News and reports

Representation in Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) is vital, as these groups act as a bridge between the community and GP practices. As such, ensuring a diversity of voices is heard and understood enables service planning which meets the needs of the local community. This project investigated representation within PPGs in Trafford, focusing on whether members felt their groups accurately reflected the demographics of their patient populations.

Have you been involved with palliative care?

Flu and COVID-19 vaccines kick off for all eligible people from today to help ‘winter-proof’ those most vulnerable and the NHS amid new variants circulating this year.

A new family feature being piloted in the NHS App is making it easier for parents and carers to manage their loved ones’ health as simply as switching profiles on Netflix.

A new booklet has been produced to support organisations who have conversations with ‘inclusion health’ groups who may struggle to access healthcare services.

The NHS in the North West is providing targeted care for vulnerable groups, improving ambulance handover times and investing in new emergency care facilities as it strengthens its plans to winter-proof the health service.

Have you become a parent in the past 2 years?

Being in good mental health is important for all parents. Back in 2022, we invited local parents to share their experiences in relation to mental health round the birth of their child. Now we are opening up this opportunity again to gather an up-to-date insight and see how things might have changed since.

The Government has now published its 10-Year Health Plan for England — and while it sets out bold reforms for the NHS, it also confirms proposals to close Healthwatch as the "independent patient voice" as it currently exists.

Update of our work across April, May, and June 2025.

Take a look at our Healthwatch annual report, to give you a closer look at how your involvement has helped us improve services locally.

People on lower incomes face barriers to getting the care they need. We look at why it’s harder for people who earn less money to access NHS services.

Patients will receive better, faster and more appropriate emergency care as the government sets out reforms to shorten waiting times and tackle persistently failing trusts.