News and reports

On Friday 27th June, the government announced that nationally Healthwatch is to be closed down, as part of a wider re-organisation. This will include Healthwatch East Sussex. Please read our initial response.

We have been delivering our Listening Tours since 2017, visiting areas across East Sussex to capture people’s views and experiences of health and care. In 2024-2025 we refreshed our Listening Tour approach to reach more of the county more regularly.

Help improve services for carers in East Sussex by telling Care for the Carers what is important to you, your experience as a carer, what is needed and how you feel about what Care for the Carers does.

We are delighted to share ‘Unlocking the power of people-driven care’, our Annual Report for 2024-25. 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.

Receiving a dementia diagnosis can be a life-changing event, but knowing what support is available and what steps to take next can help you or a loved one process the diagnosis and plan for the future.

There are currently estimated to be 982,000 people with dementia in the UK, but more than a third of people with the condition do not have a diagnosis. As this number is set to increase, understanding what support is available for you or a loved one following a Dementia diagnosis is important.

During the summer, many of us enjoy the warmer weather, but there are potential risks to our health, especially when temperatures climb higher than usual.

East Sussex Community Voice (ESCV) CIC was established in 2013 to deliver the Healthwatch East Sussex and to develop other projects to help the public have a say in the design, commissioning and delivery of public services in the county.

Giving blood saves lives. The blood you give is a lifeline in an emergency and for people who need long-term treatments.

People tell us that changes to local GP practices – such as mergers, closures and boundary changes – are often a source of anxiety or concern.

From February to May 2025, Healthwatch talked to people in Hastings about primary care, social isolation, social determinants of health, and what supports their wellbeing.

Organ donation is when you decide to give an organ to save or transform the life of someone else. You can donate some organs while you are alive, and this is called living organ donation.

However, most organ and tissue donations come from people who have died.

By registering to become an organ donor you have the option to donate organs such as your heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas and small bowel.  All these forms of donation can greatly enhance or even save the life of someone in need.

In May 2025, Healthwatch in Sussex wanted to better understand the challenges carers face when accessing health and wellbeing services for their own health.