News and reports

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Catherine Shaw joined Healthwatch B&Nes as an volunteer two years ago as she began a part-time Masters degree with the Open University on ‘Advancing Healthcare Practice’. Here Catherine shares her story.

Children's charity, Rainbow Trust, has shared its key findings of the pandemic pressures on families with seriously ill children, and its recommendations for decision makers and commissioners going forward in its latest report.

In April we launched out COVID-19 insight survey inviting residents in Bath and North East Somerset to tell us their experiences of accessing health and social care during the pandemic. Find out what people told us.

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.

A local information service for families with a child or young person with additional needs, a special educational need, or disability is asking for young persons and carer feedback on 'transition' (the change from children to adult services).

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

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.