A message of thanks and impact from your Healthwatch
As we come to the end of 2025, we want to thank everyone across North Yorkshire who has taken the time to speak up about their experiences of health and care services.
Everything we do starts with people sharing what is working well and where things are not. When local people speak up and Healthwatch listens and raises issues, change can and does happen.
Improving access and everyday experiences
People’s experiences have helped improve the accessibility and usability of GP practice websites, making it easier to find information, understand appointment options and use online services. These changes have supported better access to primary care and a more consistent experience for patients.
Feedback about healthcare information has driven improvements in how information is written, shared and adapted. As a result, more people are receiving information in formats they can understand, helping them feel more confident about their options and decisions.
Experiences shared about adult social care have led to clearer information, improved website navigation and changes that make support easier to access and understand.
Supporting better care for people and families
What mothers told us about postnatal care has led to stronger recognition of their needs, with improvements in awareness, training and support after birth. This has helped place greater focus on care for both mums and babies during a time that is often overlooked.
By listening to people living with bladder and bowel conditions, we have helped challenge stigma and support more open, dignified and consistent approaches to continence care across services.
Through our visits to care homes, we have listened to residents, their families, staff and managers about everyday experiences of care. What people told us has helped improve communication, mealtimes and activities, supporting a more positive and responsive day to day experience for people living in care homes.
People have told us about their experiences of mental health support, including challenges with communication and continuity of care. What they shared has helped shape service improvement plans and strengthen understanding of what good mental health support looks like from the person’s perspective.
Insight into cancer awareness has highlighted gaps in understanding and access to information. This has supported clearer and more inclusive approaches to awareness and messaging, helping people feel better informed and more confident about when and how to seek help.
Reaching people whose voices are not always heard
We have highlighted the barriers farmers face when accessing health support, helping services better understand the realities of rural life. This has supported more flexible and practical approaches to reaching farming communities in ways that fit around working lives.
Listening to people from ethnic minority communities has helped services better recognise cultural, language and trust barriers. This has supported more informed approaches to improving access and experience within adult social care.
We have also helped ensure unpaid carers are more visible and recognised, reinforcing the vital role they play and the importance of support that reflects their lived experience.
Showing the difference speaking up can make
Earlier this year, we published our annual impact report, Unlocking the power of people driven care, covering April 2024 to March 2025. It shows what can be achieved when local people speak up and Healthwatch, supported by our volunteers, listens and takes action. While it captures a specific period in time, the work has continued well beyond March, shaped by new conversations, insight and emerging issues.
None of this would be possible without the people who share their experiences, or the volunteers who give their time to listen, visit services, review information and support others to be heard. Their commitment plays a vital role in turning lived experience into meaningful change.
Looking ahead to 2026
As we move into 2026, our future focus is shaped by what people are already telling us matters. This includes upcoming work on mid life women’s health and alcohol, understanding how changes to non urgent patient transport eligibility are affecting people, and looking at whether healthcare appointments are truly accessible through reasonable adjustments. We will continue listening to people across North Yorkshire, especially those whose voices are not always heard, and use what they tell us to support real and lasting improvements in health and care.
We wish everyone a peaceful Christmas and a healthy new year.
Christmas and New Year opening times
Our office will close at 12.00pm on Thursday 24 December 2025 and reopen at 9.00am on Friday 2 January 2026.
Any emails sent to hello@hwny.co.uk or voicemails left during this time will be picked up when we return.
You can still share feedback about health and care services at any time. Feedback is anonymous and will not affect your care. You can also visit our advice and information pages for support.
We have also shared pharmacy opening times over Christmas and New Year, including information about GP out of hours services.
