1. Out of Hours General Practice Appointments

    Advice and Information -

    Are you aware you can access a variety of out of hours appointments at your GP surgery? Your GP receptionist will be able to help you find an out of hours appointment across Milton Keynes when you need one.

  2. Annual health checks for people with Learning Disabilities

    Advice and Information -

    Healthwatch Essex, in partnership with Mencap, produced a short film encouraging people with learning disabilities to go to their annual health checks.

  3. My Right to Healthcare: GP Registration and Access

    Report -

    It was drawn to our attention that some GP practices restrict access to Primary Health Care to Patients who are legitimately unable to provide identification, contrary to NHS guidelines.

  4. BLMK NHS Long Term Plan

    News -

    What changes do people want to make to local services in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes?

  5. BLMK NHS Long Term Plan

    Report -

    What changes do people want to make to local services in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes?

  6. GP Registration

    Advice and Information -

    Did you know that everybody in England has the right to access Primary Health Care?

  7. Vulnerable patients often denied GP registration, Doctors of the World report finds

    News -

    GP practices regularly turn away vulnerable patients who have a right to register with them, research by a leading medical charity shows.

  8. 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.

  9. Why getting personal is important when it comes to health and care

    News -

    Read a summary of Healthwatch England's latest research to find out why personalised care is important.

  10. Where can I go for help when I’m ill in winter?

    Advice and Information -

    Feeling unwell? Read on for advice about where you can go for help with your health during the winter months.

  11. National Cancer Patient Experience Survey

    News -

    Feedback from people who have experienced cancer care and treatment is a vital part of improving services.

  12. Should I see a pharmacist instead of a doctor?

    Advice and Information -

    ​​​​​​​Avoid the wait at the GP and know when to visit your pharmacist instead. Look at how your pharmacist can help you.

  13. GP practices and pharmacies to open over the Bank Holiday weekend

    Advice and Information -

    The early May Bank Holiday is on Friday 8th May 2020.

  14. Clinical Comissioning Group: Your Experience of Healthcare during the Coronavirus Pandemic

    News -

    Milton Keynes Clinical Commissioning Group would like to understand and hear your experiences of the healthcare services you have experienced during the coronavirus pandemic.

  15. Listen to us: Young people’s experiences of Health and Social care

    Report -

    Between September 2019 and January 2020, Healthwatch Milton Keynes engaged with a total of 604 young people between the ages of 10 and 21.

  16. My Right to Healthcare: Review

    Report -

    This review provides an update on the extent to which the recommendations made in our 'My Right to Healthcare: GP Registration and Access' report have been adopted.

  17. More GP appointments to be offered face-to-face to those who need it

    News -

    NHS England has issued new guidance to GP practices across the country on facilitating more face-to-face appointments for patients.

  18. New GP data-sharing system delayed - Healthwatch England's response

    Response -

    Healthwatch England have joined forces with leading patient groups to respond to the Government's plans around GP data sharing.

  19. NHS data collection - what you need to know

    Advice and Information -

    The Government has now indefinitely shelved their controversial GP data sharing scheme.

  20. Focus on NHS Admin is needed to improve people’s experiences of care

    News -

    In partnership with Healthwatch England and National Voices, new findings from The King's Fund highlight the critical role of administration in how people experience care.

  21. Locked out: Digitally excluded people’s experiences of remote GP appointments

    News -

    The move to more digitally-led healthcare has worked well for some but excluded others over the past year. Our report explores how people have been excluded and what needs to happen to get the care they need.

  22. New patient info leaflets for NHS services in Milton Keynes

    News -

    Want to understand more about the NHS services available to you in Milton Keynes? These two patient information leaflets are a great place to start.

  23. Have you taken part in MK's More Life weight management programme?

    News -

    If you have, then More-Life and the Open University would like to hear your feedback.

  24. Your self-care toolkit this Autumn/Winter

    Advice and Information -

    As the nights begin to draw in and seasonal colds and flu increase, the NHS are providing information on how treat certain illness and ailments from the comfort of your own home.

  25. What is a GP referral and how can you get one?

    Advice and Information -

    When you need specialist NHS support, like hospital tests or treatment, you often need a referral from your GP first. Find out what this includes and what to expect.

  26. Group A strep: what you need to know

    Advice and Information -

    Group A streptococcus (GAS) has been in the news recently. But what is it - and should we be worried?

  27. Looking after your health during the Cost of Living crisis.

    Advice and Information -

    The continuing cost of living crisis is adversely affecting people's physical and mental wellbeing, with vulnerable people and those on lower incomes hit the hardest.

  28. Celebrating ten years of people speaking up to improve health care

    News -

    This anniversary marks 10 years of Healthwatch. To mark this milestone, we're celebrating the contribution that you have made in improving health and care services in Milton Keynes.

  29. Doctors and dentists: How to improve care and access for local residents

    Report -

    We helped Milton Keynes City Council look into the problems that our residents are having getting to see a doctor and dentist.

  30. Our findings: The Great Big GP Access Survey

    Report -

    Hundreds of residents across Milton Keynes took part in our research exploring the problems people are having with GP access and support.

  31. Improving your journey through health and social care services in MK

    News -

    We're working with the Milton Keynes Health and Care Partnership on a project to improve how patients experience moving through different health and care services.

  32. Staying well this winter

    Advice and Information -

    Tips to help you stay well this winter and get the care you need.

  33. What is a virtual ward?

    Advice and Information -

    With more and more appointments happening online, we've put together some tips on how to get the most out of the virtual health and care appointments both for patients and health and care professionals.

  34. Faster progress needed to tackle barriers to care

    News -

    New HWE research shows that in the past year, access to primary care is the main concern for patients across England.

  35. Where can I get help for health out of hours?

    Advice and Information -

    Many of us will need out-of-hours medical assistance, especially over the winter. Using NHS guidelines, we've put together some advice and information on where you can go for help when your GP is closed.

  36. Recommendations from Healthwatch report, "The public's perspective"

    News -

    Healthwatch England have set out recommendations for NHS decision makers across ten key areas, in their report, 'The public’s perspective: The state of health and social care'.

  37. Can I access my GP records online?

    Advice and Information -

    From 31 October 2023, GP surgeries must give patients online access to their new health record entries. Find out what information is in your record and how to access it.

  38. The Great Big MK GP survey - it's back

    News -

    Have you seen your GP, or tried to make an appointment, in the last 12 months? If so, we'd like to hear about it.

  39. How to get the most out of your GP appointment

    Advice and Information -

    Do you struggle to speak to your doctor about your medical concerns? You’re not alone. Take a look at our top tips to make the most of your GP appointment.

  40. New video guides help autistic people prepare for health and social care appointments

    Advice and Information -

    Autistic people in Milton Keynes can now get a better understanding of what to expect from screening appointments and other common NHS experiences, thanks to videos produced by Autism Bedfordshire.

  41. Merger of Watling Vale, Hilltops and Stony Stratford medical centre.

    News -

    These three local GP practices will merge from 1 July to become Watling Street Practice.