News and reports

On behalf of the staff and Board here at Healthwatch, we would like to wish all our supporters a very happy Christmas.

Cambridge University Hospital (CUH) has issued an apology to its patients following two data breaches resulting from Freedom of Information responses made in 2020 and 2021, one relating to maternity patients, and one relating to cancer patients. In total, 22,446 patients have been affected.

In a recent interview on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, our CEO, Julian Stanley, addressed the pressing issue of drug and alcohol misuse in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. The conversation delved into the complexities of addiction and the impact it has on individuals and the community.

In this article, we explain the role of Integrated Care Boards and Integrated Care Systems, identify their different roles, and look at how Healthwatch works with them.

At our recent Healthwatch Summit – Adult Social Care: Meeting the challenges, we welcomed a wide range of local health professionals and service users who shared their experiences.

Cambridge Children’s Hospital (CCH) has been given the green light to proceed to the Final Business Case stage of the Project. The Project had its Outline Business Case approved in principle by NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care on 29 September 2023.

Our October meeting will include an annual update from our Communications Team.

It’s Hate Crime Awareness Week 2023. Our Partnership Development Manager Graham Lewis talks about how our Healthwatch and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Partnership Boards are highlighting disability hate crime.

As autumn arrives, so does Stoptober – a month dedicated to helping people in the UK quit smoking. Smoking is a habit that can harm your health in numerous ways, but the journey to quitting can be tough. In this article, we'll discuss Stoptober, provide some vital statistics from the UK, and address the issues surrounding vaping as a potential aid for those trying to kick the habit.

World Mental Health Day sheds light on the importance of mental well-being and the struggles many of us face. This year, we're focusing on two pressing themes: isolation and loneliness. In Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, we are fortunate to have a valuable resource that can help combat these feelings – NHS Talking Therapies. In this blog post, we'll explore the importance of World Mental Health Day, the challenges of isolation and loneliness, and how NHS Talking Therapies can be a beacon of hope.

Waiting for planned medical care or surgery can be a frustrating time. That’s why it’s so important that while you wait, you get regular, clear and accessible updates so that you can plan your next steps.

Our CEO Julian Stanley appeared on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire on Thursday 14 September 2023 to speak about issues around the three main general hospitals in Cambridgeshire that are permanently running at over 90% bed occupancy. There no longer appears to be any time in the year when our hospitals are less busy and there are no signs of this reducing anytime soon.