We have seen the media coverage this morning on the Care Quality Commission’s report on the Queen Alexandra (QA) Hospital, Portsmouth We are pleased to report that Healthwatch Portsmouth will be involved in a health summit in early September along with other key parties involved in improving health in the local area. The meeting will be discussing the improvement plan proposed by the new Portsmouth Hospitals Trust, Chief Executive Officer, Mark Cubbon to identify key actions and roles and confirm governance and quality monitoring steps. We are very pleased to be part of this health summit which will seek to confirm what support is needed from the [...]

We currently have a student from the University of Portsmouth on placement with us conducting a community research project to find out about current patient experience with social and health care services and to learn about issues faced with the service that are received. If you or someone you know are living in Portsmouth, are currently receiving support for a long term mental health condition and olanzapine (the antipsychotic drug) was prescribed for your treatment we would be really grateful if you could take 5 minutes to complete our survey. To ensure confidentiality, please do not write your name on this survey. The survey can be completed by clicking [...]

Message from Sarah Balchin. Head of Patient Experience QA Hospital: "Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust Patient Experience Charity has been launched! We work closely with patients, families, carers and members of our local community to understand what really matters most to them and aim to support developments which make a positive difference. This includes fundraising : For specialist projects to provide the little added extras to make life a little easier or more comfortable. For example, we have set up a Carers Café, a place where family carers of people who are in hospital, can have a bit of space and time, a cup of tea and friendly [...]

·        New study compiles the views and experiences of those who live, visit and work in care homes across England. ·        Wide variation revealed, with great care contrasting with homes failing to get the basics right for every resident. ·        National Care champion Healthwatch England urges homes to be more open to using feedback from residents, relatives and staff to help drive improvement. Work by Healthwatch Portsmouth has helped to inform a new national report on peoples’ experience of care homes. Healthwatch Portsmouth have visited 4 care homes and 4 Extra Care schemes, the copies of the reports can be found here Between January 2016 and April [...]