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Advice and Information -
Routine dental care has had to change because of COVID-19, with social distancing rules making it difficult to access services. Here’s some information on how to access an NHS dentist during the pandemic. -
Advice and Information -
Self-isolation, social distancing and shielding have been introduced by the Government to help you and your loved ones stay safe from COVID-19. Find out what they mean in practice and what applies to you. -
News -
In this month's newsletter, we will be sharing how you are helping Healthwatch, to help you; with the latest report on our Because We All Care campaign and how Every Mind Matters can make inside feel better. -
News -
Up to 1.7 million people have been added to the shielding list as shielding guidance is extended to the 31st of March 2021. Clinically extremely vulnerable people who were advised to shield previously will receive letters advising of the extension. -
News -
More than 3.79 million clinically extremely vulnerable people in England will be informed they are no longer advised to shield from Thursday 1 April 2021. -
Advice and Information -
Read about how coronavirus could affect you, your baby and your pregnancy care. -
Advice and Information -
To date, over 30 million people in the UK have received their first dose of the vaccine. But as this is a phased rollout - what does that mean for you and your loved ones in light of new variants of COVID? -
Report -
Late in 2019, we invited bids from non-profit organisations in Swindon for a small amount of funding to undertake a survey with their contacts or members. These were likely to be people from whom we otherwise did not hear. Covid-19 intervened. -
News -
As numbers having their COVID-19 vaccine increase, we share a few pictures of local residents receiving theirs and chat to one of them about their experience. Along with advice on how to attend your vaccination appointment if you lack transport. -
Advice and Information -
Are you or someone you know looking for Easy Read information to explain our current situation with COVID, vaccines, and Lockdown? If so, we have collated the latest documents, films, and audio to help explain and reassure you and your loved ones. -
News -
Health leaders call for patience as all GP-led, community-based coronavirus vaccination sites in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire open meaning everyone in the area aged 80 or over will be invited to for their Covid-19 vaccine. -
News -
The NHS in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire is working with its partners from across the region to support frontline health and care staff and are asking the public to do the same through various small actions. -
Report -
Late in 2019, we invited bids from non-profit organisations in Swindon for a small amount of funding to undertake a survey with their contacts or members. Swindon Interactive Arts Services was one of the recipients of this fund. Find out more. -
News -
NHS staff working across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire to deliver the lifesaving coronavirus vaccine have been given a helping hand on the frontline by local fire crews, volunteers, and military personnel. -
News -
From Wednesday 3 February, people aged 18 and over in the clinically extremely vulnerable group will start receiving letters inviting them to book their COVID-19 vaccine. -
News -
Have you experienced mental distress or mental health issues? Would you like to use your own experiences to support others who are going through something similar? Do you live in the Swindon area?
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Advice and Information -
Vaccine misinformation and delay among ethnic minority communities is fast becoming an issue in the fight against COVID-19. Here, we share downloadable leaflets and multimedia materials to help share the message that vaccines are safe. -
News -
New data gathered by Healthwatch England shows access to NHS dentistry remains a huge problem for the public amid the COVID-19 pandemic. -
Report -
At the beginning of February, we invited people across Swindon to take part in a month-long survey to find out their views, attitudes and concerns towards the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out and the communications that have supported this. -
News -
As of Monday 15 February, Swindon Borough Council has announced that symptom-free testing will be made available to carers and those unable to work from home. -
News -
In this month's newsletter, we will be sharing news on shielding, accessing affordable counselling services, and a vaccine Q&A session with an expert panel. -
News -
A new online youth club has launched to combat social isolation by encouraging young people of all ages to interact, have fun, and care for their mental wellbeing. -
News -
Across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire, unpaid carers aged between 18 and 64 are now being invited for a Covid-19 Vaccination. -
News -
In February, NHS England and Improvement acknowledged that NHS providers may take longer to investigate and respond to complaints. This is to allow providers to concentrate on front-line duties and responsiveness to coronavirus (COVID-19). -
Advice and Information -
As of the 8th March, all primary school and secondary school students in England began to return to school. In support, safety measures have been put in place; from lateral flow testing to wearing masks in class. Here, we share some resources. -
News -
The Thames Valley Cancer Alliance is calling on the public to know their lung cancer risk as they launch a localised campaign to increase awareness of symptoms and speed up diagnosis.
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News -
Thursday 11th March marked a year since the World Health Organisation declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. -
Report -
Our latest care home report looks at how care homes in Swindon maintained contact with residents’ families and the wider community, and what the barriers were to this over the COVID-19 lockdown. -
News -
A new health agency that will plan for, prevent, and respond to external health threats such as infectious diseases, will be led by former, Director of Public Health, NHS Swindon, and Swindon Borough Council, Dr. Jenny Harries. -
News -
Some pharmacies and GP practices across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire will be closed over the Easter period. -
News -
In this month's newsletter, we will be sharing the BSW CCG video - COVID-19 one year on, the Department of Health and Social Care's launch of a campaign to improve the health and wellbeing of women's health, and much more. -
Report -
Late in 2019, we invited bids from non-profit organisations in Swindon for a small amount of funding to undertake a survey with their contacts or members. These were likely to be people from whom we were otherwise less likely to hear. -
News -
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has completed the purchase of 5.5 hectares of land, allowing it to take the next steps in its strategic development plans. -
Advice and Information -
As of 1 April 2021, VoiceAbility has been awarded the advocacy contract to support people in Swindon to make complaints about care or treatment they have received from the NHS. -
News -
Find out which dentists are taking on NHS patients in Swindon and who are offering appointments here. -
News -
A new mobile vaccination clinic took to the Swindon streets on Friday 23 April in a bid to target those yet to take up the offer of a COVID vaccine. -
News -
An inspection of Abbey Meads Surgery, and Moredon Medical Centre by the Care Quality Commission in February 2021, has resulted in the rating of 'Requires Improvement' overall for both services after it found concerns over the quality of their care. -
News -
Construction work has begun in preparation for Great Western Hospital's new Urgent Treatment Centre. For the next six months, there will be a road closure and a reroute of traffic on site while the work takes place. -
News -
A programme aimed at 12 - 16-year-olds who are home-educated or not in education, employment or training (NEET), and missing out in general social interaction in has been launched in partnership with the Swindon Town community Football Foundation. -
Advice and Information -
The last year has seen a great deal of change in the provision of health and social care services. Both patients and health care professionals have had to adapt how we communicate. Here, we provide a quick guide to one-way - video consultations. -
News -
A floating clinic has taken to the water in a bid to ensure that no one is left behind in the COVID-19 vaccination rollout. The launch was a joint initiative from local councils, GP's, housing charities, and Clinical Commissioning Groups. -
News -
The last year put a sharp focus on mental health as we have all been faced with challenges and change. This year's theme for Mental Health Awareness week is nature. We take a look at how nature can help well-being and tips to manage your wellbeing. -
Advice and Information -
Mouth cancer is otherwise known as oral cancer and is where a tumour forms in the mouth. Regular self-checks and awareness of symptoms are key to early detection and resolution. We explore what to look out for and how to keep your mouth healthy. -
News -
A new film featuring renowned Romany journalist, Jake Bowers, explores what traveling communities can do to help with the pandemic and encourages them to have the COVID vaccine. -
Advice and Information -
As the COVID vaccination efforts continue at STEAM, we look at what reasonable adjustments have been made to help patients with physical and neurodiverse disabilities. -
News -
NHS England has issued new guidance to GP practices across the country on facilitating more face-to-face appointments for patients.
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Response -
It’s Volunteer Week from 1st – 7th June, and we want to say a huge thank you to our fantastic team of Healthwatch Swindon Volunteers! -
Report -
The Healthwatch Advisory Board set our priorities in April 2020. Part of our focus has been on providing up-to-date information on health and social care services. In this report, we explore what we have heard from people and how we responded. -
News -
As the vaccination programme continues we ask for your thoughts on the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines in Swindon. The NHS is doing everything they can but there might be things that can be improved.