Healthwatch North Yorkshire

13/05/2026

Want to know more about local health and social care support?

Have a question about NHS care or where to go for advice?

Or simply want to share your experience of using local health and care?

Healthwatch will be out and about in libraries across North Yorkshire and would love to chat to you.

Whether you want to ask a question, find information, share what is working well, or tell us what could be better, pop in and say hello.

You can find us at:
- Scarborough Library
- Catterick, Richmond and Colburn Community Libraries
- Selby library
- Knaresborough Library
- Thirsk Community Library
- Skipton Library
- Harrogate Library

Full dates and times are at https://www.healthwatchnorthyorkshire.co.uk/news/2026-05-12/meet-healthwatch-tell-us-about-your-care-find-advice-and-seek-support

No appointment needed. Just call in!

12/05/2026

08/05/2026

Farmers across North Yorkshire have told us that farming can be tough. Long hours, pressure, isolation, and not always knowing where to turn for support are real issues for them.

We’re launching a new project across North Yorkshire, with a focus on men working in farming, to help people better understand what mental health support is available and how to access it early.

This is about everyday pressures and getting the right support early - not just when things reach crisis point.

Over the coming months, we’ll be spending time in places farmers already go, such as auction marts and agricultural shows, sharing practical information and promoting training to help people feel more confident spotting when someone might be struggling and knowing how to support them.

Supported by David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire and funded by York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Read more: https://www.healthwatchnorthyorkshire.co.uk/news/2026-05-07/supporting-farmers-mental-health-across-north-yorkshire

23/03/2026

What to do if you fall:

🔗 https://www.healthwatchnorthyorkshire.co.uk/advice-and-information/2026-01-19/what-do-if-you-or-someone-you-care-has-fall

Our article explains what to do if you fall, when to get urgent help, and simple steps you can take to reduce the risk of falls and stay safe and confident.

19/03/2026

People don’t always know where to turn, or feel comfortable raising concerns directly about their care.

That’s something Healthwatch hear time and time again.

That’s why having somewhere independent to listen matters.

A new report from The King's Fund, an independent charity working to improve people's health, highlights the importance of listening to people’s experiences of the NHS and social care, and how organisations like Healthwatch use what people tell us to help improve services.

We see every day how sharing experiences can lead to change. It helps services understand what is working well, and where things need to be better.

But it is not just about listening. It is about making sure what people tell us is heard, understood, and used to improve care for others. People need to feel that speaking up will lead to change, not that it is a tick box exercise or repeating what they have already said.

As conversations continue about how people’s voices are heard in the future, one thing is clear. Listening to people, and acting on what they say, must remain part of how health and social care works.

Read more at https://www.healthwatchnorthyorkshire.co.uk/response/2026-03-19/why-independent-listening-matters-health-and-social-care

Healthwatch England

17/03/2026

Healthwatch volunteers - listening where it matters most:

🔗 https://www.healthwatchnorthyorkshire.co.uk/blog/2026-03-11/listening-where-it-matters-most-north-yorkshire

Behind every improvement in local care, there are Healthwatch volunteers who help turn real experiences into change.

From visiting care homes, to reviewing GP practice websites, to speaking with farmers to help bring care closer to them and listening to mums about care after birth, volunteering with Healthwatch North Yorkshire offers not only a range of opportunities, but also makes an impact.

Because of our volunteers, information is clearer, websites are easier to use and services have made practical changes. Most importantly, people know that their experiences matter.

We simply could not do this work without them.

In a county like North Yorkshire, where distance, rurality and an ageing population can create real challenges, local voices are vital. Our volunteers help make sure those voices are heard and acted upon.

And for that, we are hugely grateful.

16/03/2026

Join Healthwatch North Yorkshire and tell us about your general health and social care experiences (good and bad):

📆 Wednesday 18 March 2026, 10 am - 12 pm
📍 Skipton Library

We want to hear from you about the extra support you might need to get the most out of your health appointments.

Together, we can turn your feedback into action and shape a healthier future for everyone in North Yorkshire.

& works to improve care.

16/03/2026

Hormone replacement therapy prescriptions:

🔗 https://www.healthwatchnorthyorkshire.co.uk/advice-and-information/2026-02-23/how-save-money-hormone-replacement-therapy-prescriptions-2026

If you pay for prescriptions in England and use hormone replacement therapy, the cost can build up over time.

To help reduce this cost, the NHS introduced a dedicated hormone replacement therapy prescription prepayment certificate.

Our blog explains what the certificate is, why it was introduced and how it can help you save money.

13/03/2026

Join Healthwatch North Yorkshire and tell us about your general health and social care experiences (good and bad):

📆 Monday 16 March 2026, 10.30 am - 12.30 pm
📍 Thirsk Library

We want to hear from you about the extra support you might need to get the most out of your health appointments.

Together, we can turn your feedback into action and shape a healthier future for everyone in North Yorkshire.

& works to improve care.

10/03/2026

From request to collection - the journey of your repeat :

🔗 https://www.healthwatchnorthyorkshire.co.uk/advice-and-information/2026-03-02/request-collection-journey-your-repeat-prescription

Healthwatch North Yorkshire regularly hears from people who are frustrated when their prescription is not ready as quickly as they expected.

From the patient perspective, it can feel like a simple request. In reality, repeat prescriptions pass through several stages involving different professionals and systems.

Understanding how this process works can help explain where delays can happen and why ordering in good time makes a difference.

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust
Healthwatch England
NHS
North Yorkshire Council