Healthwatch Redbridge

12/10/2026

Do you use adult social care services in Redbridge, or care for someone who does? Redbridge Council wants to hear from you.

Shape the Future of Adult Services
Wednesday 28 October, 11.30am to 1.30pm
Frenford Youth Centre, The Drive, Ilford IG1 3PS

It’s a chance to tell the council what’s working, what isn’t and what would make a difference. What people say will feed into how adult services in the borough are planned and commissioned. Local organisations are welcome too, and refreshments will be provided.

For more information, contact Abbas Mirza on 07884 384 115 or [email protected]

We know from talking to local people how much it matters to be listened to when services are being shaped. If you can make it, please go along.

12/10/2026

If you or someone close to you is affected by cancer, WellFest is a free day of support, information and gentle activity at Redbridge Central Library.

Tuesday 20 October, 10am to 3.30pm
Redbridge Central Library, Clements Road, Ilford IG1 1EA

It’s open to people living with or beyond cancer, people currently having treatment, and families and carers. The day includes:

- a talk from GP and author Philippa Kaye about her own experience of cancer
-seated yoga and sound bathing
- seated yoga and sound bathing
- information stalls from local services, including Saint Francis Hospice

Everything is free. You book the sessions you’d like to attend here:

Vision Redbridge Culture & Leisure is a registered charity and as a non-profit organisation any surplus we make will be reinvested for community benefit, to improve the quality of facilities and services offered to you.

12/10/2026

Got questions about perimenopause or menopause? There’s a free session this Wednesday in Ilford with registered nutritionist Nitu Pasricha.

Understanding Menopause
Wednesday 14 October, 11am to 12.30pm
Redbridge Central Library, Clements Road, Ilford IG1 1EA

It covers the common changes, the health risks that come with them (heart health, bones, type 2 diabetes) and the options available, from nutrition and lifestyle to HRT. It’s a relaxed, supportive space to ask questions and be heard.

Free, but places are limited, so book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/understanding-menopause-tickets-2002463813170

Earlier this year, women across Redbridge told us about their experiences of menopause. You can read what they said here: https://www.healthwatchredbridge.co.uk/report/2026-04-20/2026-report-menopause-what-women-redbridge-told-us-and-why-it-matters

Learn more about menopause and gain practical tips to help you understand and manage the changes with confidence.

08/10/2026

We had a lovely afternoon at the annual Community Health Day at South Woodford Health Centre last month. There were health checks, chair exercise, and plenty of local organisations on hand to chat.

It was great to see the Deputy Mayor of Redbridge, Cllr Syeda Lovely Choudhury, who stopped by our stall to hear about our new Women's Health Guide.

Thank you to everyone who came to say hello and share their experiences of local health and care.

Missed us? You can always tell us what's working and what isn't at www.healthwatchredbridge.co.uk

08/10/2026

From this autumn, local pharmacies will be able to treat five more everyday conditions under the NHS Pharmacy First scheme: migraine, hay fever in children, outer ear infections, acne, and mild skin infections including scabies.

That's on top of the seven they already treat, including sore throats, sinusitis, earache and UTIs. No GP appointment needed. Not every pharmacy will offer the new conditions straight away, so check with yours first.

Find out more here:

From this autumn, people will be able to get treatment for five more common conditions at their local pharmacy, without needing a GP appointment first. The new conditions are migraine, hay fever in children, outer ear infections, acne, and mild skin infections including scabies.

08/10/2026

October is Menopause Awareness Month, and there's a free session in Ilford next week for anyone who wants to understand what's happening and why.

Understanding Menopause is a friendly, evidence-based session for women to ask questions, talk openly and get reliable information. It's led by Nitu Pasricha, a Registered Nutritionist in Public Health, and will cover:
• common changes during perimenopause and menopause
• health risks linked to menopause, including type 2 diabetes, heart health and bone and muscle health
• your options, from nutrition and lifestyle to HRT and other treatments

Wednesday 14 October, 11am to 12.30pm Redbridge Central Library, Clements Road, Ilford IG1 1EA

It's free, but places are limited and you need to book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/understanding-menopause-tickets-2002463813170

Please share with anyone you think would find it useful.

Learn more about menopause and gain practical tips to help you understand and manage the changes with confidence.

31/08/2026

Winter is when it's hardest to get seen, and a lot of us don't realise how much our local pharmacy can actually do.

Through NHS Pharmacy First, a pharmacist can assess and treat seven common conditions without you needing a GP appointment — sore throats, sinusitis, earache in children, shingles, UTIs and more. No appointment needed, just walk in. The consultation is free.

Many pharmacies across Redbridge also offer flu and COVID vaccinations, blood pressure checks and contraception.

We've put together a short guide on what your pharmacy can help with this winter, and where to go first: https://www.healthwatchredbridge.co.uk/advice-and-information/2026-08-26/your-local-pharmacy-winter

If you use your local pharmacy this winter, tell us how it went. Your experiences help us understand what's working locally and what needs to improve.

Winter is the busiest time of year for health services in Redbridge, and it is also when it can feel hardest to get seen. Your local pharmacy can often help sooner than you might expect, and for more than you might expect.

26/08/2026

Redbridge Forum's Walk and Talk group starts on Monday 7 September — for people with a learning disability, autistic people, and their family carers.

Five relaxed sessions between September and October, taking in The O2, Valentines Park, Camden, Barking Park and All Hallows by the Tower. A chance to get outdoors, explore somewhere different and meet other families. Come to one or come to all of them.

Full dates and meeting points: https://www.healthwatchredbridge.co.uk/event/2026-09-01/walk-and-talk-group-people-learning-disability-autistic-people-and-their-family

To book, email Naseem at [email protected] or call 07356 244447.

22/07/2026

Redbridge Council's annual Youth-Fest is back on Tuesday 18 August at Hainault Youth Centre (116 Huntsman Road, IG6 3SY). It's a free day for young people in the borough, pass it on to families who might want to come along.

Redbridge Council's annual Youth-Fest returns on Tuesday 18 August at Hainault Youth Centre. Run by the Council's Youth Service, it's a free day built around young people in the borough: a chance to try activities, meet local services and spend time together over the summer. We're glad to help sprea...

21/07/2026

Families across Redbridge are telling us what happens when support moves from children's to adult health and care services, and we're listening.

Turning eighteen can mean new teams, new assessments and new rules, often all at once and often just as a young person is leaving school. For families with a child who has special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), this moment can be one of the hardest parts of the whole system.

Our Research and Engagement team has been speaking with parents, carers and young people about their experiences. We'll publish what we've heard, and what we think needs to change, in September.

If your family has been through this move in Redbridge, or you're approaching it now, we'd like to hear from you. Your experience will help shape what we say to the NHS, the council and other local partners.

Get in touch at [email protected] — everything you share is treated in confidence.

Read more: https://www.healthwatchredbridge.co.uk/advice-and-information/2026-07-21/redbridge-families-are-telling-us-about-move-childrens-adul

Healthwatch Redbridge is speaking with parents, carers and young people across the borough about what happens when support moves from children's to adult health and care services. We will publish what we've heard, and what we think needs to change, in September.