Insight bank

NHS Dentists

This Healthwatch Southend report highlights significant challenges in accessing NHS dentistry, including limited appointment availability, outdated information on NHS.uk and additional cost and travel barriers, with particular impacts on children and families during the cost of living crisis.

Unpaid Carers

Accessing Dentistry Services Report

Healthwatch Thurrock surveyed 88 local residents and carried out a mystery shopper exercise with 17 dental practices to understand experiences of accessing NHS dental care following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Essex Youth Vaping

This report explores the prevalence, drivers and impacts of vaping among children and young people in Essex, highlighting higher-than-national rates of regular vaping, concerns around health risks and access, and the need for coordinated education, regulation and prevention activity.

Developing and growing the practice of co-production in children and young people’s services in mid and south Essex.

Improving community bed-based care in mid and south Essex

This report is from pre-consultation engagement with community staff and patient stakeholders. It was carried out by Kaledidoscope Health and Care on behalf of the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System.

Living with obesity: Men’s experience of losing and gaining weight and the implications for policy and services

Addiction: gambling, drugs and alcohol

This Healthwatch Essex report explores lived experiences of gambling, drug and alcohol addiction. It highlights the links between addiction and mental health, the impact of stigma, and barriers to accessing support. The findings emphasise the importance of early intervention, clear signposting and peer-led, lived-experience support.

Mental health on the frontline

Young mental health ambassador discussions: body image

Healthwatch Essex's Young Mental Health Ambassadors co-designed research exploring how body image affects young people's mental health and wellbeing. 54 participants took part, including 26 young people and 28 parents or guardians.

Reaching out to deaf and disabled people in Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.

Mental Health Outreach for Ethnic Minority Communities

Pathways to Meaningful Lives: How people who live with Learning Disabilities experience employment and the implications for policy and practice

Middle-aged men’s experiences of mental health and suicide

This qualitative study examines how middle-aged men experience mental ill health and suicidal thoughts. It reveals how cumulative life pressures, stigma and traditional expectations of masculinity can lead to feelings of worthlessness and an inability to imagine a positive future, increasing suicide risk in midlife.

Underage vaping in Epping Forest

This report explores the prevalence and consequences of underage vaping in the Epping Forest district. With insights gathered from nearly 3,000 young people, the study highlights the health, environmental, and social effects of vaping among young people.

Support and help for people who care for others in west Essex

Unpaid carers provide a vital role in population health and healthcare, ensuring the elderly, those  with a disability and those with long term conditions get round the clock physical care, emotional support, love and understanding at marginal cost to the NHS and Government.

Orthodontic care in west Essex

Orthodontic services for west Essex haven’t been re-commissioned since before the Covid pandemic. If the provision is to be as successful as possible going forwards, it’s important to have clarity on the lived experience of the local population regarding the service as it currently stands.

Neurodiversity and accessing health and social care

Purpose of this report was to take a closer look at the relationship between the NHS in west Essex and its neurodiverse population and their carers and families, particularly in regard to the provision of, and access to, GP services.

Navigating digital health: online GP services and bookings

Using lived experience feedback ensures that investment, developments, and service roll-outs, can be as effective as possible and targeted to ensure they have maximum impact in the areas most needed, ensuring fair and equitable access for all, and reducing the burden on more traditional means of appointment making and consultation.

Healthcare experiences of the armed forces community in west Essex

The aim of this project was to canvas the views and experiences of Armed Forces personnel and their families and carers in west Essex. These responses would then be used to make key recommendations on changes that can be made to improve current and future service provision.