1. Report -

    In July 2020 Healthwatch Halton were approached by NHS Bridgewater Community NHS Trust to look at the possibility of carrying out a further patient engagement project on behalf of the Trust to look at patient satisfaction levels with Children’s Specialist Services from Woodview Child Development Centre.

  2. News -

    Staff at the University of Bradford want to hear your (and your children’s) views on short-sightedness and the new ways we can manage it.
  3. News -

    Citizens Advice Halton has launched a new survey for parents and carers to assess the impact of rising costs of school uniforms and whether schools across the Borough are implementing changes to the law requiring genuinely affordable uniforms.
  4. News -

    It has been eight years since the Children and Families Act 2014 introduced significant changes to the delivery of education, health and social care services to children and young people (aged 0–25) with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

    A joint Care Quality Commission/Ofsted inspection of Halton’s SEND provision in March 2017, whilst highlighting examples of good practice and improvement, identified areas for development, setting out specific areas for improvement.

  5. News -

    Children’s Grief Awareness Week runs from the 17th - 23rd November 2022. Children’s Grief Awareness Week was initiated by Grief Encounter and the Childhood Bereavement Network in 2015, as a way to recognise and raise awareness of the bereavement experiences of children and young people.

  6. News -

    Recent reports of serious Group A Strep infections (GAS) can be worrying. Whilst the more serious Invasive GAS infections are still uncommon, there has been an increase in cases this year, particularly in children under 10 and sadly, a small number of deaths.
  7. Advice and Information -

    Eating disorders are complex mental illnesses that anyone can develop, regardless of age, income and ethnicity. Take a look at some of the common signs of eating disorders and where to go for support if you need help.
  8. News -

    Can you help develop a new relationships service, for babies, children and their families? NHS North West Coast Clinical Networks for Perinatal and Early Years Mental Health are interested in developing NHS services that can support parent-child relationships.
  9. News -

    Bridgewater are looking for families to join their new lived experience panel to help make local health services better for children and young people.

    A lived experience panel is when people who use health services or who help look after someone with a healthcare issue come together with staff to decide how we can improve services.

  10. News -

    Drowning Prevention Week aims to help ensure everybody across the UK and Ireland, has the opportunity to enjoy water safely.
    Now in its tenth year, Drowning Prevention Week 2023 is a crucial campaign that has proven to have a real impact. Due to the pandemic, close to 2 million young people missed out on the vital opportunity to swim, leaving a dramatic gap in school swimming and water safety education.
  11. News -

    Halton Send Parent Carer Forum (HSPCF) have been approached by Tony Ryan who has been commissioned by Mersey Care to carry out an independent review of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS.)

    He is interested in the views of children and young people and their families, who have used CAMHS services in mid-Mersey in the last 12 months. If this applies to you, please give a couple minutes of your time to answer the short questions on the attached survey. Your voice matters and is the best way to help improve services for our children and young people.
  12. News -

    Evidence from thousands of children and young people collected by our colleagues at Healthwatch Blackpool has been referenced repeatedly in the House of Commons over the past few weeks as concerns grow about vaping among this age group.
    The report highlights the worrying prevalence and impact of vaping amongst children and young people, highlighting the views and experiences of children and young people themselves, as well as their families, and professionals who work with them.
  13. News -

    Communication is an essential foundation life skill that supports many other areas of development such as: behaviour, emotional wellbeing and lifelong learning. As parents and carers you play a vital role in supporting your child's speech, language and communication skills.
  14. News -

    Family Hubs are being developed in Halton. This work is being funded by the Department for Education from the government’s Family Hubs Transformation Fund.
    Family Hubs support children and young people from birth until they reach the age of 19 (or up to 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities). They bring council, health and community services together so that families can access the right support at the right time.
  15. News -

    With most children now back at school the UK Health Security Agency North West reminds parents of back-to-school advice amid rising levels of winter illness.

    To keep attendance in education and childcare settings high this January, parents are urged to take simple steps to protect communities following the Christmas break.
  16. News -

    The UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) has reported an increase in measles across the country and is encouraging people to check that they and their children have had two doses of the MMR vaccine.
  17. News -

    With measles cases on the rise, thousands of school children aged 6 -11 years are being invited to attend appointments to be vaccinated against Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR).
    A major drive has been launched to invite those not fully vaccinated to come forward and catch up on missed doses - with reminders being sent to families throughout February and March.
  18. 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.
  19. Report -

    Summary report on drop-in visits to the two Halton Urgent Care Centres carried out between January and August 2019
  20. 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.
  21. 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.
  22. 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.
  23. Report -

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

    During June, July and August we visited the Urgent Treatment Centre four times and collected the experiences of 77 patients using the Centre.
  25. 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.
  26. News -

    Find out what was included in the recent urgent and emergency care recovery plan, and how this will affect services next winter.
  27. 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.
  28. Report -

    This report is based on feedback collected from 36 patients attending Widnes Urgent Treatment Centre on 16 November 2022 and 14 February 2023.
  29. 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.
  30. 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.