News and reports

How Has Health & Social Care Changed for You?

Healthwatch Harrow hosted a forum at the Harrow Baptist Church on 29th November, attended by 75 people. The forum provided a space for residents to share changes they have experienced.

The event was opened by Healthwatch Chair, Ash Verma. The guest speakers and panellists were Lisa Henschen (Managing Director of Harrow Based Partnership), Shaun Riley (Assistant Director of Health and Wellbeing, Harrow Council) and Carrie Whelan and Gbemisola Akinterinwa (Team Managers at Central North West London NHS Foundation Trust). The programme included group discussions, presentations and a question and answer session.

Our Report on Access to GP Services

The way we access local primary care services, such as GPs is evolving all the time. In recent years there has been a large shift towards remote services, with patients now booking online, and typically receiving their initial consultation (triage) through phone or video call.

Traditional methods, such as booking through the phone or in-person are on the decline, and this will affect certain groups with a support need – such as older people or those with a sensory disability.

Being able to see a GP of choice, or a GP at all, is also a recent challenge for some patients. Those with long-term, quite often complex needs value the continuity of seeing the same person, and often prefer a face-to-face relationship.

With all this change we launched a survey on access, completed by around 70 people from a range of ages and backgrounds. What did they tell us?

From April 2023 - March 2024 we engaged with 5,500 local people, published 36 reports, issued 6 newsletters, held many focus groups, and delivered an inspiring Social care. Who cares? forum.

Read all about it!

Our GP report examines the experience of 1,638 local people.

Our quarterly report examines the experience of 907 local people.

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Are you struggling to find an NHS dentist? The new dental recovery plan might help you get the dental care you need.

The new Pharmacy First scheme enables your local pharmacy to treat some common conditions with prescription-only medicines, without you visiting your GP. Find out everything you need to know.

From 31 October 2023, GP surgeries must give patients online access to their new health record entries. Find out what information is in your record and how to access it.

Did you know you can choose which hospital you go to when referred for a test, diagnosis, or treatment? Find out how.