News
Check here for the latest news and updates, which we'll add below. For a monthly summary of what's happening, take a look at our e-bulletins and sign up to receive our e-bulletin direct to your email every month!
Stay Alert!
Government advice has now been updated (from Wednesday 13th May 2020), from 'Stay home' to 'Stay alert'. ⚠️ We can all help control the virus if we...
Looking after your mental and emotional wellbeing
The coronavirus outbreak continues to be a testing time as lots of people are faced with increased anxiety, stress and loneliness.The governement...
Guide Dogs launch new phone line to support you during the Coronavirus Outbreak
Guide Dogs are providing answers and information for people with sight loss and their families during the coronavirus outbreak. They can help you...
Coronavirus Testing in North East
A Government announcement has been made about the increase in testing capacity and that more people have been made eligible to book into the system. Testing for Covid-19 is now available to people in the North East at a range of locations. Testing sites can be accessed by anyone who is an eligible...
What to do if you become unwell this Bank Holiday
Primary and community care services remain very much 'open' during this bank holiday (Friday 8th May). -Anyone who requires medical care are able to access GP services in the County Durham area by calling NHS 111. Callers will take part in a telephone assessment which enables appointments to be...
Information for people affected by Cancer during the Pandemic
The Northern Cancer Alliance website has brought together sources of COVID-19 information and support for people affected by cancer. This includes information from cancer charities such as Macmillan, Cancer Research UK and the Teenage Cancer Trust, as well as tumour specific charities such as Bowel...
Beware Of COVID-19 Scams ❗
There have been numerous cases reported to Action Fraud since the outbreak including: - Online shopping scams regarding purchase of PPE - Charity fraud - Lender loan fraud - Scam emails purporting to be from HM Government Please stay safe. Do not click on any links or attachments in suspicious...
Update on TEWV Services During COVID-19 Pandemic
Like the majority of services, Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys (TEWV) NHS Foundation Trust have changed the way their services are currently being delivered due to the unprecedented circumstances regarding the Coronavirus outbreak. TEWV delivers mental health and learning disabilty services which for...
Support available in County Durham for those struggling during the COVID-19 Pandemic
A new helpline, webpage and support network which has been set up by Durham County Council to help people in County Durham who are struggling during the Coronavirus pandemic. Following government advice that people with certain health conditions must stay isolated for the next 12 weeks in order to...
Could you help our NHS?
The NHS is “rallying the troops” for the war on Coronavirus, with volunteers being called up to help vulnerable people stay safe and well at home. The nation is looking for up to 250,000 volunteers to help up to 1.5 million people who have been asked to shield themselves from Coronavirus because of...
Healthwatch County Durham is still here for you!
Due to developments regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be changing the way we work over the coming weeks. Trying to delay the spread of the virus, as well as supporting the NHS, local communities and individuals where we can is our top priority at this difficult time. Therefore all of our...
COVID-19: A Message From Your Local Pharmacies
North Durham CCG have released a message on behald of community pharmacies in County Durham as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. To help relieve some of the increasing pressure they are facing, North Durham CCG are asking the public to avoid pharmacies if they are showing symptoms of COVID-19...
Durham County Council responds to COVID-19 Pandemic
Durham County Council are continiuing to provide information and advice in response to the Coronovirus outbreak. Support for local residents, buisnesses and communities can be found on their website , as well as information on changes in services and school closures. Please keep checking their...
Coronavirus Information and Advice
For advice on how to help prevent contamination, as well as what to do if you think you are at risk, please see the NHS overview To access the NHS 111 on-line service to check if you need medical help please click here For infromation on the Coronavirus which has been translated into short, helpful...
Information on Coronavirus
Read the latest advice and information from NHS England and Public Health England about the Coronavirus here
Path to Excellence Focus Group Sessions
Could your community or voluntary sector group provide views which will help to shape the future of hospital services? Phase Two of the Path to Excellence programme is looking at how hospital services in South Tyneside and Sunderland can provide the best possible care for people who need emergency...
Consultations Stopped due to Unprecedented Demand on Hospital Services
Due to unprecedented demand on inpatient hospital beds and taking into consideration patient, carer and stakeholder feedback the NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in County Durham and Darlington have decided to stop the consultations on stroke rehabilitation and ward 6 at Bishop Auckland...
Public Consultations for Stroke Rehabilitation Services at Bishop Auckland Hospital
People from County Durham and Darlington are invited to partake in the relaunched 10-week public consultations, affecting stroke rehabilitation services at Bishop Auckland hospital (original consultations were paused due to Purdah). At the moment, the majority of the local population who have had a...
Bishop Auckland Hospital Ward 6 Public Consultations
The people of County Durham have the opportunity to have their say on proposals for Ward 6 at Bishop Auckland Hospital, following the re-launch of the 10-week public consultations ( postponed due to the general election). Ward 6 currently delivers nurse- led step down care for patients who are...
Funding Progress for Shotley Bridge Consultation Plans
NHS plans to consult on services currently provided at Shotley Bridge Community Hospital have made progress today. Between March and May 2019, North Durham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) held a period of engagement to seek the public’s views on services currently being delivered from Shotley...
Make services easier to access say County Durham residents
Thousands of people in the North East and North Yorkshire have had a say on the future of NHS services where they live thanks to the Healthwatch #WhatWouldYouDo campaign. People in County Durham, together with residents from Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Darlington, Teesside, Hambleton,...
Annual report highlights how our work is helping improve local services
Around 60 people joined us at Spennymoor Leisure Centre on 26 June for our annual meeting, which saw the launch of our annual report for April 2018-19. The report provides an overview of all our work and achievements during this period, such as: The work we have done to improve people’s experiences...
Helping GPs to help you
A checklist to help GPs make their services more accessible and responsive is being sent to all GP practices across County Durham – based on the feedback you’ve shared with us about your experiences. Endorsed by the local clinical commissioning group, our checklist and recommendations aim to help...
Wards taking better care of people's hearing aids after calls to our team
Last year, our information and signposting team noticed a spate of calls from patients in University Hospital North Durham (UHND) complaining that hearing aids or dentures had been accidentally lost or thrown away on the wards. We took this information to the patient experience team at County...
Improvements being made to wards following our Enter and View visits
Marianne Patterson, our project lead, recently attended a meeting of the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust patient experience forum and was excited to hear a lot of talk about the Enter and View visits our team has carried out at the trust's main hospitals together with Healthwatch...
Shining our spotlight on hospital services
We've been busy gathering information about patient experience on a number of wards at University Hospital of North Durham. The aim was to help County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust improve the quality of services by identifying areas of good practice that can be shared between wards...
