This update summarises what local people are telling us about health and care, where experience is breaking down, and what we are doing with partners in response.

Over the past year, we’ve helped more than 8,400 people have their say about health and care in Waltham Forest. 

Our work has directly shaped GP access, maternity services, and vaccine confidence—ensuring decisions are grounded in real experiences. 

We published 54 reports and reached out to underrepresented communities, including Romanian residents, people experiencing homelessness, and young people. 

Our Good Care Framework is now embedded in local strategy, and our insights are influencing the design of new health hubs, making services more joined-up and inclusive.

We’re excited to be part of Volunteering Link – a new five-year project that brings together volunteering opportunities across Healthwatch Waltham Forest, Waltham Forest Community Hub, and Carers First under one coordinated programme. It’s designed to make volunteering easier, more flexible, and more rewarding for local people.

Our new Volunteer Manager, Ammarah Ahmad, started this week and will be based at the Community Hub. Ammarah will help residents across Waltham Forest find the right volunteer role — whether you have a few hours a month or more time to give.

We’re looking for volunteers to:

• Speak to patients in hospitals, GP surgeries, and community venues
• Help improve health and care services through outreach and research
• Support with admin, social media, or even become a trustee

You’ll build new skills, meet new people, and help shape better services for everyone in Waltham Forest.

Interested? Get in touch today and join our growing volunteer team

Waltham Forest Council, the NHS and the voluntary and community sector are working together to develop community healthcare spaces where GP services, screenings, tests and community services can all be provided in one place. 

We are running a survey to make sure local people can help shape these plans.  They would like to know how healthcare spaces can support you to stay as healthy as you can.

Complete the survey and you could be in with the chance to win one of three prizes: £150, -£100 or £50. 

It should take about 10 minutes to complete, so please grab a cuppa and get cosy!

See what people have said so far in this preliminary report

Find out more about the ways we're helping to improve people's experiences of health and social care services.

Share your views online, or contact us via email or phone. The more people share their ideas, experiences and concerns about the NHS and social care, the more services can understand what works and what doesn't.

We are here to make sure that those running services, and the government, put your views at the heart of care.