1. Advice and Information -

    Take a look at our advice article on the organisations and groups that can support you if you’re grieving.
  2. Advice and Information -

    If you are experiencing or feel at risk of domestic abuse, or are worried about someone who might be, find out where you can go for advice and help.
  3. Advice and Information -

    With more and more appointments happening online, we've put together some tips on how to get the most out of the virtual health and care appointments both for patients and health and care professionals.
  4. Advice and Information -

    Many people who provide unpaid care are unaware of their rights. Find out more about the help and support you are entitled to.
  5. Report -

    Young Healthwatch is a network of volunteers aged 14-25 who represent the views of children and young people living, working or studying Westminster. This report details the review of services from a young persons perspective.
  6. Report -

    This report details our staff and volunteers’ response to the Covid-19 crisis so far. It is clear from our findings that COVID-19 has affected people in different ways and exacerbated existing health inequalities.
  7. Report -

    The COVID-19: Your Experience Matters survey was developed to capture the broadest range of experiences: in this report, we look at physical health and access to services; mental health and wellbeing; personal and family relationships; housing, environment and finances; and information.
  8. News -

    Last week we were excited to host our first virtual Annual Meeting.
    We brought together over 80 Healthwatch Central West London members, stakeholders, volunteers, staff, trustees, external colleagues and local people to present our annual report and showcase our work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though we could not meet in person, we had a fantastic turnout, and it was great to see so many familiar faces.
  9. News -

    We have published a COVID-19 insight report in collaboration with Breathe Easy Westminster. The report highlights the impact of COVID-19 on those living with a long-term respiratory condition.
  10. News -

    This week we have launched an updated version of our survey Coronavirus: Your Experience Matters.
  11. News -

    At the moment, awareness of public health messaging is particularly important. A key part of our role at Healthwatch Central West London is raising awareness of Government and NHS public health messaging and working to ensure these messages are available to everybody.
  12. News -

    The way we carry out our work has changed substantially over the past eight months. We are not in the office anymore and have not been since March.
  13. News -

    As we adapt to living with COVID-19 long-term, technology has become increasingly central to how many of us communicate. With opportunities for face-to-face interaction limited, technology like video calling software has provided somewhat of an alternative. From doctors’ appointments to family catch-ups, how we communicate, receive information, and interact with others has changed considerably.
  14. News -

    We are pleased to announce that we are an accredited Disability Confident Employer.
  15. News -

    We have surveyed people about how they have been affected by COVID-19. We wanted to highlight the experiences of those who responded to our survey who identified as being from a minority ethnic group.
  16. News -

    We have been asking you to tell us how COVID-19 has affected you and your loved ones.
    We all know by now that there is much more to the impact of this pandemic than catching COVID-19 (Coronavirus).
  17. News -

    The most important part of our work is listening to local experiences of health and social care. It influences the information we publish, the resources we produce, and the recommendations that we share with local NHS providers. We want to reach more people who do not have digital access: this means email, social media, and even this website you’re looking at right now.
  18. News -

    During the Coronavirus outbreak, many PPGs suspended their activities allowing practice staff to focus on health emergency. However, most proactive PPGs continued working and were creative in their approach.
  19. News -

    The Patients Association is currently carrying out a survey to find out how patients feel about visiting GP surgeries as lockdown eases.
  20. News -

    We want to speak to local users of NHS mental health services in Central North West London about how local care can address their protected characteristics.
  21. News -

    The latest results from Young Healthwatch’s ongoing survey with young people in London is here: YHW Mental Health Survey Final.
    When we first began reaching out to young people in 2019 (between the ages of 14 and 25) who were living, working or studying in Westminster, we wanted them to tell us about the health and social care issues that mattered the most to them.
  22. News -

    Join a series of online workshops facilitated by The Fandangoe Kid, a Hackney-based print artist, to explore challenges and issues facing young people.
  23. News -

    The pre-booking process, using the NHS’s triage line, will allow A&E departments to be managed more efficiently and reduce waiting times. The NHS is to pilot a “call first” model of Accident & Emergency which could be rolled out across the country, health chiefs have said, as reported in The Telegraph.
  24. News -

    Our Annual Report is here!
  25. News -

    Your Experience Matters
    In April this year, we launched Your Experience Matters, our most comprehensive survey to date, in which we asked residents to share their experiences of the COVID-19 outbreak.
  26. News -

    We are pleased to share our latest report, Insights from BAME Communities in Central West London 2020, which presents the views of 73 individuals from BAME communities, who we held focus groups with, in partnership with BME Health Forum, last year.
  27. News -

    In January, we launched our first ever small grants project.
  28. Advice and Information -

    Some GP surgeries and pharmacies will be closed over the long weekend - here's where you can find support for your health needs
  29. Blog -

    Our new project aims to identify the mental health needs of those who experience homelessness in Westminster
  30. Blog -

    Our upcoming projects and priorities for 2024
  31. Advice and Information -

    Are you or your community affected by the new Pharmacy First scheme? How has it impacted your access to care? Do you have any feedback or concerns about the scheme? We want to hear from you!
  32. Response -

    Responding to changes in our local community
  33. News -

    Closure of Qwell mental health service on the 31st March, 2024
  34. Report -

    Sharing the views of 207 women across North West London
  35. Advice and Information -

    Did you know, in 2022, the Gambling Commission estimated that around 30,000 (0.9%) of all young people aged 11-16 years were identified as gambling in a harmful way, with a further 2.4% to be at risk of developing harms in the future?
  36. News -

    We are looking to collect information about residents’ experiences booking and accessing GP appointments across North West London
  37. Advice and Information -

    If you need help and support accessing local services, or need assistance making a complaint, you can reach out to us
  38. Advice and Information -

    Pop-up hubs - including local libraries and community spaces situated around Westminster – will be transformed into vaccination spots so that residents of all ages can get vaccinated against Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)
  39. News -

    The North West London Networked Data Lab are looking for patients and carers to join their Patient and Carer Advisory Group
  40. News -

    The NHS national booking system (NBS) is now open for eligible people to book their spring COVID-19 booster for free, from 22 April until 30 June 2024
  41. Report -

    We engaged with patients and staff at Elgin Clinic to gather feedback on service accessibility and provided recommendations to the GP Practice based on this feedback.
  42. Report -

    We engaged with patients and staff at Doctor Hickey Surgery to gather feedback on service accessibility and provided recommendations to the GP Practice based on this feedback.
  43. Report -

    We engaged with patients and staff at Grand Union Health Centre to gather feedback on service accessibility and provided recommendations to the GP Practice based on this feedback.
  44. News -

    Senior NHS doctors in England have accepted an improved pay deal from the government after months of striking. Read our response.
  45. Advice and Information -

    If English is not your first language, have you used emergency or urgent care services? Did you know that the London Ambulance Service provides language support over the phone and on-scene?

  46. Advice and Information -

    If you, your child, your parent or someone you care for are experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency you can now contact your local crisis service by calling NHS 111 and selecting the mental health option
  47. News -

    Our new data suggests that people are increasingly avoiding booking NHS appointments or taking up prescriptions because of the cost-of-living crisis. Find out more about the support available to help you cover NHS treatment costs
  48. News -

    This year, Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week is taking place between Monday 29 April to Sunday 5 May 2024, with World Maternal Mental Health Day 2024 on Wednesday 1 May
  49. News -

    This year, Deaf Awareness Week will take place from the 6th to the 12th of May, with the theme of Celebrating Love and Trust. The aim of the week is to shed light on the challenges that the deaf community face and educate others on how they can support them.
  50. News -

    We recently hosted a discussion, in partnership with the Advocacy Project, to understand how patients would like to access their GP and allow them to share their experiences.