1. Weston Hospital acquisition

    News -

    Following their recent board meeting, the NHS Trust Development Authority (NHS TDA) has approved the next stage of Weston Area Health NHS Trust’s acquisition.

  2. Passport to help vulnerable cope with hospital visits

    News -

    Carers who assist people with learning disabilities are asked to help make sure their ‘Healthcare Passports’ are up-to-date for any hospital visits during the health pandemic.

  3. Weston Hospital now fully reopened

    News -

    Weston Hospital has now fully reopened and patients who have an appointment scheduled from today onwards should just attend at their allocated time. The A&E service is also now operational again from 8am to 10pm.

  4. 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.

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

    News -

    The new Covid-19 vaccine has been rolled out in Bristol today (December 8) – with the over 80s and care home staff first on the list to receive it.

  6. 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.

  7. Weston Hospital open to outpatients - attend appointments and A&E as normal

    News -

    Patients should attend outpatient appointments at Weston Hospital as normal despite a rise in Covid-19 admissions. The A & E department is also open but people are advised to call NHS 111 first if it is not a life-threatening emergency.

  8. Action plan needed to address staff levels and patient care at Weston Hospital

    News -

    Shortages of staff at Weston Hospital could mean patients do not get the right care or treatment, a new report has found.

  9. Improving stroke services in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire

    News -

    Stroke services in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire could be set to change as part of a public consultation on proposed improvements.

  10. Next steps for stroke services to be decided

    News -

    Sit in on the decision-making process and hear the results of the Clinical Commissioning Group's recent consultation on how to improve stroke services and save lives in the Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire area.

  11. Medical care at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston rated 'good' by CQC - but concerns raised over patient safety

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission's inspection of Weston General Hospital in June left the independent regulator 'significantly concerned about the safe care and treatment of patients receiving medical care'.

  12. Mental health services for children, young people, and older people must improve, says independent regulator

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission has published its latest report on community mental health services for children and young people, and hospital wards for older adults, provided by Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust.

  13. Have your say: attending Southmead Hospital A&E department

    News -

    Staff at Southmead Hospital need your feedback to find how patient care at their A&E department can be improved. If you've attended A&E as a walk-in during November or December 2021, you can help by filling in our anonymous survey.

  14. Recommendations to improve local stroke services agreed by NHS commissioners

    News -

    The Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group said the changes will mean fewer people die or experience long-term disability following a stroke. Services are expected to be fully in place from November 2022.

  15. Local NHS renews campaign to encourage people with non-life-threatening medical conditions to call 111 first

    News -

    The NHS in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire is encouraging people to contact NHS 111 for help with urgent but not life-threatening medical needs, rather than going straight to local A&E departments.

  16. NHS survey seeks views on next steps to further improve services at Weston General Hospital

    News -

    The NHS in Weston-super-Mare, Worle and surrounding areas is asking local people to respond to a survey about its vision and ambition to secure Weston General Hospital as a thriving hospital at the heart of the community.

  17. Provider of NHS 111 services in North Somerset rated 'Outstanding' by independent regulator

    News -

    Practice Plus Group - NHS 111 South West, who have a contact centre in Bristol and answer NHS 111 calls from people across the South West, were found to be safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led by the Care Quality Commission.

  18. "This is another scandal where it’s clear that lessons from past tragedies haven’t been learnt" - Healthwatch England's response to the Ockenden review

    News -

    Healthwatch England has responded to the Independent Review of Maternity Services at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, led by Donna Ockenden. The review examined almost 1,600 clinical incidents and found repeated failures in care.

  19. Get involved in turning the plans for Weston General Hospital into action

    News -

    Doctors, nurses and other health professionals have worked with the public and staff to draw up plans for the future of Weston General Hospital. The public have the opportunity to share their feedback at a range of public engagement events.

  20. Weston General Hospital rating moves up from 'inadequate' to 'requires improvement'

    News -

    The hospital was rated 'inadequate' in June 2021 by the Care Quality Commission, after the independent regulator of health and social care in England raised concerns over patient safety.

  21. 'The barriers to accessing timely care can put people’s lives at risk' - Healthwatch England's response to the Care Quality Commission's 'State of Care' report

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. Their latest report sets out the challenges the NHS and social care sector face: 'the health and care system is gridlocked, unable to operate effectively.'

  22. Experiences of being in hospital for people with a learning disability and autistic people

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission says people with a learning disability and autistic people "continue to face barriers when accessing health care and treatment" after collecting people’s experiences from 8 hospital trusts in England.

  23. Hundreds more people to benefit from NHS care in the comfort of their own homes this winter

    News -

    The NHS@Home service offers hospital-level care and remote monitoring in an individual’s home, providing an alternative to hospital admission, or helping them to return home promptly following an inpatient stay.

  24. Next steps in enhancing urgent care at Weston General Hospital

    News -

    Local NHS leaders are focusing on helping people get home quicker after accidents and emergencies, with special units planned to assess and treat people more quickly so that they can return home sooner working closely with teams in the community.

  25. Long stay and rehabilitation mental health wards rated 'good' by independent regulator

    News -

    Three of the four wards for working age adults managed by Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust were inspected by the Care Quality Commission in January 2023.

  26. Safety concerns raised after inspection of acute psychiatric wards and psychiatric intensive care units

    News -

    Sexual safety incidents on mixed wards and environmental risks were among the issues identified by the Care Quality Commission, independent regulator for health and social care services in England.

  27. 'One patient was waiting over 9 hours to be collected' - Care Quality Commission raises concerns over waiting times for community transport provider E-Zec Medical Transport Services Ltd

    News -

    The independent regulator for health and social care services in England undertook an inspection of E-Zec Medical Transport Services Ltd in January 2023.

  28. E-Zec Medical Transport re-inspected by regulator following warning notice

    News -

    In the latest inspection, carried out in July 2023, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) focused on the areas highlighted in the warning notice issued in January. The service remains rated as 'requires improvement'.

  29. Our statement following the conviction of Lucy Letby

    News -

    Lucy Letby was found guilty on the 21st August 2023 of murdering seven babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2016, while working as a nurse. She was also convicted of trying to kill six other infants.

  30. A third of people in England lack confidence they can access critical NHS services

    News -

    Healthwatch England has warned that people need more confidence that the NHS can provide timely care as the winter period approaches. A third of adults in England lack confidence that they can access timely care, including GP services, mental health support and hospital care.

  31. How would you describe an outstanding experience of care?

    News -

    What would your top priority be in a new 'Experience of Care' strategy? These are two of the questions University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) are asking you to share your views on as they set out to co-design their new strategy.

  32. Mental health trust told to improve its secure mental health and forensic inpatient wards

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission found Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust must improve in a number of areas, including monitoring the conduct of temporary staff, and considering the level of noise and the impact on patients.

  33. NHS waiting list in England hits a record high

    News -

    For the first time, the NHS has published the number of individual patients on the waiting list – 6.5 million – in addition to the total number of appointments and treatments currently on the waiting list – 7.77 million.

  34. Extra investment in local health services to boost winter capacity and speed up hospital discharge

    News -

    Health and care partners in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) are investing an extra £40m into services to boost capacity and speed up hospital discharge during the challenging winter months. Planning for this winter began in February, with significant extra funding allocated to winter schemes to maintain safe and effective care for local people.

  35. One in four NHS staff experience harassment at work

    News -

    In each of the last four years the NHS Staff Survey has shown that more than one in four staff has experienced harassment, bullying or abuse from patients and members of the public while at work.

  36. The impact of postponements and cancellations of recent or planned care or appointments

    News -

    Have you been impacted by cancelled care? Healthwatch England commissioned Yonder Data Solutions to run an online survey to learn about the impact of postponements and cancellations of recent or planned care or appointments in 2023.

  37. Share your feedback: inpatient mental health wards

    News -

    Do you have a loved one currently staying on a mental health ward? We're visiting a number of inpatient wards to speak to patients. We'd also like to hear from family, friends, and carers.

  38. Waiting for a knee or hip operation? Tell us about your experience

    News -

    The wait for planned medical care or surgery can be frustrating, If you're a North Somerset resident, please tell us about the the support you've received - if any - while waiting for your hip or knee operation.

  39. CQC again rates maternity services at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust as good

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published a report following an inspection of the maternity services at both Weston General Hospital and UHBW Bristol Main Site (St Michael’s Hospital), both run by University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, in December.

  40. New North Bristol NHS Trust centre at Cribbs Causeway to offer diagnostic scans and tests

    News -

    Patients will be able to have scans and tests at a new Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) from April 2024 as part of a wider NHS initiative to increase access to diagnostic procedures.