Annual Report 2025/26

Healthwatch East Sussex report on its key achievements for 2025/26.  It:

• Influenced improvements to local services through major projects on non-emergency patient transport, GP access, community pharmacy services, women’s health, temporary accommodation, and healthcare access for vulnerable groups. 
• Secured action following its review of Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services (NEPTS), with NHS Sussex and EMED accepting all recommendations and committing to service improvements. 
• Amplified the voices of underrepresented communities, including people in temporary accommodation, refugees and asylum seekers, children and young people, SEND families, and people affected by ARFID.
• Improved access to healthcare by highlighting barriers around translation services, GP information, lung health screening, autism assessments, and dietary-related health conditions, leading to practical changes and improved information. 
• Strengthened public influence in health and care decision-making, hearing from 2,451 people, publishing 29 reports, and using community feedback to shape local NHS, council and Integrated Care System priorities.