Healthwatch Hertfordshire

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Healthwatch Hertfordshire

We are Hertfordshire's independent health and social care champion. We’re Hertfordshire's independent health and social care champion.

We make sure NHS leaders and other decision-makers hear your voice and use your feedback to improve care. If you use GPs and hospitals, dentists, pharmacies, care homes or other support services, we want to hear from you. We listen to your needs, experiences and concerns about local health and social care services, so we can speak out on your behalf. We gather your feedback through high-quality research and engagement and by inviting you to share your experiences. Our aim is to get services right for the future and ensure your worries and concerns about current services are addressed. We want to make sure those in charge put you at the heart of care and, if local needs are not being met, we have statutory powers to hold the system to account. We can also help if you have a question about health or social care services, but aren’t sure where to go to find the answer. Our experienced signposting team can help – whether you need to know how to make a complaint, how to access a service, or would like to give feedback. You can be confident that we are entirely independent and impartial and anything you share with us is confidential. We can only do our job with your help.

12/12/2025

Our December Newsletter is out today - click here to read all about what we've been up to. https://buff.ly/lGIkncm

11/12/2025

🔗 Take part in our pharmacy survey: https://buff.ly/yzv7qo1

We’re exploring how people across Hertfordshire use and view community pharmacies. 💊
Share your experiences — from Pharmacy First to everyday advice — and help shape future services.

It only takes a few minutes, and your input makes a real difference. 🙌

11/12/2025

🔗 Take part in our VITAL local pharmacy survey: https://buff.ly/yzv7qo1

We’re exploring what people think about community pharmacies in Hertfordshire — and we want to hear from you! 🗣️

Tell us about your experiences:

💊 How do you use your pharmacy?
💬 Do you know about services like Pharmacy First?
🙋♀️ How confident do you feel using pharmacy services?
🚪 What barriers make it harder to access them?

Your views will help shape the future of community pharmacy across our county.
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and share this post to help us reach more people.

10/12/2025

💬 Having issues with your GP practice and not sure where to turn? You're not alone — and we're here to help.

Since the pandemic, the way GP surgeries communicate with patients has changed, and it can be confusing to know who to speak to or what steps to take.

🧭 Our advice page can guide you through what to do next:

👉 https://buff.ly/mzgALzs

09/12/2025

🔗 Take part in our community pharmacy survey here: https://buff.ly/yzv7qo1

We have been commissioned to explore public perceptions of community pharmacies — and we need your help.

We want to hear from as many people as possible about:
💊 How you use your local pharmacy
💬 What services you’re aware of (like Pharmacy First)
🙋♀️ How confident you feel using pharmacy services
🚪 What barriers, if any, you face when accessing them

Your feedback will help shape future pharmacy services across Hertfordshire.

Please take a few minutes to share your views and help spread the word by sharing this post!

08/12/2025

Earlier this year, we helped our local NHS understand what patients think about blood pressure checks at opticians and dentists: https://buff.ly/dKsVzUR

A pilot scheme has been set up to allow selected dentists and opticians to offer patients a blood pressure check during their routine appointment. Thanks to ...

08/12/2025

🔗 Take part in our community pharmacy survey here: https://buff.ly/wv1s6IL

We’re exploring what local people think about community pharmacies in Hertfordshire — and we want to hear from you! 🗣️

Tell us about your experiences:
💊 How do you use your pharmacy?
💬 Do you know about services like Pharmacy First?
🙋♀️ How confident do you feel using pharmacy services?
🚪 What barriers make it harder to access them?

Your views will help shape the future of community pharmacy across our county.
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and share this post to help us reach more people.

05/12/2025

Earlier this year, using findings and recommendations from our Cervical Screening Report, a Toolkit was created for GP practices in Hertfordshire and West Essex: https://buff.ly/zKco7ts

This built on research we conducted in 2024: https://buff.ly/6uYYGkJ

Using findings and recommendations from our Cervical Screening Report, a Toolkit has been created for GP practices in Hertfordshire and West Essex. ...

04/12/2025

🔗 Have your say on community pharmacies: https://buff.ly/yzv7qo1

Do you use your local pharmacy for advice or support? Do you know about the extra services they offer? We’d love to hear from you! 💬

We’re exploring public perceptions of community pharmacies — what’s working well, and what could be better.
💊 How do you use your pharmacy?
💬 Are you aware of Pharmacy First?
🙋♀️ How confident are you using pharmacy services?
🚪 Are there any barriers that stop you from visiting?

Your feedback will help shape the future of pharmacy services in Hertfordshire.
Please complete our short survey and share this post to help spread the word!

03/12/2025

We spoke with young people aged 14-24, who had first-hand experience of using drug and alcohol support services: https://buff.ly/goKBcxt.

They told us they hadn’t understood enough about the dangers of drugs and alcohol and that campaigns targeted at children and young people were needed. They also said they needed more support from services, particularly during evenings and weekends.

Healthwatch Hertfordshire spoke with 33 young people aged 14-24, who had first hand experience of using drug and alcohol support services. They told us they ...

02/12/2025

Struggling to find a dentist and not sure what to do? We have the answers: https://buff.ly/420STOE

Address

London Road
Stevenage
SG12NG

Website

http://www.healthwatchhertfordshire.co.uk/

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Who We Are

Helping service users and communities Healthwatch helps people to find information about local health and social care services. We promote patient involvement and choice, and point people in the right direction when something goes wrong. We also have a role to promote the involvement of Hertfordshire’s communities in improving and developing services. Helping those who commission and deliver services We help commissioners to plan and design services making sure that the views, experiences and needs of patients, carers and users are taken into account. We also highlight where services are doing well and also where they can be improved. We carry out visits to services to see how well they are working. We can also take concerns to the inspectors and regulators if necessary. We are YOUR voice If you have had any problems with health or social services, have any comments or observations, then please get in touch. We can only do our job with your help.