1. CQC reports serious concerns monitoring the Mental Health Act

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is highlighting the ongoing impact of historic and current system pressures on mental health services, their staff and the people using them.

  2. What is the MK Deal and what does it mean for you?

    News -

    The MK Deal is a partnership of local health and care organisations, including Healthwatch Milton Keynes and the Integrated Care Partnership, who are coming together to influence and improve services in Milton Keynes.

  3. Let's Talk: Menopause

    Event -

  4. What's the deal?

    Blog -

    Read the latest blog on the MK Deal from our CEO, Maxine Taffetani.

  5. Cost of living: People are avoiding NHS appointments and prescriptions

    News -

    New data from Healthwatch England shows a worrying increase in the number of people avoiding vital care. We're calling for urgent action from government and health and care services to ensure rising costs are not a barrier to healthcare.

  6. Let's Talk: Exercise & Self care

    Report -

    We know that an active lifestyle is important to prevent illness and improve our physical and mental wellbeing, helping us to feel our best.

  7. 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.

  8. Have your say: Easy Read format

    Page -

    Take five minutes to share with us your experiences of health and care services in Milton Keynes.

  9. What do Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities in our city think about the NHS England vaccinations programme?

    Report -

    NHS England asked us to explore how Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities in MK felt about vaccinations, and how they could make vaccinations more accessible.

  10. Let's Talk: Spiritual & holistic wellbeing

    Event -

  11. Prevention is the best medicine - what to expect from your smear test

    Advice and Information -

    Cervical cancer screenings save at least 2,000 lives every year in the UK. Here's what you should expect from your smear test and why these screenings are important.

  12. Board of Trustees Minutes November 2022

    Report -

    Read the minutes from the November 2022 Board of Trustees meeting.

  13. Enter and View: Burlington Hall care home

    Report -

    We carried out an Enter and View visit of Burlington Hall care home in Woburn. Here are our findings and recommendations.

  14. Enter and View: Bluebirds Neurological Care Home

    Report -

    We carried out an Enter and View visit of Bluebirds Neurological care home in Milton Keynes. Here are our findings and recommendations.

  15. Enter and View: Becket House care home

    Report -

    We carried out an Enter and View visit of Becket House care home in Milton Keynes. Here are our findings and recommendations.

  16. Enter and View: Tickford Abbey care home

    Report -

    We carried out an Enter and View visit of Tickford Abbey care home in Milton Keynes. Here are our findings and recommendations.

  17. Citizens Advice Milton Keynes: how to get in touch

    Advice and Information -

    Citizens Advice are a local charity that helps over 8000 people in Milton Keynes every year. If you need to get in touch, or if you need to speak to someone, things have changed slightly.

  18. Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) planned for MK in 2023 

    News -

    Residents in Milton Keynes are set to benefit from quicker access to tests, checks and scans as two new CDCs are set to open in our area later this year.

  19. Change is on the way for specialist referrals from your GP

    News -

    ​​​​​​​A new system is in place for when your GP refers you to see any sort of specialist in a community or hospital-based service. 

  20. Kooth, digital wellbeing service in MK, closing from 31 March

    News -

    You may have heard of Kooth, or know someone who is currently using their digital wellbeing support services.

  21. REFLECT: new text messaging service launches for young people in MK

    News -

    Reflect is a new mental health support service specifically for young people across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes.

  22. Maple Centre opens at Milton Keynes University Hospital

    News -

    The Maple Centre has opened at Milton Keynes University Hospital. This new facility has been designed to deliver an integrated approach to same-day emergency care.

  23. Junior doctors industrial action

    News -

    Junior doctors in England (including Milton Keynes) will take industrial action beginning with a full 72-hour stoppage of work from today. Continuous strike action – day and night – will begin at 06.59am on Monday 13 March and continue through to 06.59am on Thursday 16 March.

  24. Sign up to join our community

    Page -

    We'd love to keep you up to date with news about health and care services in Milton Keynes, plus opportunities to have your say.

  25. Six-week postnatal checks are failing many new mothers

    News -

    Deep-dive analysis of experiences of 2,693 new mothers and birthing parents shows that six-week postnatal checks – required of GPs in England - are failing many new mothers.

  26. Let's Talk: pre-pregnancy health & conception

    Event -

  27. Mobilise: the new digital support service for unpaid carers

    Advice and Information -

    Mobilise is a new online service for unpaid carers in Milton Keynes, offering support, advice and coaching to those in need.

  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. Enter and View: Milton Court care home

    Report -

    We carried out an Enter and View visit of Milton Court care home in Milton Keynes. Here are our findings and recommendations.

  30. 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.

  31. New stoma prescription service launches in MK 

    News -

    There's a new prescription service in place for residents of Milton Keynes who currently have a stoma.

  32. Enter and View: Westbury Grange care home

    Report -

    We carried out an Enter and View visit of Westbury Grange care home in Milton Keynes. Here are our findings and recommendations.

  33. Enter and View: Dovecote Manor care home

    Report -

    We carried out an Enter and View visit of Dovecote Manor care home in Milton Keynes. Here are our findings and recommendations.

  34. Mind Crisis Cafe: 365 support for anyone in mental distress

    Advice and Information -

    Mind BLMK works across our communities to support positive mental health and wellbeing in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes

  35. Enter and View: Precious Homes Fenny Mews/Stratford View

    Report -

    We carried out an Enter and View visit of Precious Homes, Fenny Mews/ Stratford View supported living service in Milton Keynes. Here are our findings and recommendations.

  36. New MK health website for children, young people, parents and pregnant women

    Advice and Information -

    There's a new health and wellbeing website for children and young people in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes.

  37. Enter and View: Bletchley House care home

    Report -

    We carried out an Enter and View visit of Bletchley House care home in Milton Keynes. Here are our findings and recommendations.

  38. Enter and View: Lathbury Manor care home

    Report -

    We carried out an Enter and View visit of Lathbury Manor care home in Milton Keynes. Here are our findings and recommendations.

  39. Enter and View: Camphill

    Report -

    We carried out an Enter and View visit of Camphill working community. Here are our findings and recommendations.

  40. Jargon buster for health and care services

    Advice and Information -

    A lot of the language used when talking about the NHS, and health and care services, can be difficult to understand. Too many acronyms and not enough plain English can leave all of us feeling very confused.

  41. Let's Talk: anxiety & women's health

    Event -

  42. Mental health awareness week 15-21 May 2023

    Advice and Information -

    15-21 May 2023 is mental health awareness week, and the theme is anxiety - something that so many of us have experienced.

  43. Board of Trustees Minutes February 2023

    Report -

    Read the minutes from the February 2023 Board of Trustees meeting.

  44. Board of Trustees Minutes March 2023

    Report -

    Read the minutes from the March 2023 Board of Trustees meeting.

  45. How can you save money on your Hormone Replacement Therapy?

    Advice and Information -

    A new scheme could see women across England save hundreds of pounds yearly on their Hormone Replacement Therapy with a prepayment certificate.

  46. If you're pregnant you can now self-refer to start maternity care

    News -

    As soon as you find out you're pregnant, you can now start your antenatal care easily without booking a doctor's appointment.

  47. 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.

  48. 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.

  49. Volunteering Week: a big thank you!

    Blog -

    Every volunteer plays a critical role in championing the voices of patients, carers and their families, and sharing their experiences of health and social care.