Recent Projects

Our latest report, “Making Your Voice Count: An Exploration of Mental and Physical Wellbeing in Northamptonshire” has now been published!

Last year Healthwatch North and West Northamptonshire embarked on a 4 month campaign to engage with people locally and gain a greater understanding of their physical and mental health, including how they manage their wellbeing, with an aim to support individuals within the community through our findings. We designed a survey to gather the views of people in Northamptonshire, which gained 482 responses.

We have since analysed the feedback we received and have created a report detailing what people told us. The report also includes our recommendations, key findings and more information about the background of the campaign.

Read the report:

Young Healthwatch has published our report on Young People’s Experiences of Oral Health in Northamptonshire.

In December 2024, Young Healthwatch Northamptonshire held two focus groups in Northamptonshire secondary schools, asking questions about their experiences. Questions ranged from how often they see a dentist to ones intended to understand their knowledge of maintaining good oral health and where to access information regarding this.

The feedback we received was mixed. For example, in response to ‘How close is your dentist? Is it easy to get to?’, some young people told us it was within walking/driving distance, while for others this wasn’t the case.

Answers included:

“Cambridge, it was the only place that was taking on patients. My mum drove me.”

“I travel to Lithuania to go to the dentist. My family find it cheaper and more trustworthy”

The responses to all our focus group questions have been put into a report, which can be read below!

Full report:

Easy read:

We have published our report on Young Healthwatch Northamptonshire’s 15 step visit to Kettering General Hospital.

In January 2025, Young Healthwatch Northamptonshire and En-Fold members conducted a joint visit to Kettering General Hospital to perform a 15 step. This involved inspecting the Paediatric Emergency Department and Skylark Children’s Ward from a young person’s perspective. They took note of where they observed areas of outstanding care and provided recommendations for where the patient’s experience could be improved. 

Read the report below!

Full report:

Easy read:

I loved being involved in this project and meeting the staff at the hospital. It felt good to be listened to and make suggestions on how things could be improved.”

Overall, Kettering General Hospital was a welcoming and calm environment. The staff that we saw on the day were kind, friendly and seemed attentive to what was going on in their surroundings. The report includes our observations of the two wards visited and our key findings.

Young Healthwatch Northamptonshire’s latest report is published!

Teen Clinic Daventry is a service where young people aged 11-18 can access free support for physical, sexual and emotional health all in one place. More information about them here.

In Autumn 2023, Young Healthwatch Northamptonshire was commissioned by Teen Clinic Daventry to carry out an evaluation of the clinic. This involved conducting a survey for young people in Daventry and the creation of a series of videos that highlighted the importance and impact the Teen Clinic has had on young people locally and service providers.

The full report containing our findings, the videos we made and our recommendations is available to view below.

An independent report based on our findings from an Enter & View visit to The Beacon Unit.

Opened in 2020, the Beacon Unit is based at the Glenfield Hospital site in Leicester. The unit provides inpatient care for people aged 13-17 with acute mental health needs. We teamed up with Healthwatch Leicester and Healthwatch Leicestershire to complete an Enter & View and speak to patients. We attended the unit on the 24th July 2024. We were given a tour of the unit and were able to speak to 2 patients. 

When asked ‘What has been the most helpful aspect of your time at the CAMHS unit?’ one patient responded by saying “the support from the staff”. When asked what could be improved, both patients suggested the food with one stating that the food is “bland and tasteless”. 

To read the full report with a list of recommendations, download the document below.

If you need a copy of the report in another format, please contact us on 01572 720381 or email info@healthwatchrutland.co.uk

Our latest Healthwatch Rutland report reveals patient frustration with NHS communication and administration processes.

Effective communication is the backbone of quality healthcare, yet in our recent study, many patients report frustration and stress caused by administrative inefficiencies and poor communication within the NHS. 

In recent research conducted by Healthwatch Rutland many people told us they are unhappy with their experiences of NHS communication and administration processes, especially when moving between services along care pathways. Our report highlights significant communication gaps that impact patient well-being, alongside practical recommendations for enhancing NHS communication and administration.

In total, 130 Rutland people shared their experiences. Feedback was gathered through a survey, though individual interviews and from talking to people at outreach and engagement events.

The key findings of the research are available in our report Patient experiences of NHS communications and administration

Key Challenges in NHS Communication

1. Patients expressed frustration that communication preferences are not always considered. While some prefer letters, others favour emails or text messages. A key concern was the inability to respond to NHS text messages, limiting two-way communication.
2. Inconsistent experiences across services. While some NHS departments excel in communication, others struggle with delays, misinformation, and administrative errors. This inconsistency leads to confusion and stress for patients.
3. Difficulty accessing General Practice services. Many patients find it challenging to contact their GP, facing long wait times, unhelpful responses from care navigators, and limited appointment availability. There is a lack of awareness or confidence in using online consultation systems.
4. Issues with Urgent and Emergency Care. People reported difficulties locating loved ones admitted to hospitals via ambulance and confusion about accessing minor injuries or urgent care services. 
5. Hospital communication failures. Patients waiting for treatment often receive few or no updates about their status, leading to anxiety and frustration. Issues with appointment scheduling, lost referrals, and test results not being shared in a timely manner further contribute to patient dissatisfaction.
6. Medication management problems. Delays in receiving medications, gaps in communication between hospitals and GP practices, and pharmacies failing to notify patients when prescriptions are ready, create risks for patient safety.
7. Challenges for patients with disabilities. People with disabilities often experience additional barriers, such as inaccessible communication formats and a lack of support when navigating NHS services. 
8. Lack of clear complaints processes Many patients are unaware of how to formally complain about communication failures or fear that doing so may negatively impact their care.

The Impact of Poor Communication

Patients described the emotional and physical toll of poor NHS communication. Many spent excessive time chasing up appointments, referrals, or test results, adding to their stress. Delays in diagnoses and medication changes lead to avoidable suffering and, in some cases, worsened medical conditions. Parents of children needing medical care reported significant distress due to slow processes affecting their child’s well-being and education.

In the report we identify several key areas for improvement:

• Offer patients a choice in communication methods
  – Ensure all patients can choose how they receive communication (email, text, phone call, or letter).
  – Make emails a standard option for faster communication.
• Improve General Practice access
  – Expand call-back services to all GP practices.
  – Train care navigators to handle patient concerns with more empathy and efficiency.
  – Promote awareness and usability of online consultation platforms.
• Enhance Urgent and Emergency Care Communication
  – Provide clear guidance for accessing urgent care services.
  – Ensure that next-of-kin are notified when a patient is transferred to a hospital ward.
• Streamline Hospital Communication
  – Implement a standardized system for updating patients on waiting lists.
  – Improve coordination between hospitals and GP practices, especially regarding test results and prescription changes.
  – Give every patient a hospital contact number for queries about their care.
• Improve Medication Management
  – Ensure hospitals immediately notify GP practices of medication changes.
  – Pharmacies should alert patients when their prescriptions are ready for collection.
• Support Patients with Disabilities
  – Comply with the Accessible Information Standard to ensure all patients receive communication in their preferred format.
  – Provide staff training to improve support for patients with disabilities.
• Increase Transparency in Complaints Processes
  – Clearly inform patients of their right to complain and reassure them that their care will not be affected.

Next steps

Our study sheds light on the urgent need for improved NHS communication and administration. Addressing these issues will enhance patient experience, reduce stress, and improve health outcomes. Implementing practical solutions such as offering multiple communication options, improving coordination between services, and ensuring timely updates can make a significant difference in patient satisfaction and safety.

By listening to patient voices and taking action on their concerns, our local NHS can build a more efficient and compassionate healthcare offer for people in Rutland.