1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. Getting the most out of the virtual health and care experience

    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.

  4. Access to General Practice (GP) Services in Barnsley

    Report -

    Read our report to find out what you told us you struggled with when trying to make contact with your GP practice, and the recommendations we made to services for improvements.

  5. This is my mental health story. What’s yours?

    Blog -

    Jo lives with mental health challenges, including depression and borderline personality disorder. They share their story of waiting for the right support and explain how the NHS could improve their life.

  6. Lost for words – improving access to healthcare for ethnic minority communities

    Blog -

    People with little or no English struggle at all points of their healthcare journey. Our new research shines a light on barriers and delays to care they often experience and calls for equal access for all.

  7. Someone I love has died - where can I find support?

    Advice and Information -

    Take a look at our advice article on the organisations and groups that can support you if you’re grieving.

  8. Where to go for support when you have an eating disorder

    Advice and Information -

    Eating disorders are complex mental illnesses that anyone can develop, regardless of age, income and ethnicity. Take a look at some of the common signs of eating disorders and where to go for support if you need help.

  9. Did not Attend GP Appointments in the Dearne

    Report -

    Working with the Dearne Approach Healthwatch Barnsley agreed to explore the issues relating to DNA’s with service users and General Practices across the Dearne. We also agreed to raise awareness about the importance of keeping appointments or cancelling appointments where necessary.

  10. What is monkeypox and who can get a vaccine?

    Advice and Information -

    Find out the signs and symptoms of monkeypox, what to do if you think you have it and who is eligible for a vaccine.

  11. 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.

  12. Record seven million people awaiting hospital treatment – our response

    News -

    With a record seven million people awaiting hospital treatment, Louise Ansari, our National Director, told BBC News that people need reassuring that the NHS is still there to help them.

  13. Group A Strep – What you need to know

    Advice and Information -

    Group A streptococcus (GAS) is a common bacteria. Lots of us carry it in our throats and on our skin and it doesn’t always result in illness. However, GAS does cause a number of infections, some mild and some more serious.

  14. New Year public health guidance to deal with ‘twindemic’

    News -

    People are being urged to wear face masks in public if they are unwell and keep ill children off school, to help protect whole communities from Covid and flu.

  15. What are people's experiences of urgent and emergency care?

    Report -

    Our latest findings reveal what people have been telling us about their experience of urgent and emergency care services.

  16. What matters to you about your health and wellbeing?

    News -

    Take this short survey to let the NHS in South Yorkshire know what's important to you - and how they can make services work better for you, your family, and your community.

  17. ‘Review culture’ is on the rise, yet only one in ten feed back on health services.

    News -

    Patient champion appeals for more people to feedback on NHS care.

  18. How to help women benefit from new policy on cheaper HRT

    Advice and Information -

    The new prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has proved popular, with 37,700 being purchased online by women within the first few days of its launch on 1 April.

  19. Where can I go to get help for my health out of hours?

    Advice and Information -

    Health issues unfortunately don't leave us alone at the weekend and people are often in need of medical assistance out of hours. Using NHS guidelines, we have provided some advice and information on where you can go for help when your GP is closed.

  20. GP recovery plan - our response

    Response -

    Today, NHS England has published its GP Recovery Plan. Read our response.

  21. Primary care recovery plan – what does it mean for you and your loved ones?

    Blog -

    NHS England has recently published its "Delivery plan for recovering access to primary care". We outline what the planned changes will mean for you.

  22. What is Gout?

    Advice and Information -

    Gout is a type of arthritis that causes sudden, severe joint pain.

  23. What is Dysphagia?

    Advice and Information -

    Dysphagia is where you have problems swallowing. It's usually caused by certain medicines or another condition, such as acid reflux or a stroke.

  24. What is Hepatitis?

    Advice and Information -

    Hepatitis is the term used to describe inflammation of the liver. It's usually the result of a viral infection or liver damage caused by drinking alcohol.

  25. Town’s gonorrhoea cases double

    News -

    The number of gonorrhoea cases in Barnsley almost doubled last year - as the figures hit a record high

  26. What is Executive Dysfunction?

    Advice and Information -

    Executive dysfunction is a term that not many people are familiar with, but one that commonly affects brain injury survivors. It can interfere with many aspects of life including activities of daily living, relationships, managing finances and working.

  27. What is Heart valve disease?

    Advice and Information -

    If one or more of your heart valves don’t work like they should, it can affect your blood flow and put extra strain on your heart. If this causes you problems, it may need treatment with medicines or surgery.

  28. 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.

  29. Childhood vaccinations not hitting targets

    News -

    FEWER children were vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella last year - as just one childhood vaccine for babies in Barnsley met the required target.

  30. Action promised to save men’s lives

    News -

    ‘CRUCIAL’ early detection of prostate cancer is being fatally missed in Barnsley and almost one in five men are being diagnosed at an advanced stage of illness when treatment is too late, new research has revealed.

  31. Barriers and inequalities in cervical screening

    Blog -

    This week is Cervical Cancer Prevention Week. Our new blog brings together some of the key challenges people have shared about cervical screening with local Healthwatch and outlines the steps we are taking nationally to address those.

  32. 50,000 back mum’s cancer petition

    News -

    A HEARTBROKEN mum who lost her son to a rare form of cancer in 2022 is fighting for ‘increased awareness and funding’ - and almost 50,000 have signed a petition to help reach her goal.

  33. Top tips 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 out of your GP appointment.