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Shielding Guidance for Vulnerable People has Changed
06/07/2020
Millions of people shielding from coronavirus (COVID-19) will be advised they can spend more time outside their homes from Monday 6 July, the Health...
Healthwatch NEL Annual Report 2019-20
01/07/2020
Our Annual Report for 2019-20 is now available for you to read. Last year 2,996 shared their health and social care experience with us, 50% more than...
Baby summer safety
26/06/2020
The weather is getting warmer, which can make following safer sleep advice more complicated. It is harder to keep baby cool and holidays and travel...
Unpaid carers in their 80s ‘save government £23 billion a year’
08/01/2020
New figures by Age UK show that an army of carers aged 80 and over provide 23m hours of unpaid care a week, saving the health and care system £23 billion a year. More....
Further warnings about effect of winter on hospitals
06/01/2020
Leaders of NHS trusts are warning that they are more concerned than ever before about the level of risk they will need to manage for patients and their staff this winter. A briefing from NHS Providers looks into the main areas of concern facing the NHS and the extensive planning done with local...
NHS support sees people lose the weight Of 43 ambulances
06/01/2020
People finishing the NHS diabetes prevention programme have lost the equivalent weight of 43 ambulances. Around four million people in the UK live with type two diabetes, with diabetes and its complications costing the NHS more than £10 billion to treat every year. 89,604 people have now finished...
Doctors’ registration fees to rise by maximum of £7
20/12/2019
In line with inflation, the General Medical Council’s (GMC) annual retention fees will rise by 1.7% from 1 April 2020. This represents a £7 increase for doctors registered with a licence to practise and £3 for newly qualified doctors. The decision, made by the GMC’s Council, is in keeping with the...
New guide explains what people can expect when visiting a pharmacy
16/12/2019
The General Pharmaceutical Council has produced a new online guide for patients and the public which explains what they can expect when visiting a pharmacy. The guide summarises the standards that registered pharmacies and pharmacy professionals have to meet, and what these standards mean for...
Dry January
12/12/2019
With the festive season upon us, the drinks will be flowing more than usual for some. But just round the corner is Dry January. Dry January is the annual movement through which millions of people give up alcohol for the month of January. It is run by the charity Alcohol Change UK and is an ideal...
‘Simply not enough GPs to meet demand’ – BMA
12/12/2019
Responding to analysis from the TUC, which shows GP numbers have fallen by almost 1,000 in the last four years, Dr Richard Vautrey, BMA GP committee chair, said: “As we’ve said time and time again, there are simply not enough GPs to meet demand and guarantee safe, quality care to patients. And as...
Data on written complaints in the NHS Q2 2019/20
11/12/2019
NHS Digital has published its latest quarterly data on written complaints made by or on behalf of patients who use NHS hospital and community health services in England. The NHS complaints procedure is the statutory mechanism for dealing with complaints about NHS care and treatment required of all...
Pharmacists suffer the mental health consequences of workplace pressures
11/12/2019
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has published research showing the impact of workplace pressures on the mental health and wellbeing of pharmacists. Over 1300 pharmacists responded to a survey on workforce wellbeing, which will be used to campaign for NHS-funded wellbeing support for all...
A good CHAT boosts quality and saves money in dementia care
11/12/2019
A nurse-led service aimed at providing more care for care home residents with dementia outside hospital has produced big savings and improved patient care – winning national endorsement from NHS England. More....
Healthwatch reporting tool allows professionals to search patient experience reports
11/12/2019
Healthwatch has produced a tool that enables healthcare organisations to search nearly 3000 local Healthwatch publications for patient experience information. The reports contain more than 420,000 views of patients about their experience of the health and care system.
Improving mental health services in integrated care systems
05/12/2019
This report sets out recommendations for local and national health and care leaders to support the prioritisation of mental health as local areas develop into integrated care systems. More....
State of the nation’s health in 2018 shown in new report
05/12/2019
The latest figures for the Health Survey for England have been released by NHS Digital, monitoring trends in the nation’s health and featuring new data on gambling, asthma and longstanding conditions. More...
Anger awareness
03/12/2019
With Christmas just around the corner, it’s natural that stress levels may be higher than usual so it’s important to equip yourself with strategies to overcome and manage your anger effectively. Five steps to a calmer you: 1. When you’re angry, adrenalin is released into your body, causing your...
Stop Smoking Information
28/11/2019
If you can stop smoking you’ll live longer and feel better, regardless of how old you are or how long you have smoked for. Stopping can be difficult. But with the right support, you can do it! Why not contact our free local wellbeing service by calling 01472 325 500 to find out how you can QUIT for...
Latest cervical screening figures
25/11/2019
NHS Digital has published the latest annual report on cervical screening coverage. It presents information on women aged 25-64 who were invited for regular screening, as well as the screening samples sent to pathology laboratories and referrals to colposcopy clinics. The report also shows the...
Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes
22/11/2019
Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes: • Frequent urinations • Increased thirst • Always feeling hungry • Feeling very tired • Blurry vision • Slow healing of cuts and wounds • Tingling, numbness or pain in the hands or feet • Patches of dark skin • Itching and yeast infections Without treatment,...
Healthcare Essentials for those with Diabetes
22/11/2019
There are 15 healthcare essentials for those with diabetes. It is important to manage your condition, to avoid or reduce complications. According to Diabetes UK, you should have each of the following at least once a year: Blood glucose test (HbA1c test) Blood pressure check Cholesterol check (for...
Type 2 Diabetes - Did you know....
21/11/2019
Diabetic retinopathy is the cause of visual impairment for 4.2 million people globally. It's caused by damage to the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. This is why you should attend your retinal eye screening annually, but only half of people with diabetes attend...
Type 2 Diabetes
19/11/2019
Do you know your risk of type 2 diabetes? Anyone can develop type 2 diabetes, but certain factors can increase a person’s risk. These risk factors include: • Being 45 years of age or older • Being physically inactive (little or no exercise) • Being overweight or obese • Eating an unhealthy diet •...
Mental health at work
15/11/2019
NHS Employers is working with the mental health charity Mind to promote good mental health in the NHS. They have compiled tools, resources and guidance to support the NHS workforce with their mental wellbeing. They have compiled tools, resources and guidance to support the NHS workforce with their...
Martin Lewis – Pharmaceutical Tips
13/11/2019
1. Look at the active ingredient - that's what matters. It's widely known that it's the medicine's 'active' ingredient that does the business. So you can often save by having a quick look on the pack to see what that is, and buying the same generic version for less, rather than the branded version...
Movember
11/11/2019
Movember: Men’s Health Top 5 things to know and do: 1. Spend time with people who make you feel good. Stay connected. Your mates are important and spending time with them is good for you. Catch up regularly, check in and make time. 2. Talk more. You don’t need to be an expert and you don’t have to...
Survey highlights patients' experiences of emergency department services
04/11/2019
A survey of A&E and urgent care patients across England who used services in September 2018 has highlighted their experiences around waiting times, standards of care and dignity, patient safety, quality of discharge arrangements and more. The Care Quality Commission’s urgent and emergency care...
Public back NHS plans for new rapid care measures
04/11/2019
England’s top doctor has welcomed new polling showing that patients and the public support NHS proposals focusing on fast treatment for those who need it in A&E. A national survey commissioned by Healthwatch England found that an overwhelming majority of people placed a high priority on early...
