Evidence based reports

The merger of Victoria Medical Practice, Dr Thomas and Dr Bhatt & Dr Benn resulted in the newly formed New Washington Medical Group.  In November 2018 our engagement team and volunteers visited the practice to ask patients "how are things going since the merger?"

Download our New Washington Medical Group report - November 2018

In November 2017, Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group, wrote to all patients of 
Dr Nathan's GP surgery and Dr Bhate & Dr Hussein's GP surgery, to advise that following 
Dr Nathan's retirement in March 2018, the two surgeries would be merging.

From Monday 2nd April 2018 the surgeries, based at Riverview Health Centre, became known as Dr Bhate and Partners.

Six months after the merger, we wanted to find out how things were going from a patients perspective, and this report details feedback we received from patients during 4 separate visits to the practice.

Download our Dr Bhate & Partners patient feedback report - October 2018

Following some mixed feedback received about the Sunderland GP Alliance Medical Practice telephone system over a period of several months, the Healthwatch Sunderland Board agreed that further engagement work would be carried out with patients.

This involved using a specifically designed survey to be used with patients from 3 practices (Barmston Medical Centre, Pennywell Medical centre, The Galleries) to find out specific information on what was working well and what wasn't working so well.

This was carried out across all 3 GP practices during the month of July 2018.

Download our GP Alliance Medical Practice Telephone System report

Download the response from the GP Alliance

Download the GP Alliance Practices Monthly Performance & Information Report - June 2018

Download the GP Alliance Practices Monthly Performance & Information Report - July 2018

Initial conversations with some service users of Sunderland Care and Support, Community Equipment Services (CES) included negative feedback about the service and highlighted some issues they had experienced. This feedback was gathered over the first few months of 2017 and involved engagement work with the following organisations: Sunderland Carers Groups in Washington, Southwick and Pallion, Stroke Association groups, Alzheimer's Society groups, Kepier Medical Practice Patient Participation Group and South Hylton Medical Centre Patient Participation Group.

The feedback gathered prompted a larger piece of work, looking at Sunderland Community Equipment Services and accessing more focused feedback from their service users and equipment prescribers.

Download the updated response from Philip Foster, Chief Operating Officer from Sunderland Care and Suport - November 2018

Download the response from Philip Foster, Chief Operating Officer from Sunderland Care and Support - August 2018 

Download our Sunderland Community Equipment Services report - June 2018

A Patient Participation Group (PPG) is a local group of patients, carers and GP practice staff who meet to discuss practice issues and patient experience to improve the service at your GP practice.

Download our Patient Participation Group report

Download our involving young people leaflet

Download our Patient Participation Group Best Practice Guide

If you are interested in joining your PPG please get in touch with your GP practice - they would love to hear from you!

During 2016 Healthwatch Sunderland carried out a series of engagement activities across Sunderland with the aim of gathering current patients, carers and staff views on NHS funded mental health provison.

The findings from this piece of work can be found in the report along with the associated recommendations.

Download our mental health services report

Download the feedback from Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust

Download the feedback from NHS Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group

Healthwatch Sunderland held an event for Practice staff and Patient group members to discuss and agree the key things to have an effective PPG.

Download our Patient Participation Groups Event report

Healthwatch Sunderland was keen to ensure that the local refugee community was given a voice regarding the health and social care services that they access (or don’t access) in Sunderland.

Download our refugee engagement event report

The primary outcome of the work of Healthwatch and Sunderland People First was to feedback a range of Stakeholder opinions into the national consultation and this was achieved. Our secondary aim was to provide a report, with an emphasis upon people's views on the Sunderland experience that could be shared with local commissioners and providers.

Download our “No Voice Unheard No Right Ignored” Green Paper for people with a learning disability and/or autism report

Engagement carried out by Healthwatch staff during autumn of 2013 indicated that there were some concerns over hospital discharge, elderly hospital care and dementia identification.

Download our report on call for evidence: elderly hospital  care, hospital discharge & dementia identification report