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News -
This example shows you the different paragraph types within an article that you can use. -
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 -
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 -
Find out what support is available to help you when travelling to your GP, hospital or other NHS services. -
Advice and Information -
Take a look at our advice article on the organisations and groups that can support you if you’re grieving. -
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. -
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. -
Report -
We are excited to announce that Healthwatch Croydon has received a commendation, for its work in ‘Empowering Black Communities at the Healthwatch Network Awards. -
Advice and Information -
The wait for planned medical care or surgery can be frustrating. That’s why you must get regular and accessible updates while you wait. -
Advice and Information -
Your mental wellness is as important as your physical health but seeking help can be daunting. Here's what to expect when you seek support for your mental health. -
Advice and Information -
Do you or a loved one need help with social care? Read the article below and find out answers to key questions about who can access adult social care and how to pay for it. -
Advice and Information -
Mental health problems are more common among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) people. If you are struggling, feel alone or need a little help, then check out our guide on how you can get the support you need. -
Advice and Information -
Confused about Long Covid? Find out the common symptoms and how to get support. -
Advice and Information -
Do you know about your rights to language support in NHS settings? -
Advice and Information -
Are you having trouble finding an NHS funded dentist? Read our tips on what to do if you’re facing problems. -
Advice and Information -
Are you struggling to find an NHS dentist? The new dental recovery plan might help you get the dental care you need. -
Advice and Information -
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. -
Advice and Information -
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. -
Advice and Information -
Did you know you can choose which hospital you go to when referred for a test, diagnosis, or treatment? Find out how. -
Advice and Information -
NHS social prescribing link workers can connect you to the right community groups and services to help support you. -
Advice and Information -
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. -
Advice and Information -
The cost of living crisis has put many people under financial strain, and prescription costs are more than some can afford. Find out what help is out there to help you cover the cost of your medication. -
News -
We are excited to announce that Healthwatch Croydon has received a commendation, for its work in ‘Empowering Black Communities at the Healthwatch Network Awards.
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Report -
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. -
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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. -
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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. -
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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. -
Report -
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. -
Report -
Our response to Croydon Health Services NHS Trust Quality Accounts 2015/16.
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The survey took place at Boots Coulsdon, Boots Lower Addiscombe, Boots New Addington, Boots Old Coulsdon, Boots Parchmore Medical Centre, Boots Purley, Boots Whitgift Shopping Centre and Queenhill Medical Practice between 24 April and 20 May 2016. -
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Carers of people aged 65 and over in Croydon need far better support, according to a report by Healthwatch Croydon. This includes better communication between health providers and carers, more home support, better care planning, and better promotion of rights of carers.
There are over 50,000 people in Croydon over 65. Croydon has over 33,000 carers, with a significant number looking after over-65s. Around 35% of those registered as carers with Croydon Carers Support Centre look after over-65s.
Healthwatch Croydon, the local champion for better health and social care, heard the views of over 45 carers in Croydon in June 2016 gaining over 130 items of feedback. -
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This report looks at Croydon’s mental health services. It calls on health and social care providers to make the changes needed to deliver better care. This includes improving accessibility to services, users and their carers more involved in decision-making, more support and less emphasis on medication. -
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Croydon has 57 GP practices, with 403,045 registered patients according to NHS England. Healthwatch Croydon, the local champion for better health and social care, heard the views of over of 1,856 patients across Croydon from 1 September 2015 to 31 August 2016 with every practice represented. This report is reflective of their views, experiences and expectations of a service that nearly every resident uses.
Residents are seeing Croydon’s GP services as less personal. Issues include difficulties in booking appointments by telephone, clinical judgements made by receptionists, and weeks of waiting for routine appointments with a preferred doctor. Many residents do not get to see a GP of choice, or a GP at all, with many not knowing who their GP is. -
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Comments from GP Experience Feedback Workshop conducted at the Annual Meeting 5 October 2016. -
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In this report we research the experience of refugees and asylum seekers. During the autumn of 2016 we engaged with 105 people of all ages, visiting organisations including Croydon Refugee Day Centre, Linguahouse CIC, British Red Cross and Tamil Family Association. We also talked to frontline staff at Crisis and the British Refugee Council. -
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Healthwatch Croydon conducted a survey at the Healthy Living Hub (HLH) between 23 and 30 March 2017.
It had been advertised that some of services at the Healthy Living Hub were being reduced and given previous reductions in service, HWC were keen to understand how the service was perceived and experienced by the users.
Our snapshot report aimed to register views on the current service and also understand where service users might go if this service did not exist. Engaging with 124 service users in total, we asked how they found out about the service, how often they use it, and which aspects they find most useful. We also asked where they would go, if they could not access the service. -
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Three GP hubs were opened in Croydon in April 2017 offering walk-in services and booked appointments with GPs.
Healthwatch Croydon visited the hubs over a two-week period in the summer to understand how the service was perceived by patients. -
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This report focuses on how well GPs in Croydon have supported BME carers both in terms of their own health and wellbeing and in their caring role.
Our study raises both areas of concern and highlights good practice in terms of the support that GPs are offering BME carers in Croydon. -
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This report recorded the experiences of homeless people who were referred by the council into support hostels in November 2017. It found that adult homeless, particularly those with complex needs, were not supported by GP practices as well as younger homeless in similar accommodation and suggests considerations for service providers. -
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Our Patient Experience Panel data analysis raised issues about Croydon University Hospital elderly wards. We visited and spoke to patients to find out their experiences. Considerations around training, stimulation and opportunities to feedback where recorded, and the report was received positively by management
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Read questions from Croydon residents and answers NHS Croydon CCG and One Croydon about changes to health services that were raised as part of our Meet the Changemakers event on 13 March 2018.
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This report documents the results of a survey by Healthwatch Croydon of users of Personal Independence Coordinators, or PICs, in Croydon and their experience of the service. PICs is an output of the One Croydon Alliance of NHS providers, Croydon Council and Age UK Croydon. -
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Following our previous report published in February 2018, on homeless living in hostels, Healthwatch Croydon wanted in understand the views of those living on the street,working with Crisis Skylight Croydon.
This report looks at those rough sleeping in Croydon and their access to health services. -
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Healthwatch Croydon invited Croydon residents to ask questions directly to those changing Croydon’s adult mental health services including NHS Croydon Clinical Commissioning Group and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.
Attendees got to hear more about the future of these services in Croydon in relation to national plans for mental health outlined in NHS England’s Implementing the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health. -
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Over the last couple of months, we have worked with members of the community as well as partner stakeholders to collect feedback on how Croydon’s Dementia carers have experienced local healthcare services. We have certainly heard a lot of heartfelt stories from this hard to reach group the comments provided will certainly help to improve and shape future services. -
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Healthwatch Croydon has recently conducted a mystery shop of GPs in the borough of Croydon, we looked at a number of factors which highlighted some recommendations for improvement. We think this report makes for very interesting reading, especially the comments made from those GP surgeries that performed well and provided accurate information to local people in Croydon.
We wanted to see how well Croydon’s GP practices performed in the following areas:
Waiting time
Staff attitude and helpfulness
Accuracy
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As part of a Healthwatch England grant to support insight to help the development of the South West London Health and Care Plan, we spoke to respiratory patients in community settings in Croydon as well as outpatients in St Georges and St Helier hospitals. We spoke to over 40 patients in three days of research at six locations and presented their feedback at the South West London NHS |Clinical Conference last month.
Most patients would like swifter referrals, more information about the pathway process to diagnosis and beyond. They also welcome opportunities to be informed and self-manage their condition, avoiding the use of medication if possible and also would welcome non-medical support including community training and support. -
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Read the full report.