You Said, We did - February 2026
Download (PDF 828.01 KB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Rotherham report on the feedback received from local people about health and social care services during February 2026 and explains the actions taken in response. Residents shared a wide range of experiences, including very positive feedback about maternity services, perinatal mental health support, dermatology care, and hospital ward staff, alongside concerns about access to GP registration, NHS dentistry, mental health services, cancelled operations, and poor communication between services.
During the month, Healthwatch Rotherham engaged with people through outreach sessions and community events, including migrant and housing support services, hospital sites, and town‑centre locations. Hundreds of people were reached through direct contact, newsletters, and social media, with many individuals seeking help with information, signposting, or resolving specific problems with health and social care services.
A significant proportion of the issues raised related to primary care and dentistry. Some residents reported difficulty registering with a GP or understanding the registration process, while others described losing dental appliances in hospital or being unable to find an NHS dentist despite being in pain. Healthwatch supported people by explaining GP registration requirements, helping individuals register successfully, contacting patient experience teams, and advising or assisting with NHS 111 referrals for urgent dental care.
The report also highlights support for people facing wider challenges, such as financial hardship caused by delayed surgery, changes to children’s care providers, and difficulties accessing ADHD assessments. In these cases, Healthwatch signposted individuals to relevant organisations such as Citizens Advice Rotherham and other local or national support services that could provide practical help and advocacy.
Mental health featured strongly in both feedback and actions. Some people praised perinatal mental health services for providing timely, effective support, while others described mental health provision as hard to access and fragmented. Healthwatch responded by sharing information on available mental health services and making referrals to advocacy organisations when people felt unheard or were struggling to progress referrals for serious or ongoing conditions.
Not all feedback required direct action. The report also documents comments passed on to services, including positive experiences of maternity care, mixed experiences of GP practices, and concerns about communication, accessibility, and waiting times. Feedback was also shared about other local services, such as hearing aid repairs and specialist dental treatments that were unavailable or unaffordable.
Overall, the document demonstrates how Healthwatch Rotherham listened to residents’ experiences in February 2026 and took practical steps to help individuals access care, resolve problems, and have their voices heard, while also feeding broader learning back to local services to support improvement.