News and reports

In response to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, Healthwatch Hammersmith and Fulham (H&F) conducted engagement work to investigate and better understand the experiences of H&F residents. There was a particular focus on the impact on access to healthcare services and appointments, as well as on physical and mental health and wellbeing.

Social prescribing is a community-centred, holistic approach to health that offers a non-clinical intervention for people dealing with issues such as social isolation and loneliness, housing issues or financial pressures, that may impact their health and wellbeing. ​

The social prescribing service was selected as a topic for further investigation by Healthwatch, primarily as the service represents a great opportunity to improve health and wellbeing of residents, and considerably reduce pressure on and better support primary care. We wanted to better understand how the service was working from a patient perspective and use the patient voice to shape the service’s ongoing improvement journey.

The growing number of unpaid carers and the significance of their contributions to health and social care has been acknowledged by both national and local government. Due to this, Healthwatch H&F set out to understand the experience of carers through interviews that used qualitative and quantitative methods.

We are delighted to publish our Annual Report for 2023-24. Read about the work we carried out throughout the past year and the impact we made in the local community!

Healthwatch H&F is marking World Immunisation Week with a community outreach event to provide residents with more information about vaccines and give children the opportunity to get their MMR vaccines if required.

From 22 April until 30 June 2024, the seasonal COVID-19 booster will be available, free, for those who are at greatest risk of becoming seriously ill from the virus.

NHS England has today announced the rollout of ‘Martha’s Rule’ in hospitals across England from April, enabling patients and families to seek an urgent review if their condition deteriorates.

Healthwatch Hammersmith and Fulham has extended the deadline of its cost of living and health survey to Sunday 19 November, 5pm. This is to hear from more young people aged 18-24 as this is an important cohort that we have not heard enough from so far.

The campaign aims to spread public awareness of the different roles within a GP practice's scope that can best help patients. From the GP themself, to a physiotherapist, to a clinical pharmacist, getting a person to the best possible help can look different than just seeing the GP.

Eligible Hammersmith and Fulham residents can now book life-saving autumn Covid and flu vaccines online as the NHS steps up its winter vaccination programmes early in response to the risk of the new Covid variant.

NHS England is moving forward the timetable for the autumn COVID-19 and flu vaccine rollouts to next week due to a new Covid variant. Find out if you're eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine.

Find out about Melissa Cohen's experience of working with Healthwatch Hammersmith and Fulham during her 6-week internship this summer!