1. Where can I go for support for my mental health as a parent?

    Advice and Information -

    We've pulled together a number of services for parents in need of support for their mental health. Read more to find out where you can go to get the help you need.

  2. Many women are positive about their maternity care, but improvements still needed

    News -

    Findings from the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) national survey of more than 17,600 women who gave birth in February last year show that many had a good experience, including in relation to interactions with staff

  3. Healthwatch England Annual Report 2018-19

    Report -

    Last year, Healthwatch supported over 336,000 people to share their story about health and social care. These views resulted in over 7,200 recommendations to services about the improvements that people would like to see

  4. Local Hospitals Appoint First Ever Research Midwife

    News -

    At the end of 2021, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH) appointed its first-ever Research Midwife.

  5. New Breastfeeding Peer Support Volunteers

    Blog -

    Doncaster Health Visiting team, which is run by Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH), has welcomed seven new additions in the form of Breastfeeding Peer Support Volunteers.

  6. Doncaster Paediatrics raises over £3,300 during ‘Winter Wonderland’ event

    News -

    Members of the Paediatric team at Doncaster Royal Infirmary (DRI) hosted a ‘Winter Wonderland’ for staff and patients on 15 December, raising a whopping £3,300 to be reinvested into the Paediatric and Neonatal departments.

  7. National survey shows decline in positive maternity experiences

    Report -

    Findings from a survey of more than 20,900 women who gave birth in February 2022 show fewer reporting positively about their experience of maternity care, with a notable decline in the number able to get help from staff when they needed it.

  8. Hospital charity campaign funds specialist scanner improving ‘dignified’ care for those suffering baby loss

    Blog -

    A brand-new mobile ultrasound scanner will provide a more ‘dignified’ and ‘comfortable’ experience for patients with pregnancy complications.

  9. Works begin on brand new Doncaster maternity bereavement suite

    News -

    On 13 March, works began on a bespoke space for people experiencing baby loss at Doncaster Royal Infirmary.

  10. Doncaster Royal Infirmary opens specialist bereavement suite

    News -

    A specialist facility dedicated to providing solace and support for families navigating the heart-breaking journey of baby loss has opened on Thursday 15 June at Doncaster Royal Infirmary (DRI).

  11. Do you need help getting to hospital?

    Advice and Information -

    Find out what support is available to help you travel to your hospital appointments.

  12. PRESS RELEASE: Voluntary groups encouraged to work together as part of annual grant scheme

    News -

    Community groups in Doncaster can team up to apply for a maximum amount of £1,000 during Healthwatch Doncaster’s annual micro-grant scheme that launched this week.

  13. Report to NHS Doncaster CCG Experience and Engagement Committee - January 2018

    Report -

    Healthwatch Doncaster update to the NHS Doncaster CCG's Engagement and Experience Committee (EEC)

  14. Event: The Great Get Together 2017

    Report -

    Healthwatch Doncaster designed and delivered an engagement campaign aimed at older people, adults, children and families who attend Doncaster Town Cricket Club. The campaign was co-designed and delivered with Doncaster Town Cricket Club.

  15. PRESS RELEASE: Elle Rochelle Smith, wins ‘YMCA’s Apprentice of the Year Award’

    News -

    YMCA Business Administration Apprentice, 19-year-old Elle Rochelle Smith from Doncaster, has been recognised for her outstanding achievement at Healthwatch Doncaster – an independent organisation, which shapes health and social care services

  16. PRESS RELEASE: Healthwatch Doncaster joins forces with RDASH to set up a wheelchair forum

    News -

    Wheelchair users in Doncaster are being encouraged to join a forum jointly created by Healthwatch Doncaster and Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDASH) to gather feedback on their experiences to advance services

  17. PRESS RELEASE – Funding of £500 available for local groups to facilitate health and social care conversations

    News -

    Conversations around health and social care can be discussed in a range of innovative ways, and that’s why Healthwatch Doncaster has launched its micro-grant scheme for local groups to apply for £500 to help engage, inform and influence

  18. PRESS RELEASE: Awards success for Healthwatch Doncaster at YMCA Training ceremony commemorating National Apprenticeship Week

    News -

    From an Apprentice to Business Support Officer in under two years, Emily Green was celebrated as YMCA Training’s Apprentice of The Year, and in a double swoop, the organisation was named as Employer Of The Year at an awards ceremony last Friday

  19. PRESS RELEASE – A new local support group for Trans and Gender Variant people is established for Doncaster

    News -

    Trans Mission is an award-winning support group for Trans and Gender Variant people. The voluntary & community sector organisation will be opening its doors within the Borough this month

  20. Micro-Grant Report: B: Friend (2017)

    Report -

    B:Friend created an interactive mobile application to be used by befriending volunteers across Doncaster offering reference material, check-in functionality and media gathering tool

  21. Micro-Grant Report: B: Friend (2018)

    Report -

    The Micro-grant intended to allow b:friend to visit some of the hardest to reach individuals and gain insight to their experiences of community, health and support them to further engage

  22. Micro-Grant Report: Choice for All Doncaster (2017)

    Report -

    Representing the voices of people with Learning Disabilities around their experiences at the Dentists.

  23. Micro-Grant Report: Choice for All Doncaster (2019)

    Report -

    Members of ChAD and Rossington Smile held several meetings to discuss scenarios which can be used to show people what could occur through social media.

  24. Micro-Grant Report: Doncaster Central Learning Centre (2017)

    Report -

    Doncaster Central Learning Centre (DCLC) delivered six health conversation workshops targeting a small group of Black Minority Ethnic older people.

  25. Micro-Grant Report: Doncaster Central Learning Centre (2018)

    Report -

    The aim of the project is to deliver six sewing workshops (workshops targeting a small group of Black Minority Ethnic older people), delivering health conversations around the topic of social prescribing in Doncaster.

  26. Micro-Grant Report: Dig It (2017)

    Report -

    Dig It are looking to promote a sustainable future for the community allotment in Denaby ensuring that the benefits of allotment gardening are recognised.

  27. Micro-Grant Report: Doncaster Parents Voice (2017)

    Report -

    Joint event with The LADDER Group and Young Healthwatch Doncaster celebrating and encouraging young people to have a voice about services they use in Doncaster

  28. Micro-Grant Report: DonMentia (2019)

    Report -

    The micro grant supported DonMentia to purchase merchandise and fund printing that informs the community through events of the support that is available for people affected by Dementia.

  29. Young Healthwatch

    Blog -

    Your local Healthwatch wants to hear from children and young people who have something to say about the health and social care services that they use

  30. Call for more BAME residents to get involved in research

    News -

    A Doncaster researcher is making a call out to people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities across the UK to get more involved in research

  31. Micro-Grant Report: Edlington Community Organisation (2019)

    Report -

    The purpose of the group was to continue an existing exercise class. Some who attend the class have experienced social isolation and this was their way of getting out and meeting new friends.

  32. Micro-Grant Report: My Network for Women and The Mac Group (2019)

    Report -

    The micro-grant was used to hold an event to get people talking about World Mental Health day. The event included speakers, stalls for therapists, panel discussion and Mental Health Practitioners to exhibit their services.

  33. Micro-Grant Report: My Network for Women (2017)

    Report -

    My Network for Women celebrated World Mental Health Day by organising a one day event comprising of stalls, speakers, demonstrations, workshops, refreshments and lunch. Various meetings were held prior with committee members.

  34. Micro-Grant Report: North Doncaster Development Trust (2017)

    Report -

    The purpose of the session was to get people together and have a good time at a Vintage Tea Party where they can interact with others, play musical bingo, do a quiz and be served copious amounts of sandwiches, cakes and tea.

  35. Micro-Grant Report: North Doncaster Development Trust (2018)

    Report -

    We arranged for Aspiring2 to come and deliver one of their wonderful Vintage Tea Parties, the event was advertised locally and our minibus was kept free that afternoon to enable us to collect anyone who could not get here themselves

  36. Micro-Grant Report: Partially Sighted Society (2017)

    Report -

    ‘A cuppa with…’ - these sessions were aimed at health and social care providers to share information about that service and answer the questions of the visually impaired participants

  37. Micro-Grant Report: Partially Sighted Society (2018)

    Report -

    The purpose of the project was to encourage ‘non-techie’ people with a visually impairment to try using an Amazon Echo to see if Alexa would be useful in their daily lives. This would also help towards reducing some peoples’ social isolation.

  38. Micro-Grant Report: Support 4 Change (2017)

    Report -

    The purpose of the Complementary Therapies was to help encourage relaxation amongst group members seeking support to help deal with the stresses and strains of managing a loved one’s substance misuse addiction.

  39. Health Ambassadors

    Blog -

    Our Ambassadors represent local people in Doncaster who are part of seldom heard communities - people who struggle to have their voices heard.

  40. PRESS RELEASE: Local Healthwatch launches daily online sessions to support people during Covid-19 pandemic

    News -

    Local Healthwatch launches daily online sessions to support people during Covid-19 pandemic

  41. New research for the Care Quality Commission shows racial disparity in people raising concerns about their care

    News -

    Research undertaken for the Care Quality Commission as part of their year-long “Declare Your Care” campaign has revealed those from a black and minority ethnic (BME) background are less likely than those from a non-BME background to raise concerns

  42. Report to NHS Doncaster CCG Experience and Engagement Committee - April 2018

    Report -

    Healthwatch Doncaster update to the NHS Doncaster CCG's Engagement and Experience Committee (EEC) in April 2018

  43. Report to NHS Doncaster CCG Experience and Engagement Committee - June 2018

    Report -

    Healthwatch Doncaster update to the NHS Doncaster CCG's Engagement and Experience Committee (EEC) in June 2018

  44. Report to NHS Doncaster CCG Experience and Engagement Committee - August 2018

    Report -

    Healthwatch Doncaster update to the NHS Doncaster CCG's Engagement and Experience Committee (EEC)

  45. Shortlist Announced for Local Hospital Awards

    News -

    Healthwatch Doncaster are sponsoring one of the Star awards this year’s event – the Volunteer of the Year award and Healthwatch Doncaster are included in 2 of the shortlisted projects for the Collaboration and Partnership Award

  46. Report to NHS Doncaster CCG Experience and Engagement Committee - November 2018

    Report -

    Healthwatch Doncaster update to the NHS Doncaster CCG's Engagement and Experience Committee (EEC)

  47. Report to NHS Doncaster CCG Experience and Engagement Committee - April 2019

    Report -

    Healthwatch Doncaster update to the NHS Doncaster CCG's Engagement and Experience Committee (EEC)

  48. Report to NHS Doncaster CCG Experience and Engagement Committee - June 2019

    Report -

    Healthwatch Doncaster update to the NHS Doncaster CCG's Engagement and Experience Committee (EEC)

  49. Report to NHS Doncaster CCG Experience and Engagement Committee - October 2019

    Report -

    Healthwatch Doncaster update to the NHS Doncaster CCG's Engagement and Experience Committee (EEC)

  50. Ready, steady, census

    News -

    Households across Doncaster will soon be asked to take part in Census 2021