Healthwatch Suffolk

Healthwatch Suffolk We use people's experiences of health and social care to shape, influence and improve local care.

Healthwatch Suffolk is the consumer champion for health and social care services across the county. It gives people real influence over decisions about health and care services. Content may not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Healthwatch Suffolk.

01/09/2026

This Gynae Cancer Awareness Month we are getting Painfully Aware.

We all get pain from time to time but some types of unexplained pain can be a symptom of a gynaecological cancer. It’s more likely to be something less serious than cancer, but it’s important to get checked as picking up any gynaecological cancers early can help offer more treatment options and gives the best possible chance of successful treatment.

The types of pain that can be a symptom of a gynaecological cancer are:
• Abdominal or pelvic pain
• Lower back pain
• Periods that are more painful than is normal for you
• Pain during s*x
• Vulval or vaginal pain or discomfort.

Pain is not considered normal and needs to get checked by a doctor when it is so bad it affects your daily life and stops you doing normal activities, if the pain is new and unusual for you, if it severe, or isn’t helped by medication.

If you have been having unexplained pain for three weeks or more it’s important to go and get checked by a doctor.

We know that it can sometimes be difficult to get your pain taken seriously and to get the tests and investigations you need. When speaking to a doctor about your pain, they will want to get a picture of your symptoms, and they will try pick up on any patterns.

Keeping a pain diary can help you and your doctor understand more about your pain, spot any patterns and decide what tests you might need. It will help find out what is causing your pain and the best way to manage it.

Find out more and download our pain diary at:
EveAppeal.org.uk/Pain

27/08/2026

Have your say on the future of Suffolk’s Healthy Child Programme.

We’re consulting on proposed changes to School Nursing, Health Visiting and support for young parents - helping services continue to focus on prevention, early help and safeguarding, while making sure families can access the right support from the wider network of services when they need it.

If you use, deliver or work alongside these services, please take the opportunity to have your say.

The consultation closes on 18 October 2026.

Find out more and share your views: https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/hcs-consultation

Comments on this post have been turned off - please share your views through the formal consultation.

Bridge for Heroes are looking to understand the needs of the local Armed Forces Community and identify what support, act...
26/08/2026

Bridge for Heroes are looking to understand the needs of the local Armed Forces Community and identify what support, activities, and services would be most beneficial.

👉You can share your views by completing the Armed Forces Community Needs Assessment. You can access this through the QR code below, or by following this link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=8p80A3t3Z0ic9PIoeNsD6gru8mkRFlVIqxd95fWsZlVUNFE2WkpOOFA5VkxNNFpWTFM1NlAyRU1RVC4u

Don't forget, you can also help us to increase awareness of, and access to, the support services available to veterans and their families across Suffolk. More information can be found here: https://knowingworks.co.uk/veteransproject/ 🗣

It's just under one month until we launch the latest 'Focus on Survivors' report with Survivors In Transition. 👉 You can...
25/08/2026

It's just under one month until we launch the latest 'Focus on Survivors' report with Survivors In Transition.

👉 You can join the online launch on Tuesday 22 September 2026. Full details are found here: https://knowingworks.co.uk/focusonsurvivors-launch/.

The launch is open to professionals, commissioners, policymakers, researchers, voluntary sector organisations and anyone with an interest in improving responses to survivors of child s*xual abuse.

This report is the UK’s only comprehensive comparison of adult survivors’ experiences of child s*xual abuse over the past decade. We'll be sharing key findings and reflecting on the implications for policy, services, and commissioning.

We hope to see you there.

Healthwatch England Women's Aid The Survivors Trust

Can you help to shape future NHS Dental Services in Norfolk and Suffolk?The Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board is...
25/08/2026

Can you help to shape future NHS Dental Services in Norfolk and Suffolk?

The Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board is looking to understand where dental services are needed most across Norfolk and Suffolk. They are keen to understand how access can be improved to ensure fairness and equality for all, and what can be done to support healthy mouths, teeth and gums.

👉You can find out more here: https://healthwatchsuffolk.co.uk/news/you-can-help-to-shape-future-nhs-dental-services-in-norfolk-and-suffolk/

Last week we were able to encourage foster and adoptive families to get involved in developing the Best Start Family Hub...
24/08/2026

Last week we were able to encourage foster and adoptive families to get involved in developing the Best Start Family Hubs in Suffolk by signing up to the Best Start Family Voice network.

We had a great time - our sweets on our information table attracted all sorts of visitors 🦖

You can find out more information about the Best Start Family Voice Network here: https://knowingworks.co.uk/our-work/bsfvnetwork/

You can also help shape how support for families could develop in the future by taking part in our survey here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/t/beststartfamilyhubs/

We had a lovely stop off at the Family Fun Day event in Stowupland yesterday!We were able to hand out some flyers about ...
20/08/2026

We had a lovely stop off at the Family Fun Day event in Stowupland yesterday!

We were able to hand out some flyers about our Best Start Family Voice network and catch up with lots of other stallholders. We were lucky the weather held out!🔆🍀

If you would like to learn more about our Best Start Family Voice network, then please visit our page at https://knowingworks.co.uk/our-work/bsfvnetwork/

This network will support Suffolk County Council to develop its Best Start Family Hubs service and approach - building on Suffolk’s existing Family Hubs service and ensuring all families feel comfortable asking for help when they need it.

You can also share your views about Suffolk’s Family Hubs in our survey here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/t/beststartfamilyhubs/

Active Suffolk Suffolk Archives

We attended the Mental Health & Wellbeing Market Day Event in Stowmarket last week. There were lots of stalls offering f...
18/08/2026

We attended the Mental Health & Wellbeing Market Day Event in Stowmarket last week.

There were lots of stalls offering free advice, support, resources, courses and talking therapies.

We were also able to share information around The Suffolk VASP (Voluntary and Statutory Partnership) for Mental Health - a network for anyone with an interest in mental health. This independent network is hosted and supported by us (Knowing Works CIC).

👉You can find out more about this excellent network here: https://knowingworks.co.uk/our-work/suffolkvasp/

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