News and reports | Healthwatch Barnet

Enter and View: Abbey Ravenscroft Park Nursing Home

Our Enter and View team visited this home as part of Healthwatch’s planned series of visits to Care/Nursing homes in Barnet. Abbey Ravenscroft is part of the Abbey Total Care Group situated in a quiet and scenic location in a leafy part of Barnet.

A review of the Referral Management System information and its use by Barnet GPs.

What happens when a GP wants to refer you to a specialist? They send the referral to the Referral Management Service. The RMS team send the patient a letter within three weeks of the referral explaining how to book an appointment,online or via phone.

It is the patient's responsibilty to book the appointment using their login details. Patients who do not book an appointment will be sent two reminder letters before the RMS discharge the patient back to their GP.

Coloured ribbons

Cancer screening and treatment in Barnet

The NHS produced a Long-Term Plan in early 2019, setting out the plan and framework for health services to change and improve for patients. One such service is increasing the number of patients attending NHS screening.

13 November 2019

An ambulance parked outside an Accident and Emergency Department of a hospital

A&E Services review in Barnet

During February and March 2019, we conducted a survey with patients attending A&E departments in the Royal Free Hospital Trust. Our team of staff and volunteers visited the Accident & Emergency Departments at Barnet Hospital and the Royal Free Hospital to gather the views of over 500 patients. The main objective was to identify why people were coming to A&E.

21 October 2019

Hello and welcome signs written in different languages in speech bubbles.

GP interpreting services

All Barnet GP practices have access to language interpreters through Language Line Solutions; an over the phone interpreting service. However, we have received anecdotal feedback that this interpreting service is not widely used by GPs.

10 September 2019

Graphic of the Healthwatch icon

Annual Report 2018 - 2019

Our annual report shows how our Healthwatch Barnet team of volunteers and staff have been at the forefront of changes brought about in the health and social care services, bringing local voices and experiences to the attention of decision makers.

Magnifying glass

Enter and View: Cricklewood Health Centre and Walk-in Centre (follow-up visit)

This visit to Cricklewood Walk-in Centre, was a follow up to the visits made in January and March 2018 and was arranged with the recently appointed Practice Manager to discuss the recommendations of those reports. The report also talks about the future of the centre, which is on the border of Barnet, Brent and Camden. We were told that about half the patients come from Brent, about 40% from Barnet and 10% from Camden.

Magnifying glass

Enter and View: Sunridge Court Care Home (safeguarding visit)

This announced E&V visit was part of a planned set of visits reviewing safeguarding at a range of care and nursing homes within Barnet. In this visit we focussed on identifying any signs of abuse as described by the Social Care Institute for Excellence. This ‘at a glance’ briefing which aims to help people who come into contact with people with care and support needs to identify abuse and recognise possible indicators. Many types of abuse are also criminal offences and should be treated as such.

Yellow and white ambulance for patients

Hospital transport

In summer and autumn 2018, we were contacted by community organisations, individuals and some GP staff about the difficulties patients were experiencing in using hospital transport for their journeys to and from Royal Free Hospital sites.

Magnifying glass and speech marks

Enter and View: Baxendale Care Home (safeguarding)

This report is part of a planned set of Enter & View visits reviewing safeguarding at a range of care and nursing homes within Barnet. The care home is run by Ventry Residential Care providing accommodation and care for up to 21 older people.

male and female paramedics

NHS Long Term Plan - Summary of findings for North Central London

The NHS Long Term Plan, a ten-year plan created by NHS England, sets out a vision to make sure that health services are fit for purpose in the future. A significant part of the plan is around preventative action against illness and disease.

Doctor checking patient in bed

Cancer Screening Project for people with learning disabilities

The low uptake of Cancer screening tests for patients with learning disabilities is not only a local issue in Barnet, but a national issue and health priority.