1. Be reassured - Healthwatch can find you reliable Covid 19 support

    Advice and Information -

    Online or offline Healthwatch is working with South Glos Council and volunteer groups to round up useful support services! Even if you have no computer you can get practical support or advice to stay safe and well during the coronavirus outbreak.

  2. Latest NHS Coronavirus Guidance | Over 30 Translations Now Available

    News -

    Latest NHS Coronavirus Guidance | Over 30 Translations Now Available

  3. COVID-19: links to help and support

    Advice and Information -

    Here is a list of links for help and advice regarding Coronavirus and specific health conditions.

  4. Local Authority services affected by Coronavirus

    Advice and Information -

    Find out how Coronavirus is affecting services run by South Gloucestershire Council.

  5. Safeguarding Tips

    News -

    Safeguarding tips, which we recommend community groups adhere to and suggest people familiarise themselves with these tips to keep themselves safe too.

  6. Newsletter

    News -

    Read our Newsletter for February and March 2020. Containing information regarding Coronavirus and how we are helping the community along with local information for support groups and aid. It also contains updates from our launch events.

  7. Do your bit for the NHS - go to the right place for medical care

    News -

    Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire CCG have launched a campaign to help local A&E services, encouraging people to go to the right place for minor injuries and illnesses.

  8. Easy Read information about Coronavirus

    Advice and Information -

    The Keep Safe website has put together a range of resources for people with learning difficulties.

  9. How to get emergency dental care

    News -

    People who need emergency dental treatment are advised to contact their regular surgery - and their case will assessed on a priority basis. They will then be referred to two new dental hubs, one in Bristol and one in Weston, for treatment.

  10. Healthwatch can now help find you the right support from NHS Responders

    Advice and Information -

    If you are at home self-isolating and need a support lifeline you can now call our team to find the right type of help from the new army of NHS Responders.

  11. Support available for children and their families

    News -

    Only a small fraction of “at risk” children are taking up the emergency school places which are open to them, prompting concerns that they are facing increased danger during the lockdown.

  12. Mental health service 'gaps' during Covid-19

    News -

    The health pandemic has resulted in many mental health support services either being suspended or becoming ‘self-service’ over the internet due to social distancing.

  13. Don't delay in seeking medical help during coronavirus

    Advice and Information -

    People are not seeking help for potentially life-threatening health conditions due to the Covid-19 outbreak, Healthwatch has learned.

  14. Concerns over patient transport services during pandemic

    News -

    People with disabilities and those who are less mobile may be struggling to attend necessary medical appointments due to reduced transport services.

  15. Helping older people during the pandemic

    Advice and Information -

    Mental Health Week May 18th – 24th is about kindness and we at Healthwatch want to focus on the phone friends, from Age UK South Glos, who are chatting to older people to help them through this pandemic.

  16. Covid-19 impact on local deaf community

    Advice and Information -

    We are marking Mental Health Awareness Week by looking at the barriers faced by the deaf community making them twice as likely to develop a mental health condition. Healthwatch is supporting work to help tackle the added difficulties of Covid-19.

  17. A big hearty thanks to all our volunteers

    News -

    We are celebrating Volunteers' Week June 1st to 7th by saying a big thank you to our 30 volunteers and 7 trustees who help us at Healthwatch Bristol, North Somerset and South Glos.

  18. Stay Alert - from Covid scammers

    Blog -

    Police are warning of a new scam where callers pose as NHS Track and Trace advisors who ask the householder to pay £500 to be tested or face a “penalty.”

  19. How two special companions have supported those in need during pandemic

    News -

    Two new nominations in our Share Your Care campaign are for Mark and Margreth, who have selflessly been at the side of people that needed them during this pandemic. Well done to both of you.

  20. Read how people who need care at home were affected by pandemic

    Report -

    Lu, who suffers from chronic condition fibromyalgia, tells us how her family were her lifeline when she suffered a distressing fall and how she struggled to get help for severe shoulder pain.

  21. Rise in coronavirus cases in South Glos - but under national average

    News -

    People are being warned to take more care following Covid-19 guidelines after 33 reported cases in the last week in South Glos This is a jump of 8 from the previous week and a rate of 12 per 100,000 people just below the England average of 15.

  22. Open letter shows progress in reopening health services ahead of winter

    News -

    An open letter outlining plans to get services back to their pre-pandemic levels but still ensure everyone’s safety has been released.

  23. Zoom in for our first virtual AGM

    News -

    Join us on Zoon for our virtual AGM on Monday, October 12, 6-7pm, to reflect on our 19/20 year with updates on the latest news and project work being carried out in South Gloucestershire.

  24. We'd like to hear from you about your experience of Bladder and Bowel services during coronavirus

    News -

    Bladder and Bowel problems are not openly talked about and affect many people. Please help us to understand your needs, experiences and concerns by completing our survey.

  25. Test and Trace - how can it be improved?

    News -

    Contact tracing is working well in the South West with an 83.3 per cent success rate compared to a national average of 77 per cent.

  26. Latest guidance on attending appointments and new visitor restrictions at local hospitals

    News -

    Hospitals trusts covering Bristol, South Glos and Weston hospitals have said appointments are continuing as normal there is no need to ring and check. However, visiting patients has been suspended except in certain circumstances.

  27. COVID-19 update: advice in different languages

    News -

    CASS have been working closely with the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (BNSSG CCG) over the last few months to ensure all communities in Bristol receive accessible information about COVID-19.

  28. Healthwatch is making a difference nationally

    News -

    Healthwatch’s work, highlighting people’s experiences of health and care, has formed part of a major House of Lords report on learning key lessons from the health pandemic.

  29. NHS Nightingale Bristol will open to day patients

    News -

    The NHS Nightingale Hospital in Bristol is to open for children and adults’ routine appointments to ease pressures on hospitals in the region caused by Covid-19.

  30. Historic point - Covid vaccines rolled out to first patients at Southmead Hospital

    News -

    The new Covid-19 vaccine has been rolled out in Bristol today – with the over 80s and care home staff first on the list to receive it.

  31. Healthier Together recognised for collaborative working

    News -

    The Healthier Together Partnership has been officially recognised as an Integrated Care System as a group of 10 organisations working collaboratively to improve health and care across Bristol, North Somerset and South Glos.

  32. Phased roll-out for Covid-19 vaccinations

    News -

    Local vaccination services run by GPs will open across the area this week, as the roll-out of the biggest immunisation programme in NHS history starts

  33. Emersons Green Medical Centre rolls out new phone system after CQC visit

    News -

    Emersons Green Medical Centre has been visited by the CQC after complaints that patients could not get through on the phone and were not able to access treatment quickly enough.

  34. Vaccine programme musn't 'breed complacency' says Boris during his visit to Bristol

    News -

    If you’re over 80 and still haven’t had your Covid-19 vaccine the message is – you’ll be contacted very soon. By the end of this week, every neighbourhood area in the region will have a GP practice vaccination centre up and running.

  35. Allergy advice and the Covid-19 vaccine

    News -

    If you have certain allergies you may be concerned about whether you should get the Covid vaccine. In most cases the vaccine is safe, even for people with a history of reactions to certain drugs and food. Here's the latest allergy information.

  36. Do you need help getting to your COVID-19 vaccination?

    Advice and Information -

    Do you need help with arranging transport for your COVID-19 injection? Have you been contacted about your vaccination but don't have a way of getting to your surgery? Our latest pamphlet contains all the information you need to get there safely.

  37. Disabled people made up 6 in 10 of all COVID-19 deaths last year, according to official data

    News -

    59.5% of all the coronavirus deaths between the 24th January and the 20th November 2020 were disabled people, the latest data from the Office for National Statistics has revealed.

  38. Surge testing - visit your nearest pop-up centre to help research on how the virus is changing

    News -

    There’s just a few days left to get a covid “surge test” if you live in specific postcodes in Bristol and South Glos, are over 16 and do not have symptoms of the virus.

  39. How to get support if you need a little extra help to have the Covid-19 vaccine

    News -

    People who have learning disabilities or a mental health condition can have their vaccination experience made easier for them. Healthwatch and the local clinical commissioning group put on a webinar to explain extra support or help that's available.

  40. If you have a learning disability you need to be on your GP's learning disability register to have the vaccine

    News -

    Find out more about how to get on your GPs learning disability register to ensure you have the Covid-19 vaccine. Being on the register also means you should also be invited to have an important health check-up to pick up any symptoms of illness.

  41. Overcoming concerns about the Covid-19 vaccine if you have a learning disability

    Advice and Information -

    Our South Glos volunteer, Jemma Ballinger, says while it is great news that people on the learning disability register will be prioritised to have the vaccine, they will still often need a lot of reassurance and understanding to receive it.

  42. Record number of people vaccinated - but the roll-out will be 'significantly restrained' in April

    News -

    NHS staff delivered almost 100,000 Covid-19 vaccinations in a single hour on 20 March breaking the record for the largest number of doses given. In a South Glos Primary Care Network over 1,900 had their jabs in one day.

  43. Webinar to share latest information on Covid-19 vaccine for over 50s

    Advice and Information -

    To support the over 50’s, South Gloucestershire Council, Healthwatch South Gloucestershire and the region's Over 50s Forum organised an event with local representatives from the NHS and Public Health, to provide guidance and answer questions.

  44. New system of local organisations to improve local care

    News -

    The pandemic has shown the importance of collaboration to help everyone get the care they need. This is the principle behind the new regional Integrated Care System, which began operating from today, April 1.

  45. How to cope with lockdown if you have autism

    Advice and Information -

    Radio presenter and Asperger's champion Alex Manners spoke to Healthwatch ahead of his talk organised by Bristol Autism Support tomorrow (April 7th). His tips for coping with the pressures of Covid-19? "Find a project and focus on the next few days."

  46. Free virtual monthly drop-in sessions for people who have had strokes, their families, and carers

    News -

    If you or a loved one has suffered a stroke, register for a free, monthly drop-in session to learn more about how to manage life after a stroke.

  47. Our survey to help improve bladder and bowel care features in national showcase

    News -

    Healthwatch South Glos is delighted that our work with Bristol Health Partners on how easy it was for people to get help from bladder and bowel services during Covid-19 has been included in a national research portfolio.