News and reports

In the past 6 months 42 Surrey residents have talked to us about requesting and trying to access reasonable adjustments and accessible information. They have shared their experiences via our Helpdesk and/ or at community engagement events.

Access to GP services is increasingly through online channels – the NHS App or the GP practice website – but how accessible is this for everyone? The use of AI (artificial intelligence) in general practice is also growing, but how do people really feel about the use of this sort of technology to assist them when dealing with general practice?

We explored whether people who are unable to leave their home are having their needs met by community health and care services.

Our latest Insight bulletin highlights the key themes we’ve been hearing about recently from local people. We also highlight our latest news and opportunities to get involved.

Research from the Kings Fund and Healthwatch England have both looked at finance and it's impact on health - but we wanted to find out the impact financial concerns and constraints have on people’s emotional wellbeing.

The latest Sexual Health Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) for Surrey highlights a need to improve engagement and understanding of sexual health & contraception needs in younger people. Against this backdrop and in discussion with Public Health, Healthwatch Surrey (who has been part of the Surrey Sexual Health Outreach Group since 2019) wanted to amplify the voice of under 25s in relation to sexual health services in Surrey.

Our latest Insight bulletin highlights the key themes we’ve been hearing about recently from local people. We also highlight our latest news and opportunities to get involved.

This report highlights our major impacts throughout our first quarter of 2025/26 (April to June 2025). This quarter 989 people shared their experiences with us. Our work covered a wide range of health and social care, including children’s eye care, mental health in prisons, sexual health, domestic abuse and patient transport to and from hospitals. The report also highlights the support provided to individuals through our Helpdesk and Independent Health Complaints Advocacy Service.

This report explores 6 students’ understanding and awareness of mental health services.

Amplifying the voices of people who face barriers to accessing support, and those at risk of health inequalities, we listened to the views, insights and opinions of those with learning disabilities, as well as their families and carers, across Surrey.

70 people with learning disabilities joined us at 5 focus groups and 32 parents and carers shared their experiences via an online survey.

Through May and June we asked parents of school age children about whether their children had sight (eye) tests and if there were any barriers to having these tests. 87 people responded to our survey or spoke to us at community events.

Primary care is an important point of contact for people to ask for help when experiencing domestic abuse, but little was known about this experience.

The aim of this research project was to explore whether general practice is meeting the needs of people who are experiencing domestic abuse within Surrey, and what improvements could be made to better meet these needs.