1. Knight shift for Healthwatch Newcastle 

    Blog -

    Jon Knight becomes the Chair of Healthwatch Newcastle Committee

  2. Violet campaigns for cleaner air in Newcastle

    Blog -

    Violet Rook is a longstanding volunteer with Healthwatch Newcastle and is campaigning for cleaner air in the city. During COP26 (the United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Glasgow), Violet took part in an ITV news item.

  3. We’re here when you need us — just ask

    Blog -

    Our confidential signposting and information service can help you find the answers you need. We have helped people with many queries from patient transport to hospital to finding social care support. We can also make referrals to the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) and Independent Complaints Advocacy (ICA) on your behalf.

  4. Healthwatch Newcastle listening event 2015

    Report -

    This listening event in November 2015 enabled people to meet and talk with the organisations that plan and provide local social care and health services.

  5. There’s more to Healthwatch than health’ conference 2015

    Report -

    We held a highly successful first conference in March 2015. ‘There’s more to Healthwatch than health’ enabled us to gain valuable insights and information about local social care provision and experiences. Delegates also helped shape Healthwatch Newcastle social care priorities for 2015-16.

  6. Healthwatch Newcastle listening event 2016

    Report -

    This listening event in July 2016 enabled people to meet and talk with the organisations that plan and provide local social care and health services.

  7. Prisoner experiences in HMP Durham

    Report -

    During January 2017 we ran two pilot focus groups at HMP Durham. The aim was to help staff better understand male prisoners’ experiences of health and wellbeing and look at new ways of engaging with prisoners to gather their opinions.

  8. ‘Excellence in engagement’ conference 2018

    Report -

    This joint conference between Healthwatch Newcastle and Healthwatch Gateshead examined the principles, approaches and methods we use to engage with the public.

    Delegates also shortlisted Healthwatch priorities for 2018—19.

  9. NHS Long Term Plan engagement report

    Report -

    During spring 2019 communities across the North East spoke about how they would like to see the NHS Long Term Plan implemented. We spoke to people in Newcastle about what the changes should look like. The responses for Newcastle were included in this report covering Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and County Durham.

  10. Don't box me in - young people-friendly services

    Report -

    We ran a questionnaire during spring 2020 to find out how young people felt about the way health professionals treated them. We used ‘You’re Welcome’ criteria and feedback as guidance (quality criteria set out by the Department of Health and Social Care).

  11. What to expect when waiting for care

    Advice and Information -

    Waiting for planned medical care or surgery can be a frustrating time. That’s why it’s so important that while you wait, you get regular, clear and accessible updates so that you can plan your next steps.

  12. Colonoscopy confidence – your common sense bowel check

    Advice and Information -

    We know some people feel anxious or worried when they’re told they need a colonoscopy but it’s important to have this test if you’re referred. Bowel Cancer UK has launched the Colonoscopy Confidence campaign to explain what a colonoscopy is, why it matters and encourage people to attend their appointment.

  13. Because We All Care - take 5 minutes to share your experiences

    Blog -

    Healthwatch and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) are working together to hear your experiences of health and social care.

  14. Home from Hospital

    Advice and Information -

    Home from Hospital is a free service. It provides practical and emotional support to older people returning home from hospital in Newcastle. Support is flexible and tailored to a person's individual needs.

  15. Know the symptoms of a heart attack

    Advice and Information -

    This February, NHS England and NHS Improvement is raising awareness of heart attack symptoms as part of the latest ‘Help Us Help You’ campaign.

  16. A new Children’s Heart Centre

    News -

    Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has plans for a new Children’s Heart Centre in Newcastle.

  17. Bowel Cancer Awareness Month

    Blog -

    Nearly 43,000 people are detected with bowel cancer each year in the UK. If it is diagnosed early it is treatable and curable.

  18. Newcastle ranks as the 12th ‘least healthy’ area in England

    Blog -

    Newcastle ranks as the 12th ‘least healthy’ area of England according to the Office for National Statistics' Health Index. The Health Index score measures factors such as access to health services, living conditions and behavioural risk factors.

  19. Help teach lifesaving skills to community groups

    Blog -

    St John Ambulance is asking for volunteers to teach lifesaving skills to community groups. Can you support the delivery of a National Coordination of First Response project by teaching lifesaving skills to community groups?

  20. Organ Donation Week 26 September – 2 October

    Blog -

    It’s Organ Donation Week, and NHS Blood and Transplant services want to get people talking about organ donation.

  21. Our Resources

    Advice and Information -

    We’ve put together some of our resources on this page to help you keep up to date.

  22. What does urgent care mean to me?

    Report -

    Following the publication our ‘GP appointments: what do Newcastle patients want?’ report we wanted to better understand how people define the term ‘urgent’ and whether they define it differently in different circumstances.
    We collaborated with Healthwatch Gateshead to carry out a short survey with the public in our respective local authority areas during the summer and autumn of 2016.

  23. Focus on Newcastle Eye Centre

    Report -

    During spring 2017, in collaboration with Newcastle Eye Centre, we gathered the feedback of service users on eye services run by Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.