We want to hear from disabled, deaf and neurodivergent people about palliative and end-of-life care. Your experiences can help services understand what works, what could improve, and how to support people so they feel listened to and respected. Take part (closes 9 Feb): https://bit.ly/4szQ95B

Jess’s Rule reminds GPs to re-examine persistent symptoms after 3 appointments without a diagnosis, helping prevent missed illnesses. Have you experienced delays in care? Share your story. Read more: https://bit.ly/4jXNAGE

Your voice matters 🧡 We want to hear from people with a learning disability about end-of-life care. The survey is anonymous and can be completed on your own, or with help from someone you trust. Your experiences can help make care kinder and easier to understand: https://bit.ly/4szQ95B

Out and about this #BrewMonday ☕ We shared brews, conversations and a reminder that no one has to feel unheard when it comes to health and care. Thanks to everyone who welcomed us in along the way 💙

Thinking about death, dying or end-of-life care can bring up difficult feelings. If you’d like to talk to someone or find out more, these organisations offer kind, confidential support: Northern Cancer Alliance 💙 Information and guidance about cancer care across the North East and North Cumbria

It’s Brew Monday ☕ Sometimes the best thing you can do is stop and have a brew. Today we’re sharing a cuppa and a reminder that if you’ve ever felt unheard when it comes to health and care, you’re not alone. We’re here to listen 💙 #BrewMonday #Healthwatch #YouAreNotAlone #BlueMonday

Living in a rural or coastal area can affect how and where people receive end of life care. Your experiences can help shape care that’s more local, accessible and responsive to people’s needs. Share your views here (closes 9th Feb): https://bit.ly/4szQ95B

A new monthly, volunteer-led support group is launching at CancerCare Kendal for people affected by skin cancers of the face, scalp and neck. 🗓 From Monday 1 December ⏰ 11.15am – 1.00pm 📍 Kendal Centre Open to anyone affected 💚 📧 [email protected]  📞 01539 735800

We’re supporting the NHS in North East & North Cumbria to understand people's thoughts about #EndOfLife care.  The survey is anonymous and takes a few minutes. Share your views (closes 9 Feb): https://bit.ly/4sxueMb

We’ve moved 👋 Our website has a new home but everything you need is still there including our projects, reports and ways to share your experiences. 🔗 Visit our new site here: https://wearepeoplefirst.co.uk/healthwatch-westmorland-and-furness/ #Healthwatch #Barrow #Ulverston #Kendal

Cumbria Health wants your views! Take 2 mins to complete their survey on support for patients waiting for virtual GP or home visits: https://bit.ly/49I4gOK Survey closes 30 Jan 2026. Your feedback helps make care clearer and more accessible. #HealthSurvey #PatientVoices #CumbriaHealth

Work in health or social care in Cumbria? The Cumbria Safeguarding Adults Board (CSAB) workforce survey is now live. ✔ Takes 5–7 mins ✔ Anonymous ✔ Helps improve safeguarding practice 👉 Take part: https://bit.ly/49Hxa1l Please share with colleagues.

Warm Spots and Hubs across Cumbria offer safe, friendly spaces where anyone can drop in for warmth, company and connection. Find your nearest Warm Spot: • Cumberland Council area: https://bit.ly/3K7nxiN • Westmorland & Furness Council area: https://bit.ly/4ap11fR #WarmHubsCumbria

Goodbye 2025, hello 2026! 🥂🎉 Thanks to everyone in Westmorland & Furness who shared feedback and helped improve health & social care. Here’s to a new year of hope, health & community! 🌟

December: NHS dentistry in the spotlight 🦷 Our research with 3,500 people across NENC made national news, showing 71% think NHS dentistry is worse than last year. Access, travel and inequalities put residents at risk.  Read more about our findings: https://bit.ly/3MPbp6O

Be prepared over the festive holidays by keeping a well-stocked medicine cabinet at  home. Paracetamol, plasters, indigestion remedy, allergy relief and anti-diarrhoea medicine are a  good start.  Find pharmacy bank holiday opening hours: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy

November: Bringing health to the auction mart 🐄 We joined KICC & the Rural Chaplaincy at Junction 36 Auction Mart, connecting with farmers and rural residents. Conversations covered GPs, A&E waits, mental health & transport. Leila even stepped into the auction ring!

October: Transport to healthcare 🚍 Leila & Lisa travelled across Westmorland & Furness, hearing residents’ experiences of buses, trains & community routes. With 500+ survey responses highlighting missed appointments & travel costs, we're eager to make healthcare journeys easier for everyone.

Warm Spots and Hubs across Cumbria offer safe, friendly spaces where anyone can drop in for warmth, company and connection. Find your nearest Warm Spot: • Cumberland Council area: https://bit.ly/3K7nxiN • Westmorland & Furness Council area: https://bit.ly/4ap11fR

September: Community voices shaping EDI We joined the Council’s EDI Extravaganza in Kendal, sharing insight on accessibility, transport barriers and rural isolation Working with partners including Autus and the Cumbria Deaf Association, we helped ensure lived experience informs inclusive decisions

Help shape NHS services in 2026 ✨ As we head into the new year, we’re asking people in Eden to share their experiences of: • GP access • Pharmacy First • The NHS App Your feedback helps Healthwatch raise local voices with decision-makers. 👉 Take the survey here: https://bit.ly/49jd1OX

August: Supporting our Armed Forces On 7th Aug, 100+ people gathered in Westmorland & Furness to celebrate and support veterans, serving personnel & families.  Healthwatch listened to experiences to help shape better health & social care for this vital community.

July: Healthwatch Together shaping NHS services 🏥 Our team joined colleagues from across Healthwatch Together at a commissioning session with Lancashire & South Cumbria ICB, sharing insights on transport, women’s health, autism & ageing well – making sure patient voices guide local NHS decisions.

Merry Christmas from Healthwatch Westmorland and Furness 🎄 We hope you have a peaceful and joyful Christmas, however and wherever you’re spending it ❤️

June: Ambitious workplan launched  Built on local voices, our 2025–26 plan focuses on neurology, transport, women’s health & safeguarding. Listening, learning & acting on feedback drives everything we do. #Healthwatch #PatientVoices #WestmorlandAndFurness

Your voice still matters this winter ❄️ Have you used your GP, local pharmacy, or the NHS App recently? We’re collecting feedback from people across Eden to help improve access to NHS services in 2026. It only takes around 5 minutes to complete our survey: https://bit.ly/49jd1OX

May: Let’s Talk Women’s Health 💛 We hosted Healthwatch England Chair Sir David Croisdale-Appleby in Kendal for our first Let’s Talk Women’s Health event. Women, charities and local NHS reps shared priorities and ideas, helping shape services and amplify local voices.

Over Christmas and New Year, urgent and emergency care services will be open. Call 999 or go to A&E in the event of a life or limb threatening emergency.  For non-emergency health advice, people should use 111.nhs.uk as their first port of call. If you cannot access 111 online, please call 111.

April: Celebrating our 2nd Anniversary 🎂 We came together for discussion, planning, and of course, birthday cake 🎉 A wonderful chance to reflect and celebrate the incredible contribution of our volunteers — at the heart of everything we do!

Concerned about someone's safety this Christmas?  To report a safeguarding concern: W&F Adult Social Care Telephone: 0300 373 3301 Out of Hours telephone: 01539 768700 If you are at immediate risk of harm contact the police by calling 999. If the person is not in immediate danger call 101.

March: Bringing services together in Appleby 🤝 We hosted our first health & wellbeing event, connecting local groups from Carer Support to libraries & leisure providers. Our team heard feedback on GP services, neurology, autism & ADHD — a reminder of the power of community!

@england.nhs.uk has published a set of principles for health services to follow when providing chaperones to patients, for example, during intimate examinations. They're there to reassure and advocate for the patient.  👉 https://bit.ly/48JKiCZ

February: Listening in our communities  We visited Restore Café to see how it brings people together, then held a focus group on the NHS 10-Year Plan with Manager Kate, hearing views on digital care, community services and prevention. Listening to local voices is at the heart of what we do ☕🗣️

Have a few minutes over Christmas?🎄 We’d love to hear your thoughts on local NHS services in Eden. Your feedback helps us understand what’s working well and what isn't for those in our area. 👉 Share your thoughts here: https://bit.ly/49jd1OX Thank you for helping shape local NHS services 💙

January marked an exciting new chapter as we welcomed Leila to the Healthwatch Westmorland and Furness team. Having previously volunteered with us, Leila brought valuable experience, insight and a real passion for listening to people’s voices. A positive start to the year 🎉

🤧If you're over 65, pregnant, in a clinical at-risk group, a carer, a health and social care worker, have a learning disability or live with someone who is immunosuppressed, flu vaccinations are available at your GP or local pharmacy.

Who are we? Healthwatch Westmorland and Furness is an independent, community-based organisation dedicated to ensuring that health and social care services meet people’s needs. Find out more 👉 https://bit.ly/4rUTcEX

A second opinion is when you choose to request the expertise of another healthcare professional after you've been given a diagnosis or treatment plan.  Find out more about Martha's Rule at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/patient-safety/marthas-rule/ #MarthasRule #NHSEngland

The festive period is approaching - make sure you check what medication you might need to last over the winter period and get your request in early. For help on how to order a repeat prescription, check out the NHS advice - https://bit.ly/4ozDZq6

Have you recently visited your pharmacy for a health concern? 💬 Do you find it easy to access your GP for appointments? What do you think about the NHS app? Let us know in this survey, and you can help improve the services that you use: https://bit.ly/NHS-Access-Survey

Are you 18+, in the UK, with no or low vision?👀 Want to help shape the future for blind & partially sighted people with #RNIB? Find out more & get involved: https://bit.ly/4iI3lkf @rnib.bsky.social

Great news! The North East & North Cumbria are now top in England for elective care: 71.2% of patients started treatment within 18 weeks (vs 61.8% nationally). Have you had elective care recently? Share your experience: https://bit.ly/4oE9100

Have you heard about the new Surgical Hub at WGH in Kendal? Patients describe the care there as “exceptional” and “outstanding” — many praised the staff, the modern facilities and the speed of treatment.  Read their stories here: https://bit.ly/4oKCaqu

Worried about energy bills this winter? Groundwork’s Green Doctors offer free, impartial advice to help you save energy, reduce costs and make your home warmer and more comfortable. They provide phone consultations or home visits. Find out more:

Have you recently visited your pharmacy for a health concern? 💬 Do you find it easy to access your GP for appointments? What do you think about the NHS app? Let us know in this survey, and you can help improve the services that you use: https://bit.ly/NHS-Access-Survey

Around 50% of patients don’t take medications as prescribed — often due to mobility, weather or financial barriers. The NHS App can help you manage repeat prescriptions, appointments and health advice easily. Download it today and start your good health online 💙📱 https://bit.ly/49KEPwC

Domestic Abuse Drop-ins are continuing at Penrith Library throughout 2026. 📅 First Monday each month ⏰ 10–3pm 🙋‍♀️ Ask a staff member for “Alice”, she’ll take you to a private room for confidential support. Help us spread the word 💛 #Eden #DomesticAbuseSupport #Penrith

Struggling with the cold, dark winter months? Warm Spots across Westmorland & Furness offer friendly, welcoming places to keep warm, connect or simply sit with a book. Find your nearest warm spot: https://bit.ly/4ap11fR

In England almost 1 in 3 homes have damp and mould. This causes thousands of cases of asthma and chest infections every year.  Prevent more series health conditions developing by resolving damp and mould.  Find out more here about how good health can start at home: https://bit.ly/4p07L8t

UHMBT is asking people to share their views on how digital technology is used in healthcare. They want to hear about: • How you use digital services now • What would make things easier • Any challenges or gaps 📝 Take the survey and share your experience: https://bit.ly/49NIsSt