"The NHS needs to listen more to patients and their families." Our CEO spoke to BBC Midlands following our investigation into Sevinc's care. The Trust missed opportunities to treat her bowel obstruction and didn't provide an interpreter. Watch from 8m40s: orlo.uk/6tJ8U

Tyneside folk: #CompassionateGateshead is asking for your experience of workplace support (or lack of), while caring for someone terminally ill or after their death. Responses before 12th June please. This questionnaire takes ~5mins. Please pass it on. forms.gle/aYf6DiD6TU5q...

📢 Who will speak for patients when no one is listening? In this week’s blog, Jacob Lant reflects on Parliament’s debate on the Health Bill, exploring two key themes: the proposed Single Patient Record and the future of independent patient voice. 🔗 tinyurl.com/y2ubtwz8

Ofsted/CQC Area SEND Inspections for BATH & NORTH EAST SOMERSET and SOUTHEND ON SEA are both 15-19 June. Click the link and scroll down for details of the FEEDBACK SURVEYS for families & practitioners in each area. They're open NOW- 9am 9th June www.gov.uk/government/p...

An author shared their experience of being supported by the Home Treatment Crisis Response team at #SHSCT. They wrote about feeling listened to and involved in decisions about their care, and how the kindness and support helped them through a difficult period. 🔗 www.careopinion.org.uk/1443857

🚨New blog post! Improving research participation for children and young people through co-design Jacq Miller, from @moorfieldsbrc.bsky.social, writes about embedding child-friendly features in a research project. Blog👇 www.bristolbrc.nihr.ac.uk/improving-re... Project👇 www.kcl.ac.uk/research/ci2i

Factors That Influence the Implementation of Animal-Assisted Intervention for People With Dementia in Community Care Settings: A Qualitative Study @douzhang.bsky.social, Marita Hennessy, Nuala & Gerry Paley @alzheimersocirl.bsky.social, Catherine Houghton onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

🧵 Far too many people in this country feel that the system doesn't work for them. This Health Bill is a chance to tackle health inequalities and in turn improve productivity within the NHS. (1/2)

Have you recently had an experience as an inpatient or as an outpatient visitor at a local hospital? Healthwatch Oxfordshire want to hear your views. Please tell us what it was like, leaving a short, anonymous review in our Feedback Centre: healthwatchoxfordshire.co.uk/feedback-on-...

Has your surgery ever been cancelled at short notice? We're looking for patients and carers to join a focus group exploring the impact of short-notice cancellations and how the experience can be improved.

We recently launched our How to Guide for community research, developed in collaboration with Oxfordshire’s grassroots communities. It offers clear, step by step support for anyone interested in carrying out community led research. Read or download: healthwatchoxfordshire.co.uk/community-re...

Tessa Copp & colleagues have been doing great (& much-needed) work on this space! 🙏

31st May marks 15 years since the Panorama documentary Undercover Care: The Abuse Exposed revealed the abuse of people with learning disabilities at Winterbourne View Hospital and shone a light on the wider practice of detaining people with learning disabilities and autistic people in hospitals.

Patient experience survey Patients Association This report is based on a survey which was conducted in early 2026. It had 807 responses from patients, providing evidence drawn from their experiences. The survey asked about topics such as access to health services, patient communication,…

The North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) is working with the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS), Healthwatch and other partners to improve NHS patient transport services in the North East. Have you used NHS patient transport services?

The commercialisation of women's health continues at 🦇💩 pace... 😫 #AtWhatCost #CDoH

📣 There's still time to influence the future of PIP 📣 The Government's call for evidence on the future of PIP and social security closes tomorrow (Thursday 28 June). 🔗 Find out how to respond and what you could include in our short guide: buff.ly/yYEtjKU

Physiotherapy is changing. Long waits for care, remote-only support, and confusing referrals routes causing frustration and harm for many. What are the five key themes in people’s stories? Find out in our blog #NHSphysio https://bit.ly/4wLgekg

Healthwatch across the Tees Valley, together with Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust have listened to people across County Durham and Tees Valley. The message is clear. People don’t want lots of services, they want one that works, and someone who stays.

We asked #carers about their experiences of taking breaks from their caring role and what had worked well and not so well. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences with us. Read our findings and recommendations: bit.ly/hearing-from-unpaid-carers

Jaz will be at the Maternal Mental Health Event next Friday 8th May at the Corn Exchange, Market Square Witney 10am-1pm. Come and chat about local health and care services at our popup Healthwatch #Oxfordshire stall. Remember you can contact us any time by email, or by calling during office hours

Here at Care Opinion we ❤️ feedback, so here is some from the attendees watching the staff reflection video 👇 #COconf26

▪️44% of people say it made them give up seeking care ▪️41% said it made them less likely to seek care in the future Read their report: https://bit.ly/4mIcvz7 If you would like to share your experiences of NHS communications and admin with us in confidence, click here: https://bit.ly/HWStockton

ICYMI: Most of us live in a world dense in connections, surveillance & tech, and it can be hard to disconnect ..but not it seems from our connection with the NHS. Via @thekingsfund.bsky.social + partners @healthwatchengland.bsky.social @nationalvoices.bsky.social www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...

🌍 On #WorldEarthDay, one message is clear: Europe's green transition must protect both the planet and patients' access to safe, effective treatments. Working on this with #EUCOPE to drive the EU’s green transition forward, keeping #patients at the centre.

Just one more day until Care Opinion's online conference, 23rd April from 12.30-5pm, called "Humanity in Action: Stories that shape better care". Now is your last chance to sign up for free! 👇 events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e0b876...

Are you involved in a Patient Participation Group (PPG), or would you like to support your local surgery? Why not watch our short film to find out about some of the brilliant work of patient groups in Oxfordshire: healthwatchoxfordshire.co.uk/our-films#pp...

We are seeking a compelling and charismatic leader to become our next Chair. We are looking for an exceptional individual, with vision, sound judgement and an inclusive, respectful leadership style, with the ability to engage and influence at the highest levels.

We can help you navigate health and care services in #Somerset and explain the jargon😁 Call us free on 0800 999 1286 or go to our website: healthwatchsomerset.co.uk

Was your baby born in January or February 2026? You could be invited to take part in our major survey that assesses the quality of maternity services in England. Find out more: bit.ly/_MAT26

Policy drift in this area has gone on long enough. There is no single other thing that the govt could do that would make as much difference to the health and well-being of children, and their families. Rebuilding the HV service must be a priority. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

open.substack.com/pub/rorycell... Getting an AI bot to triage phone calls to my local GP surgery seemed like a great idea – but faced with a complex case it turned into another case of NHS communication failure

The 2026 Women’s Health Strategy – has mesh dropped to the bottom of the pile? A blog from @slingthemesh.bsky.social added to the hub.

"A rational and independent examination of the facts tells us that, with alternatives available—even UK ones—the case to terminate the Palantir contract is resounding," writes @kamranabbasi.bsky.social in this Editor's Choice www.bmj.com/content/393/...

What does epistemic justice mean for young people seeking support for their mental health? In this open access chapter, Michael Larkin and team explore the importance of being understood: link.springer.com/ch... #philsky #philosophyforeveryone

Another session spotlight from our upcoming online conference #COconf26: “Exploring the evidence base: what is research telling us about online patient feedback?” 💬 @jamesfm55.bsky.social at @careopinion.org.uk 🗨️ Miles Sibley at @patientlibrary.bsky.social 📅 23 April 👉 Register: bit.ly/4vBBOXN

Opposition to Palantir’s involvement in the NHS is growing. @helensalisbury.bsky.social writes on data control, privacy, and Palantir www.bmj.com/content/393/...

35,420 people shared their experiences of health and care on @careopinion.org.uk last year (2025/26). In my latest blog I reflect on why these stories matter and what they can teach us about listening to the public. www.careopinion.org.uk/blogposts/13...

£64bn is the cost of UK capitulation to pharmaceutical companies and Trump. Secret deal commits the NHS to pay higher price for new and existing drugs No debate in parliament. Govt can tax the rich, cut other services, let people die, start manufacturing drugs and become self-reliant.

(1) We’re excited to be hosting our 10th online conference on 📅 23 April, themed “Humanity in Action: Stories that Shape Better Care.” There’s still time register: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e0b876... We wanted to spotlight one of the sessions we’re especially looking forward to 👇

This just reinforces what I said yesterday: www.linkedin.com/pulse/palant...

**CALL OUT** I’m looking to gather experiences of disabled people who have been criticised or harassed by the public about their Blue Badge or Motability car etc when out. Click on link to fill in our form. Please do share to reach as many people as possible. www.the-guardian.com/world/2026/a...

The NHS wants to listen and learn from the experiences of young people diagnosed with cancer to improve the care and support. Take part in the NHS England #U16CancerPatientSurvey to help us develop cancer services for children and young people. See www.under16cancerexperiencesurvey.co.uk

The top photo is from March of 2026. The bottom photo is from March of 2022. It is amazing what ten people with determination (and paintbrushes) can do in four years. ❤️ #ThrowbackThursday

Don’t miss your chance to help inform positive change to neonatal services 🤝. If invited, have your say in the #NeonatalCareExperienceSurvey zurl.co/GJPVN @england.nhs.uk

We use the experiences of Cheshire and Merseyside patients to shape cancer services and raise awareness of the disease – and our patient reps do a fantastic job. Jenny Brazier, Patient Engagement Senior Project Officer, has written a blog about this. See: cmcanceralliance.nhs.uk/blog/beyond-...

Martha's Rule is a national programme around early detection of deterioration in patients and guarantees that patients, relatives, carers, and staff can activate a rapid review from a separate clinical team if they feel something is going wrong. At University Hospital of North Tees, signage...

The #BritishSocialAttitudes survey shows that there isn't public appetite for a change to the NHS funding model. Strong support for the principles that the NHS should be funded through taxation and free at the point of use has endured. Read our analysis: buff.ly/iB2JyC9

Next up in my Who Wants Normal? paperback countdown is the second Guardian extract (and one of my favourite parts of the book). Here’s wise words by 26 brilliant disabled women: from Ruth Madeley, Katie Piper, Jameela Jamil, Nikki Fox, to Rosie Jones. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

On #WorldHealthDay, we support the WHO call to stand with science. Evidence‑led research and collaboration are vital to tackling health inequalities and improving outcomes and we work to ensure science delivers impact across the North of England www.who.int/campaigns/wo...