News and reports

D/deaf residents and Nepalese communities across Kent and Medway continue to face significant barriers when trying to access their GP. Recent feedback shared with Healthwatch Kent and Healthwatch Medway highlights how communication challenges—combined with the ongoing shift towards digital-first care—are leaving some people without the support they need.
This page shares what we heard, why it matters, and what needs to change.

Between January 2024 and November 2025, Healthwatch Medway spoke to 799 residents across Medway to understand how wider social issues affect health and wellbeing. This report focuses on the 146 individuals who, unprompted, told us their experiences accessing local transport.
Most people we spoke to told us they are struggling with unreliable buses and congested roads, making it harder to get to work, school, and healthcare.