1. E-zec Medical Transport Services provide non-emergency patient transport across BaNES, Swindon, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire

    News -

    From 1 June 2019 the non-emergency patient transport service in Bath and North East Somerset, Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire will no longer be provided by Arriva Transport and will instead be provided by E-zec Medical Transport Services.

  2. Changes in over-the-counter prescribing

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    The NHS is having to make financial savings and as a result changes are being made to over-the-counter prescriptions.

  3. University student says volunteering has boosted her confidence

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    One of our volunteers, Isabelle, talks about why she chose to be come a volunteer and the ways in which it has helped her.

  4. What Is The Accessible Information Standard?

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    The Accessible Information Standard has been legislation since 1 June 2016, making it a legal requirement for NHS services to provide information to patients in a way that is easy for them to understand. We wanted to speak to people affected by this.

  5. We call on health professionals in B&NES to make more space for new parents to talk about their mental health

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    It's time for local services to make more space for new parents in Bath and North East Somerset to talk about their mental health.

  6. Join the Patient and Public Voices Forum, and help put people and communities at the heart of the NHS Cancer Programme

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    Find out more about opportunities to join a patient and public voices forum to help the NHS transform cancer services.

  7. Do you or someone you care for use NHS special care dental services in the South West?

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    NHS England and NHS Improvement are working with us to find out people's experiences of using special care dental services to help develop service delivery.

  8. Green light for RNHRD acquisition

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    The proposed acquisition of the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases NHS Foundation Trust (RNHRD) by the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust (RUH) has now been approved, health sector regulator Monitor announced today.

  9. Books on Prescription to help people with dementia

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    Bath & North East Somerset Council’s libraries service is launching a new Books on Prescription service for people with Dementia.

  10. Ex Civil Servant Diana Sees the Power of Community Action

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    Ex Civil Servant Diana Sees the Power of Community Action

  11. Care Quality Commission Publish Five-Year Strategy Discussion Paper

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    The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published a discussion paper setting out potential changes to the way it inspects health and social care organisations in future.

  12. Do you know that you can give feedback on NHS care?

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    Many people don’t quite know how to provide feedback on the care they have received from the NHS, but it’s incredibly important to have your say so you can help shape and improve your local services.

  13. CQC want more older people, their friends and families to share their experiences of health and social care

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    Research has shown that older people are less likely to complain about services and are less aware of the different ways they can share their views.

  14. Have your say: consultation on B&NES prescribing policy

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    NHS BaNES Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is currently running a four-week period of public engagement on proposed changes to its prescribing policy. This started on 24 November 2016.

  15. NHS England launches national review of the Accessible Information Standard

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    Since 1 August 2016, all organisations that provide NHS care or adult social care have been legally required to follow the Accessible Information Standard (AIS).

  16. Information: transferring patient records to Virgin Care

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    With Virgin Care having been awarded the new contract for providing adult community health services in B&NES the transfer of patient records from Sirona has begun.

  17. NHS-funded Patient Transport – Have Your Say!

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    A consultation is taking place around NHS-funded patient transport and we are keen to hear from you.

  18. B&NES Draft Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (2018 – 2021)

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    B&NES Draft Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (2018 – 2021)

  19. B&NES resident Roger urges people to have their say about changes to the NHS

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    “Healthcare in B&NES will only work if people get to have their say” – urges Healthwatch volunteer Roger Tippings, as the public are invited to share their views on the NHS Long Term Plan.

  20. What has your experiences of ambulances been like?

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    We are carrying out a survey on The South West Ambulance Trust and are keen to hear from as many people as possible in Bath and North East Somerset.

  21. The Care Forum is re-awarded the ‘Investing in Volunteers’ quality mark

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    The Care Forum, which provides the Healthwatch Bath and North East Somerset contract, is re-awarded the ‘Investing in Volunteers’ quality mark.

  22. Virgin Care contract approved

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    Bath & North East Somerset Council award seven year contract to Virgin Care to deliver community health and care services in B&NES.

  23. Speak to us this week at the RUH Bath

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    This week we are teaming up with Healthwatch Wiltshire to speak to patients at the Royal United Hospital in Bath to find out their experiences of treatment and care there.

  24. Healthwatch and Julian House: working together to improve homeless people’s health

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    We are working together with Julian House to ask local homeless people how we can help them to improve their health.

  25. Healthwatch Survey for Transgender People

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    Are health and social care services working for transgender people? Take part in nationwide survey and let Healthwatch know your experiences of accessing health and social care.

  26. Transgender equality – new report echoes feedback shared with Healthwatch

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    The Commons Women and Equalities Committee published their report on Transgender equality. The report is the first by a UK parliamentary committee to tackle transgender issues.

  27. Accessible Information Standard Workshop

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    We held a workshop in June 2018 about the implementation of the Accessible Information Standard. The workshop was aimed at professionals working in health and social care organisations across B&NES, South Gloucestershire and Bristol.

  28. APPLY NOW – Healthwatch B&NES Community Pot 2018-19

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    We're delighted to launch our small grants programme for 2018-19 aimed at VCSE organisations in B&NES.

  29. BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire 111 CQC rating

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    B&NES, Swindon and Wiltshire 111 receives ‘good’ rating from CQC

  30. Off the Record survey for Healthwatch 2019 – young people, their mental health and accessing services

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    We launched our 'Community Pot' grant for 2018/19 in November last year. Off The Record BANES was one of the organisations which applied for and was successful in getting the funding. They have just launched their survey as part of this project.

  31. Sir Robert Francis QC confirmed as new Chair of Healthwatch England

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    Sir Robert Francis QC has been appointed today as the new Chair of Healthwatch England, the independent champion for people who use health and social care.

  32. Transforming maternity services together

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    A proposal to transform maternity services across Bath and North East Somerset (BANES), Swindon and Wiltshire has been shared with the general public for their consideration.

  33. Three local NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups take steps to become one organisation

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    Three groups responsible for the planning, buying and monitoring of health services in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire could become one single organisation as soon as April 2020.

  34. Care and Supporting Charging Financial Assessment Framework - Your thoughts needed

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    Bath & North East Somerset Council is proposing to introduce a framework to make sure that residents with eligible needs are allocated funding fairly and in a way that is easy to understand.

  35. We won….Healthwatch B&NES

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    The Care Forum is pleased to announce that following a tender process we were re-awarded the contract for Healthwatch B&NES. The contract will run from the 1 April 2018 to the 31 March 2021.

  36. Stop Adult Abuse Week: Self-Neglect and Mental Capacity

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    During Stop Adult Abuse Week this year the focus will mainly be on self-neglect and mental capacity. This article explains more about what this means.

  37. Share your views on NHS services for those with learning disabilities and autism

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    Hundreds of children have learning disabilities and autism in Bath and North East Somerset and now families are being asked to help shape local NHS services supporting them.

  38. New guidance on the prescription of over-the-counter medicines

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    Bath and North East Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group adopt new guidelines which will reduce the prescribing of over-the-counter medicines for minor conditions.

  39. Decision made on sterilisation and fertility services in B&NES

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    This month, the Bath and North East Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group (BaNES CCG) Board decided to make no change to its policy on male vasectomy, but to change its policies on female sterilisation and fertility services.

  40. Help the NHS help you this winter by taking simple steps

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    People living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Swindon and Wiltshire are being urged to do their bit to help the NHS cope with an increase in demand for services this winter.

  41. What would you change about local health and care services?

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    Younger people in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire are being given an opportunity to help shape how health and care services are provided in the future.

  42. New federation of Bath GP surgeries to provide highest level of care

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    Five GP surgeries in Bath have joined forces to share their clinical expertise for the benefit of their patients.

  43. New non-emergency patient transport service across B&NES, Swindon, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire

    News -

    From 1 June 2019, the non-emergency patient transport service in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire will be provided by E-zec Medical Transport Services

  44. NHS Long Term Plan launched

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    The 10-year plan includes measures to prevent 150,000 heart attacks, strokes and dementia cases, and better access to mental health services for adults and children.

  45. Our Health, Our Future

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    Our Health, Our Future is a collaborative campaign coordinated by Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire CCGs on behalf of the wider STP which encourages people living in the three regions to reflect on their experiences of healthcare

  46. Share your experiences of leaving hospital

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    The Local Government Association (LGA) is reviewing how health and care services in Bath and North East Somerset and Wiltshire are working together to support people when they leave hospital.

  47. Smokers and obese patients to be helped to get fit for surgery

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    The Bath and North East Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has agreed to proceed with new plans to tackle obesity and smoking.

  48. The future direction for Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire CCGs

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    The clinical commissioning groups of Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire will be merging.