1. Primary Care Networks - Changing your GP service

    Health and care news -

    The way GPs provide health services is changing. GP surgeries are working together in Primary Care Networks to provide a wider variety of services at a broader range of times in Sutton.

  2. Your COVID-19 stories

    Health and care news -

    Before the lockdown, we created a short survey to find out your views and understand the impact the coronavirus pandemic was having on you, your family and friends. Our new report captures your experiences as the pandemic unfolded in Sutton.

  3. NHS waiting times increase numbers going private, analysis finds

    Health and care news -

    Record NHS waiting times appear to be increasing the number of people paying for private care, according to a new BBC analysis. Read Healthwatch England's response.

  4. Cost of living issues fuel mental health crisis

    Health and care news -

    New government figures show alarmingly high numbers of people are experiencing moderate to severe depression. The high cost of living is a particular issue.

  5. 'Referrals black hole’ - new findings of people’s experiences of GP referrals

    Health and care news -

    New research from Healthwatch England suggests it can be hard for some people to get a referral from their GP to another NHS service. One in five people they spoke to with a GP referral for specialist care had bounced back to general practice. Healthwatch England are calling for more to be done to understand people’s experience of getting a referral.

  6. Advice from local NHS as junior doctors strike

    Health and care news -

    Junior doctors - hospital doctors who are not consultants - are on strike this week until 7am on Saturday. Local NHS leaders have shared advice about what you should do if you need hospital care.

  7. Government report highlights possible issues with new hospitals

    Health and care news -

    A recent report from the National Audit Office highlights various potential problems with the planned work to refurbish St Helier and build a new emergency hospital in Sutton.

  8. Controversy over children's cancer services

    Health and care news -

    NHS England is promoting a public consultation about changes to the treatment centre for children with cancer that serves South West London. They want the service to move from its current location at the Royal Marsden Hospital, citing safety concerns. Some patients of current service users disagree with this decision and say that the service should remain where it is.

  9. Pharmacists step in to help out overwhelmed GPs

    Health and care news -

    Pharmacists will be able to prescribe treatments for common ailments

  10. Conference aims to improve cancer outcomes for black and ethnic minority people

    Health and care news -

    Conference with speakers and workshops - 3 July, Croydon

  11. St Helier maternity unit criticised by watchdog

    Health and care news -

    CQC assessment highlights shortcomings

  12. Dental charges up again - why we're concerned

    Health and care news -

    Many people can't afford even NHS charges

  13. Healthwatch Sutton release snapshot report looking at health and social care services in Sutton.

    Healthwatch Sutton news -

    The last 12 months has been a period of planning and implementing significant changes to services in Sutton, especially regarding potential changes to NHS services.

  14. We're linking up Healthwatches across South West London

    Healthwatch Sutton news -

    The NHS has changed its structures. Healthcare was planned by borough-level CCGs. Now these have merged into larger ICSs - SW London Healthwatches are coordinating our work to match.

  15. Children’s mental health in crisis - we're responding locally

    Healthwatch Sutton news -

    Recent research has revealed serious problems in care for children’s mental health.

  16. We’re taking action to improve access to NHS dentists

    Healthwatch Sutton news -

    We know from feedback through our website and at community events that many people in Sutton still aren’t able to see an NHS dentist. We have recently been told by a local NHS manager that there are no dentists in Sutton accepting new NHS patients.

    Access to NHS dentists is one of the issues – second only to access to GP services – that most concerns people about local health services. People are also concerned about the cost of dental treatment. Healthwatch Sutton is working with other Healthwatches in South West London and with local NHS bodies to highlight these problems and improve services.

  17. Responding to concerns about St Helier Hospital

    Healthwatch Sutton news -

    Recent media reports have highlighted serious problems with the ageing buildings at St Helier Hospital. We've raised our concerns with hospital management and will be taking further action.

  18. St Helier manager tells us "patients deserve better"

    Healthwatch Sutton news -

    After recent media coverage we wrote to James Blythe, Managing Director at St Helier Hospital. He told us that patients deserve a better hospital environment, and that while they do everything they can to ensure patients get safe and effective care, this relies on workarounds which aren't sustainable.

  19. We're ten years old!

    Healthwatch Sutton news -

    We celebrated our anniversary on 14 July.

  20. Local NHS responds to our report on children's mental health

    Healthwatch Sutton news -

    Local NHS managers have responded to our recent report highlighting a decline in the mental health of children aged 9-11 since the pandemic.

  21. Mental health managers respond to our recent report

    Healthwatch Sutton news -

    We have received a response to our report from South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, which provides mental health care in Sutton.

  22. Children's mental health: the action we're taking

    Healthwatch Sutton news -

    We're pushing for change after our worrying report from the autumn.

  23. We're working to make GPs more accessible to disabled people

    Healthwatch Sutton news -

    Our project aims to improve GP services for those with specific communication needs.

  24. Help us improve local health and care services: become a trustee

    Healthwatch Sutton news -

    We're looking for people to become trustees of Healthwatch Sutton and help provide strategic direction for our work.

  25. Tell us about your experience of GP services

    Healthwatch Sutton news -

    We want to get an up-to-date picture of what's happening in local GP surgeries. Please complete our survey.

  26. Improving GP access for disabled people - update

    Healthwatch Sutton news -

    We're working on a project to improve access to GPs for certain groups of disabled people.