1. Are you worried about how the Covid vaccine might affect your long term condition?

    Advice and Information -

    Many people have been asking us what they should do if they have a long term condition and they want the Covid vaccine. We have some answers.

  2. New large vaccination centre opens in Chatham

    News -

    The former DW Sports store in the Pentagon Centre will open as the new large vaccination centre on March 11th

  3. Do you need help to complete your Census?

    News -

    Letters asking us to complete the Census have been dropping through everyone's doors in recent weeks. If you're struggling to fill in the form online, there is help available to you.

  4. Have you had Covid? Are you still struggling?

    News -

    Have you, or someone you know, had Covid and are still feeling the effects four weeks later?

  5. Brushing our teeth – what’s it all about?

    Advice and Information -

    It’s all about stopping plaque and tartar build up on our teeth.

  6. We get your vaccine questions answered

    News -

    Every day we’re taking calls from people with questions about the Covid vaccine. If we don’t know the answer, we don’t rest until we find it. Here are a few of the questions we’ve heard this week. We hope the answers may help you too.

  7. A vaccine with your name on it - book it!

    News -

    There are slots available this week for the Covid vaccine. Have you had yours? Book it today

  8. Feeling stressed? You're not alone

    Advice and Information -

    April marks Stress Awareness Month, a national awareness month that has been held every year since 1992 to raise recognition of something we all struggle with from time to time.

  9. The Healthwatch Guide to Public Consultations

    Report -

    This guide is intended to support commissioners and service providers to deliver genuine, meaningful public consultations.

  10. Help Medway become a child friendly place to live

    News -

    Would you like Medway to be a place where all young people are involved and benefit from the local decisions, services and spaces that shape their lives?

  11. How Deaf aware are you?

    Advice and Information -

    The theme of Deaf Awareness Week 2021 is ‘Coming through it together’.
    As we continue to live with the pandemic, this year’s event aims to raise awareness of Deaf issues while focusing on positivity and togetherness .

  12. Celebrating our volunteers all week and every week

    News -

    Our volunteers are our lifeblood. They help us with every aspect of Healthwatch from making decisions about our priorities, listening to patients and ensuring peoples' voices are heard.

  13. New GP data-sharing system delayed

    News -

    NHS Digital have recently announced plans to allow an NHS system to extract patient data from doctors’ surgeries in England. The new data-sharing system was due to start in July but has now been pushed back to 1 September.

  14. Five principles for post-COVID-19 digital healthcare

    News -

    Healthwatch England has published a new report exploring people's experiences of digital and remote healthcare. They have set out five principles for post-COVID19 care to ensure no one is left behind.

  15. Help Medway hospital create a patient experience strategy

    News -

    Medway Maritime Hospital are looking for people to help them develop a patient experience strategy. Could you join one of their sessions to help shape the conversation?

  16. Do you have something to say about domestic abuse services?

    News -

    Are you part of a group or Forum that would be interested to in discussing housing, domestic abuse and increasing safety? Perhaps you would be willing to share your own personal story about domestic abuse?

  17. How does Asthma impact your daily life?

    Report -

    One in 12 people have asthma. That means that thousands of people in Medway are dealing with the effects of asthma every day. We heard from some Medway residents about their story.

  18. What to expect when waiting for care

    Advice and Information -

    Waiting for planned medical care or surgery can be a frustrating time. That’s why it’s so important that while you wait, you get regular, clear and accessible updates so that you can plan your next steps.

  19. Would you like to improve community mental health services?

    News -

    Maybe you could help us make it happen?

  20. New service for men who are victims of domestic abuse in Medway

    News -

    A new service dedicated to supporting men who are victims of domestic abuse has been launched in Medway & Kent this week.

  21. Nearly half of all women don’t check their breasts. Are you one of them?

    Advice and Information -

    Every 10 minutes, someone in England is diagnosed with breast cancer. That’s 55,000 women a year but men can get breast cancer too with 370 men receiving diagnosis every year.

  22. What's it like to be diagnosed with Complex Emotional Difficulties?

    News -

    Nearly 6% of adults in Medway & Kent are thought to have Complex Emotional Difficulties. We chatted with Steve about his own diagnosis and his work to involve people to improve the support available for people like him in Medway and Kent.

  23. Help the Non Emergency Patient Transport Service to be better

    News -

    If you need help to attend an NHS appointment, you may have used the Non Emergency Patient Transport Service to help you get there. This is a free transport service that is available to some, but not all, patients based on their eligibility.

  24. Decision made for five GP surgeries in Medway

    News -

    Five GP surgeries in Medway have had permanent contracts awarded so they can continue to provide services for their communities.

  25. 50% of people with Diabetes don't know they have it!

    Advice and Information -

    World Diabetes Day on Nov 14th will bring together millions of people around the world to raise awareness of diabetes and help people to understand what it’s really like to live with Diabetes.

  26. Are you under 18 and have a long term health condition?

    News -

    This is your chance to speak up. The NHS want to hear from you because they want to improve the way your care is organised and co-ordinated.

  27. Would you like to lose weight but don’t know how?

    Advice and Information -

    In our heart of hearts, all of us know that we should be looking after ourselves, especially during a pandemic.

  28. Helping people to get the treatment that they need

    News -

    Every day people contact us seeking information and help to know what to do next. This month we helped people to get the eye injections that they needed.

  29. Have you had your smear test recently? Did you know 75% of cervical cancers can be prevented by having a smear test?

    Advice and Information -

    Nine women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every day in the UK. 75% of cervical cancers can be prevented by cervical screening (smear tests).

  30. Did you know today is Dignity Action Day?

    News -

    Dignity is precious. It is especially important when we are feeling more vulnerable such as when we are in hospital, being looked after at home or living in a care home.

  31. Everything you need to know about a Colonoscopy

    Advice and Information -

    Thousands of people have a colonoscopy every week. It’s a very common procedure but do you actually know what it is, or what it involves? We’ve got everything you need to know.

  32. Have you heard of Raynaud’s?

    Advice and Information -

    You probably know someone with Raynaud’s without even realising it. February is Raynaud’s Awareness Month.

  33. Epilepsy is more than seizures

    Advice and Information -

    Epilepsy is one of the world’s oldest known medical conditions which affects around 600,000 people in the UK. 87 people are diagnosed with epilepsy every day, but many people still don’t understand it or talk about it.

  34. Did you know that 300 million people in the world live with a rare disease?

    News -

    A disease is rare when it affects fewer than 1 in 2,000 people. Examples of rare diseases include cystic fibrosis, Chron’s disease and sickle cell anaemia. 72% of rare diseases are genetics which means they can be hereditary.

  35. What are the rules about Covid testing now?

    Advice and Information -

    COVID-19 testing rules have now changed across England. Find out the latest information on where to go to get tested, which test is most suitable for you, and what to do if you get a positive COVID-19 test result.

  36. Raising awareness about self injury

    Advice and Information -

    We’re working to raise awareness about self injury.

  37. How will the NHS tackle the backlog?

    News -

    With a record six million people currently waiting for hospital treatment in the UK, the NHS has set out its plan to address the backlog that has built up during the Covid-19 pandemic and tackle long waiting lists for care.

  38. Where can I get support for an eating disorder?

    Advice and Information -

    You are not alone. Around 1.25 million people in the UK are dealing with an eating disorder right now, many in secret.

  39. Do you have your dream job yet?

    Advice and Information -

    Navigating the world of work can be daunting, especially if you've just left education. Where do you start?

  40. This March, ovarian cancer is being put in the spotlight.

    Advice and Information -

    Two thirds of those with ovarian cancer are diagnosed too late when the cancer has already spread.

  41. Brain size does not determine how clever you are

    Advice and Information -

    Did you know that Albert Einstein’s brain weighed less than the average brain?!

  42. Take care of your teeth. Don’t forget your gums!

    Advice and Information -

    More of you call us about getting a dentist appointment than anything else. Every day we hear from people who are struggling to get to see an NHS dentist. That means than looking after our own teeth is more important than ever!

  43. What do you know about Down’s Syndrome? Today is Down’s Syndrome Day

    Advice and Information -

    Down’s syndrome happens when you are born with an extra chromosome. The extra chromosome causes developmental and physical changes.

  44. Talking endometriosis

    Advice and Information -

    1 in 10 women have endometriosis. It can be extremely painful and take years to get a diagnosis. We talk to Rheanna about her experience.

  45. Let your smile do the talking

    Advice and Information -

    When people talk about oral health, they mean the way we care for our teeth.

    If you brush your teeth every day and eat well, then you have good oral health!

  46. NHS announces plans to recruit more GPs in Medway, Swale and Thanet

    News -

    A £500,000 package has been authorised by health leaders to combat the GP shortage in the most disadvantaged areas of Kent including Medway.

  47. Celebrating excellence at the Healthwatch Recognition Awards

    News -

    40 people and organisations were winners last night at the prestigious Healthwatch Recognition Awards in Ashford which recognised the people and organisations who had listened to you.

  48. What do you really know about Autism?

    Advice and Information -

    Today (April 2nd) is World Autism Day.

  49. More needs to be done to ensure people with a learning disability, mental ill health or autism get the right care at the right time. Do you agree?

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission has today published a report highlighting the lack of progress since their 2020 ‘Out of sight – who cares?’ report.