1. SW England Oral Health Needs Assessment Patient & Public Survey - October 2020

    News -

    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.

  2. New Self-Harm Information Service Launch

    News -

    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.

  3. Financial support for those who have to self-isolate

    News -

    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.

  4. Parkinson's UK Swindon and District branch receives £10,000 funding to restart exercise programme

    News -

    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.

  5. COVID-19 alert system - What is it and how does it affect you?

    News -

    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?

  6. What impact has COVID-19 had on those living with Cancer?

    News -

    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.

  7. New quiet room at Great Western Hospital to provide space for families to think and reflect

    News -

    A new quiet room has opened at the Great Western Hospital to provide a calming space for families to receive and understand potentially upsetting news about their pregnancy journeys and baby’s.

  8. Healthwatch Swindon celebrates the success of a grant for a Digital Exclusion project

    News -

    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.

  9. Dementia charity launches Musical Tea month

    News -

    Playlist for Life, a Music and Dementia charity, has launched a Musical Tea Campaign to help people stay connected while social distancing continues. The charity is asking people to hold various virtual musical tea events throughout October.

  10. NHS England and Public Health England, ask “Help us, Help you”

    News -

    It will come as no surprise that COVID-19 has changed the way that people are accessing NHS services. A recent survey of 2,178 people found that almost half (48%) of the public would delay or not seek medical help at all.

  11. Volunteers' thanked with cream tea at The Olive Tree cafe

    News -

    Our Volunteer Support Officer, Alex Parker, was delighted to be able to organise a Volunteer Thank You event last week at The Olive Tree Café.

  12. Healthwatch Swindon News Bites October 2020

    News -

    Read October's edition of Healthwatch news bites and find out the latest on musical tea, self-care, and the impact of COVID on cancer patients.

  13. Changes to the Shielded Patient List and Clinically Extremely Vulnerable shielding

    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.

  14. Local doctor echoes PM’s call for people to continue using NHS services during lockdown

    News -

    People living in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire are being advised to stay on top of their health and wellbeing by continuing to use the NHS throughout the next period of national lockdown.

  15. Age UK to celebrate delivery of 12,000 hot meals to the elderly through new social enterprise

    News -

    In March this year, Age UK launched a pre-planned start-up social enterprise called Meals + with just a single customer, oven, freezer, and delivery vehicle. This week they will deliver their 12,000th hot meal.

  16. Swindon Hospital Discharge report - November 2020

    Report -

    The process the NHS follow to discharge people from hospital changed during the coronavirus pandemic. We launched a one-month-long hospital discharge survey in July to find out your experiences during the height of the pandemic, below is our report.

  17. Government launch a consultation to raise accessibility standards on new homes

    News -

    The importance of suitable homes for older and disabled people has been recognised by the launch of a government consultation to raise accessibility standards for new homes.

    The consultation will run until 11:45 pm on 1 December 2020.

  18. Local Offer calls for views and experiences of professionals and families

    News -

    A survey to explore the views and experiences of professionals and families who support children and young people with SEND in the local area has launched for the second year running.

  19. Invite extended to Public for virtual Governing Body meeting in plan to keep locals informed and involved

    News -

    People living in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire can find out more about what’s happening with the health and care in their area by attending an upcoming virtual meeting of the local CCG’s Governing Body on Thursday 19 November.

  20. Swindon Equality Coalition asks for your experiences

    News -

    The Swindon Equality Coalition is calling for people to share their experiences, as well as issues that need improving on equality and inclusion in Swindon to get people talking and raise awareness.

  21. Local NHS Professional shares three self care steps for good mental health in lockdown

    News -

    Local health professionals are encouraging all of us to take three simple steps to maintain good mental health in lockdown. According to the experts, sleep, a healthy diet, and regular exercise can benefit our mental health as much as our physical.

  22. Swindon Safeguarding Partnership News Sheet Issue 12 - 17.11.2020

    News -

    The twelfth 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.

  23. Ventilation key component in reducing spread of COVID-19 government film reveals

    News -

    A new short film released by the government shows how coronavirus lingers in enclosed spaces, and how to keep your home ventilated.

  24. Free Flu vaccines to be offered to people aged 50 - 64 years of age 

    News -

    People over the age of 50 will be able to get their free flu vaccine from 1 December in the next phase of this year’s expanded flu vaccination programme, the government has confirmed.

  25. Homecare workers to be tested weekly for COVID-19

    News -

    Care workers looking after people in their own homes will be offered weekly coronavirus tests from today (Monday 23 November), the government has announced.

  26. Great Western Hospital, Health and Wellbeing Project Manager wins regional Parliamentary Award

    News -

    Health and Wellbeing Project Manager, Sam Walklett is celebrating double success as a winner of a South West Parliamentary award and being shortlisted for next year's national awards in the Wellbeing at Work category.

  27. Dental charge freeze ends causing price thaw and increase

    News -

    A six-month freeze on dental charges brought on by the first wave of the pandemic is due to end next month. In turn, patients will see a rise in dental fees across all NHS Dental Practices as part of a five-year spending review plan.

  28. Extremely vulnerable offered free sunshine vitamin to help them through the Winter

    News -

    More than 2.5 million vulnerable people across England will be offered free vitamin D supplements for the winter, the government has announced.

  29. 'Long COVID' sufferers to receive help as support is introduced

    News -

    Patients in Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath, and North Somerset are now able to receive dedicated care and treatment for symptoms associated with 'long COVID'.

  30. Think you need to go to A&E? Call NHS 111 first

    News -

    The NHS is now providing a new and more convenient way for you to access urgent care. Find out what this means for you and your loved ones.

  31. Heart doctor writes a song for health care workers to raise funds for charity

    News -

    Consultant Cardiologist, Dr. Bill McCrea, turned his Coronavirus convalescence into creation by writing the lyrics for 'The Wiltshire Heart Throbs' fifth charity single, 'Corona.' A song dedicated to front line healthcare workers.

  32. Local health and care organisations to partner up to improve patient experience

    News -

    NHS England and Improvement (NHSEI) has announced that Health and care organisations in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW) are to join up as they meet the criteria to become an integrated care system.

  33. Trans Health, Care & Wellbeing Report

    Report -

    For the past six years, 2012-18, Diversity Trust and Healthwatch have been researching the health, care and wellbeing needs and experiences of local Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Questioning (LGBTQ+) people.

  34. Swindon and Wiltshire winter opening hours - Dentists and Pharmacies

    News -

    Service times will change for primary care services over the bank holiday and Winter period. Below are the arrangements for Swindon and Wiltshire.

  35. First GP-led COVID-19 Vaccination Centre opens in Swindon

    News -

    A local vaccination centre run by GPs has opened in Swindon as the NHS continues its phased roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine.

  36. CQC welcomes improvements at Prospect Hospice, Swindon

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has welcomed improvements to the quality of services provided by Prospect Hospice in Swindon following a focused inspection in November.

  37. Hundreds of people receive life saving COVID vaccine as rollout begins

    News -

    The Steam Museum took on a very different role yesterday (Wednesday 16 December) as it played host along with the Corn Exchange in Devizes to hundreds of people receiving the life-saving Coronavirus vaccine.

  38. Public told to know their options as Pharmacies and GP practices close for long Christmas weekend

    News -

    Many pharmacies and GP practices across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire will be closed for four consecutive days over the Christmas period.

  39. Shielding for the clinically extremely vulnerable to stop from 1st April

    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.

  40. PPG Chairs meeting August 2020

    Report -

    This report contains notes of a virtual meeting of the Healthwatch Swindon PPG chairs/acting chairs held by Zoom on 4 August 2020.

  41. PPG Chairs meeting October 2020

    Report -

    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.

  42. Information on coronavirus

    Advice and Information -

    Read the latest advice and information from NHS England and Public Health England about the Coronavirus.

  43. Maternity support during COVID-19

    Advice and Information -

    Read about how coronavirus could affect you, your baby and your pregnancy care.

  44. Your questions answered on COVID vaccines

    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?

  45. Community Pot 2020/21: Harbour Project Survey Report

    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.

  46. Swindon Cancer Partnership Group looks to expand its numbers

    News -

    People whose lives have been touched by cancer can come together as part of a group and have their collective voices listened to by experts from the Great Western Hospital.

  47. COVID-19 Vaccination rollout in Swindon

    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.