News and reports

Healthwatch Croydon contribution to how eye care services are precieved by patients has been featured in Optomety today.

Healthwatch Croydon was commissioned by Croydon Health Services NHS Trust to better understand the experiences of patients at Purley Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) which is a new set of services launched at Purley War Memorial Hospital from January 2024. Insights from which would inform potential needs and unidentified opportunities for the New Addington CDC due to open in July 2025. The team surveyed 120 patients within Purley CDC and sought insight from 50 residents in New Addington, ten from focus group, and 40 from a survey. All insight was undertaken between February and March 2025.

The Healthwatch Croydon team has the pleasure of working with two student volunteers from the public health course at Croydon College. They were a real credit to the team and as you will learn we think they gained a lot of value working with us too!

Healthwatch Croydon attends this years South West London Research Summit, we hear key findings from numerous health and social care research projects across the region as well as better understanding of academic principles in health research and advice and guidance from research bodies to aid the funding process.

A review of pharmacies, known as a Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA), is taking place in the borough.

GP practices in South West London, which cover Croydon, Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton, and Wandsworth boroughs, introduced a new BSL interpreter provider on 1st October 2024.

Croydon Council have refreshed the Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy (2024-2029).

The UK government has called for evidence to inform the Men's Health Strategy, we are looking for the male population of Croydon to complete a survey to contribute to this consultation.

Croydon Council is refreshing our Adult Social Care and Health Strategy for the next five years – 2026 to 2030.

Carole Hembest is one of Healthwatch Croydon's longest serving volunteers, she is passionate about health and social care and is well loved within the community.

Department of Health and Social Care reached an agreement with Community Pharmacy England to provide an additional £617 million for pharmacy services over two years.

Healthwatch Croydon surveyed patients on specialist eye care waiting times, trust in opticians, service accessibility, and needed improvements.