top of page

All posts


Healthwatch Portsmouth Annual Report 2025–26
Read our Annual Report, which summarises our activities and the impact we made from April 2025 to March 2026.
Jun 29


Help the Hants and Isle of Wight commissioners to review NHS wheelchair service
Healthwatch is raising awareness of the Hants and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board's survey on wheelchair services
Jun 29


Bowel Cancer Awareness Event
The Drayton Surgery Patient Participation Group (PPG) warmly invites all patients and local residents to a special, informative evening. Bowel cancer can affect anyone. Attending this upcoming awareness event could help save your life or the life of someone you love. When & Where: Tuesday 28th July 2026 | 6:00pm (for a 6:30pm start) – 8:00pm Drayton Methodist Church (Main Hall, Havant Rd) What to Expect: A short talk and information from NHS staff from the QA Hospital Bowel C
Jun 26


Have your say in Portsmouth Health Determinants Research Collaborative
Steering Group workshops: •Spring/summer/autumn terms •Updates and conversations about our work and how we approach it •Regular newsletters – to subscribe, email: hdrc@portsmouthcc.gov.uk Next workshop: Thursday 9th July 2026, 9.15am to 12pm Location: St Luke’s Church, Portsmouth, PO5 4LH Join us if you can: HDRC Steering Group - Thursday 9 July 2026 Tickets, Thursday 9 July • 9:15 AM - 12 PM | Eventbrite We're told that there's plenty of space at the venue so booking close
Jun 22


Free training for residents interested in evaluation techniques
Portsmouth Health Determinants Research Collaborative is hosting free workshops soon: An introduction to Appreciative Inquiry Appreciative Inquiry is a strengths-based approach to evaluating the work we do. It focuses on what works well and how to build on it, rather than what’s wrong as used in traditional problem-solving methods. Research shows that teams who use Appreciative Inquiry report improved team morale, stronger relationships, greater innovation, and that it help
Jun 22


Shape how urgent care services are delivered
NHS Hants and Isle of Wight want your help to shape urgent care and GP Out of Hours services
Jun 19


Finding an NHS Dentist in Portsmouth: availability and how to get there
Finding an NHS dentist in Portsmouth can be challenging. Due to high demand and staff shortage, you may find some NHS dentists in Portsmouth are not accepting new NHS patients or have long waiting lists currently. To make things easier, we have created an NHS dentist availability guide and a map showing NHS dental practices across Portsmouth. The map also includes nearby bus routes to help you plan your journey. A dentist working on his patient NHS dentist availability in Por
Jun 8


NHS Healthcare Travel Cost Reimbursement
We often get inquiries on how to travel to the hospital, or whether their travel costs can be reimbersed. We have raised this issue to Portsmouth Hospital University NHS Trust (PHUT). PHUT listened to patients' feedback and agreed to make reimbursement guidance more explicit and accessible. Now, PHUT's Communications Team have updated the information on their website with clear, simple guidance, including where to go (e.g. Cashiers Office) and what patients need to know. Who'
Jun 3


New GP Contract 2026: how it will improve your local GP practice experience
NHS England has publsihed the Changes to the GP Contract in 2026/27 in March 2026. According to this report, their focus this year is GP capacity, supporting the shift from treatment to prevention, and enabling practices to prioritise clinically urgent needs. Six key changes for patients summarised by Healthwatch England 1. You should not be told to ‘call back tomorrow’ 2. Clinically urgent requests should get a same-day response 3. Online request systems should not cap reque
May 11


New NHS Dental Practice opening in late May – One Smile Dental's online registration is now open
Great news for Portsmouth residents - a new NHS dentist, One Smile Dental, is opening in late May. It's located near the Portsmouth & Southsea station. One Smile Dental, a new NHS Dental Practice, is opening in late May - online registration is now open Image source: One Smile Dental 🦷 One Smile Dental 📍 Unit A, Chaucer House, Isambard Brunel Rd, Portsmouth PO1 2DR 📞 02393 234105 If you live in Portsmouth and are looking for an NHS dentist, register now to secure your plac
May 11


Damira Southsea Dental Practice to open in Southsea on 1 July, welcoming NHS patients
If you are looking for a NHS dentist in Portsmouth accepting new patients, we have some exciting news for you. Damira Southsea Dental Practice is opening up in Southsea on 1 July 2026 and inviting people to join their NHS waiting list. Use this link here to register online: Join the NHS Waiting List at Damira Dental Studio. Dentists providing dental care to a patient 🦷Damira Southsea Dental Practice 📍Location: Ground Floor – Unit B Chaucer House, Isambard Brunel Road, Ports
Apr 22


Shaping inclusive GP services for Trans and Non-Binary people in Portsmouth
We are doing a research on Trans and Non-Binary people's experience with GP services in Portsmouth. Please complete our 4 minute survey using this link: Shaping Inclusive GP Services for Trans and Non-Binary People in Portsmouth What is the purpose of the study? The study explores how GP practices in Portsmouth support the inclusion and access of trans and non-binary people. The findings will help identify good practice and areas for improvement. Participant Information This
Apr 21


Have your say on NHS wheelchair services in Portsmouth, Fareham, Gosport, and Havant
Residents in Portsmouth told us that wheelchair services provided in Portsmouth and South East Hampshire were not supporting their needs. So, we have created a wheelchair user survey to gather feedback from service users, whether they use manual or electric wheelchairs. By completing this survey, you will play an important role in shaping meaningful improvements to the NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight wheelchair service. What is this survey about This survey looks at the quali
Apr 21


Guidance on getting COVID-19 vaccine this spring 2026
Although life has returned to normal for us, COVID-19 is still among us. Getting infected with COVID-19 can still cause serious illness, especially without vaccination. The NHS in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight is offering COVID-19 Vaccine to vulnerable people from 13 April to 30 June. This is your chance to protect yourself and get free vaccine. Check if you are eligible below. NHS COVID-19 vaccine eligibility People aged 75 years and over Residents in care homes Adults an
Apr 16


Meningitis outbreak in Kent: NHS advice
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board have issued the following statement: We are very saddened by the news of the meningitis outbreak in Canterbury and the subsequent deaths, and are monitoring the situation closely along with our partners. The UK Health Security Agency is providing regular updates here. GPs across the country will today be advised to prescribe antibiotics to anyone who visited Club Chemistry between 5 and 7 March and to University of Kent studen
Mar 19


Manager's report to HWP Advisory Board meeting 17.3.26 published
Please find a copy of the HWP Manager's report that was presented at last nights Healthwatch Portsmouth Advisory Board meeting at Spark Community Space. Healthwatch staff and board members at the Advisory Board meeting It was a pleasure to welcome back Professor David Croisdale-Appleby to the Healthwatch Portsmouth Board Meeting. We had a lively discussion with David, and heard a little about the future of the independent patient voice. At our upcoming meeting on 17 June, you
Mar 18


Mental health experiences of children and young people in Portsmouth report
In this report, we captured detailed feedback from 1,534 children and young people (CYP) and 125 parents and carers in Portsmouth. A child sitting on the ground with his head down hugging himself Our study highlights experiences, preferences, and insights into local service improvements. Local feedback echoes national and local data, confirming escalating levels of anxiety, depression and eating disorders in school aged children and young adults. We have summarised data that
Mar 16


Portsmouth Community Diagnostic Centre expanded to 7-day, 12-hour service for easier access to vital tests
Since last December, Portsmouth Community Diagnostic Centre has been offering out-of-hours services, 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you don't know what is a Community Diagnostic Centre, Healthwatch Portsmouth is here to help and explain it to you. What is Community Diagnostic Centre Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) have been built to provide tests checks and scans faster and closer to home. They allow a patient to get an MRI, blood test, ultrasound all in a single visit
Feb 18


Save the dates of our future Advisory Board Meetings in Public in 2026
Healthwatch Portsmouth holds an Advisory Board meeting in public once every quarter. These meetings are aimed to help you h ear the latest updates in the health and social care sector, for you to ask questions, and share your concerns and ideas about what matters most in your community. Your voice helps shape health and care services in Portsmouth. If you don't want to miss these opportunities to make a difference , save the dates below now 👇 17th March 2026, 4pm-6pm - SPAR
Feb 17
bottom of page
