1. Funding for learning disabilities

    News -

    People with learning disabilities in North Somerset are set to benefit from £213,000 of funding to help them live more independently in their own homes thanks to a successful bid by North Somerset Council.

  2. Community support for 'isolated' North Somerset residents

    News -

    North Somerset Community Partnership’s (NSCP) Lend a Hand scheme urges residents across the district to check on vulnerable relatives or neighbours and make sure they have enough warmth, food, drink and medication.

  3. 'Tough love' is needed in the obesity battle

    News -

    Parents should show more “tough love” for their children – and stop feeding them as though it was Christmas every day, the head of the NHS has said. Simon Stevens urged families to make a fresh start in their eating habits

  4. More funding to help with Mental Health

    News -

    The Prime Minister, Theresa May has announced that there will be more help for schools and health services to deal with the “hidden injustice” of mental illness.

  5. Department of Health plans for 7 day GP

    News -

    National Audit Office claims Department of Health plans for 7 day GPs not thought out and claims Department of Health has not ascertained source of funding or cost of extended services

  6. Everyone with learning disabilities should have their mental health checked

    News -

    Everyone with learning disabilities should have their mental health checked annually, NICE says, as fears thousands may be un-diagnosed

  7. Are people experiencing problems accessing social care support?

    News -

    By Healthwatch England National Director Imelda Redmond on 26/01/17
    Concerns raised by the public indicate services need better information to ensure timely support to those in need.

  8. Do you need proof of address to register with a GP?

    News -

    The answer is, in short no, but this was one of the 10 common problems found when the Healthwork network spoke to over 11,000 people about their experiences of Primary Care.

  9. Cost of wasted medications

    News -

    Healthcare leaders in the district are urging people to reduce medication waste. Repeat prescriptions which are no longer needed and people taking their medication incorrectly contribute to the hefty £1.2million annual spend on medication waste

  10. Sustainability and transformation plans

    News -

    The NHS ‘Five Year Forward View’ identified the need to address three big challenges in order to meet the health and social care needs of the general public within the budget available.

  11. Become a governor

    News -

    University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust are looking for new governors.

  12. Weston General Hospital

    News -

    North Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group are inviting you to share your views about the future of Weston General Hospital.

  13. Weston hospital engagement events

    News -

    North Somerset Clinical Commissioning group are holding three engagement events about Weston Hospital and they want you to attend and have your say.

  14. Mobile Cancer Team

    News -

    Macmillan Cancer Support advisors will be in Queens Square from 10am-4pm to provide support and information for people who are worried about cancer.

  15. St Brigas Residential Home

    News -

    St Brigas Residential Home for Adults with Learning Disabilities, in Jesmond Road, was visited by the health and social care watchdog last year, with the subsequent report this week judging the service to require improvement.

  16. Weston General Hospital will remain 'vital'

    News -

    Dr Mary Backhouse, the chief clinical officer of NHS North Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), says planned changes to North Somerset’s only A&E will not mean it becomes redundant.

  17. Guidance on low value prescription items

    News -

    NHS England will be leading a review of low value prescription items from April 2017 and introducing new guidance for Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), with a view to substantially saving NHS expenditure in this area.

  18. NHS acronyms are confusing!

    News -

    Imagine the scene. Up and down the country, local NHS leaders are crowded into meeting rooms discussing information transfers and ambulatory care, when someone jumps up and shouts “I’ve had enough of sticky toffee puddings”!

  19. Social prescriptions are "Hugely valuable"

    News -

    Tyntesfield Medical Group was commended during a recent inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for utilising sports centres, dieting groups and charities.

  20. New Chief Officer for Clinical Commissioning Group

    News -

    Julia Ross has been appointed as the Chief Officer for the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)

  21. Action on Hearing Loss

    News -

    The charity ‘Action on Hearing Loss’ have developed information to help you understand the level of service your GP practice should offer you and how you can positively challenge a GP practice that isn’t yet fully accessible.

  22. Update on A&E services in Weston

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has today published its report following an inspection of Weston General Hospital in February and March 2017.

  23. Queen's speech 2017 - Health and care

    News -

    The Queen’s Speech, which announces the legislative programme for the Government over the next two years, happened yesterday.

  24. Your story has the power to make change happen

    News -

    Today sees the launch of #ItStartsWithYou. This campaign is an opportunity to celebrate the people who help make health and social care services better by speaking up about their experiences.

  25. Cover up Mate! Sun cream and builders

    News -

    Almost 60 per cent of construction workers would be happy to slap sun cream on a building site buddy, a survey suggests. When asked about attitudes to sun protection, 357 out of 625 Jewson customers said they would help their workmate apply sun cream

  26. What are the signs of a good care home?

    News -

    Working with older people, their families and care experts, the charity Independent Age has developed a set of quality indicators which a local Healthwatch in Camden helped test during their visits to local care homes.

  27. Sovereign Centre Outreach

    News -

    Our fab staff and wonderful volunteers had a great day at the Sovereign Shopping Centre yesterday.

  28. Roundup of changes in health and social care

    News -

    A round up of all the changes across North Somerset to GP centres, Weston hospital, Sustainability and transformation plans and the proposed merger of Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG).

  29. Healthwatch AGM

    News -

    Join us for our AGM - Tuesday 11th October 2pm til 4 pm

  30. Have you improved healthcare through user feedback?

    News -

    NHS England will be awarding grants of up to £2,000 to a number of projects that showcase good practice around patient and citizen participation in healthcare.

  31. Warriers of Wellbeing tackle mental health stigma

    News -

    The Warriors of Wellbeing Movement ran its first event in celebration of World Mental Health Day on Tuesday 10 October 2017, with an afternoon and evening of activities across Clevedon.

  32. Dementia services - feedback shaping change

    News -

    ases of dementia are on the rise. Around 700,000 people in England have the disease currently, and this figure is expected to increase to over a million by 2025. In North Somerset, it is estimated that 1.79% of people are living with dementia.

  33. North Somerset representation requested

    News -

    We have been approached by the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) to ask us to make our Volunteers and our Members aware of an opportunity to get involved in the local commissioning process

  34. We join Meals on Wheels volunteers

    News -

    On Monday November 6th 2017 we take part in the ‘National Meals on Wheels Week’. Our volunteers and two staff members will be joining drivers from Castlewood and Worle to deliver our leaflets to gather feedback on services.

  35. Stay well this winter

    News -

    The national NHS ‘Stay Well This Winter’ campaign launched on Monday 9 October. The campaign is commissioned by NHS England, Public Health England and the Department of Health and aims to ease seasonal pressure on NHS services

  36. Healthwatch England publishes 2016/17 report

    News -

    Healthwatch Engand Publishes Annual Report to Parliament. Over 300,000 people share experiences of hospitals, GPs and care homes with Healthwatch in 2016/17.

  37. Alcohol Awareness Week 2017

    News -

    North Somerset Council supports Alcohol Awareness Week 2017 to break stigma around impact of harmful drinking on families

  38. Black and Ethnic Minority cancer patients encouraged to give feedback

    News -

    NHS England Chief Executive Simon Stevens today issued an appeal for more black and ethnic minority (BME) patients to help improve cancer care by sharing their experiences.

  39. Nailsea School pupils takeover Healthwatch North Somerset

    News -

    Healthwatch North Somerset invited students from Nailsea Secondary School for a ‘takeover’ on November 21st 2017.

  40. Advice available for unpaid carers

    News -

    The community bus, MAVIS, will be in Weston town centre on Friday (24 November) promoting the help available for unpaid carers in North Somerset.

  41. NHS Board Meeting

    News -

    The NHS England board meeting was held on the 28 September 2017, in London.

  42. NHS England outlines future for congenital heart disease services

    News -

    NHS England has set out plans to implement exacting new standards that will ensure patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) receive the best possible care.

  43. Celebrating our volunteers

    News -

    We wouldn't be able to do the work we do without our wonderful volunteers. Thank you!

  44. Government paper on Children's mental health

    News -

    This video is an introduction to the government paper on Children and Young people's Mental Health

  45. Peer support in North Somerset

    News -

    Peer support through WECIL (Weston of England Centre for Inclusive Living) is continuing to expand in North Somerset.

  46. Winter walks in North Somerset

    News -

    Five organised walks are taking place in Weston-super-Mare, Portishead, Nailsea, Clevedon and Long Ashton early in January as part of the Festival of Winter Walks, organised by the Ramblers.

  47. Warriers of Wellbeing poetry slam

    News -

    Warriors of Wellbeing partnered a Poetry Slam and open mic poetry session at Loves Café in Weston super Mare. This was on the theme of mental health and wellbeing.