News and reports

Every day across Medway, thousands of people step in to care for someone they love. They support partners, parents, children, friends and neighbours — often without recognition, without pay, and without a break.
We spoke to 45 carers to understand what life is really like behind the closed doors of our caring community. Here’s what they told us.

We spoke with 40 Rainham residents to understand how where they live affects their health and wellbeing. This is part of our Building Blocks of Life series exploring the wider factors that shape people’s daily lives. Residents shared what they love about their area, the challenges they face, and the changes they’d like to see. Their voices will help health and care services, as well as local partners, make improvements across Medway. This webpage summarises what we heard.

We spoke to 38 people living in Lordswood and Walderslade to understand how their local area affects their health and wellbeing. This report is part of our 2025 Building Blocks of Life series, which explores the wider factors that shape daily life across Medway. Residents shared what they value about their community, as well as what makes life more challenging. The findings highlight clear strengths, alongside opportunities for improvement. This webpage summarises what we heard.

Healthwatch Medway spoke to 55 Strood residents in June 2025 to understand how living in the area impacts their health and wellbeing. This is part of a wider series exploring Medway communities.

Healthwatch Medway spoke to 27 Rochester residents in May 2025 to understand how living in the area impacts their health and wellbeing. This is part of a wider series exploring Medway communities.

From September 2024, we started to receive more feedback on people’s experiences of mental health crisis support. This emerged from what people told us through Mental Health Voice, Healthwatch Kent and Healthwatch Medway without any targeted prompts for mental health crisis. To understand what people were telling us, we identified and analysed 489 related experiences from January 2024 to February 2025.

In April 2025, we spoke to 30 people living in Halling and Cuxton. We wanted to understand how where you live affects your health and wellbeing.

Poor sleep affects our health, wellbeing, and productivity. Between July and August 2025, Healthwatch Medway spoke to 97 residents to understand their sleep patterns, challenges, and what could help. This report explores how sleep inequalities, lifestyle factors, and lack of awareness impact Medway communities.

This spotlight report explores what life is like for people living in Gillingham and how their environment impacts health and wellbeing. We spoke to 44 residents to understand what they love, what they struggle with, and what changes they’d like to see.

Between August and October 2025, Healthwatch Medway spoke to 14 GP practices across Medway to understand how Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) are working.

In early 2025, Healthwatch Medway spoke to 28 residents across Chattenden, Hoo, Upnor and Wainscott to understand how their local environment affects their health and wellbeing. This report is part of a wider series exploring life in different areas of Medway. Residents shared what they love about their communities, what challenges they face, and what changes they believe would make a real difference.

What’s life like on the Medway Peninsula?
We spoke to residents in Allhallows, Cliffe, Cliffe Woods, High Halstow, Isle of Grain and Stoke to find out. People told us they love the peace, nature and community spirit—but also shared concerns about poor transport, limited amenities and access to health services. This report shines a light on what’s working, what’s missing, and what could help improve wellbeing across these rural villages. This report is part of a year-long project, looking at all areas of Medway. Reports on different areas will be posted across the year.