News and reports

During February and March 2019, we conducted a survey with patients attending A&E departments in the Royal Free Hospital Trust. Our team of staff and volunteers visited the Accident & Emergency Departments at Barnet Hospital and the Royal Free Hospital to gather the views of over 500 patients. The main objective was to identify why people were coming to A&E.

All Barnet GP practices have access to language interpreters through Language Line Solutions; an over the phone interpreting service. However, we have received anecdotal feedback that this interpreting service is not widely used by GPs.

Our annual report shows how our Healthwatch Barnet team of volunteers and staff have been at the forefront of changes brought about in the health and social care services, bringing local voices and experiences to the attention of decision makers.

This visit to Cricklewood Walk-in Centre, was a follow up to the visits made in January and March 2018 and was arranged with the recently appointed Practice Manager to discuss the recommendations of those reports. The report also talks about the future of the centre, which is on the border of Barnet, Brent and Camden. We were told that about half the patients come from Brent, about 40% from Barnet and 10% from Camden.

In summer and autumn 2018, we were contacted by community organisations, individuals and some GP staff about the difficulties patients were experiencing in using hospital transport for their journeys to and from Royal Free Hospital sites.

This announced E&V visit was part of a planned set of visits reviewing safeguarding at a range of care and nursing homes within Barnet. In this visit we focussed on identifying any signs of abuse as described by the Social Care Institute for Excellence. This ‘at a glance’ briefing which aims to help people who come into contact with people with care and support needs to identify abuse and recognise possible indicators. Many types of abuse are also criminal offences and should be treated as such.

This report is part of a planned set of Enter & View visits reviewing safeguarding at a range of care and nursing homes within Barnet. The care home is run by Ventry Residential Care providing accommodation and care for up to 21 older people.

The NHS Long Term Plan, a ten-year plan created by NHS England, sets out a vision to make sure that health services are fit for purpose in the future. A significant part of the plan is around preventative action against illness and disease.

The low uptake of Cancer screening tests for patients with learning disabilities is not only a local issue in Barnet, but a national issue and health priority.

Our Enter and View team conducted this announced visit to Acacia Lodge Care Home as part of a planned set of visits reviewing safeguarding at a range of care and nursing homes within Barnet.

Students at university tend not to realise the importance of registering with a GP or getting routine dental checks.

We conducted an announced E&V visit as part of a planned set of visits investigating the mealtime experiences of residents at a range of care and nursing homes within Barnet.