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Advice and Information -
People have told us they can have problems registering with a GP. This article explains more about your rights and what do to if you are refused the right to register. -
Advice and Information -
Find out what support is available to help you when travelling to your GP, hospital or other NHS services. -
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. -
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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. -
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The Patients Association is currently carrying out a survey to find out how patients feel about visiting GP surgeries as lockdown eases.
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Healthwatch Hillingdon have launched a survey to find out how local people in North West London have found contacting their GP practice online. -
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Findings from our young people’s survey highlight a distinct lack of connection between young people and their GP practices (Primary Care) in a time when they need it more than ever. -
Advice and Information -
Some of your usual NHS services will be closed or running reduced hours during the festive season -
Advice and Information -
Everything you need to know about the six-week postnatal check for new mothers and birthing parents -
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From 1 July, the NHS complaints procedure is changing - here’s what residents of Kensington and Chelsea need to know
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We are looking to collect information about residents’ experiences booking and accessing GP appointments across North West London -
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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. -
Advice and Information -
Do you struggle to speak to your doctor about your medical concerns? You’re not alone. Take a look at our top tips to make the most out of your GP appointment. -
Advice and Information -
Health issues unfortunately don't leave us alone at the weekend and people are often in need of medical assistance out of hours. Using NHS guidelines, we have provided some advice and information on where you can go for help when your GP is closed. -
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. -
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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. -
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Our Annual Report is here!
This year has been more remarkable than most when it comes to public health, as we continue to develop our approach in order to meet the demands of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Annual Report, as always, is an opportunity for us to share our highlights from the past year, and showcase the work of our wonderful staff and volunteers. -
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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.
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We are pleased to announce that we are an accredited Disability Confident Employer.
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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. -
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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. We are not even all in the same country at the moment – with some of us working remotely as far away as Greece! This has meant we have had to change and adapt normal working practices. Lots of our in-person engagement work has had to be moved online, and we meet as a team, virtually, more regularly to help us all keep in touch. -
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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. -
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This week we have launched an updated version of our survey Coronavirus: Your Experience Matters.
When the pandemic took hold earlier this year, we wanted to hear local people’s views and experiences. We ran focus groups and interview sessions with local groups and launched our first survey to give people the opportunity to talk to us about their experiences. -
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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. -
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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. -
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Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea have shared an update for parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) on the support available during the current lockdown.
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The Grenfell Community Assembly is holding its next virtual meeting on Monday 25 January, at 18:00.
The Assembly, which is run by Kensington & Chelsea, offers a forum for the Grenfell community to come together and discuss important issues.
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In January 2020, we launched our Small Grants Programme – a first of its kind project for our organisation. We wanted to reach people in Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea who find it hardest to be heard in conversations about health and social care. We awarded the recipients of our grant £500 to complete engagement with groups from these communities. -
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As the NHS moves more services online, we have been speaking to local patients, residents, and carers about how well digital tools work for them -
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As part of the Acute Mental Health Public Consultation, CNWL NHS Trust are running a series of public events in Kensington & Chelsea, asking local people’s views about proposed changes to local acute mental health services. -
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We’re collecting feedback about maternity and neonatal care across North West London
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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 -
Advice and Information -
Pop up hubs – including local libraries situated around the borough – will be transformed into vaccination spots so that residents of all ages can get vaccinated against Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) -
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The North West London Networked Data Lab are looking for patients and carers to join their Patient and Carer Advisory Group -
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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 -
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Senior NHS doctors in England have accepted an improved pay deal from the government after months of striking. Read our response. -
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? -
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 -
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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 -
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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 -
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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. -
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Today marks the launch of Mental Health Awareness Week which is taking place from 13 to 19 May, with the theme of “Movement: Moving more for our mental health” -
Advice and Information -
Take a look at our advice article on the organisations and groups that can support you if you’re grieving. -
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Every month, we come together with our host organisation The Advocacy Project and Brent Councillor Ketan Sheth to host a topical discussion about building better health equalities. Previous topics have included children and young people's mental health, food inequality and hidden addictions. -
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A public consultation evaluation report on the proposed changes to acute mental health services for residents in Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea has recently been published. We have summarised the main findings below. -
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The Government has launched a consultation on the NHS Constitution, which sets out your rights as an NHS patient. Read why it's important to have your say. -
Advice and Information -
After recent meetings allowed Healthwatch to share and reflect on patient safety concerns, we developed an intermin escalation process. Read about it and our longer-term plans here. -
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There has been an outbreak of measles in North Kensington, and we have collated some information about how you can protect yourself and your children against the disease. Find out more below.