News and reports

Mental Health Awareness Week, hosted by the Mental Health Foundation, aims to get people talking about their mental health and reduce the stigma that can stop people from asking for help. This year it takes place from the 15th to 21st May and the theme is ‘Anxiety’.

On Friday 12th May the Care Quality Commission (CQC) published its long-awaited report into University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UHSx). On Friday 12th May the Care Quality Commission (CQC) published its long-awaited report into University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UHSx).

Each quarter we collate and analyse what we have heard from the public and patients about health and care services.

Our quarterly report provides an overview of the enquiries that we have received via our Information & Signposting service, as well as the reviews that have been left on our Feedback Centre.

In January 2023, the three Sussex Healthwatch undertook a short poll to gather people's recent experiences of accessing NHS dentistry.

60% of patients we heard from told Healthwatch they are not confident about their ability to access NHS dental services over the next 12 months

The Healthwatch East Sussex Information and Signposting (I&S) Service helps people to access the right health or social care service or organisation for their needs.

Each month we feedback on the themes and issues people have contacted us about.

NHS Sussex is reviewing the situation across the county for people who need transport to, from and between NHS healthcare and social care settings. These are known as Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services (NEPTS).

Healthwatch has reached a significant milestone – 10 years of putting people’s voices at the heart of health and social care. The health and social care landscape has changed a lot in ten years, but thanks to you taking the time to share your story with us we’ve been able to champion your voice to help improve care.

Healthwatch East Sussex (HWES) today publishes a new report on the experiences of homeless people living in Emergency and Temporary Accommodation (ETA) in Eastbourne.

We engaged with individuals and families living at an ETA site in Eastbourne for homeless people deemed eligible for housing by local authorities. We asked about their experiences of the accommodation, the support they received and accessed, and their access to health and care services.

Healthwatch East Sussex (HWES) today publishes a new report on the experiences of homeless people living in Emergency and Temporary Accommodation (ETA) in Eastbourne.

We engaged with individuals and families living at an ETA site in Eastbourne for homeless people deemed eligible for housing by local authorities. We asked about their experiences of the accommodation, the support they received and accessed, and their access to health and care services.

Long COVID is a legacy of the COVID virus for many people in Sussex, impacting on their day-to-day lives, as well as their physical and mental wellbeing.

To raise awareness of long COVID and the services available to support residents, as well as people’s preferences for assistance, the three local Healthwatch undertook a public survey during August and September 2022.

In previous years, the week has been known as World Autism Awareness Week, but this was changed to World Autism Acceptance Week to align with the goal of communities being inclusive of autistic people.

During two weeks in October 2022, Healthwatch East Sussex used its first face-to-face ‘Listening Tour’ since 2019 to engage with Eastbourne residents and communities to hear people’s experiences of health and social care.

Our report summarises everything people told us, as well as setting out our conclusions and recommendations for Healthwatch, health and care services and other local partners with the goal of supporting positive change.