Healthwatch Portsmouth

Save the Date: Bowel Cancer Awareness Event
🗓️ Tuesday 28th July 2026
⏰ 6:00pm (for a 6:30pm start) – 8:00pm
📍 Drayton Methodist Church (Main Hall, Havant Rd)

Bowel cancer can affect anyone. Coming along to this informal evening could help save your life or the life of someone you love.
The Drayton Surgery Patient Participation Group (PPG) warmly invites all patients and local residents to attend:

What’s on:
🩺 A short talk from NHS staff at the QA Hospital Bowel Cancer Unit.
💬 Q&A session in a relaxed setting.
☕ Free refreshments & free parking!
See the full details in the Bowel cancer.jpg poster below. Questions? Email [email protected]. We hope to see you there!

With extreme heat forecast this week, there are serious health risks like dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke, especially for older adults, young children, and those with underlying conditions.

We have included the official UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) posters and information on how to stay safe on our website. https://www.healthwatchportsmouth.co.uk/beat-the-heat-stay-safe-and-cool

For Carers, Community Leaders, & Voluntary Organisations: Please download and print these Easy Read materials to share with those in your care!

See you next Wednesday, at 6 pm, at Portsmouth Dental Academy!

Join us to hear about the latest health and care updates in Portsmouth.

🔗 Sign up here: https://www.healthwatchportsmouth.co.uk/event-details/healthwatch-portsmouth-advisory-board-meeting-in-public-june-2026

Are you ready for our next Advisory Board Meeting in Public? 👋

Join us to hear about health and care updates, what we’ve achieved over the last quarter, and ask questions at the end of the meeting.

You’ll also hear a short update about the Health Determinants Research Collaborative work programme.

📅 Thursday 17 June 2026
⏰ 6pm–8pm
📍 University of Portsmouth Dental Academy, Hampshire Terrace, Portsmouth, PO1 2QG

☕ Tea and coffee will be provided.

Sign up here now: https://www.healthwatchportsmouth.co.uk/event-details/healthwatch-portsmouth-advisory-board-meeting-in-public-june-2026

🦷 Finding an NHS dentist can be difficult. Getting there can be just as challenging if you rely on public transport.

🗺️ We've created an interactive map, showing NHS dental practices across Portsmouth and nearby bus routes, and a guide on their availability, so you can plan your journey more easily.

👉 View the map and guide here: https://www.healthwatchportsmouth.co.uk/finding-an-nhs-dentist-in-portsmouth

Are you aged 11–18 and interested in emotional wellbeing? 🎙️

Join The Wellbeing Club Podcast – a safe, supportive, and inclusive space where young people can share their views and make their voices heard.

You'll have the chance to get involved in:
🎤 Recording
🎙️ Interviewing
✂️ Editing

The podcast is run by The Council of Social Responsibility in Portsmouth, and it's completely free to take part.

If you're interested, or you know a young person who might be, email Lydia at:
📧 [email protected]

🚌 Need help with travel costs for hospital appointments?

We often hear from people who are unsure how to get to hospital or whether they can get help with travel costs.

We raised this with Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, and they listened. They have now updated their website with clearer, easier-to-find information about travel cost refunds.

The updated guidance explains:
✅ Who can claim a refund
✅ When you can claim travel costs
✅ How to make a claim

We've also put together a blog that covers everything you need to know.

Read more here: https://www.healthwatchportsmouth.co.uk/nhs-healthcare-travel-cost-reimbursement

Our meeting agenda for the upcoming Advisory Board meeting on 17 June is out.

📑 Read the agenda here: https://www.healthwatchportsmouth.co.uk/advisorygroup

🔗 Sign up to our meeting here: https://www.healthwatchportsmouth.co.uk/event-details/healthwatch-portsmouth-advisory-board-meeting-in-public-june-2026

Are you ready for our next Advisory Board Meeting in Public? 👋

Join us to hear about health and care updates, what we’ve achieved over the last quarter, and ask questions at the end of the meeting.

You’ll also hear a short update about the Health Determinants Research Collaborative work programme.

📅 Thursday 17 June 2026
⏰ 6pm–8pm
📍 University of Portsmouth Dental Academy, Hampshire Terrace, Portsmouth, PO1 2QG

☕ Tea and coffee will be provided.

Sign up here now: https://www.healthwatchportsmouth.co.uk/event-details/healthwatch-portsmouth-advisory-board-meeting-in-public-june-2026

We went back to Admiral Jellicoe House (Veterans Care Home) one year after our Enter and View visit 🏡

During our last visit, we shared that the walls on the dementia floor looked plain and outdated. Look at the amazing changes they’ve made! ✨

Each area now has its own theme, including a post office, football corner, memory shop, and even a beach area. These small changes can help people feel more comfortable and supported.

Well done to the team at Admiral Jellicoe House - you’ve done a fantastic job! We’re pleased to see that our feedback helped support these improvements.🎉

Last week, we joined Age UK Portsmouth’s dementia drop-in session.

We shared a table with the Dementia Matters group - a lovely group of unpaid carers working hard to improve dementia care in Portsmouth.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by, spoke with us, and filled in our surveys. We hope the advice and information we shared helped you 😊

Remember, we are always here to support you with health and care questions.

This week is Dementia Action Week 💙 We want to shine a light on a local dementia support group in Cosham, Portsmouth.

Portsmouth Dementia Matters group was created by Anne Scowen and other local carers. Anne cares for her husband, and knows first-hand how hard it can be to get support.

Healthwatch Portsmouth is proud to have supported this group with advice as it continues to grow. Anne's voices were shared by BBC, and local NHS leaders started attending their meetings.

Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer. If you or someone you know is living with dementia, local support can make a real difference.

Take action now 👇

📞 Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Support Line:
0333 150 3456

📧 Email Portsmouth Dementia Matters group:
[email protected]

🫶 Other local dementia support groups:
https://hiveportsmouth.org.uk/hive-directory/tag/195