News and reports

A joint response to the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) Quality Accounts 2015/16 from Healthwatch Croydon, Southwark, Lambeth and Bromley & Lewisham.

Healthwatch Croydon is compiling a report on the experience of local children and young people with Autism, and their families and carers. Key to this is the ability to access services, and level of support.

The report and supporting documents may be found below.

Supporting documents may be found below.

On 2 February 2016, Healthwatch Croydon published Experiences of discharge from Croydon University Hospital by patients aged 65 years and over. The report, commissioned by Healthwatch Croydon and undertaken by Age UK Croydon presented some good news with four in five patients not delayed at all and of those that were, most only experiencing a short delay of around an hour. However, most patients were more concerned about a lack of knowledge about the whole process, lack of time to discuss issues with doctors, and lack of communications between pharmacy, GP and social care services.

To launch the report, we planned a public meeting on 9 February at Age UK Croydon’s Scratchley Hall to gain further insight on these issues.

In this report, we present some recommendations based on the experience of 40 people that attended which included former discharge patients, carers, residents, service providers, which further support the research report.

We note that members of the Croydon Health Services NHS Trust and Croydon Clinical Commissioning Group also attended the event and thank them for their contribution. The trust in particular made some announcements and comments which we had included.

This report examines the experiences of discharge of patients aged 65 and over at Croydon University Hospital, based on a survey of patients undertaken between May and November 2015.

This was commissioned by Healthwatch Croydon and undertaken by Age UK Croydon.

This survey of mental health service users has found that they were admitted to a mental hospital ward due to lack of coordinated support services.

As part of its work, Healthwatch Croydon has scrutinised the local experience of Urgent Care and Emergency Services, engaging with residents in the community and at services, and researching local and national statistics. In this report, Healthwatch Croydon presents conclusions, along with findings of an Urgent Care and Emergency Services Public Meeting we hosted on 23rd November. The report looks at people’s collective experience, and also gives voice to their aspirations for future services. The Public Meeting, hosted by Healthwatch Croydon and attended by around 40 delegates, was an opportunity to record residents’ experiences specially on urgent care, and to get their views on the shape of future services.

Volunteer and local resident Tariq Salim was one of two Healthwatch representatives on the NHS committee that oversaw the re-procurement of local Urgent Care services. Now the process is finalised, with contractors appointed, Tariq gives his views of the process below.

We are excited to announce that Healthwatch Croydon has received a commendation, for its work in ‘Empowering Black Communities at the Healthwatch Network Awards.

Are you struggling to find an NHS dentist? The new dental recovery plan might help you get the dental care you need.

The new Pharmacy First scheme enables your local pharmacy to treat some common conditions with prescription-only medicines, without you visiting your GP. Find out everything you need to know.

From 31 October 2023, GP surgeries must give patients online access to their new health record entries. Find out what information is in your record and how to access it.

Did you know you can choose which hospital you go to when referred for a test, diagnosis, or treatment? Find out how.

NHS social prescribing link workers can connect you to the right community groups and services to help support you.

The usual processes the NHS follows to discharge you from hospital have changed since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Here’s what you can expect when it’s time to leave hospital.