News and reports

Our colleagues at Sussex Health and Care have asked that we share the following message:

Each quarter we draw together public and patient experiences of health and care shared with us via enquiries to our Information & Signposting service, reviews on our Feedback Centre, public events and through our community and professional networks.

This document is a summary of the things we have heard about health and care, the issues we are monitoring and the actions we are taking.

We are delighted to share ‘Together we’re making health and social care better’, our Annual Report for 2022-23.

It 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, and across Sussex.

The NHS in Sussex is urging those who need urgent medical care that’s not an emergency to support the NHS by using the right services for their needs over the planned industrial action by Junior Doctors. It is expected that Junior Doctors will take strike action for 72 hours from 7:00am on Wednesday 14 June until 7:00am on Saturday 17 June.

The NHS in Sussex is asking people to take care in the hot weather, and reminding everyone where they can get the right treatment for heat related health problems. Health services across Sussex are reporting high levels of demand this week with an increased number of people seeking medical help because of the heat.

The Sussex Dental Helpline is available to help people access the dental care they need, as quickly and conveniently as possible.

In 2022-23, our Information and Signposting service responded to 467 enquiries and supported the public, patients and others to access, navigate and feedback on services.

Our Feedback Centre received 145 reviews from people sharing their experiences of health and care.

NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB) commissioned Healthwatch East Sussex (HWES) to carry out a pilot project to obtain feedback from residents in care homes about their access to healthcare and support services, with a particular emphasis on the Enhanced Health in Care Home scheme. This summary report identifies the key findings, recommendations and next steps.

We champion public and patient voice in health and care, we listen to people’s views and make sure they are heard by the people in charge. Volunteer with us and make a real difference. We want to ensure all voices are heard and communities are represented.

Healthwatch East Sussex (HWES) has published the findings from its research into Putting a Face to Unmet Need, a new report on the unmet health and care needs of East Sussex residents. The report calls for better communication between local health and care services to provide a more integrated and holistic experience for service users.

We often hear from people looking for more information and advice about what they can do if they have concerns or complaints. Making a complaint can feel daunting and scary, and you might be wondering whether it’s worth the time and effort.

Our projects and initiatives have generated insight on health and care issues which we have recently published in a number of reports setting out our key findings and recommendations.