causes of Smoking in Pregnancy

    Report -

    Our stop smoking client consultation report where we asked women why they struggled to stop smoking during pregnancy in Bristol and North Somerset. What did they think about services to help them and how did they work?