News and reports

In 2019—2020 we focused on children and young people’s mental health services. Via a survey, focus group and one to one interviews, we heard from 239 people (103 children and young people and 136 parents and carers).

Our main findings were that children, young people and their parents and carers do not have a full understanding of what a self-referral is and how to make one.

Healthwatch Gateshead Committee meeting- Agenda

It has been a contractual requirement for each GP practice since April 2016 to have an active and involved Patient Participation Group (PPG).

We wanted to create a best practice award for PPGs aims to increase and improve the involvement of patients in their GP practice. Several GP practices in Newcastle and Gateshead participated in our pilot from autumn 2019 to February 2021. This interim report outlines what we did.

Resilient communities in Gateshead: reflections on the impact of COVID-19

Healthwatch teams across the North East region saw a significant increase in concerns about accessing NHS dental care during 2021. Eight local Healthwatch worked together to gather people’s experiences in the region. This report outlines our collective survey findings from March 2020 to January 2022.

Healthwatch teams across the North East region saw a significant increase in concerns about accessing NHS dental care during 2021. Eight local Healthwatch worked together to gather people’s experiences in the region. This report outlines survey findings for people living in and accessing dental care in Gateshead from March 2020 to December 2021.

19 October 2021

In late 2021 we asked a cross cutting stakeholder and partner group of 42 organisations to complete our stakeholder feedback survey. This was used to steer us on our recent changes and if they were working.

In early 2021 Healthwatch England designed a survey to help local services and national policymakers understand how they can improve the COVID-19 vaccination programme.

We used the survey to support local services to adapt and improve the delivery of the vaccination programme locally.

Our annual report for 2020–21 outlines our activities over the year to understand and improve people's experiences of social care and health services in Gateshead.

This report builds on our ‘Don’t box me in’ report. Young people and their parents/carers were asked how easy or difficult it was for young people to access health services in Newcastle and Gateshead.

14 October 2020