1. Patient Access Portal - improving access to your healthcare

    News -

    Healthwatch Manchester are delighted to be launching an information video aimed at improving awareness of the Patient Access Portal, a free online tool which allows remote access to a range of GP services for residents throughout Manchester.

  2. Registering with your GP: understanding your rights

    Advice and Information -

    People have told us they can have problems registering with a GP. This article explains more about your rights and what do to if you are refused the right to register.

  3. Accessibility checklist for GP surgeries

    Advice and Information -

    Help make sure that your practice meets people’s accessibility requirements using this checklist from Healthwatch Slough.

  4. Do you need help travelling to NHS services?

    Advice and Information -

    Find out what support is available to help you when travelling to your GP, hospital or other NHS services.

  5. The Right to Register

    Report -

    Healthwatch Manchester recently conducted an investigation through a ‘mystery shopper’ exercise, into the barriers faced registering with a GP practice in Manchester.

  6. Impact Report: Extended Access to GP Appointments

    Report -

    This report aims to present the impact of our previous investigation into the extended access service (also known as the 7 day service).

  7. What is Youthwatch Manchester working on?

    Blog -

    We have spent a little time recently discussing the topics we think need some attention.

  8. Homeless People's Services

    Advice and Information -

    A guide to accessing health services if you are homeless in Manchester

  9. Opticians & Eye Care

    Advice and Information -

    Regular eye tests are important because your eyes don’t usually hurt when something is wrong. A sight test is a vital health check for your eyes that can pick up early signs of eye conditions before you’re aware of any symptoms.

  10. Sexual Health (GUM) Services in Manchester

    Advice and Information -

    Sexual health services are also known as genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics. Services provided include Sexually Transited Infection (STI) treatment and medication, contraception provision, HIV testing and treatment, and emergency services.

  11. Choose and book your appointment

    Advice and Information -

    Choose and Book is a service that lets you choose your hospital or clinic and book your first appointment. You are allowed to choose any NHS hospital in England or area of residence, however in some circumstances your rights may be restricted.

  12. Week Spot?

    Report -

    We conducted a review into the new 7-day GP service using a 'mystery shopper' exercise. We found that the service is failing many local people, with only 40% of GP practices offering the service.

  13. How to sign up to the Patient Access portal

    Advice and Information -

    An information video aimed at improving awareness of the Patient Access Portal, a free online tool which allows remote access to a range of GP services for residents throughout Manchester.

  14. The Right to Register

    News -

    Healthwatch Manchester recently conducted an investigation into the barriers faced when registering with a GP practice

  15. 'Cut Loose' - deregistration of homeless people from GP practices

    Report -

    We are delighted to be releasing our report 'Cut Loose', which follows an investigation into the effect of deregistration of homeless people from GP practices

  16. Your NHS: Frequently Asked Questions

    Advice and Information -

    We have updated our healthcare service guide, to reflect some recent changes. Please read on for more information.

  17. Working in Isolation? - Experiences of integrated care

    Report -

    This report investigates the experiences of integrated care for two of our local communities.

  18. Working in Isolation? - a new report into integrated care

    News -

    Our report highlights the experiences of two Manchester communities in accessing healthcare services.

  19. 'Good Practice' - a review of GP practice websites

    Report -

    Our new review of GP practice websites highlights a need for improved accessibility standards

  20. Find your local Healthwatch

    Advice and Information -

    Do you need support from Healthwatch Manchester, but are not sure that you've come to the right place? We are only able to support residents who live in & use services in Manchester.

  21. How easy is it to access GP services online?

    News -

    We met with our friends at Manchester People First to find out what their members think of accessing GP services online

  22. Fall in patient satisfaction with GPs

    News -

    The latest GP patient survey shows that overall satisfaction with services has fallen and more people are avoiding making an appointment. Read Healthwatch England's response.

  23. Healthwatch England response to government’s plans on GP access

    Response -

    The government will today announce its plans to improve access to GPs, including same-day appointments for those that need them.

  24. How our work is raising awareness about online accessibility

    News -

    Last year we conducted a review investigating the accessibility of GP practise websites. We concluded that on these websites, booking an appointment was difficult on over a quarter of those we reviewed.

  25. Mystery shopper review of access to Patient Participation Groups

    Report -

    Healthwatch Manchester have produced a report about the publics access to Patient Participation Groups.

  26. Seen and Heard: The experiences of children and young people in primary care

    Report -

    Our staff visited East Manchester leisure Centre in recently to interact with local service users and gather their views on accessing general practice surgeries and dental practices in Manchester.

  27. MyMFT: Information and support

    Advice and Information -

    Healthwatch Manchester staff were recently invited to a workshop at Wythenshawe Hospital to learn more about a new online web portal and mobile app that connects you to your MFT medical information known as MyMFT

  28. Upcoming NHS prescription charge increase

    Advice and Information -

    The price of an NHS prescription will be increasing as of April 1st 2023. Here is the what you need to know about the change.

  29. How you make a complaint about primary care services has changed.

    Advice and Information -

    From 1 July 2023 the way members of the public make a complaint about primary care services to the commissioner has changed. Primary care services are GPs, dentists, opticians or pharmacy services.

  30. Quality Time: Our Annual Health Check Review Report

    Report -

    Healthwatch Manchester have recently completed a report investigating the experiences of learning disabled people when receiving their Annual Health Checks.

  31. Upcoming Industrial Action: August 2023

    News -

    Both Junior and Consultant doctors will be participating in planned industrial action in August 2023.

    •Junior doctors will be striking from 7am on Friday 11 August until 7am on Tuesday 15 August.
    •Consultant doctors will be striking from 7am on Thursday 24 August until 7am on Saturday 26 August.

  32. NHS England set to replace two-week cancer appointment target

    News -

    After a year of consultation, NHS bosses are set to announce a change in how fast a patient will be able to see a specialist if their GP suspects they have cancer.

  33. Our review reports for 81 Manchester GP Practice Websites are here!

    Report -

    We have reviewed all Manchester GP Practice websites (where a website was available to do so) using 21 assessment criteria (statutory compliance, contractual compliance, accessibility compliance). Here are the bespoke reports for each website.

  34. Who's Who at your GP Practice?

    News -

    Services in GP practices and the community are being changed to make it easier for patients to access a wider range of help and support services from general practices.

  35. Healthwatch Manchester: Better Practice? GP Practice website reviews

    Report -

    We have completed our re-review of each GP Practice website in Manchester. The full report is now available here.

  36. Healthwatch Manchester Impact Report

    Report -

    Healthwatch Manchester are delighted to release our Impact Report for 2023-24. This report details our activities and their impacts over the last 12 months.

  37. 10 top tips to get the most out of your GP appointment

    Advice and Information -

    We know from our conversations with the public that some patients report feeling rushed during appointments and struggling to make themselves heard. Here are some tips that could help you get the most out of visiting your GP.