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

    News -

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

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

    News -

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

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

    News -

    Ex Civil Servant Diana Sees the Power of Community Action

  5. Healthwatch – RUH Engagement Report

    Report -

    Healthwatch Bath & North East Somerset and Healthwatch Wiltshire held a joint information stand in the Atrium of the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust (RUH) in Bath during the week of the 23-27 March 2015.

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

    News -

    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.

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

    News -

    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.

  8. Information: transferring patient records to Virgin Care

    News -

    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.

  9. Virgin Care contract approved

    News -

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

  10. Transforming maternity services together

    News -

    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.

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

    News -

    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.

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

    News -

    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.

  13. Three local NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups to merge next April

    News -

    Three groups responsible for the planning, buying and monitoring of health services in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire are to become a single organisation in April 2020. Read more.

  14. New Independent Chair appointed to lead Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire health and care system

    News -

    Health and care leaders from Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW) have appointed a new Independent Chair. Read more.

  15. Proposal to transform local maternity services is approved

    News -

    The joint Governing Bodies of Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Groups (BSW CCGs) today approved a proposal to improve and modernise maternity services across the region.

  16. Separate clinics for patients with and without coronavirus symptoms help people to continue accessing care and treatment

    News -

    People needing GP services across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire will soon be advised to visit a specific clinic depending on whether or not they are showing symptoms of coronavirus. Find out what this means for you.

  17. GP video appointments help thousands of patients in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire

    News -

    Thousands of patients in B&NES Swindon and Wiltshire are now benefiting from video-based appointments, as well as patient care delivered remotely by GPs and other primary care staff, thanks to the combined efforts of NHS organisations in the region.

  18. Notice: Closure of a community pharmacy in Bath & North East Somerset

    News -

    NHS England and Improvement have given notice that Jhoots Pharmacy in Bath will be closing on 31 July 2020. Find out more.

  19. Review of Special Care Dentistry in the South West

    Report -

    In 2019 the Commissioning Support Unit carried out a review of special care dentistry in the South West and asked local Healthwatch to help carry out a survey of patients using this service in each local area. Find out more about the work we did.

  20. Over 60% of people in the South West ready to help improve health and social care after coronavirus

    News -

    Alliance of local and national care organisations calls on the South West to give feedback to shape future care. Read more.

  21. People with lived experience of using mental health, autism and learning disability services needed

    News -

    Do you have lived experience of using mental health, learning disability or autism services in B&NES, or do you currently use any of these services, or live with somebody who does? Bath and North East Somerset Council want to hear your views.

  22. What you need to know when visiting a care home (new guidance for COVID-19)

    Advice and Information -

    As of Monday the 8th of March, the government's roadmap out of lockdown begins, and with it, the introduction of a single named nominated visitor to residents in care homes.

  23. Getting the most out of the virtual health and care experience

    Advice and Information -

    Working with National Voices, Traverse, and PPL, we've put together some tips on how to get the most out of the virtual health and care appointments both for patients and health and care professionals.

  24. COVID-19 Insight Report

    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.

  25. What can you expect when you’re discharged from hospital?

    Advice and Information -

    The usual processes the NHS follows to discharge you from hospital have changed during the coronavirus pandemic. Here’s what you can expect when it’s time to leave hospital.

  26. Tell Us What You Think about 'Transition' Services - Rainbow Resource

    News -

    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).

  27. Think you need to go to A&E? Call NHS 111 first

    News -

    The NHS is providing a new and more convenient way for you to access urgent care from the 1 December. Find out what this means for you and your loved ones.

  28. Wiltshire and B&NES winter opening hours - Dentists and Pharmacies

    News -

    Service times will change for primary care services over the bank holiday and Winter period. Below are the arrangements for B&NES and Wiltshire.

  29. Hundreds of people receive life saving COVID vaccine as rollout begins

    News -

    Hundreds of people received the life-saving Coronavirus vaccine on Wednesday 16th December as the Corn Exchange in Devizes amongst other venues played host to its first phase of patients.

  30. Shielding for the clinically extremely vulnerable to stop from 1st April

    News -

    More than 3.79 million clinically extremely vulnerable people in England will be informed they are no longer advised to shield from Thursday 1 April 2021.

  31. Children and young people briefing January 2021

    News -

    Healthwatch B&NES helps local people get the best out of health and social care services. In this briefing, we hear from the children and young people of two of our Community Pot Projects.

  32. CQC publishes report on Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust’s forensic inpatient and secure wards

    News -

    Following a recent inspection, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published a report today on the forensic inpatient and secure wards at Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust at its Fromeside site.

  33. COVID-19 - One year on from the declaration of a global pandemic

    News -

    Thursday 11th March marked a year since the World Health Organisation declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.

  34. New Integrated Care System to hold their first public board meeting

    News -

    Health and care organisations from across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire will come together later this month for the first official board meeting in public as the region’s new integrated care system.

  35. Integrated Care Alliance (ICA) - Away Day

    News -

    The Care Forum (TCF) is proud to represent the voices of the public in the development of health alliances in Bath and North East Somerset

  36. CEO Appointed to Lead Partnership of Health and Care Organisations

    News -

    Sue Harriman, CEO of Solent NHS Community and Mental Health Trust in Hampshire, has been appointed designate Chief Executive of the NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW) Integrated Care Board

  37. Help BSW Partnership shape a healthier future

    News -

    Bath & North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Partnership want your opinion on their ideas to improve local health and social care.

  38. Louise Ansari appointed as our new National Director

    News -

    We're delighted to announce that Louise Ansari has been appointed as our new National Director at Healthwatch England.

  39. Share your good experiences with health and social care

    News -

    Help us spread a little Joy and share your Good News Story.

  40. We need to focus on inequalities to address NHS waiting list

    News -

    The current hospital backlog has had a huge impact on many patients waiting for treatment. But if you are a woman, on a low income or from an ethnic minority background, you are more likely to have a worse experience of waiting for care.

  41. Long Covid: How is your feedback making care better?

    Blog -

    The NHS has announced a new plan and more money to improve support for Long Covid. Find out how the experiences you shared helped make the difference.

  42. More than 30 pharmacies across BaNES now offer enhanced services for minor illnesses

    News -

    The local pharmacies are now able to give out medicine for five common health conditions that would have previously needed a prescription from a GP.

  43. Your local Healthwatch update for January 2024

    News -

    Welcome to your Health & Care Digest