News and reports

HWE News - 8 December 2025

One in seven patients who have been referred by their GP are stuck waiting for specialist care due to GP referrals being delayed, lost, or rejected.

HWE Response - 5 January 2026

The Government have announced the first step in delivering the new NHS online hospital, allowing nine common conditions to receive faster access to specialist care

December "You said, we did" report.
We've received lots of feedback regarding NHS and Social Care services and we've also provided information and signposting to those that need it.

Enter & View Visit to Market Surgery, Wath

In November, Healthwatch Rotherham carried out an Enter & View visit to Market Surgery in Wath-upon-Dearne. These visits allow us to see services first-hand, speak directly with patients and staff, and understand how care is experienced by local people.

The Rainbow Project Rotherham creates safe, inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ people across our borough. Between October 2025, Healthwatch Rotherham spent time with the project’s groups and activities, listening to people’s experiences of support, wellbeing, identity, and access to health and care.

What we heard was clear: the Rainbow Project does more than deliver services. It gives people a sense of belonging, connection and confidence. This report shares attendees’ voices, highlights what the project does well, and identifies where more understanding and support are needed.

Most men would attend testing if the government introduced a national screening programme for prostate cancer, according to our new research.

November "You said, we did" report.
We've received lots of feedback regarding NHS and Social Care services and we've also provided information and signposting to those that need it.

Our 'You said, we did' report for October 2025 is now available.

This month we were heard from 78 people who either shared their experiences of health and social care services, or asked for information and signposting help. Our report highlights some of the things we heard and some of the actions we have taken, as well as some of the feedback given to us. We had a massive response at our outreach engagements totaling 275 people seen!

During several public engagement sessions conducted by Healthwatch Rotherham, concerns were raised about hospital referral waiting times. A number of individuals reported experiencing delays of several weeks for their referrals, with some expressing that they felt abandoned by the NHS during this period of uncertainty.
In response to these concerns, Healthwatch Rotherham launched a web-based SmartSurvey to gather data on patients' experiences of "waiting well" and to explore whether this approach had been recommended or supported by their healthcare professionals.

Healthwatch Rotherham attended Rotherham College to support a series of educational sessions focused on breast cancer awareness and early detection. The sessions at Healthwatch Rotherham attended had a total of 27 students, including 8 male students, demonstrating the importance of breast health awareness for all sexes, ages, and backgrounds.

Healthwatch Rotherham has been engaging with local people to understand their experiences of menopause — a natural stage of life that can have wide-ranging physical, emotional, and social effects.

As we head into the colder months, the NHS is encouraging everyone who is eligible to book their free flu and COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself, your family, and our community from serious illness this winter.