1. Recorded messages and the experience of phoning the GP surgery

    Report -

    During November and early December 2022, Healthwatch volunteers and staff phoned 33 Islington practices. They noted the length of the recorded messages and the information that was shared.

  2. Recorded information on GP phone lines

    News -

    Our volunteers rang local GP practices as though they were booking an appointment. We wanted to find out how much recorded information they had to listen to and whether the content was up to date.

  3. Residents from communities experiencing health inequalities share feedback on health services

    Report -

    We asked people about their experiences of seeing a GP, using pharmacy services and getting treatment for Long Covid.

  4. Over 200 local people share feedback on GP appointments with Healthwatch Islington

    News -

    We spoke to 212 residents from communities that experience health inequalities. Over half found the booking process difficult. Many struggled to get through by phone and it was hard to get a face-to-face appointment.

  5. Learn about the new commissioning structures in health and care

    Advice and Information -

    Following several years of locally-led development, Integrated Care Systems were established across England on a statutory basis on 1 July 2022

  6. The experiences of LGBTQI+ residents when accessing Islington services including health, care and housing

    Report -

    LGBTQI+ residents shared their experiences of accessing health, mental health, social care, and housing services.

  7. Visibility is important in making LGBTQI+ residents feel welcome across services

    News -

    We listened to feedback from LGBTQI+ residents on a wide range of services including healthcare, social care, mental health support, and housing.

  8. Feedback on smoking cessation and pulmonary rehabilitation services in Islington

    Report -

    We spoke to 98 smokers and ex-smokers from communities experiencing health inequalities.

  9. Residents give feedback on support services for stopping smoking

    News -

    We spoke to 65 residents from communities experiencing health inequalities. All were smokers or ex-smokers. Few had taken up the offer of support to give up.

  10. Improving the messaging on GP phone lines and websites

    News -

    GP websites can be hard to navigate and present many barriers to patients who are not confident online. We've been working with residents and commissioners to make things better.

  11. Summary of analysis of Islington General Practice websites

    Report -

    Our analysis of GP websites in January 2023

  12. How Healthwatch is helping increase uptake of cancer screening services

    News -

    In Islington, participation in bowel, breast, and cervical cancer screening programmes is below the national and the London average.

  13. Celebrating the work of Healthwatch with diverse communities.

    Blog -

    Yussuf Ahmed is the Coordinator at Islington Somali Community, an organisation belonging to our Diverse Communities Health Voice partnership. In this guest blog, Yussuf talks about the benefits of the collaboration.

  14. Our annual report 2022-2023

    Report -

    It's been a great year of growth for Healthwatch Islington. We are the independent champion for people who use health and social care services in the borough.

  15. How do I get a fit note?

    Advice and Information -

    Since July 2022, nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists and physiotherapists have been able to legally certify and issue a statement of fitness for work, informally known as a ‘fit note’. Previously only GPs or hospital doctors could issue fit notes. Find out what a fit note is, when you might need one and how to go about getting one.

  16. Registering with your GP: understanding your rights

    Advice and Information -

    Sometimes we help residents who are finding it difficult to register with a GP. This article explains more about your rights and what do to if you are refused the right to register.

  17. Learn how Healthwatch provides digital support to community groups in Islington

    Blog -

    Gulum Sener, our Digital Inclusion Project Manager, visits Jannaty Women's Social Society, a community group based in Finsbury Park.

  18. Questions and Answers on Cervical Screening

    Advice and Information -

    We hosted an information session led by Nyamka Marsh, Islington Lead Nurse & Nurse Hub Manager, Islington GP Federation.

  19. If I could change just one thing about health and care, this is what it would be

    News -

    Local people share their key concerns about health and care services today

  20. Healthwatch tackles high blood pressure

    News -

    We helped over 1,300 people improve their understanding of hypertension and identified over 130 people with undiagnosed hypertension, whom we were able to point in the direction of their GP or community pharmacy for further tests.

  21. Raising awareness of hypertension in Islington

    Report -

    We helped over 1,300 people improve their understanding of hypertension.

  22. What are your expectations for your annual health review?

    News -

    We asked over 500 residents with long-term health conditions what they wanted from their yearly check-ups

  23. Islington residents share feedback on how their health conditions affect their activity levels

    News -

    We asked over 500 residents with long-term conditions about their patterns of physical activity and exercise and how this was affected by their health.

  24. Conversations with GPs can give patients with health conditions confidence to increase physical exercise

    News -

    Residents with long-term health conditions tell us that the opportunity to speak directly to a health professional can give them the confidence they need to increase their levels of physical activity safely.

  25. Islington patients managing long-term conditions give feedback on their annual health checks and patterns of physical activity

    Report -

    We asked over 500 residents with long-term health conditions what they wanted from their yearly check-ups and how their health affected their physical activity patterns.

  26. Supporting the uptake of cervical screening within the Somali and Turkish speaking communities in Islington

    Report -

    Guided by learning from a Public Health Cancer Needs analysis, and support from North Central London Cancer Alliance, the project has focused on supporting uptake of cervical screening in the Somali and Turkish Communities

  27. Supporting the uptake of cervical screening within our Somali and Turkish speaking communities

    News -

    Somali and Turkish women have a higher refusal rate for cervical screening than the Islington average. Our project has enabled women to have one-to-one conversations about screening with cancer champions in their first language.