1. What’s it really like to be a parent, teacher, cook, cleaner, partner as well as a work colleague?

    News -

    We hear from working parents about how lockdown is affecting them.

  2. Did you know vaccine appointments are now available at Medway hospital?

    News -

    If you’ve been offered the vaccine, you now have the option to have it at the hospital on Friday, Saturday and Sundays.

  3. 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.

  4. Talking to Medway's Vascular Surgeon

    News -

    Today is International Women's Day. To celebrate we're talking to the inspirational Ginny Bowbrick. Ginny is a Mum of four and has worked in the NHS for 32 years, working at Medway hospital for 16 of those.

  5. Celebrating International Women's Day

    News -

    In the second of our interviews to mark International Women's Day, we chat to Jackie Brown who is Assistant Director of Adult Social Care in Medway.

  6. Can my children finally hug their grandma in a Care Home?

    News -

    From this week, some visitors are being allowed into Care Homes. But what are the rules and regulations and will you actually be able to hug your loved ones just yet?

  7. How Covid can change your life

    Report -

    Five people spoke to us in detail this week to tell us how Covid has changed their lives.

  8. 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

  9. 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.

  10. Medway Councillors are listening to your feedback

    News -

    Back in November, we published a report detailing feedback from 53 Medway organisations about how they had coped during the first Coronavirus wave. Last week we returned to the Health & Scrutiny Committee to update Councillors on our progress.

  11. Covid and the Vaccines – great news but it’s not all over yet

    Advice and Information -

    The UK government has published their four-step roadmap of a route back to a more normal way of living. In England, the easing of restrictions on our current covid lockdown began on March 8th with the return of schools.

  12. Our feedback contributes to a national conversation about GPs

    News -

    This week, a national report has been published documenting the struggles that thousands of people have faced trying to get a GP appointment during the pandemic. The report features our work on the lack of support available on GP websites in Medway.

  13. 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?

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

    Advice and Information -

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

  15. 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.

  16. 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

  17. 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.

  18. Have you ever thought about using Talking Therapies? Maybe you think it might help you, but you’re not sure how?

    News -

    This is your opportunity to have your say about how the Talking Therapy service in Medway currently works and how it could be improved for the future.

  19. What's life been like for parents whose children have additional needs?

    News -

    Lockdown has affected children who may have additional needs in so many ways. We chat to Nicola Carey-Shine who supports many Medway families about the ups and downs of lockdown.

  20. Did you know you can now get Covid tests from your pharmacy?

    News -

    All of us are now being encouraged to take a Covid test regularly even if we don't have any symptoms.

  21. Coronavirus: What does shielding mean?

    Advice and Information -

    Find out more about shielding, who it applies to, and what to do if you're a shielder.

  22. Steering Group minutes

    Report -

    How do we make our decisions?

  23. 42 year olds and over can now get their vaccine

    News -

    The Covid vaccine programme has today been extended and anyone over the age of 42 can now book their vaccine

  24. The Healthwatch Guide to Public Consultations

    Report -

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

  25. The Healthwatch Medway Guide to Pre-consultation & Engagement

    Report -

    During our work to scrutinise consultations; poor pre-consultation engagement was the main area vulnerable to legal challenge via judicial review.

  26. 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?

  27. 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 .

  28. What's it like to be homeless in Medway?

    Report -

    We chatted to five women, and three men, about their experience of being homeless in Medway. They want you to hear their story.

  29. Vaccination programme continues at pace

    News -

    Anyone aged 38 or over , is now entitled to get their Covid vaccination.

  30. Twin crisis of access and affordability calls for radical rethink of NHS dentistry

    News -

    Healthwatch England warns dental crisis shows no signs of slowing, with four in five people, 80%, struggling to access timely care during the last lockdown.

  31. Over 1 million vaccines in Kent & Medway. Have you had yours?

    News -

    Over 1 million people in Kent & Medway have now had their first dose of the Covid vaccine. Have you had yours? Tell us about it.

  32. 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.

  33. Do you look after someone right now? There is help available for you

    News -

    We're lucky enough to hear from Carers every week so we know just how brilliant they are and how vital it is that they get the support they need. Today marks the start of Carer's Week, and to celebrate we chatted to Tracey who is a Carer in Medway.

  34. New research exploring vaccination confidence provides vital lessons for public health campaigns

    News -

    Healthwatch England has joined forces with Traverse to explore vaccination confidence among people from African, Bangladeshi, Caribbean and Pakistani backgrounds living in the UK.

  35. 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.

  36. 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.

  37. What difference have we made this year?

    Report -

    We're proud of what we have achieved this year! Our volunteers have worked hard to ensure your experiences are heard by the right people and changes can be made as a result.

  38. Have you been a patient at Ruby Ward in Medway, or care for someone who has?

    News -

    Would you be willing to share your experience?

  39. Learning lessons from Covid in our pharmacies

    Report -

    Last year, over 100 community pharmacists told us what life had been like for them during the first wave of the Covid pandemic. Now, we've gone back to them to see what lessons have been learned since our first report.

  40. 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?

  41. Have you used the wheelchair service?

    News -

    We always want to help improve wheelchair services and make sure they work well for everyone who uses them.

  42. What's happened since we published our report on homelessness in Medway

    Report -

    In April we published a report detailing the feedback we heard from five women and two men who had experience of living on the streets of Medway. They told us about the challenges they faced to get access to healthcare.

  43. Share your experience of moving from child to adult mental health services

    News -

    Your story could really help to improve the experience for other people in Kent & Medway.

  44. Your views helped improve non-emergency patient transport services

    News -

    NHS England has published a new report outlining changes to non-emergency patient transport services (NEPTS) and broader NHS transport support. Take a look at what the changes mean for you and your loved ones.

  45. Changes to inpatient mental health services

    News -

    Plans have been published to move inpatient mental health beds from Medway to a new, purpose built facility in Maidstone. Now is the time to share your thoughts on the proposals.

  46. Have you used community health services such as Live Well or Release the Pressure?

    News -

    Now is the chance to share your thoughts about these services. Your feedback will help to shape the future of these services.

  47. Join a meeting to hear more about plans for inpatient mental health services

    News -

    Join an online meeting to hear more about the proposal to relocate Ruby Ward from Medway Maritime Hospital to a new purpose-built unit next to Maidstone Hospital.

  48. 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?

  49. Are you struggling to get an NHS dentist?

    News -

    You are not alone! More people than ever before have been in touch this month to share their story about finding an NHS dentist and ask for information.

  50. What should happen when you're diagnosed with dementia

    Advice and Information -

    Being diagnosed with dementia can be a big shock, and it can be hard to know what to do next. Take a look at our guide to find out what support you should receive.