News and reports

The following blog has been written by a Health and Social Care student who recently completed a one-week work placement with Healthwatch Barking and Dagenham. It shares their personal reflections and experiences from their time with the team.

As a Health and Social Care student at university, I had reached a stage where I wanted to gain valuable experience within the field while also exploring career paths connected to my interests. I knew I wanted to make a positive impact, although I was still uncertain about exactly where I saw myself in the future.

At Healthwatch, we believe that every voice matters—especially those caring for loved ones in challenging times. Recently, as part of our carers project, we spoke with a carer who shared her deeply personal experience of supporting her mother, who lives with dementia. Her story sheds light on the emotional toll, the resilience required, and the importance of compassionate care.

As we celebrate Volunteers’ Week this week, we would like to say a heartfelt thank you to all our volunteers for everything they do. Healthwatch is an organisation that amplifies the voices of local communities in health and social care, while also signposting people to relevant NHS services and support. We make sure local people’s views, experiences and concerns are heard by the decision-makers who can help improve services. None of this would be possible without our volunteers, who generously give their time, energy and skills to help us make a difference.

Healthwatch Barking and Dagenham is inviting local residents to take part in a new survey to better understand people’s experiences of using the NHS App.

Faith leaders, councillors and health partners came together on 27 March 2026 to celebrate the achievements of the Barking and Dagenham Faith Leaders Network (BDFLN) and the impact of its collaborative health projects.

A new community-focused project is launching in April 2026 to better understand how residents in Barking & Dagenham experience healthcare referral pathways—and to identify practical ways to improve them.

This Share for Better Care Week, take three minutes to share your experience of health and social care.

I discovered Healthwatch while searching for meaningful volunteering opportunities and was previously unaware of its vital role in the community. Through its work, I learned how Healthwatch empowers people by gathering public feedback, identifying gaps and failures in services, and helping to improve access and experiences across health and care. Its impact reaches everyone who relies on the NHS and related services, turning real experiences into practical changes that benefit the wider community.

Today, men's health is increasingly discussed yet still a sensitive topic. This is not only driven by personal choice, but also by social pressure and stigma. Recently, the UK Government released the first ever national Men's Health Strategy for England.

Waiting weeks for a GP appointment is something we, as Healthwatch, hear about all too often from local people. It’s one of the most common concerns raised during our weekly engagement sessions across Barking and Dagenham.

National Self-Care Week aims to raise awareness of the benefits of self-care across the UK, encouraging people to be intentional about prioritising their own needs and wellbeing. This year, the campaign runs from 17–23 November with the theme “Mind and Body.” It’s a timely focus that reflects growing research into the strong link between physical and mental health — a connection that sits at the heart of effective self-care.