Latest news with #Healthwatch
The Independent
29-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
The long wait for an ADHD diagnosis in the UK
An estimated 2.5 million people in England may have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to new figures. NHS England estimates suggest that 741,000 children and young people aged five to 24 may have ADHD, along with 147,000 under the age of five. Over half a million people (549,000) in England were waiting for an ADHD assessment as of March 2025, up from 416,000 the previous year. Of those waiting for assessment, 304,000 had been waiting at least a year, and 144,000 had been waiting at least two years, with the majority (382,000) aged between five and 24. Healthwatch England 's chief executive, Louise Ansari, highlighted that many people with ADHD don't seek support due to long assessment waits and called for more comprehensive and robust data collection.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
A third of Blackpool's five-year-olds have tooth decay says MP
One in three five-year-olds in Blackpool has "visible signs of tooth decay", while only a third of adults in the seaside town have seen an NHS dentist in the last two years, an MP has South MP, Chris Webb, told the Commons that every week his constituents have come to him to raise problems constituents about accessing a said a four-year-old boy from Blackpool was left with agonising tooth decay for two years because of a shortage of dental care minister Karin Smyth said the government is "determined" to improve access to dentists. Webb told BBC Radio Lancashire the mother of the four-year-old boy felt "helpless" and it was "heart-breaking"."She didn't know where to turn, her son's constantly in pain," he said."To treat that with ibuprofen rather than getting into a dentist to solve the problem is just wrong and it just shows how badly the system's been broken and that has to change.""Too many kids are turning up at A&E with a tooth problem, but at that point it's too late and the only course of action is extraction." 'Empty facilities' An survey in February of 10 dental practices in Blackpool by the local branch of consumer health service champion Healthwatch found none were accepting NHS told MPs in a debate on access to NHS Dentistry the problem "seems to be more prevalent in Blackpool because of the deprivation" and it was "essential" to educate parents to make sure they supervised children brushing their said he has been unable to find an NHS dentist in the town for himself since he became an MP a year ago, even though he has been told they have capacity."I've seen dentists where they've got new, fantastic facilities empty because they're not taking any more NHS patients," he said. "So we've got to look at the contract and make sure that it's financially viable and it's incentivised for them to take on more patients."Responding on behalf of the government, Smyth, said: "There are no perfect pay models and careful consideration is being given to any changes to the complex dental system, so that we deliver genuine improvements for patients and the profession."It is an immense challenge, there are no quick fixes and no easy answers, but people across the country deserve better access and we're determined to make that happen." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
09-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Women encouraged to attend cervical screenings
Women are being encouraged to attend "life-saving" cervical screenings, as the average number of people being tested fails to hit the national target. Healthwatch in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough has pushed for more women to attend outreach clinics for cervical cancer number of women between 25 and 49 who attend regional screenings has fallen slightly and remained below the national average. Chief executive officer at Healthwatch, Jess Slater, said the procedure was quick and easy, but could be "life-saving" for women. In Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, 180,755 women were eligible for a screening in the first quarter of 2024, to 2025. About 65.33% attended an appointment, slightly below the national average of 67.11% and far from the national target of 80%.The appointments can been booked by telephone and are being held in Peterborough, Fenland and the Huntingdon free NHS screening will test for human papillomavirus (HPV) - the virus that causes cervical cancer. It involves taking a sample of cells from the cervix and is offered by the NHS to all women and people with a cervix, aged between 25 and any abnormal cells are found, they can be removed or monitored to prevent cancer Slater said while it was not mandatory, she recommended anyone over the age of 25 who received a letter regarding a screening to book an said: "People are missing their appointments and not going for their tests, so we do encourage people to go, because it does prevent any possible health problems in the future."It's not particularly uncomfortable, but if you feel any discomfort, it's for a couple of minutes only."They keep your dignity and then it's over and done with, but those few minutes could be life-saving to some people."Healthwatch Cambridgeshire and Peterborough encouraged anyone who had positive experiences at screenings to share their feedback, to support others in knowing what to expect. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
I tried a SAD lamp to see if they really work
It's that dreaded time of the year again. The clocks have gone back, and the dark nights are arriving earlier, robbing us of longer days of sunlight. It always marks the beginning of a few months of tiredness and for me, just general fed up-ness. Admittedly, I am a bit of a night owl - especially during winter. Opening my eyes in the mornings to a room that is still pitch black makes me want to pull the duvet over my head and get another couple of hours' kip instead of seizing the day. For some, winter is a time when being snuggled up at home becomes much more appealing than leaving the house. But it has always felt like it was much more profound than that for me. It is much more than just a feeling of usual tiredness. The dots aligned when I began to research Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Seeing my symptoms in black an white - and why I was experiencing them - made everything much clearer. According to Healthwatch, one in 20 people in the UK suffer with SAD. Many others might not realise they have the condition. It's often - but not always - triggered by the arrival of darker evenings and colder weather, and symptoms vary from person to person. According to the NHS, SAD is often linked to a reduced exposure to sunlight, which comes in the autumn and winter. While the exact cause of SAD is not fully understood, the main theory is that the lack of sunlight stops the part of the brain known as the hypothalamus from working properly. The NHS says this affects the production of two hormones - melatonin and serotonin - and the body's internal clock. Melatonin, serotonin and the internal clock all affect a person's sleep - while serotonin also affects appetite and mood. After discussing my symptoms with a friend, they suggested looking into a SAD lamp. The electric boxes work by emitting bright lights to help improve mood, by mimicking sunlight. I have always been dubious of gadgets and thought they were a bit of a fad. But, in November, curiosity got the better of me and so I decided it was worth a shot. With months to go until the longer days returned, I knew I had to try something. There are tons of options on the internet that all work in much the same way. I ordered the Panergy 16000 Lux Simulated Sunlight lamp from Amazon, which set me back £21.99. An affordable price for something I half expected to be shoving in the bottom of a drawer after a week or two. The adjustable daylight lamp has three colour temperatures - cool white, warm white and warm yellow light - and four different brightness levels for intensity. I set it up on my work desk and began using it every day, from 4pm until around 6pm. Guidelines say you should use the lamps for anything between 20 minutes to an hour - but after trial and error, I realised the two hour window was more appropriate for me. The light essentially makes the day feel longer. By emulating the sunlight, it is as if it has tricked my body into thinking the sun isn't setting until 6pm, despite it going dark outside around three hours before that. I have used the lamp consecutively for three months and am astounded by the difference. I use the warm white setting, on brightness level two. There are also handy timer functions so the lamp will shut itself off after 15, 30, 45 or 60 minutes. Throughout the evening, I have found my energy levels to be much higher. I feel much more awake, alert and in a happier and more positive mood. It feels as though it has also regulated my body clock, much similar to how my routine would be in the summer. After three months, I am feeling less lethargic, and more able to get up in mornings. It has got me into a much more balanced routine. I have quite honestly been floored at what a difference such a small and affordable gadget could make. SAD Lamps can also be used in mornings for people who are early risers or work earlier shifts. There are brands that double up as alarm clocks too, with the light beginning to fill a room on a timer, much like the sun would by peeping through blinds or curtains in the summer months. Once a sceptic, I am now singing from the rooftops about these fab little devices. A number of my friends have also bought one too, and have reported back that they too are experiencing noticeable differences. It isn't a complete fix - but it goes a long way in helping. And when winter rolls around again next year and the days draw shorter, I know it won't be as unbearable as before. The NHS says symptoms of SAD can include: a persistent low mood a loss of pleasure or interest in normal everyday activities irritability feelings of despair, guilt and worthlessness feeling lethargic and sleepy during the day sleeping for longer than normal and finding it hard to get up in the morning craving carbohydrates and gaining weight difficulty concentrating, and decreased sex drive. It says people should see their GP if they think they have SAD and are struggling to cope. Potential treatments can include regular exercise, light therapy using a special lamp, counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy and the prescription of antidepressants.
The Independent
27-01-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Low confidence in NHS complaints process ‘stops patients flagging poor care'
A lack of confidence in the NHS complaints process means some people are taking no action when they experience poor care, according to the patient champion. There is also 'little evidence' that complaints being made to the health service are being used to improve services, Healthwatch England said. It comes as a poll showed more than half of those who made a complaint to an NHS organisation were not satisfied with the process or outcome. The survey of 2,650 adults in England, carried out by YouGov for Healthwatch, found almost one in four (24%) had a poor experience with the NHS in the last year. However, 56% of these people took no action, with fewer than one in 10 (9%) making a formal complaint. Of those who did not formally complain about their experience, some 34% said it was because they did not think the health service would use the complaint to improve care. When patients feel their complaints are not taken seriously or don't take any action due to a complex system, services miss out on vital information to help them improve Louise Ansari, Healthwatch England A third of people said they did not think NHS organisations would respond effectively, while one in five said they were worried that complaining would affect their ongoing treatment. Some 19% of those who experienced poor care did not know how to complain, the poll found. Of those who did complain, some 56% were dissatisfied with the process, with the same proportion unhappy about the outcome. Louise Ansari, chief executive of Healthwatch England, said: 'We know that public satisfaction with the NHS is at record low levels, with too many patients receiving poor care. 'When patients feel their complaints are not taken seriously or don't take any action due to a complex system, services miss out on vital information to help them improve.' Figures published in October show the total number of all reported written complaints in the NHS in 2023/24 was 241,922, an increase of 5.4% compared with the 229,458 reported in the previous 12 months. However, the Healthwatch report claims 'low public confidence is preventing people from taking any action after experiencing poor care', meaning that current complaint numbers 'could just be the tip of the iceberg'. It added that 'there is little evidence that complaints are being systematically used to improve care'. Analysis by Healthwatch shows there has been a 37% hike in complaints between 2013/14 and 2023/24. It suggests this could mean people are more confident about speaking up, as more organisations adopt NHS Complaints Standards which were introduced in 2022. We need a step change in how people's complaints are handled and acted on. Healthcare leaders should focus on developing a culture of listening and learning from complaints across the sector Louise Ansari, Healthwatch England However, it also claims the rise could be 'driven by poorer quality of care caused by pressures on the NHS, especially since the pandemic'. 'Despite year-on-year increases, the health service may not have learned from complaints and remains in a cycle of repeating the same mistakes,' the report said. Ms Ansari added: 'We flagged failings with the NHS over a decade ago, following the patient safety scandal at Mid Staffordshire Hospital. 'Ten years on, our research shows that the public still lacks confidence in the NHS complaints system. 'We need a step change in how people's complaints are handled and acted on. Healthcare leaders should focus on developing a culture of listening and learning from complaints across the sector. 'Making it easier for patients and families to navigate the complaints system through the NHS app, setting mandatory response times, and measuring people's satisfaction with the process and the outcomes from complaints, will be a key part of this.' The NHS takes patient experiences very seriously and we are committed to listening to patients and rolling out initiatives like Martha's Rule, which is already having a transformative effect in some cases NHS spokesman An NHS spokesman said: 'Every patient deserves high-quality care, and NHS staff are working tirelessly to respond to the increasing demand for services – with a record number of patients coming forward in both primary care and hospitals in the past year. 'The NHS takes patient experiences very seriously and we are committed to listening to patients and rolling out initiatives like Martha's Rule, which is already having a transformative effect in some cases. 'This report highlights that there is still more to do to listen to patients, respond to complaints and improve services, which is why the NHS is working closely with the Government on this year's 10-Year Health Plan to help us transform services to provide the best quality care for patients.' A spokesperson for the Department for Health and Social Care said: 'This report shows the NHS complaints system is failing far too many patients. 'We are determined to foster an environment where patients and NHS staff alike are able to speak up, knowing they will be supported and that their concerns will be listened to and acted upon. 'We must never turn a blind eye to failure, which is why we will build a culture of transparency in the NHS and ensure patients voices are heard.' Isabel Lawicka, director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, added: 'Listening to patients and their families is a vital part of delivering a safe service.'
