News and reports

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.

We spoke to 54 residents across Parkwood, Hempstead and Wigmore to understand how where they live affects their health and wellbeing. People shared what they value about their area, what concerns them, and what they feel would make the biggest difference to their daily lives. This report brings together their views to help local services better understand community needs. The findings will inform our wider “Building Blocks of Life” series exploring how Medway’s places shape people’s health.

We spoke to 48 people living in Chatham to understand how their environment affects their health and wellbeing. Residents told us what they value in their area, what worries them, and what would help them live healthier lives. This work forms part of our Building Blocks of Life series exploring how Medway’s neighbourhoods shape everyday experiences. The findings will be shared with local services to help improve life for people across Medway. This page highlights what we heard.

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.

Mental health is just as important as physical health—it’s vital to look after our minds as well as our bodies to stay fit and well. While Christmas is often seen as a time of joy, it can also be difficult for some of us. Feelings of stress, loneliness, or grief can become more intense during the festive season.
That’s why we’ve put together a helpful guide to services that remain open throughout the holidays. If you need support, there are people and organisations ready to listen and help—day or night

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.

Healthwatch Recognition Awards – Back for Our 5th Year!
We’re thrilled to announce that the Healthwatch Recognition Awards are back for their fifth year! This special event celebrates the incredible work happening across Kent and Medway to make health and social care better for everyone. Join us as we recognise those who go above and beyond to put people at the heart of services.