News and reports

Healthwatch Cornwall champions better standards of care in socially funded health and social care services.

Healthwatch Cornwall champions better standards of care in socially funded health and social care services.

This Impact Review Report presents the outcomes and influence of Healthwatch Cornwall’s Preliminary Cost of Living Report (published 30 September 2024), which captured the real-life experiences of over 400 people across the county.

These “400 Voices of Cornwall” shed light on the growing crisis of healthcare access amid rising living costs. From dental care to GP access, medication affordability to travel barriers, the evidence highlights a system under pressure—and a population struggling to engage with the services it needs.

This report outlines the outcomes and improvements arising from Healthwatch Cornwall’s engagement with carers and individuals affected by dementia and memory loss. The findings, based on the ‘Hear Our Voice’ research, aim to enhance the quality of services and support available for dementia care across Cornwall.

In 2024–2025 Healthwatch Cornwall turned public frustration with NHS dental services across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly into evidence, and evidence into action — leading to tangible, measurable improvements in services.

Through gathering over 1,185 real experiences from residents — families, carers, young people, older adults, and rural communities — Healthwatch Cornwall produced the landmark report: “The Dental Crisis in Cornwall: Your Questions Answered.”

This report was formally cited as critical evidence by the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board (ICB) and directly informed the 2024–2026 Dental Strategy.

This report demonstrates the direct impact of Healthwatch Cornwall in driving measurable improvements within the Emergency Department (ED) at Royal Cornwall Hospital (Treliske).

Through amplifying the voices of patients and families, Healthwatch Cornwall catalysed a focused response that is already transforming key aspects of emergency care delivery. Without this intervention, many long-standing patient concerns would have remained hidden or unresolved.

Healthwatch Cornwall gathered real-time feedback from patients and families who had recently used the Emergency Department. This evidence exposed critical issues affecting patient experience, dignity, and wellbeing. In response to Healthwatch Cornwall’s findings, the hospital’s leadership has committed to a series of immediate and longer-term actions to improve confidentiality, comfort, accessibility, communication, and support during long waits.

This report demonstrates how Healthwatch Cornwall’s independent engagement with individuals subject to adult safeguarding has directly influenced systemic change across Cornwall. Through in-depth conversations with 29 participants, we explored whether people felt heard, safe, and supported — and what outcomes mattered most to them.

Our findings, rooted in the Making Safeguarding Personal (MSP) framework, not only highlighted gaps in communication, advocacy, and inter-agency coordination — they led to formal recommendations that have since been adopted by the Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) and partners.

These recommendations are now actively shaping local safeguarding policy, service delivery, and public awareness work. The role of Healthwatch Cornwall has been critical in ensuring that real experiences drive meaningful, person-centred change.

This report outlines the measurable impact of Healthwatch Cornwall’s Enter & View programme in 2023-2024. The programme not only brought immediate, tangible improvements to primary care services but also contributed directly to influencing wider system change.

Through visits to 28 primary care practices (GP surgeries, Dentists, Opticians, Pharmacists) we gathered the views and experiences of 168 patients and 50 staff members.

Those lived experiences were translated into evidence-based recommendations, several of which were promptly implemented by providers.

At Healthwatch Cornwall, we believe that real change begins with listening—and that listening is only possible thanks to the incredible commitment of our volunteers. As we celebrate the vital contributions of our current volunteers, we want to extend a sincere and heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you.

Healthwatch Cornwall is conducting a new research project to better understand GP access, communication and trust in multidisciplinary teams across Cornwall. This study also explores how digital triage systems are affecting patient experiences and frontline practice.

Join us at Truro Community Library for our Autism Partnership Board meeting!

🩺 Have you recently contacted your GP practice? Was it easy to get help? Did you feel heard and supported? Were you happy with the care you received?

We want to know what it’s really like for people across Cornwall when accessing GP services, and we need your voice to make change happen.