Healthwatch in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

26/11/2025

At Healthwatch Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, our values shape every conversation we have, every story we listen to, and every recommendation we make. They’re the foundation that ensures we stay focused on what really matters.

They guide how we treat people, how we gather experiences, and how we challenge services to do better. They help us stay respectful, credible and inclusive when making real improvements across local health and care.

By staying true to our values, we make sure your voice is always heard with honesty, respect and purpose and that it leads to meaningful change.

💬 Your experience matters. Your story drives our work.
Find out more about who we are and have your say by visiting: healthwatchcambridgeshire.co.uk or healthwatchpeterborough.co.uk

26/11/2025

If you’re looking for clear information about care and support in Peterborough, the Peterborough Guide to Independent Living is a great place to start.

Created by Peterborough City Council, it brings together practical guidance on accessing social care, getting out and about, support for carers, paying for care, and more.

It also includes useful local contacts and a full list of CQC-registered care homes, nursing homes and home care providers in the area.

We’re sharing it to help make this information easier for people to find when they need it.

📘 Read the guide: https://www.carechoices.co.uk/publication/peterborough-guide-to-independent-living/

26/11/2025

Looking for reliable advice about your child’s health? 💛

You can find trusted, easy-to-follow NHS information to help you feel confident at every stage of your child’s development.

Whether you're a new parent, a carer, or supporting older children, the NHS has guidance on:

👶 Eating and infant feeding – from breastfeeding support to starting solids
🤒 Managing minor illnesses – what to do when they’re poorly and when to get help
🌱 Child development – understanding milestones and what to expect
💛 Behaviour and emotions – helping children cope, communicate and thrive
😴 Sleep – tips for healthy routines and better rest
🗣️ Speech, language and communication – spotting concerns and supporting their progress

Accessing reliable information can make a huge difference and help you feel reassured when making decisions about your child’s wellbeing.

25/11/2025

Your experience can help shape better health and social care for our community!

Our Partnership Boards bring together people with lived experience, carers, voluntary sector organisations and local services to improve adult social care across Cambridgeshire & Peterborough. Each Board focuses on a different area, such as carers, older people, physical disability, sensory impairment and more, and is chaired by an Independent Member with lived experience.

By joining, you can:
🧠 Share your knowledge
🤝 Influence future services
🤩 Make sure real experiences drive local change

If you use adult social care services (or care for someone who does) we’d love you to get involved. Come along to a meeting, see how it works, and decide if it’s right for you.

Email Lucy.Kennedy@healthwatchcambspboro.co.uk for more details!

25/11/2025

🌟 We’re Hiring: Impact & Data Analyst! 🌟

Do you love turning complex data into clear insights that drive real change? Want to use your skills to support community voices and shape meaningful impact? This could be the perfect role for you!

We’re looking for an Impact and Data Analyst to join our small, dynamic team. In this hands-on role, you’ll:
📊 Design and deliver research
📈 Analyse data from multiple sources
📝 Produce high-quality reports
🤝 Evaluate outreach and engagement activity
🔍 Help us make sense of the numbers behind our work

You’ll collaborate across all teams, from engagement to communications and have the autonomy to shape how we collect, interpret, and present data across the organisation. You’ll report directly to our Head of Communications and Impact.

📨 How to apply:
Send your CV and a short cover letter to carole.rose@healthwatchcambspboro.co.uk

If you’re ready to turn data into meaningful action, we’d love to hear from you! 💬✨

22/11/2025

Martha's Rule - Do you have the right to a second opinion for your care?

If you feel unsure about a diagnosis or treatment plan, you can ask to be seen by another GP or specialist. It’s not a legal right on the NHS, but doctors must respect your choice to seek one.

Healthwatch England have published a short guide covering:
✅ When to ask for a second opinion
✅ What Martha’s Rule means for hospital patients
✅ How patients and families can request an urgent review

✅ Need help?

If you’ve asked for a second opinion but feel your concerns aren’t being heard, or you’d like help understanding the process, Healthwatch Cambridgeshire and Peterborough can help.

📞 Contact our Information and Signposting Team
📧 informationservice@healthwatchcambspboro.co.uk

We’re here to help you get the care and support you need.

To tell us your experiences anonymously, you can do that here:
https://www.healthwatchcambridgeshire.co.uk/tell-us-about-your-experiences-nhs-and-social-care-services
https://www.healthwatchpeterborough.co.uk/tell-us-about-your-experiences-nhs-and-social-care-services

Read more on our website ➡️ https://www.healthwatchcambridgeshire.co.uk/advice-and-information/2025-11-11/getting-second-opinion-about-your-care
https://www.healthwatchpeterborough.co.uk/advice-and-information/2025-11-11/getting-second-opinion-about-your-care

21/11/2025

What is adult social care? Do you or your family need help?

Do you or a loved one need help with everyday tasks, support at home, or care after illness or injury? Adult social care may be able to help.

Social care is different from the treatment you receive from the NHS. While it can include some medical support, social care focuses on practical help so people can live as independently as possible. This care is usually delivered at home, in a care home, or in the community rather than at a GP practice or hospital.

Understanding what support is available – and how to pay for it – can feel overwhelming. Here are the key things you need to know.

Social care can support people to live independently – at home, in care homes, or in the community. This could include personal care, help with shopping or meals, reablement services, day centres or respite for carers.

Our link below covers:
✅ How to request an assessment
✅ Who can get support
✅ How to pay for care
✅ What services might be available

If you’re struggling to access help, we want to hear from you.
Read more here ➡️ https://www.healthwatchcambridgeshire.co.uk/advice-and-information/2025-11-11/what-adult-social-care
https://www.healthwatchpeterborough.co.uk/advice-and-information/2025-11-11/what-adult-social-care

18/11/2025

Click on the link to support your family's health and wellbeing during the winter months

https://www.healthwatchcambridgeshire.co.uk/advice-and-information/2025-11-18/keeping-warm-and-well

18/11/2025

🕒 Waiting for care? You deserve clear communication.
When you’re waiting for planned treatment, surgery or another health service, it’s understandable to feel uncertain. That’s why we’re reminding you that providers should keep you informed every step of the way.

✅ What you should expect:

Clear, personalised updates about what happens next (not just a generic message).

Information in plain, accessible language — ask to have jargon explained if needed.

Transparency about delays or cancellations: an explanation of why, and what will happen next.

Being involved in decision-making about your own care, including the risks/benefits of proceeding, delaying or cancelling.

Extra support while you wait: how to manage your health, who to contact if things change, and assuring your safety is maintained.

🧠 And don’t forget your mental health:
Waiting can take its toll. If you’re feeling anxious or stressed:

Talk through what’s going on with someone you trust

Seek local mental health or peer-support services

In urgent distress, call Samaritans on 116 123 or dial 999 in an emergency.
If you’ve experienced delays or unclear communication while waiting for care in Cambridgeshire or Peterborough – we’d like to hear from you. Your feedback helps us hold services to account and improve patient experience locally.

Click here for advice and guidance: https://www.healthwatchcambridgeshire.co.uk/advice-and-information/2025-11-11/staying-informed-while-you-wait-care

Tell us your experiences of waiting for care: https://www.healthwatchcambridgeshire.co.uk/share-your-experience-referrals-adult-social-care-gp-community-clinic-hospital-any-other-service

17/11/2025

Patient voice matters in your GP surgery — and our Patient Participation Group Forums continue to show the power of bringing people together.
Thank you to all the PPG members and practice staff who joined our latest countywide session to discuss what’s going well, what needs to improve, and how we can work better together.

Patients can get involved with their GP's PPG, just ask your reception on how to join and have your say and support your GP surgery by having your voice heard.

Read the summary here 👇

https://www.healthwatchcambridgeshire.co.uk/report/2025-11-17/bringing-patient-voices-together-our-primary-care-ppg-forum

17/11/2025

🧡 National Self Care Awareness Week
📅 17–23 November 2025

This week is a reminder that small, everyday actions can make a big difference to our physical and mental health. Self-care isn’t about “going it alone” — it’s about understanding when you can manage your health yourself, and when you need support from the NHS or other services.

🌟 Simple ways to look after yourself:
✅ Stay active in a way that works for you
✅ Eat well and stay hydrated
✅ Make time for rest and sleep
✅ Look after your mental health and talk to someone if you're struggling
✅ Keep on top of prescriptions and health checks
✅ Know where to go when you need medical advice

If you’re not sure where to start, the NHS website has trusted advice on everything from exercise and nutrition to managing stress and long-term conditions.

💬 And if you’ve recently used local NHS or social care services, we want to hear from you. Your feedback helps services improve for everyone in Cambridgeshire & Peterborough.
https://www.healthwatchpeterborough.co.uk/tell-us-about-your-experiences-nhs-and-social-care-services
https://www.healthwatchcambridgeshire.co.uk/tell-us-about-your-experiences-nhs-and-social-care-services

15/11/2025

📢 NHS England has published its new Strategic Commissioning Framework for Integrated Care Boards (ICBs).

The framework sets out how ICBs should deliver their refocused remit — and highlights the continued importance of public engagement, co-production, and hearing from underserved communities.

🔍 Two key areas to note:

✅ Section 3.1 – Public engagement to inform new Integrated Needs Assessments
From January 2026, every ICB must produce an annual integrated needs assessment. To do this, they must:

Understand people’s lived experience of health and care

Use an adequately resourced, ICB-approved co-production methodology

Combine both quantitative and qualitative insight
Methodologies must be in place by March 2027.

✅ Section 4.5 – User involvement and co-design
ICBs are urged to dedicate meaningful resources to reach seldom-heard and underserved communities, working with trusted partners to do so.

⚠️ With cost-cutting underway across ICBs and the abolition of the Healthwatch network, there are still major questions about how this level of engagement and insight will be delivered.

We hope the government’s draft legislation — expected in early 2026 — will bring long-awaited clarity on how public voice, accountability and independent insight will be protected in the new system.

📄 Read the full framework here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-strategic-commissioning-framework/

NHS England » Strategic commissioning framework