1. Spotlight on Young Carers

    Report -

    We've recently spent time listening to the experiences of young carers in Medway.
    This report shares the feedback that they told us.

  2. Children and young people give her their feedback

    Report -


    Children and young people from across Medway have been sharing their stories with us about their experiences of health and social care services.

  3. Tell us what you think we shoud be focusing on

    News -

    Today we are in Rochester chatting to Medway residents about that they think we should be focusing our efforts on next year.

    Come and see us and tell us your thoughts.

  4. Planning care at the end of life

    Advice and Information -

    We explain why it’s important to have a plan in place, should you or a loved one become critically ill with coronavirus.

  5. Great to see support for Medway Care Homes

    News -

    We recently visited 24 Care Homes across Medway talking to residents and families about their experience.

  6. Do you know someone who is helping to look after someone?

    News -

    Many people might normally be caring (albeit informally) for a neighbour or family member. For example, they may usually collect a prescription or do the shopping for someone. They may cook a hot meal for someone regularly.

  7. We want to hear from more people about how they are coping during lockdown. Could you help?

    News -

    It’s really important that we hear how people are coping right now. We can ensure that your feedback can inform emergency planning and help organisations to plan how to get back to 'normal'.

  8. Caring during a pandemic

    News -

    This week is Carers Week. We know that hundreds of people in Medway are looking after someone right now.
    If you, or someone you know, has found themselves looking after someone during Covid, did you know that there may be support available to you?

  9. Do you have a friend or relative in a Care Home right now? Can you tell us your thoughts?

    News -

    Since the start of the Covid pandemic, we have been keeping in contact with a number of Medway Care Homes to understand how they are coping during the pandemic. Now we want to hear from people who have a family member in a Care Home right now.

  10. Calling daughters who look after their Mums

    News -

    Do you do the shopping for your Mum, or help her get to appointments? Maybe you help in the house or with her personal needs? If that sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you.

  11. Looking after Mum during lockdown

    News -

    Yesterday we had the pleasure of chatting with a group of women who care for their Mums. They shared with us the reality of their experience and talked to us about how challenging it's been during lockdown.

  12. Looking for those that don't know they need to be found

    Report -

    We know that more people than ever before have been looking after someone during the Covid-19 pandemic.

  13. Making life a little bit easier for Personal Assistants

    News -

    In November, we shared an insight into how Personal Assistants were coping during the Covid pandemic.

  14. Do you look after someone right now? There is help available for you

    News -

    We're lucky enough to hear from Carers every week so we know just how brilliant they are and how vital it is that they get the support they need. Today marks the start of Carer's Week, and to celebrate we chatted to Tracey who is a Carer in Medway.

  15. Are you looking after someone? Today is about you

    News -

    Each year on November 25th we celebrate a Carers Rights Day.

  16. Do you know someone who could be a young carer?

    Advice and Information -

    Right now, hundreds of young people in Medway are believed to be looking after someone, but not getting any help.

  17. Can you claim carers support if you have recently moved to the UK?

    Advice and Information -

    The short answer is yes! But it can be complicated so we have more detail for you.

  18. Visible, valued and supported. We LOVE Carers!

    Advice and Information -

    A carer is someone who provides unpaid care and support to a family member or friend who has a disability, illness, mental health condition, addiction or who needs extra help as they grow older.

  19. Understanding Care Homes near you

    Report -

    Having concluded our visits to 15 Care Homes across Kent & Medway talking to residents, their families and staff about the Enhanced Health in Care Home programme we have now completed our stakeholder facing report and have now shared our findings with Aging Well.

  20. Are you a carer? Are you getting the help and support available? 

    News -

    In the UK it is believed seven million people are voluntarily providing care and/or support to family and/or friends. And that many of these are either not accessing or are not aware of the help and support available to them. 

  21. What do people want from social care?

    Report -

    Find out what Healthwatch has done to better understand people's experiences of social care services and what can be done to help people plan better for their future care needs.

  22. Meet the people using their voice to make a difference to care of others

    News -

    Five people and groups have been shortlisted for a national award that celebrates local people who, through their dedication, have helped improve health and care for their community.

  23. A new support group for younger stroke survivors

    Advice and Information -

    The UK Charity, Different Strokes have started a new group in Chatham for stroke survivors under 65. Are you interested?

  24. What are AHPs and what do they do?

    Advice and Information -

    Allied health professionals (AHPs) are one of the largest workforces in the NHS, but do you know who they are?

  25. Looking after someone? Know your rights

    Advice and Information -

    Across the UK there are seven million unpaid carers supporting a friend of family member. Many people are unaware of their rights as a carer and, as a result, are not accessing the help and support they are entitled to.

  26. Spotlight on the Deaf Community

    Report -


    This week is Deaf Awareness Week. To celebrate we are publishing the feedback we heard from the Deaf community in Medway.

  27. All adults with learning disabilities are now being offered the vaccine

    News -

    All adults with learning disabilities in Medway are now being offered the vaccine.

  28. Talking to Medway's Vascular Surgeon

    News -

    Today is International Women's Day. To celebrate we're talking to the inspirational Ginny Bowbrick. Ginny is a Mum of four and has worked in the NHS for 32 years, working at Medway hospital for 16 of those.

  29. Celebrating International Women's Day

    News -

    In the second of our interviews to mark International Women's Day, we chat to Jackie Brown who is Assistant Director of Adult Social Care in Medway.

  30. Help Medway become a child friendly place to live

    News -

    Would you like Medway to be a place where all young people are involved and benefit from the local decisions, services and spaces that shape their lives?

  31. What's it like to be homeless in Medway?

    Report -

    We chatted to five women, and three men, about their experience of being homeless in Medway. They want you to hear their story.

  32. What's happened since we published our report on homelessness in Medway

    Report -

    In April we published a report detailing the feedback we heard from five women and two men who had experience of living on the streets of Medway. They told us about the challenges they faced to get access to healthcare.

  33. Help the Non Emergency Patient Transport Service to be better

    News -

    If you need help to attend an NHS appointment, you may have used the Non Emergency Patient Transport Service to help you get there. This is a free transport service that is available to some, but not all, patients based on their eligibility.

  34. Medway NHS trusts not consistently meeting the legal rights of deaf and blind patients to accessible information

    News -

    Local NHS trusts are only partially meeting their legal duty to help people with additional communication needs, new FOI findings show.

  35. What medical support are you entitled to if you’re new to the UK?

    Advice and Information -

    When people arrive in the UK for the first time, it can be confusing to know where to go if you need medical help. Here we outline your rights as a refugee, where you can access emergency help and how to register for a GP.

  36. Helping Bill to get registered with a GP

    News -

    Every day people contact us because they can't register with a GP surgery. This month we helped Bill to get registered.

  37. A new service for people with learning difficulties and autism in Medway

    News -

    Medway Maritime Hospital are now offering people with autism or learning difficulties the option of having a general anaesthetic for procedures that would normally be done under a local anaesthetic.

  38. The Accessible Information Standard - What you can expect from services

    Advice and Information -

    A year ago the Accessible Information Standard came into force. It requires any organisation providing NHS or social care to communicate in a way that everybody can understand. Here's a reminder of what you should expect.