News and reports

From the 31st January 2024, people can pop down to their local pharmacy for help with seven minor conditions which would previously have required a GP appointment.

We are supporting NHS Sussex in promoting a new survey to find out about your experiences and views of local health and care services. Health leaders wish to understand your experiences and views of health and care services across Sussex.

Patient engagement work carried out by Healthwatch in Sussex was praised at the January Brighton and Hove City Council’s Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee. You can read more to discover how patient experiences have helped to positively influence the commissioning of a key local service.

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 January 2024.

Measles vaccination rates are at a ten-year low as cases rise nationwide. Find out about measles, who can get the vaccine, and what you can do to stay safe.

In August 2023, Healthwatch East Sussex undertook two 24-hour ‘Enter and View’ sessions in the Emergency Departments (EDs) and Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs) located at Eastbourne District General Hospital and at The Conquest Hospital.

We observed their operation, reviewed the physical settings and engaged with staff and patients to understand their experiences, so we could identify what worked well and where changes may be helpful.

In March 2023 we published our 2022 Eastbourne Listening Tour Report. This report highlighted what we had heard from Eastbourne residents about the difficulties some faced when accessing their GP Surgery. In response we designed a series of Accessibility Audits at GP surgeries to understand the local landscape, raise awareness and identify best practice.

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 December 2023.

People in Sussex are being asked to continue their support for NHS services during industrial action as further strikes by junior doctors take place this week from 7am on Wednesday, 3 January 2024 until 7am on Tuesday, 9 January 2024.

The NHS will prioritise patient safety during the periods of strike action, with health and care partners working together to ensure that critical services will continue to be available. However, the impact is likely to be very challenging for local services, with Christmas and New Year a usual time of high-pressure across health and care.

The following is a message from Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust:

Many health and care services change their working hours over the Christmas and New Year period. We have drawn together some key information to help you navigate which services are open when, and how to get help and support if you need it. We wish you a safe, happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year. The Healthwatch East Sussex Team