1. 50 new surgical hubs set to open across England - Healthwatch response

    Response -

    The Government has today announced plans to open 50 new surgical hubs across England. The hubs aim to deliver almost two million extra routine operations to cut waiting lists over the next three years.

  2. Musculoskeletal Clinical Assessment and Triage Service (MSKCATS) – Physiotherapy referral update.

    News -

    From 10 October 2022, patients who use the Musculoskeletal Clinical Assessment and Triage Service (MSKCATS) will be referred by contacting their GP practice rather than self-referring. 

  3. Ambulance service strike action

    News -

    Ambulance service staff from GMB and Unison trade unions will go on strike again on Wednesday, 11th January 2023, with Unison and Unite members taking further action on Monday, 23rd January 2023. This is a continuing dispute between trade unions and the government over pay.

  4. Help shape the Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership Strategy

    News -

    Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership has today launched a survey to seek the views of its partners, people, and communities on the priorities within our interim strategy.

  5. Changes to Spirometry services

    News -

    The public’s views are being sought on changes being made to Spirometry services in Halton and Warrington. 

  6. Reducing differences in access to healthcare across Cheshire and Merseyside

    News -

    In July 2022, the responsibility for commissioning healthcare treatments for the population of Cheshire and Merseyside moved from clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to the newly formed integrated care board, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside.
    Previously local areas made local decisions about how healthcare treatments are commissioned, which over time has resulted in some differences across Cheshire and Merseyside. 

  7. Public urged to use NHS 111 ahead of Christmas and New Year doctor strikes.

    News -

    People across Cheshire and Merseyside are being urged to use NHS 111 for all non-emergency healthcare needs ahead of industrial action by junior doctors both ahead of Christmas and early in the New Year.

  8. Share your feedback to improve care in your community

    News -

    ‘Share for Better Care’, a new campaign launched by Healthwatch and the Care Quality Commission, addresses health inequalities across England.

  9. Help set our priorities for the next year!

    News -

    We want to hear what matters to you and what areas of health and social care you think we should focus on for the year ahead. We are also giving you the chance to win a £25 gift voucher!

  10. Another day in the life

    Report -

    This report covers feedback gathered from patients at the two local Urgent Care Centres between July 2017 and January 2018. This was carried out as a follow up to visits to the centres in December 2015. Our aim was to ask patients why they visited the Urgent Care Centres and to find out if the centres were helping to divert people away from the overstretched A&E units.

  11. A view from the waiting room - Halton Urgent Care Centres

    Report -

    Summary report on drop-in visits to the two Halton Urgent Care Centres carried out between January and August 2019

  12. A day in the life - Runcorn UCC

    Report -

    On 8 December 2015 we visited Runcorn Urgent Care Centre and spent the day speaking to patients using the centre.
    We arrived at 7.15am and stayed at the UCC until close at 10.00pm.

  13. A day in the life - Widnes UCC

    Report -

    On 3 December 2015 we visited Widnes Urgent Care Centre and spent the day speaking to patients using the centre.
    We arrived at 7.30am and stayed at the UCC until close at 10.00pm.

  14. Join a community conversation with North West Ambulance Service

    News -

    People living and working in Cheshire are invited by North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) to share their views and experiences of our 999 emergency ambulance service and NHS 111 as part of a conversation with the community.

  15. Runcorn UTC Feedback report - September 2022

    Report -

    During June, July and August we visited the Urgent Treatment Centre four times and collected the experiences of 72 patients using the Centre.

  16. Widnes UTC Feedback report - September 2022

    Report -

    During June, July and August we visited the Urgent Treatment Centre four times and collected the experiences of 77 patients using the Centre.

  17. Runcorn UTC - Patient Feedback report January 2023

    Report -

    We visited the Runcorn UTC twice, in November and December 2022, and spoke with 48 patients.

    This report provides a snapshot of the experiences of those patients.

  18. Urgent and emergency care recovery plan

    News -

    Find out what was included in the recent urgent and emergency care recovery plan, and how this will affect services next winter.

  19. National survey highlights decline in people’s experience of urgent and emergency care.

    News -

    Findings from a survey of more than 36,000 people who used NHS urgent and emergency care services in September 2022 show that many people had a worse experience than in previous years – particularly those treated in an A&E type department.

  20. Widnes UTC Feedback report - February 2023

    Report -

    This report is based on feedback collected from 36 patients attending Widnes Urgent Treatment Centre on 16 November 2022 and 14 February 2023.

  21. Runcorn UTC - Patient Feedback report March 2023

    Report -

    We visited the Runcorn UTC twice, on 9 January and 13 March 2023, and spoke with 40 patients.

    This report provides a snapshot of the experiences of those patients.

  22. Runcorn Urgent Treatment Centre

    Report -

    Patient Feedback report on Runcorn Urgent Treatment Centre.
    We carried out five visits to the Runcorn UTC between 30 October 2023 and 23 November 2023.
    Each visit lasted between two and three hours and in total 113 people took the time to give us their experience.