News and reports

Advocacy supports people to have their voices heard, know their rights, make informed choices and participate in decisions about their health and social care.

Advocacy is confidential, free to access and helps people navigate health and social care. Advocates are impartial and they do not work for the NHS, the council or providers of care.

This article is specifically about community advocacy services in East Sussex.

The world of advocacy can be confusing, and it can be difficult to understand when you or someone you care for may benefit from the support of advocacy services.

This guide is designed to help you understand what independent advocacy is, who can access an independent advocate, when an advocate may be able to help, and how to speak with one in East Sussex.

We explain when you can self-refer and when a professional needs to submit a referral on your behalf.

A Carer's Card is a form of identification that recognises and supports unpaid carers. It can be used to prove carer status in various settings and in emergency situations, and to access discounts.

People are being urged to access the right care when they need it, as health and care teams in Sussex prepare for upcoming industrial action by resident doctors.

This quarterly report highlights how we have listened to the voices of the public, patients and partners and used people’s feedback, experiences and preferences to help shape health and social care in East Sussex from April – June 2025.

NHS Sussex are encouraging people across Sussex to visit their local pharmacy first for help with minor health concerns, as part of a national NHS initiative aimed at improving access to care and reducing pressure on GP surgeries.

Earlier this week, Healthwatch East Sussex staff attended the East Sussex Health and Wellbeing Board to present our 2024-25 Annual Report ‘Unlocking The Power of People Driven Care’ and the findings from our 2024-25 Listening Tour.

Over the weekend (12th and 13th of July) members of the Healthwatch East Sussex team attended the Eastbourne 999 event on Western Lawns, which was an opportunity for us to listen to the views and experiences of members of the public and find out what they thought of local health and care.

Each year, IPSOS MORI the independent polling specialists, undertake a survey to find out how people feel about their GP practice, and the results of the GP Patient Survey for the last 12 months have recently been released.

We regularly review the experiences you told us through public events, surveys, Feedback Centre and Information & Signposting enquiries.

Healthwatch uses your feedback with health and care decision-makers to seek a positive difference, and this document sets out the issues you raised and any changes you have helped us to deliver during June 2025.

This guide is to help you find and use NHS dental services in East Sussex.

This includes:
• Finding a dentist delivering NHS treatment accepting patients
• Getting help with an urgent dental need
• Accessing emergency dental treatment

This guide is designed to help you understand:

• The treatment NHS dentistry does and does not provide
• The charges for NHS dental services
• Who is eligible for ‘free’ NHS dental treatment