News and reports

At Healthwatch Herefordshire, we believe everyone should feel welcome, comfortable, and included when using community spaces. That’s why we’ve launched the Neurodiversity Access Project – a new initiative focused on understanding and improving how local environments work for neurodivergent people.

Neurodivergence includes experiences such as autism, ADHD, and sensory processing differences. Everyday places like shops, GP surgeries, cafés, and leisure centres can sometimes feel overwhelming or difficult to use. We want to work together to change that.

Recent government proposals for the NHS include abolishing Healthwatch across England — removing the independent body that makes sure the public’s views are heard on health and social care.
If this goes ahead, it will be the first time since 1974 that the public will be without an independent champion to speak up for their experiences.

The plans also suggest moving to a digital-first feedback system for NHS and social care services. While technology can make giving feedback easier for some, it risks excluding many communities and silencing those already less heard.
Your voice matters — and it should be heard.

Welcome to this year's Annual Report for 2024-2025 which provides an overview of our work and highlights some of our key projects and the impact of our work over the past year.

Hear Our Voices is a way for people with a learning disability and their supporters to get together in a relaxed environment. These events bring together people who like speaking up and explore ways that they can make a difference and help build confidence, connections and skills.

Read all about the project work, activity, impact and engagement of the Healthwatch Team.

An open letter urges the government to rethink plans that threaten the independence of local Healthwatch services.

Childhood Vaccination Communication Project in Herefordshire

What is the PPG Toolkit?
Our Patient Participation Group (PPG) Toolkit is a practical guide for GP practices and patients to set up, support, and strengthen their PPGs. PPGs give patients a voice in shaping local health services and improving care.

Now that we have had time to reflect on how the government’s recently published NHS 10-Year Plan will affect us locally, we want to speak directly to the people of Herefordshire about what this means for your local Healthwatch, and how we will continue to represent your voices in the months and years ahead.

Across Herefordshire, patients are playing a powerful role in shaping the future of GP and wider healthcare services. One of the most direct ways to get involved is by joining your local Patient Participation Group (PPG) — but it’s not the only way. This article explains what PPGs are, how they influence local services, and the many other opportunities available for residents to share their experiences and improve healthcare across the county.

Loneliness in Herefordshire: Listening to Local Voices

Loneliness is a quiet but widespread issue affecting people of all ages across Herefordshire, from busy city streets to rural communities. This research, led by the Herefordshire Together Collaborative—including General Practice, the Local Authority, Public Health, and Healthwatch Herefordshire—set out to better understand the lived experiences of those feeling isolated. By listening to personal stories and perspectives, the project highlights the reality of loneliness in our county and explores how it differs from social isolation.
Only by truly hearing these voices can we begin to shape meaningful, lasting solutions.

Join our FREE training events across Herefordshire!