Healthwatch Derby

24/06/2026

Clear information forms the foundation of real choice in health and social care. Begin by mapping your situation: note your questions about treatment or support and any key dates. Next, ask every service for a short plain-language summary that includes next steps and contact names. If it remains unclear, request a follow-up chat or translated version. Then tap into local signposting services that connect you with community groups and voluntary organisations. Finally, prepare two or three questions before appointments and ask for written notes afterwards. These steps help you prepare for shared decisions and reduce stress. Which tip would you like to try first?



Read the full post on our blog → https://www.healthwatchderby.co.uk/empowering-choices-through-clear-local-information/

23/06/2026

Many people in Derby contact us feeling their care choices are limited because information arrives too late or uses confusing language. This leaves residents unsure about treatment options, housing support, or daily living help. Healthwatch Derby addresses this by collecting real local experiences and turning them into practical steps anyone can follow. Start by writing down your main questions and any deadlines such as discharge dates. Request short written summaries that avoid jargon and include contact names. Use our up-to-date details on community groups and statutory services to fill remaining gaps. This approach helps you move from confusion to confident action. Have you ever accepted the first option because details felt overwhelming?



Read the full post on our blog → https://www.healthwatchderby.co.uk/empowering-choices-through-clear-local-information/

23/06/2026

Feeling the heat?

High temperatures can affect your health. Read our tips on staying safe and helping protect your loved ones during the hot weather.

https://bit.ly/4w569gV

22/06/2026

National figures show that 43% of adults in England lack the literacy skills needed to understand typical health information, and 61% struggle when numbers are involved too. In Derby this gap shows up when people leave hospital or arrange social care. Details often arrive late or in hard-to-follow language, so residents accept the first option offered instead of exploring what suits them best. Healthwatch Derby turns complex details into straightforward guidance so you can act with confidence. We collect local stories and use them to press providers for clearer communication across the East Midlands. Our community work shows that people who receive tailored signposting report greater confidence in their final decisions. Which part of this situation feels most familiar to you?



Read the full post on our blog → https://www.healthwatchderby.co.uk/empowering-choices-through-clear-local-information/

22/06/2026

We've released a new app recently. A brilliant way to check local services, updates and get in touch with us with any feedback regarding your experiences with health and social care services. See below for further details.

Healthwatch Derby have released a new app!

The app is a handy way of accessing HWD news, information regarding local health and social care services and getting in touch.

It is available on the links below:-

iPhone App Link:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/healthwatch-derby/id6762453578

Android App Link:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cmslogin.healthwtchderby

21/06/2026

Does your child or young person need mental health support?

In our latest blog, families shared their experiences of accessing mental health services for children and young people.

Many told us they had:
🔹 Been bounced between services, such as CAMHS and MHSTs
🔹 Fallen through gaps in support
🔹 Struggled to navigate complex mental health systems
🔹 Been turned away by CAMHS without being signposted to more suitable services

Does this sound familiar?

Children, young people and their families should be involved in shaping the services they use.

We also heard concerns about long waits for help. Families need clear information about waiting times and timely access to community mental health services.

Read our new blog to learn more about what families told us and the changes they want to see.

https://bit.ly/4vfhFWM

21/06/2026

Want a chance to win one of two £50 Love2Shop vouchers? 🤔

Yes please! 🎉

Then tell us what childcare you use or would like to use for your 4 to 11 year olds in this short survey: 👉 https://letstalk.derby.gov.uk/4-11-childcare-needs-survey-2026

Local Scoop Derby Derby News
DHA Direct Help & Advice Derby Sound Community Radio
Healthwatch Derby
Livewell Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance

19/06/2026

Everyone who contacts Healthwatch Derby should be able to see what followed from their input. Clear records and open reporting let you follow your comments as they reach decision makers and then watch for the service adjustments that result. Over time this builds a reliable picture of which issues are being tackled and which still need attention.

We share short case stories in plain English alongside the numbers so the full story stays easy to understand. Partners across Derbyshire also receive the same anonymised intelligence when issues cross boundaries, helping improvements reach more people without duplicated effort.

Which recent change in local services would you like to understand better?



Read the full post on our blog → https://www.healthwatchderby.co.uk/measuring-impact-and-accountability-in-derby-health-services/

19/06/2026

A new study finds that hundreds of lives have been saved since school-age girls were offered the HPV jab in 2008.

18/06/2026

When services improve, it is rarely down to one single comment. The real question is how to show the specific contribution each piece of feedback made. We answer this by using contribution tracking and time stamped records that map the journey from your input to any resulting action.

We also publish visual summaries that highlight recurring issues across Derby. Commissioners tell us these summaries help them direct resources more precisely. The approach turns scattered comments into clear intelligence that partners can use without extra jargon.

How do you currently judge whether local health services are listening to residents?



Read the full post on our blog → https://www.healthwatchderby.co.uk/measuring-impact-and-accountability-in-derby-health-services/