News and reports

The government has published its NHS Elective Reform Plan to reduce waiting times for planned hospital care.

The plan sets out how it aims, by 2029, for 92% of patients to have a diagnostic test, outpatient appointment or operation within 18 weeks of a GP referral - a target the NHS has not met for the past 10 years. Read the Healthwatch response to the plan, which aims to tackle record NHS waiting times and improve people's experience while they wait.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has launched new Patient Decision Aid documents on a number of conditions, including chronic pain, depression and glue ear.
The aim of a decision aid is to help people facing a decision about treatment or care options (and their family and carers, as appropriate) make an informed choice based on which of the different options’ advantages and disadvantages matter most to them.

This report highlights the public feedback received during our outreach sessions at Warrington & Halton Hospitals between September and November 2024.

A new mobile cervical screening service is to be piloted in Halton in a bid to improve uptake of the life-saving test.
The Living Well Bus, hosted by Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS FT, will be at various locations across the borough offering drop-in cervical screening appointments to women and people with a cervix who have missed any previous appointments, making it easy and convenient for people to be screened.

World Braille day is celebrated on 4 January as it marks its founder, Louis Braille, birthday. World Braille day is a reminder of the importance of accessibility and independence for people who are blind or visually impaired. This day spreads awareness about braille and other accessible forms of communication.

With temperatures set to plummet in the coming days health leaders in Cheshire and Merseyside are urging the public to use NHS services wisely as we see pressure mounting on urgent and emergency care post-Christmas.

The Mental Health Research for Innovation Centre (M-RIC) has launched an 2024 online annual review to showcase its achievements over the past year and provide an overview of the centre’s exciting plans for the year ahead.

The NHS routine breast screening programme invites women aged 50 up to their 71st birthday for routine mammograms.
Breast Screening (Mammography) is an x-ray examination of the breasts and is a method of finding breast cancer at a very early stage.

UK non-cancer gynaecology waiting lists have now grown to more than 750,000, according to a new report from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). The lists are now a third bigger than in 2021.

Pharmacists and GPs across Cheshire and Merseyside are urging people to only order the medication they need from their repeat prescriptions.

NHS Adult Acute and Specialist Providers have agreed to join a Group model to develop a long-term strategy for health care services in Liverpool.
The five Adult Acute and Specialist NHS Trusts in Liverpool, many of which are used by Halton residents, have agreed to integrate the Trusts into a city-wide hospital Group and will be developing a long-term strategy for healthcare services in Liverpool over the next few years.

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is any form of violence disproportionately perpetrated by men against women and girls. It is deeply linked to women’s inequality and includes sexual violence, domestic abuse, stalking and harassment, female genital mutilation, forced marriage and so-called ‘honour-based’ abuse, exploitation and abuse of women and girls in online spaces.