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Report – 29 June 2026

We are happy to announce the publication of our 2025–2026 Annual Report, showcasing a year of listening to local people, championing their voices and working with partners to improve health and social care across West Northamptonshire. During the year, we supported more than 551 people, heard directly from 115 residents about their experiences of care and, with the support of our dedicated volunteers, carried out projects that have influenced local services and decision-making.

This year saw the publication of two major Enter and View reports at Northampton General Hospital, which identified practical recommendations to improve patients’ experiences in the Adult A&E and Paediatrics departments. We also led our award-nominated Health and Care Research for All: Strengthening Eastern European Voices project, engaging more than 400 people from Eastern European communities, increasing awareness of health research, and making recommendations to reduce health inequalities through more inclusive and accessible engagement.

As our first Annual Report as Healthwatch West Northamptonshire, our report reflects our continued commitment to ensuring that local people’s experiences shape the future of health and social care. Whether supporting individuals to access services, amplifying the voices of communities that are often underrepresented, or working alongside NHS and local authority partners to drive improvements, we remain committed to making sure every voice counts.

Downloads

We want to ensure your volunteering experience with us is an enjoyable and rewarding one. The aim of the handbook is to act as a handy reference and information tool so please take time to read it. It is a lengthy document but one that we believe will be useful in different ways throughout your volunteering time with us.

The volunteer lead’s role is to:

• Find, select, and engage volunteers

• Source and deliver volunteer training

• Support and monitor volunteers and their involvement

• Ensure all legislative regulations concerning volunteers are adhered to

• Maintain links and communicate with all volunteers

• Maintain volunteer records

• Report regularly on volunteering matters to the relevant boards and commissioners

Volunteers from Healthwatch North and West Northamptonshire visited the Kettering General Hospital (KGH) Accident and Emergency (A&E) department and the Northampton General Hospital A&E department unannounced using their statutory power to conduct Enter and View visits on 31st January 2023.

The hospitals were informed prior to the visits that they would be taking place and by whom but did not know the date or time of the visit before it happened.

The volunteers spoke to patients at both hospitals about their experiences of the service, from the parking and waiting times, to the care they were provided.

The reports, written by our volunteers, are a snapshot of each hospital’s A&E department on the day, along with the team’s recommendations to improve the patient experience locally. It is not a comment on the situation nationally, Government policy or the need for additional resources in Emergency Departments across the country.

Healthwatch North and West Northamptonshire is the consumer champion for everyone who uses, or has an interest, in local health and social care services in Northamptonshire.

They are looking to recruit a Healthwatch Projects and Engagement Officer, who can work with and support the Manager, Chair, Advisory Board and volunteers to deliver the statutory duties of a local Healthwatch.

The post holder will be instrumental in helping Healthwatch seek and champion the views and needs of the public, working with the local health and care sector to ensure that service design and delivery meet these needs. 

It is an opportunity to have a varied role that makes a difference, working with a dynamic team developing links with key stakeholders in health, social care and the voluntary sector.

They will also lead on public and community engagement, support Young Healthwatch and with the rest of the team provide information to the public.

The post is for between 25 – 37 hours per week and the starting salary is £24,000 pro rata.

For more information please visit the Healthwatch North and Northamptonshire website (www.healthwatchnorthamptonshire.co.uk) to download a copy of the application pack. If you require an application pack to be sent to you, please call 0300 002 0010. The closing date for applications will be Friday 24th March.

If you would like to speak to someone about this post please contact Kate Holt, CEO, Connected Together CIC on 0300 002 0010 kateholt@connectedtogether.co.uk