Doctors and midwives are urging pregnant women across the South West to protect themselves and their unborn child from flu by getting the flu jab this winter. Now is the ideal time for expectant mothers to have the flu vaccination; available from their GP, maternity service provider or pharmacy, before the flu virus starts circulating. Pregnancy […]

Health chiefs have today united to urge people aged 65 and over to take advantage of the NHS’s biggest ever flu vaccination programme. Older people across the country are being offered the most effective vaccine in the world as part of the programme which is providing a record 8.5million doses, free of charge. And this week […]

The Medical Director of the NHS in the South West has today given her backing to a new tool to help survivors of a stroke. To mark World Stroke Day, Liz Mearns urged people to make use of a new online platform and guide for stroke survivors, and their families and carers. Prevention and treatment […]

With nursery and school terms well underway, parents and guardians of children aged two and three, are encouraged not to put off getting the free flu vaccination for their children. This year children aged 2 and 3 years, or in school years R to five are all eligible for the flu vaccination on the NHS. […]

Health and social care organisations are under greater pressure to ensure that their staff  are vaccinated against the Flu ahead of this year’s winter – a time which always places greater strain on healthcare systems. All NHS organisations provide their staff with the vaccine; aiming to minimise the risk of spreading the seasonal flu virus […]

People who have a learning disability can be more susceptible to the effects of flu and are therefore at increased risk of developing complications such as bronchitis or pneumonia. Anyone with a learning disability is entitled to receive a free vaccination. Research published by Public Health England in November 2016 suggests that more than two […]

Public Health England is calling for adults in the South West to take a free, online Heart Age Test, which will provide an immediate estimation of their ‘heart age’. If someone’s heart age is higher than their actual age, they are at an increased risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Cardiovascular disease (CVD), […]

Pharmacies across Bath, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire have a change to opening hours over the bank holiday weekend. Pharmacy teams play a key role in providing quality healthcare and use their clinical expertise, to advise you on common illnesses, such as sunburn, heatstroke, coughs, colds, aches and pains. To find details of the nearest […]

Patients of the Locality Health Centre in Weston-super-Mare are being asked for their views to help shape future services at the practice. The NHS is holding a procurement exercise to find a provider for The Locality Health Centre practice in Weston-super-Mare to continue running the practice. This is because the current contract for the practice […]

The South West has become the first NHS England region to fully digitise GP to hospital outpatient referrals, with all 17 NHS Trusts in the region completing paper switch off today. The NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS), mandatory for all NHS organisations from October 2018, will reduce patient waiting times, increase patient choice and enable GPs […]