1. Report -

    During late 2015 and early 2016 we carried out a large scale survey of service users, carers and relatives, and home care workers to gather their feedback on various aspects of home care services. Newcastle City Council took on board six of our ten recommendations when drawing up new care provider contracts.
  2. Report -

    This annual report covers our research into residents' involvement in care homes and the experiences of children and young people's with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Report -

    During summer 2017 we asked people receiving intermediate care about their experiences and if they felt these services had a positive impact on their wellbeing.
  6. Report -

    This was the first joint conference between Healthwatch Newcastle and Healthwatch Gateshead. We discussed our recent research, which included looking at people’s experience of education, health and care (EHC) plans in Newcastle and at how residents are involved in decisions about their own care and in how their care home is run.

    Delegates also shortlisted Healthwatch Newcastle’s priorities for 2017—18.
  7. Report -

    Our annual report detailing our work for the financial year 2017-18.
  8. Report -

    During autumn 2017 Healthwatch Gateshead and Healthwatch Newcastle gathered the views and experiences from people, and their carers, who have been through the NHS continuing healthcare (CHC) process.
  9. Report -

    Throughout the autumn of 2017 we asked people in Newcastle why they do or do not take part in screening programmes, what the barriers are to taking part, and how these barriers could be overcome.
  10. Report -

    The take up of flu vaccinations in Newcastle for people aged 65 and over is above the national target of 75%. However, for other people considered at risk, it is below the national target of 75%. Towards the end of 2017 we gathered the views of people living in Newcastle (who are over the age of 65 or considered at risk) about the flu vaccination.
  11. 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.
  12. Report -

    Our annual report detailing our work for the financial year 2018-19.
  13. Report -

    We estimate that around 2,600 people in Newcastle are housebound. During autumn 2018 we investigated how easy it was for housebound people to use GP practice, dentist, optician or pharmacy services in the city.
  14. Report -

    Throughout the autumn and winter of 2018 we gathered the views and experiences of groups and communities on mental health services in Newcastle and Gateshead.
  15. 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.
  16. Report -

    Our annual report detailing our work for the financial year 2019-20.
  17. Report -

    The report from the first forum, held in February 2020. This forum supports and develops patient participation groups (PPGs) in Newcastle and Gateshead.
  18. Report -

    In 2019—2020 we focused on children and young people’s mental health services. Via a survey, focus group and one to one interviews, we heard from 239 people (103 children and young people and 136 parents and carers).

    Our main findings were that children, young people and their parents and carers do not have a full understanding of what a self-referral is and how to make one.
  19. Report -

    We launched a survey in May 2020 titled ‘COVID-19: your experiences of health and social care’. This is the report on the responses we received up to the end of May.
  20. Report -

    This is the COVID report on the responses we received up to the end of June 2020.
  21. Report -

    This is the final COVID report on the responses we received up to the end of July 2020.
  22. 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).
  23. Report -

    Our annual report for 2020–21 outlines our activities over the year to understand and improve people's experiences of social care and health services in Newcastle upon Tyne.
  24. Report -

    This report builds on our ‘Don’t box me in’ report. Young people and their parents/carers were asked how easy or difficult it was for young people to access health services in Newcastle and Gateshead.
  25. Report -

    Six GP practices in Outer West Newcastle - Denton Park Medical Group, Denton Turret Medical Group, Newburn Surgery, Parkway Medical Group, Throckley Primary Care Centre and Westerhope Medical Group - partnered with Healthwatch Newcastle to run a survey gathering patients’ views on additional services, accessing the practices and how COVID-19 affected their experience.
  26. Report -

    In early 2021 Healthwatch England designed a survey to help local services and national policymakers understand how they can improve the COVID-19 vaccination programme.

    We used the survey to support local services to adapt and improve the delivery of the vaccination programme locally.
  27. Report -

    Our annual report for 2021–22 outlines Healthwatch activities over the year to understand and improve people's experiences of social care and health services in Newcastle upon Tyne.
  28. Report -

    It has been a contractual requirement for each GP practice since April 2016 to have an active and involved Patient Participation Group (PPG).

    We set out to create a best practice award for PPGs aimed to increase and improve the involvement of patients in their GP practice. Several GP practices in Newcastle and Gateshead participated in our pilot from autumn 2019 to February 2021. This interim report outlines what we did.
  29. Report -

    Healthwatch teams across the North East region saw a significant increase in concerns about accessing NHS dental care during 2021. Eight local Healthwatch worked together to gather people’s experiences in the region. This report outlines our collective survey findings from March 2020 to January 2022.
  30. Report -

    We wanted to gain a greater understanding of people’s experiences of caring during the COVID-19 pandemic and in accessing information and support. We included a short evaluation for people who had used Newcastle Carers’ services.
  31. Report -

    We compared the findings from two surveys of carers — one in Newcastle and one in North Tyneside. Our report looks at the similarities and differences in carers' needs in the two local authority areas during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  32. Report -

    This is a copy of our Record Keeping and Retention Policy
  33. Report -

    Our Safeguarding policies outline what our processes and steps are to ensure the safeguarding of children and adults we engage with.
  34. Report -

    Our Whistleblowing policy is intended to assist staff and volunteers who believe they have discovered malpractice or wrongdoing within Tell Us North, by enabling them to raise their concerns in a responsible and effective manner.
  35. Report -

    Healthwatch Gateshead and Healthwatch Newcastle recently engaged with local residents to understand experiences and opinions of the North East Ambulance Service. We wanted to understand public perceptions of the service, what trust means to the public, and overall levels of trust felt towards NEAS.
    Overall, feedback was positive, however, most of those we consulted felt that they could not fully trust NEAS. Specific elements of trust were identified and included:
    - Reliability, Availability, and Responsiveness
    - Delivering a High Standard of Care
    - Integrity and the Alignment of Words & Actions
    - Patients’ Safety

    Our full report is available to read here

  36. News -

    This year our volunteer Raj will be presenting on stroke awareness on June 7. He will be talking about what a stroke is, risk factors, signs of a stroke and some ideas on how to support people following a stroke.
    Raj is a part of the Stroke Association and worked on NHS Stroke wards. He also supports children and young people with their special needs in schools.
    Following this presentation, our Volunteer and Engagement Officer Lesley Tweddell will ask for a vote of thanks and appreciation to all our volunteers for supporting the work of Healthwatch throughout the year.
    If you would like to know more about the role of a volunteer in Healthwatch come along and get more information from our stall on the day.
  37. News -

    If you would like to know more about Youthwatch,
    please email-
    Healthwatch Newcastle
    info@healthwatchnewcastle.org.uk or
    Text 07551052751 or Freephone 0808 801 0382
    Healthwatch Gateshead
    info@healthwatchgateshead.co.uk or
    Text 07498503497 or Freephone 0800 038 5116
  38. News -

    Healthwatch Gateshead and Healthwatch Newcastle would like to understand:

    - The impact of the cost of living on your physical, mental, and social health.
    - Changes to your health and social care due to the cost of living.
    - The impact of the cost of living on your interaction with health and social care services.
  39. News -

    Healthwatch Volunteer Raj Takes Initiative to Raise Awareness of Strokes
  40. Report -

    Healthwatch Newcastle (HWN) engaged with autistic people and people with a learning disability to understand their experiences accessing and using GP services in Newcastle. GP Practice Managers across Newcastle were invited to share information around their processes for requesting and implementing reasonable adjustments and their capacity to make requested adjustments. Read our full report here :-
  41. Report -

    Health and Social Care Committee inquiry into
    NHS Dentistry Submission
  42. Report -

    Healthwatch Newcastle engaged with local people to understand their experiences booking and
    receiving all of their Coronavirus vaccination(s). The project was prompted by feedback from a
    small number of local residents who shared their experiences of the Coronavirus vaccination
    process. Read the full report here :-
  43. News -

    Engagement Officer Jay Conlon Uses Personal Experience to Champion LGBTQ+ Health and social care Issues
  44. Report -

    Read our annual report and all that we have done through the year as your local Healthwatch.
  45. News -

    We are delighted to announce that the time has come for our much-anticipated Annual Joint Meeting, and we cordially invite you to join us for this significant event. This gathering serves as a valuable platform to strengthen our collaboration, share insights, and align our efforts for continued success.
  46. Report -

    This policy applies to all relevant decisions made by Tell Us North, Healthwatch Newcastle and Healthwatch Gateshead.
  47. News -

    Read all our Monthly Newsletters for 2023 , stay up to date with activities of your local Healthwatch.
  48. News -

    - By Healthwatch England

    New research conducted in 2023, reveals a concerning lack of public confidence when it comes to accessing critical NHS services in England. Approximately one-third of adults in England express doubts about their ability to receive timely healthcare, including services such as GP appointments, mental health support, and hospital care.
  49. News -

    Celebrating Success: A Heartfelt Thank You for Making Our Annual Joint Meeting a Triumph!
  50. Blog -

    Healthwatch Newcastle stands united with Newcastle City Council in their unwavering commitment to the White Ribbon campaign!