1. Registering with your GP: understanding your rights

    Advice and Information -

    People have told us they can have problems registering with a GP. This article explains more about your rights and what do to if you are refused the right to register.

  2. Where can I go to get help for my health out of hours?

    Advice and Information -

    Health issues unfortunately don't leave us alone at the weekend and people are often in need of medical assistance out of hours. Using NHS guidelines, we have provided some advice and information on where you can go for help when your GP is closed.

  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. What should you expect when it comes to care for your teeth?

    Advice and Information -

    Four questions staff should ask you or a loved one about your oral health if you’re a care home resident, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence quick guide.

  5. Thinking about end of life care for you and your family

    Advice and Information -

    End of life care is support for people who are in the last months or years of their life. The guidance on the NHS website helps you know what to expect, how to plan ahead and how to manage your day to day decisions.

  6. Accessibility checklist for GP surgeries

    Advice and Information -

    Help make sure that your practice meets people’s accessibility requirements using this checklist from Healthwatch Slough.

  7. Where can I go for support for my mental health as a parent?

    Advice and Information -

    We've pulled together a number of services for parents in need of support for their mental health. Read more to find out where you can go to get the help you need.

  8. Seven pieces of information that you should expect to receive after being diagnosed with dementia

    Advice and Information -

    Take a look at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence's (NICE) quick guide to discussing and planning support following a dementia diagnosis.

  9. Do you need help travelling to NHS services?

    Advice and Information -

    Find out what support is available to help you when travelling to your GP, hospital or other NHS services.

  10. Someone I love has died - where can I find support

    Advice and Information -

    Take a look at our advice article on the organisations and groups that can support you if you’re grieving.

  11. Should I see a pharmacist instead of a doctor?

    Advice and Information -

    ​​​​​​​Avoid the wait at the GP and know when to visit your pharmacist instead. Look at how your pharmacist can help you.

  12. What's the difference between social distancing, self-isolation and shielding?

    Advice and Information -

    Self-isolation, social distancing and shielding have been introduced by the Government to help you and your loved ones stay safe from COVID-19. Find out what they mean in practice and what applies to you.

  13. What is domestic abuse and how can I get support?

    Advice and Information -

    If you are experiencing, or feel at risk of, domestic abuse or are worried about someone who might be, find out where you can go for advice and help.

  14. Getting the most out of the virtual health and care experience

    Advice and Information -

    National Voices, Traverse, PPL and Healthwatch England 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.

  15. How to communicate better with people with hearing loss

    Advice and Information -

    COVID-19 poses a unique challenge for health and social care professionals when talking to someone with hearing loss. Here are some important tips to help you communicate effectively.

  16. Confidentiality Policy

    Report -

    This policy says how our staff and volunteers collect, store and maintain the information that people share with us in a way that values their privacy. The policy also outlines how we adhere to best practice around confidentiality.

  17. Customer Care Standard Policy and Process

    Report -

    This document sets out the expectations and standards for staff and volunteers of Healthwatch Hertfordshire when liaising with customers.

  18. Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Policy

    Report -

    This policy outlines our commitment to equality of opportunity and equal treatment for all staff and volunteers in terms of employment, access to services in the health and social care sector and guidance on anti-discriminatory practice.

  19. Privacy Statement

    Report -

    This Privacy Statement outlines our data processing practices when we are carrying out our role as the local independent champion for people who use health and social care services.

  20. Values & Behaviours Policy

    Report -

    This policy sets out our values and provides an understanding of their application within the organisation.

  21. Complaints Policy

    Report -

    If you have a concern or complaint about Healthwatch Hertfordshire, please see details within our complaints policy on how to raise this with us.

  22. Feeling Good Week 2021 – Get Involved!

    News -

    Feeling Good Week is a Hertfordshire-wide event that encourages schools and the wider community to promote children and young people’s emotional wellbeing.

  23. Don’t Rely on GP Websites for Cancer Information…Speak to your GP

    News -

    With the help of our volunteers we checked 103 local GP websites, and found that while most offered advice for patients about cancer, the quantity and quality of that advice was not always very good.

  24. Data Sharing and Health – Get Involved!

    News -

    We are working with the University of Cambridge, Public Health England and other local Healthwatch across the East of England to find out what people think about using health data to inform care, public health and research.

  25. Mount Vernon Cancer Centre Review – Engagement Events

    News -

    We need your help to plan the future of Mount Vernon Cancer Centre services.

  26. Covid-19 Patient Experiences – What can Hertfordshire learn?

    News -

    During the first lockdown, we celebrated the NHS and others who put their own health at risk to deliver what services they could. However, there have been challenges and concerns raised about how patients have been affected.

  27. What can you expect when you’re discharged from hospital?

    Advice and Information -

    The usual processes the NHS follows to discharge you from hospital have changed during the coronavirus pandemic. Here’s what you can expect when it’s time to leave hospital.

  28. A Message from the Hertfordshire Local Dental Committee

    Advice and Information -

    As dental practices reopen you will encounter changes such as dentists and nurses dressed head to toe in full PPE. There is an even greater emphasis now on ensuring safe and effective measures to stop the spread of infections including Covid-19.

  29. A Message from Our Chief Executive

    News -

    Healthwatch Hertfordshire CEO Geoff Brown reflects on learning from the pandemic from a Healthwatch and patient perspective during an eventful year.

  30. Helping to shape and improve Health and Social Care Services in Hertfordshire

    News -

    Our Annual Report 2019/20 is now published online. The report details the work that we have been doing over the past year to help the patient voice in Hertfordshire and to recommend improvements to health and social care services.

  31. Herts County Council: Direct Payments Survey

    News -

    It’s survey time!

  32. Healthwatch Board Meeting in Public - 15th April 2013

    Report -

    Read more about our April 2013 Board meeting in public.

  33. Healthwatch Board Meeting in Public - 20th May 2013

    Report -

    Read more about our May 2013 Board meeting in public.

  34. Healthwatch Board Meeting in Public - 17th June 2013

    Report -

    Read more about our June 2013 Board meeting in public.

  35. Healthwatch Board Meeting in Public - 15th July 2013

    Report -

    Read more about our July 2013 Board meeting in public.

  36. Healthwatch Board Meeting in Public - 19th August 2013

    Report -

    Read more about our August 2013 Board meeting in public.

  37. Healthwatch Board Meeting in Public - 16th September 2013

    Report -

    Read more about our September 2013 Board meeting in public.

  38. Healthwatch Board Meeting in Public - 21st October 2013

    Report -

    Read more about our October 2013 Board meeting in public.

  39. Healthwatch Board Meeting in Public - 16th December 2013

    Report -

    Read more about our December 2013 Board meeting in public.

  40. Healthwatch Board Meeting in Public - 17th February 2014

    Report -

    Read more about our February 2014 Board meeting in public.

  41. Healthwatch Board Meeting in Public - 14th April 2014

    Report -

    Read more about our April 2014 Board meeting in public.

  42. Healthwatch Board Meeting in Public - 16th June 2014

    Report -

    Read more about our June 2014 Board meeting in public.

  43. Healthwatch Board Meeting in Public - 27th April 2015

    Report -

    Read more about our April 2015 Board meeting in public.

  44. Healthwatch Board Meeting in Public - 15th June 2015

    Report -

    Read more about our June 2015 Board meeting in public.

  45. Healthwatch Board Meeting in Public - 17th August 2015

    Report -

    Read more about our August 2015 Board meeting in public.

  46. Healthwatch Board Meeting in Public - 19th October 2015

    Report -

    Read more about our October 2015 Board meeting in public.