1. Healthwatch hears from care home managers about services supporting the health of their residents

    News -

    As we come out of the pandemic, we asked care home managers how easy it was to get support for their residents from GPs, dentists, opticians, community health, and hospital transport services.

  2. Let's Talk Inequality

    Response -

    Islington is a borough of stark inequalities. We want to see services and support designed around the needs of those residents experiencing this inequality.

  3. Let's Talk Inequality - Healthwatch response

    Report -

    Healthwatch responds to the Islington Council's call for evidence, sharing examples of inequality that we have come across in our recent work.

  4. Your questions about community physiotherapy answered

    News -

    Speakers from Whittington Health Community Services and the Islington GP Federation answered questions about community-based physio services in Islington.

  5. What medical support are you entitled to if you’re new to the UK?

    Advice and Information -

    For new arrivals to the UK it can be confusing where to go if you need medical assistance. Here we outline your rights as a refugee, where you can access emergency help and how to register for a GP.

  6. Experiences of accessing a GP since the pandemic

    Report -

    Our online survey explored how local people's experiences of accessing a GP have changed since the pandemic

  7. Find out about high blood pressure

    Advice and Information -

    One in five people in Islington have high blood pressure but only half know that they do. Left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to heart attack and stroke. The only way to find out whether you have high blood pressure is to get it measured.

  8. Making a difference in the community

    News -

    Healthwatch is working in partnership with Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust to make local health services more accessible.

  9. Our annual report 2021-2022

    Report -

    We engaged with over 2,200 residents, providing information, digital support, and gathering views on accessing health and care services, experiences of Long Covid, and the wider impact of the pandemic.

  10. Improving access to GP services

    News -

    Thanks to people sharing their experiences of GP appointments with us, we’ve been able to help local commissioners draw up an action plan to make GP services easier to access for all our residents.

  11. Healthwatch hypertension information campaign kicks off in style

    News -

    Our staff and volunteers have been offering free blood pressure tests and raising awareness of the dangers of high blood pressure at Callyfest and on Chapel Market.

  12. Find out about cancer screening services

    Advice and Information -

    Information about cervical and breast screening appointments, and home testing kits for bowel cancer.

  13. Your questions about cervical screening answered

    News -

    At our information event in August, Islington GP Dr Jennifer Rea talked to us about the importance of cervical screening and answered your questions.

  14. What is a GP referral and how can you get one?

    Advice and Information -

    When you need specialist NHS support, like hospital tests or treatment, you often need a referral from your GP first. Find out what this includes and what to expect.

  15. The contract to deliver medical services at Hanley Primary Care Centre will not be renewed with the current provider

    News -

    Healthwatch Islington's Chief Executive, Emma Whitby, observed the meeting at which the decision was taken and was impressed by the robustness of the process.

  16. Islington residents give mostly positive feedback on cancer screening services

    News -

    We've spoken to people about screening services at our engagement events and collected views via an online survey.

  17. Recorded messages and the experience of phoning the GP surgery

    Report -

    During November and early December 2022, Healthwatch volunteers and staff phoned 33 Islington practices. They noted the length of the recorded messages and the information that was shared.

  18. Recorded information on GP phone lines

    News -

    Our volunteers rang local GP practices as though they were booking an appointment. We wanted to find out how much recorded information they had to listen to and whether the content was up to date.

  19. Residents from communities experiencing health inequalities share feedback on health services

    Report -

    We asked people about their experiences of seeing a GP, using pharmacy services and getting treatment for Long Covid.

  20. Over 200 local people share feedback on GP appointments with Healthwatch Islington

    News -

    We spoke to 212 residents from communities that experience health inequalities. Over half found the booking process difficult. Many struggled to get through by phone and it was hard to get a face-to-face appointment.

  21. Learn about the new commissioning structures in health and care

    Advice and Information -

    Following several years of locally-led development, Integrated Care Systems were established across England on a statutory basis on 1 July 2022

  22. The experiences of LGBTQI+ residents when accessing Islington services including health, care and housing

    Report -

    LGBTQI+ residents shared their experiences of accessing health, mental health, social care, and housing services.

  23. Visibility is important in making LGBTQI+ residents feel welcome across services

    News -

    We listened to feedback from LGBTQI+ residents on a wide range of services including healthcare, social care, mental health support, and housing.

  24. Feedback on smoking cessation and pulmonary rehabilitation services in Islington

    Report -

    We spoke to 98 smokers and ex-smokers from communities experiencing health inequalities.

  25. Residents give feedback on support services for stopping smoking

    News -

    We spoke to 65 residents from communities experiencing health inequalities. All were smokers or ex-smokers. Few had taken up the offer of support to give up.

  26. Improving the messaging on GP phone lines and websites

    News -

    GP websites can be hard to navigate and present many barriers to patients who are not confident online. We've been working with residents and commissioners to make things better.

  27. Summary of analysis of Islington General Practice websites

    Report -

    Our analysis of GP websites in January 2023

  28. How Healthwatch is helping increase uptake of cancer screening services

    News -

    In Islington, participation in bowel, breast, and cervical cancer screening programmes is below the national and the London average.

  29. Celebrating the work of Healthwatch with diverse communities.

    Blog -

    Yussuf Ahmed is the Coordinator at Islington Somali Community, an organisation belonging to our Diverse Communities Health Voice partnership. In this guest blog, Yussuf talks about the benefits of the collaboration.

  30. Our annual report 2022-2023

    Report -

    It's been a great year of growth for Healthwatch Islington. We are the independent champion for people who use health and social care services in the borough.

  31. How do I get a fit note?

    Advice and Information -

    Since July 2022, nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists and physiotherapists have been able to legally certify and issue a statement of fitness for work, informally known as a ‘fit note’. Previously only GPs or hospital doctors could issue fit notes. Find out what a fit note is, when you might need one and how to go about getting one.

  32. Registering with your GP: understanding your rights

    Advice and Information -

    Sometimes we help residents who are finding it difficult to register with a GP. This article explains more about your rights and what do to if you are refused the right to register.

  33. Learn how Healthwatch provides digital support to community groups in Islington

    Blog -

    Gulum Sener, our Digital Inclusion Project Manager, visits Jannaty Women's Social Society, a community group based in Finsbury Park.

  34. Questions and Answers on Cervical Screening

    Advice and Information -

    We hosted an information session led by Nyamka Marsh, Islington Lead Nurse & Nurse Hub Manager, Islington GP Federation.

  35. If I could change just one thing about health and care, this is what it would be

    News -

    Local people share their key concerns about health and care services today

  36. Healthwatch tackles high blood pressure

    News -

    We helped over 1,300 people improve their understanding of hypertension and identified over 130 people with undiagnosed hypertension, whom we were able to point in the direction of their GP or community pharmacy for further tests.

  37. Raising awareness of hypertension in Islington

    Report -

    We helped over 1,300 people improve their understanding of hypertension.

  38. What are your expectations for your annual health review?

    News -

    We asked over 500 residents with long-term health conditions what they wanted from their yearly check-ups

  39. 10 top tips to get the most out of your GP appointment

    Advice and Information -

    We know from our conversations with the public that some patients report feeling rushed during appointments and struggling to make themselves heard. Here are some tips that could help you get the most out of visiting your GP.