1. I’m shielding – where can I find support for my mental health?

    Advice and Information -

    The NHS has contacted people who are at risk of severe illness if they catch coronavirus – this is because they have an underlying health condition which makes them clinically extremely vulnerable.

  2. Opportunity for Veterans to have their say about access to Healthcare

    News -

    Did you know that according to ONS data, there are approximately 36,000 veterans living in Hertfordshire? However, as in other parts of the country, there is relatively little data on specific health issues or priorities of the veteran community.

  3. Those with serious conditions should still seek help

    Advice and Information -

    Data has shown that the number of people going to A&E has dropped, prompting concerns that the seriously ill may be staying away because of concerns about catching coronavirus, or not wanting to place additional burden on the NHS.

  4. Advice for parents during coronavirus

    Advice and Information -

    Whilst it is extremely important to follow Government advice to stay at home during this period, it can be confusing to know what to do if your child is unwell or injured. Parents should not delay seeking help or advice.

  5. Temporary changes to dental care

    Advice and Information -

    Due to the coronavirus outbreak NHS England have made changes to the way they deliver dental care. To help prevent the spread of coronavirus routine dental care is not currently available and routine appointments will not take place.

  6. Updated advice on the use of Ibuprofen and COVID-19

    Advice and Information -

    The Commission on Human Medicines has now confirmed that there is no clear evidence that using ibuprofen to treat symptoms such as a high temperature can make coronavirus (COVID-19) worse.

  7. Coronavirus: What does Shielding mean?

    Advice and Information -

    You may have heard the word ‘shielding’ in reference to coronavirus. Shielding is the word used to describe how to protect those at highest risk of severe illness if they catch coronavirus.

  8. Planning end of life care – where can I find more information?

    Advice and Information -

    Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the NHS is encouraging people, especially those at the highest risk of COVID-19, to talk about their preferences for end of life care.

  9. Losing a loved one – where to access support

    Advice and Information -

    Grief is something people experience when someone close to use dies. People react in different ways when someone dies, and there is no right or wrong way to feel.

  10. Essential NHS Services remain available to everyone who needs them

    Advice and Information -

    In line with government guidelines, the vast majority of the public in Hertfordshire are protecting themselves and others from coronavirus by staying at home.

  11. Changes to outpatient activity made in response to Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak

    Advice and Information -

    Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, there have been local changes to the NHS provision of non-essential outpatient appointments.

  12. Visits to dental practices in the East Hertfordshire District

    Report -

    The reports from 6 dental practices we visited using our legal power to Enter and View.

  13. Visits to dental practices in the Stevenage District

    Report -

    The reports from 4 dental practices we visited using our legal power to Enter and View.

  14. Visits to dental practices in the Watford District

    Report -

    The reports from 4 dental practices we visited using our legal power to Enter and View.

  15. Restrictions to visitation made until further notice due to the Coronavirus outbreak

    Advice and Information -

    Following national guidance, there have been restrictions placed on most hospital visitation.

  16. Looking after your mental health during the Coronavirus outbreak

    Advice and Information -

    The Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is affecting all our daily lives. Social distancing and self-isolation in particular can be difficult to cope with, and can have a significant impact on our mental health

  17. Changes to Integrated Musculoskeletal (MSK) Service in Herts Valley – COVID 19 Update

    Advice and Information -

    The Integrated Musculoskeletal (MSK) services in Herts Valleys have now moved all appointments to either virtual or telephone appointments.

  18. East of England Ambulance Service – Call Out for Temporary Workers and Volunteers

    News -

    How you can contribute to the health service’s efforts in this difficult time - East of England Ambulance Service are looking to recruit temporary workers.

  19. A message from our Chief Executive: What we are doing to help tackle Coronavirus

    News -

    Healthwatch Hertfordshire’s Chief Executive Geoff Brown has an important message for us all.

  20. Hertfordshire County Council Survey: Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2020

    News -

    Please read more to find out how you can have an impact on the way pharmaceutical services are commissioned in Hertfordshire in the future.

  21. Proposed move of Moorfields Eye Hospital

    News -

    Plans are in place to move Moorfields Eye Hospital to a new location and design a new patient friendly centre.

  22. Mount Vernon Cancer Centre Review – Update

    News -

    Healthwatch Hertfordshire alongside Healthwatch Hillingdon has been supporting the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre Review led by NHS England Specialised Commissioning.

  23. Postponement of Healthwatch activity during the coronavirus outbreak

    Advice and Information -

    In light of recent Public Health and Healthwatch England advice we have been reviewing our activity in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

  24. Coronavirus Advice – Updated on 19th May 2020

    Advice and Information -

    In response to the current crisis surrounding coronavirus (COVID-19), please see below some key information that we hope will be useful to the public within Hertfordshire and beyond.

  25. Non-Emergency Patient Transport Survey

    News -

    The East of England Ambulance service took over the contract for Non-Emergency Patient Transport in October 2018. This means that they now provide the service across Hertfordshire instead of the previous provider.

  26. Feeling Good Week – February 2020

    News -

    Feeling Good Week is a Hertfordshire-wide event to encourage schools and the wider community to promote children and young people’s emotional wellbeing by raising awareness of mental health and showing where support can be accessed in the community.

  27. Members of the public needed for Public and Community Involvement, Engagement and Participation Coordinating Group

    News -

    The National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) are seeking three members who represent patients, service users, carers and the public to become part of a Public and Community Involvement, Engagement and Participation Coordinating Group (PCEIP).

  28. End of Life Steering Group – can you help?

    News -

    The End of Life Steering Group for the Hertfordshire and West Essex STP wants to understand the current provision of bereavement services available to communities across Hertfordshire and West Essex in order to identify gaps in service provision.

  29. Lasting Power of Attorney Online Testing Event

    News -

    Healthwatch Hertfordshire worked with the Office Of the Public Guardian (OPG) to test out a new way for attorneys and donors to give organisations access to view an online summary of a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA).

  30. Important Report on Dual Diagnosis published

    News -

    We have just published our report on Dual Diagnosis, which originated in 2016. The primary focus being to ensure the service user and carer experience fed into the Dual Diagnosis pathway and protocol (now developed).

  31. Herts Pride 2019!

    News -

    On Saturday 31st August we had the pleasure of spending the day at Herts Pride. at Cassiobury Park in Watford. It proved a huge success with over 2,500 people from inside and outside Hertfordshire attending!

  32. Carers’ Involvement: Mental Health Inpatient Discharge – Advisory Group

    News -

    Healthwatch Hertfordshire is working with Hertfordshire University Partnership Trust (HPFT) to research how carers are involved and supported when the person they care for has been discharged from inpatient mental health services.

  33. Lasting Power of Attorney Research

    News -

    The Office of the Public Guardian is developing a new way for attorneys and donors to give organisations, such as hospitals, banks and care homes, access to view an online summary of a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA).

  34. East & North Herts CCG – have your say on proposed changes to Urgent Care Centre opening hours

    News -

    East and North Hertfordshire CCG is talking to the public, NHS staff and stakeholders about its proposal to close the Urgent Care Centre at the New QEII Hospital overnight.

  35. Visits to St Albans City and Watford Hospitals, West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust

    Report -

    The report from our visits to Accident and Emergency, Minor Injuries, wards and Outpatients at St Albans City and Watford Hospitals using our legal power to Enter and View.

  36. Healthwatch Hertfordshire involved with Research to improve Health and Care in the East of England

    News -

    Communities with the greatest health challenges across the region are set to benefit from government funding awarded to run applied research projects, which can transform the lives of millions of people managing health issues.

  37. Visit to St Albans City Hospital, West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust

    Report -

    The report from our visit to Minor Injuries, Beckett ward and Outpatients at St Albans City Hospital using our legal power to Enter and View.

  38. Mount Vernon Cancer Centre Review

    News -

    The Mount Vernon Cancer Centre provides outpatient chemotherapy, nuclear medicine, brachytherapy and haematology as well as radiotherapy.

  39. Visits to Lister and New QEII Hospitals, East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust

    Report -

    The reports from our visits to Accident and Emergency, Outpatients and Urgent Care Centre at the Lister and NQEII Hospitals using our legal power to Enter and View.

  40. Visit to Ernest Gardiner Treatment Centre, Letchworth Garden City

    Report -

    The report from our visit to the Ernest Gardiner Treatment Centre using our legal power to Enter and View.

  41. Viewpoint get involved with service commissioning

    News -

    Throughout April and May, Drug and Alcohol commissioners asked Viewpoint to be involved in the commissioning of a new housing service for homeless people with addiction issues.

  42. Proposed Changes to Moorfields Eye Hospital

    News -

    A formal public consultation has been launched on a proposal to move the services of Moorfields Eye Hospital in City Road, London to a new centre in King’s Cross.

  43. Spot the Signs campaign launches free life-saving App

    News -

    A free life-saving App called “Stay Alive” which is packed with really useful features to help people stay mentally well has been launched in Hertfordshire.

  44. HPFT Rated ‘Outstanding’

    News -

    Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) have received an ‘Outstanding’ rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

  45. Royal Free Pharmacy and Phlebotomy

    News -

    In March 2019, the contract for the outpatient pharmacy at the Royal Free Hospital which was provided by Lloyd’s pharmacy ran out. As a result, the service is currently being provided by the newly established Royal Free London Pharmacy Services.

  46. Have your say on how the NHS should change in Hertfordshire

    News -

    People keen to influence the future of the NHS in Hertfordshire are being encouraged to make their views known at a number of events this month.

  47. Meeting with Paul Burstow, STP Chair

    News -

    Yesterday, our Chair Steve and our Chief Executive Geoff met with Paul Burstow, the new chair of the Hertfordshire and West Essex Sustainability Transformation Partnership (STP) and former Minister of State for Care Services.

  48. IVF Treatment Returns

    News -

    In October 2017, Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group (HVCCG) took the decision to withdraw all funding for IVF treatment, which is one of several techniques to help people with fertility problems having a baby.

  49. NHS Long Term Plan

    News -

    With growing pressure on the NHS – an ageing population, more people living with long-term conditions, and lifestyle choices affecting people’s health – changes are needed to make sure everybody gets the support they need.

  50. Redbourn Health Centre Meeting

    News -

    Priya recently attended a meeting about the merger of Redbourn Health Centre, which became a part of the Lodge Group in 2018.