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Healthwatch Southend is inviting Deaf people who use British Sign Language (BSL) to take part in a focus group about their experiences of using general practice (GP services). We want to hear directly from Deaf people about what works well, what does not, and what needs to improve when accessing GP services. Why are we doing this? In 2023, Healthwatch Southend held focus groups with Deaf people and found significant inequalities in access to GP services. These included: Lack

The NHS is planning to launch a new service, offering adult patients the chance to have an online outpatient appointment with a consultant in another part of the country. This should mean shorter waiting times and less travel. It is hoped the new NHS Online NHS Trust will be up and running from 2027. It forms part of the NHS 10 Year Plan and it is hoped that some 8 million appointments will be offered in the first three years. Starting with gynaecology, urology, gastroenter

Help Shape Mental Health Services in Southend NHS Mid and South Essex integrated care system want to hear from local people about their experiences of community mental health services. Whether you’ve used these services yourself or supported a friend, family member, or loved one, your feedback is incredibly important. By sharing your experiences, whether good, bad, or somewhere in between, you can help make sure mental health services reflect what really matters to the people

Good news for Shoeburyness - £20 million will be invested in the area over the next 10 years through the Pride in Place Fund. This is a Government plan allowing communities to spend the funding on what matters most to them - from improvements to pavements and high streets to investing in culture and green spaces - and make a long-term difference. Local MP Bayo Alaba wants the community to lead the way in deciding how this money is spent. A Survey Is Now Open If you live in S

If you need urgent dental care, appointments are now available locally as part of the 700,000 additional urgent dental appointments being rolled out across the country. People in mid and south Essex who need urgent or unscheduled dental care can access these appointments by calling NHS111. The appointments are for urgent conditions like severe toothache, abscesses or swellings, severe bleeding from the gums, and broken or knocked out teeth. In mid and south Essex, a dedicated

Westcliff Medical Centre has been given notice by its landlord that the building premises needs to be vacated by 31 January 2026.   The practice has been looking for alternative locations to ensure this change has the least impact on patients and their access to local services.     The proposal to minimise patient impact   Westcliff Medical Centre has identified an opportunity to relocate to nearby Valkyrie Primary Care Centre. The Centre has space to accommodate all Westcli

Source: Benfleet Primary Care Network You may have read about the temporary closure of The Hollies Surgery in Benfleet. There are a small number of Southend residents registered at the practice, so we wanted to share some important information from the NHS. This may be useful for family and friends who are patients of the practice. Telephone lines are being restored, and patients will be able to contact the surgery in the usual way from 8am today (12 November 2025) Face-to-f

Use the NHS website ( https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist/ ) to search for a dentist near you. The site also provides information on which dental practices currently accept new patients, whether they off er urgent appointments, and how others have rated the service. While this is a good starting point for finding a local dentist, people often tell us that these records are only sometimes kept updated, so you should contact the practice directly for more informati

In 2024 the NHS reported there were 2,197 people diagnosed with ADHD living in Southend, 976 were aged 17 or younger and 1,221 were adults 18+. What is ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)? ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by a higher-than-average level of hyperactive behaviour and difficulty maintaining attention in conversations, learning, or other situations over extended periods. A person with ADHD may also experience: Impulsiveness (acting w

What is it? You and Your General Practice is a national patient charter developed by NHS England to help patients understand: What they...

New research from Healthwatch England shows that too many men are missing out on the NHS Health Check, which is essential in preventing...

Taking paracetamol during pregnancy has hit the news recently. Dr Alison Cave, Chief Safety Officer at the Medicines & Healthcare...

The NHS in Mid & South Essex wants to make sure mental health crisis services work better for everyone. By sharing your experience,...

Join as much or as little as you’re able—your contribution matters. Do   you or someone you care for live with a disability or long-term...

Mid & South Essex Hospitals have announced changes to parking at Basildon, Broomfield and Southend Hospitals. When you enter the hospital...

The Government has announced plans to end the current model of local Healthwatch services and bring their functions together with those...

Healthwatch Southend is pleased to share its Annual Report for 2024-25. We are set up by an Act of Parliament to: give you free,...

The NHS in Mid and South Essex is asking residents to share their travel experiences when getting to and from hospital appointments. Take the short survey here.

Pride Month is a celebration of identity, diversity and equality. It’s also a reminder of the challenges many LGBTQ+ people still face – particularly when it comes to mental health.

Every three years Southend City Council has to prepare a statement of what services are needed from community pharmacists (a chemist in...