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. News -

    In January, Healthwatch Central West London (HWCWL) launched its first ever small grants project.

    The project asked local organisations who work with groups who are often under-represented in public discussions about health and social care to apply for the £500 grant, by telling us how they would gather their communities’ experiences of health and social care to support our ongoing local engagement and research.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. News -

    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.
  9. Report -

    This report, details our staff and volunteers’ response, it is clear from our findings that COVID-19 has affected people in different ways and exacerbated existing health inequalities.
  10. 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.
  11. Report -

    This report tells you what Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people think about the services.
    We got these views from the COVID-19 survey.
  12. 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.
  13. 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. The workshops will experiment with typography, layouts and graphic elements, alongside mixed media and collage, to make bold and engaging statements, to gather a collective voice in response to essential questions concerning young people. Full details, schedule and registration via Thrive LDN’s website.
  14. 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.

  15. 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.
  16. News -

    The Patients Association is currently carrying out a survey to find out how patients feel about visiting GP surgeries as lockdown eases.
  17. 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.
  18. 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.



  19. 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).
  20. 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.
  21. News -

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

  22. 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.
  23. 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. 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.
  24. 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.
  25. News -

    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.
  26. 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.
  27. 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.
  28. Blog -

    Our upcoming projects and priorities for 2024
  29. 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!
  30. Response -

    Responding to changes in our local community
  31. News -

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

    Sharing the views of 207 women across North West London
  33. 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?
  34. 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
  35. News -

    We are looking to collect information about residents’ experiences booking and accessing GP appointments across North West London
  36. 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)
  37. News -

    The North West London Networked Data Lab are looking for patients and carers to join their Patient and Carer Advisory Group
  38. 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
  39. Report -

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

    We engaged with patients and staff at Golborne Medical Dr Ramasamy & Partners to gather feedback on service accessibility and provided recommendations to the GP Practice based on this feedback.
  41. Report -

    We engaged with patients and staff at Golborne Medical West Ten GP's to gather feedback on service accessibility and provided recommendations to the GP Practice based on this feedback.
  42. News -

    Senior NHS doctors in England have accepted an improved pay deal from the government after months of striking. Read our response.
  43. 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?
  44. 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
  45. 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
  46. 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
  47. 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.
  48. 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.