News and reports

During the COVID-19 pandemic, patients have seen a move to digital healthcare. Healthwatch launched a project to find out what groups if any, are being excluded by the move towards digital, with five local Healthwatch receiving funding to do so.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on the way cancer patients attend appointments with their cancer teams. The SWAG Cancer Alliance Patient Representatives want to understand what it is like from a patient's perspective.

Yesterday evening (Monday 10 October) the Prime Minister announced a new three-tiered system of COVID Alert Levels in England. Healthwatch Swindon asks, what is an alert level, and how it will affect you, and your family?

Sports England has awarded the Swindon Parkinsons group £10,000 from their Tackling Inequalities Funding through Wiltshire and Swindon Sports (WASP), to support the re-start of their Exercise programme.

The tenth edition of the Swindon Safeguarding Partnership news sheet is now available. Full of information and news updates on their work and partnership projects. Read on to download and find out more.

The requirement to self-isolate places increased financial strain on people who cannot work from home. To help the Swindon Borough Council is offering financial support to qualifying residents on low incomes.

A Macmillan GP is urging people across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire to see their GP if they are experiencing signs or symptoms that could be cancer.

As of Monday 5 October, Self-injury Support will be offering a self-harm information and navigation service open to anyone over 18 affected by self-harm.

NHS England and NHS Improvement South West want to understand more about oral health (mouth care and dental health) of people who live in the South West. Take the survey, and have your say.

People who are most at risk of flu are recommended to get a flu vaccine every year. This winter is especially important with flu and coronavirus (COVID-19) both in circulation.

This report contains notes of a virtual meeting of the Healthwatch Swindon PPG chairs/acting chairs and others and with CQC held by Zoom on 2 October 2020.

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been recognised for its work towards the Great Western Hospital in Swindon becoming a Smokefree site. The Trust achieved a ‘green’ rating, scoring six out of seven, in this year’s NHS Smokefree survey.