1. Coronavirus is affecting my mental health – what can I do?

    Advice and Information -

    The current Coronavirus (COVID19) pandemic may cause you to feel worried, anxious, or scared. Read our seven steps to looking after your wellbeing while staying informed.

  2. Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services

    Report -

    After hearing that access to non-emergency patient transport services was becoming more difficult for local residents, our Executive Board decided we needed to carry out further engagement work. Read our report to find out what people told us.

  3. WERN Community Pot Final Project Report 2018/19

    Report -

    The project focused on engaging with rural residents in B&NES who are isolated by geography or circumstance and to find out the impact this has had on their experiences of accessing health and social care.

  4. 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.

  5. OTR BANES Community Pot Project Report 2018/19

    Report -

    This project set out to explore the issue of rural isolation in BANES and understand what the impact for young people who experience this has on their ability to engage in health services, specifically mental health provision.

  6. Parents and carers urged not to put off seeking medical help amid anxieties about coronavirus

    News -

    Parents, carers and others looking after children across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire are being advised not to let worries about coronavirus delay them from seeking medical help this Easter. Read more.

  7. Nightingale Hospital Bristol

    News -

    NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSEI) South West region has asked North Bristol NHS Trust to oversee the new NHS Nightingale Hospital Bristol alongside its existing group of hospitals. Read more.

  8. Planning care at the end of life

    Advice and Information -

    We explain why it’s important to have a plan in place, should you or a loved one become critically ill with coronavirus. Read more.

  9. I'm experiencing domestic abuse - where can I go for support?

    Advice and Information -

    With a surge in cases of domestic violence because of the Covid-19 lockdown we have put together some information about where you can get information and support. Read more.

  10. Drive-thru appointments, home visits and video calls keep GP practices open during coronavirus pandemic

    News -

    Drive-thru GP appointments are just one of a number of initiatives helping practices in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire to continue providing much-needed care to local communities throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Read more.

  11. What does Safeguarding mean?

    Advice and Information -

    Do you know what the term safeguarding means? Waltham Forest Council have created a short video aimed at volunteers, which explains what this means. Find out more.

  12. Talk to us - we're here to help

    News -

    NHS and social care staff are doing everything they can to keep us well during this crisis, but there might be things that can be improved. We want to hear from you about your experiences of care during COVID-19 to help make things better.

  13. New NHS Nightingale Hospital Bristol opens

    News -

    Less than three weeks since work started, NHS Nightingale Hospital Bristol opens today. Based at University of West of England Frenchay campus, it will provide up to 300 intensive care beds for coronavirus patients, if local services need them.

  14. Local doctors urge people to continue accessing healthcare as and when they need it

    News -

    New data shows a considerable drop in the number of people coming forward to ask their GP for help and advice during the coronavirus outbreak. Read more.

  15. Changes to community maternity services agreed as CCG continues to respond to current coronavirus challenge

    News -

    Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group has today agreed a set of recommendations that will maintain the health and wellbeing of mums-to-be during the current coronavirus outbreak. Read more.

  16. Local ‘backline’ healthcare staff volunteer to deliver urgent and end-of-life prescriptions during lockdown

    News -

    Non-clinical staff at Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Clinical Group are offering a helping hand to community nursing teams in Swindon and Wiltshire by delivering urgent and end-of-life medicines direct to people’s homes.

  17. The NHS is still open this bank holiday, even if your nearest GP practice isn’t

    News -

    With many GP practices across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire reducing their opening hours this bank holiday weekend, doctors are offering reassurances that help will still be available for those who need it. Read more.

  18. Learning Disability Hospital Passport and Guidance

    News -

    The Grab and Go form gives doctor and nurses important information about a patient who has a learning disability or autism if they have to be admitted to hospital because of COVID 19. Find out more.

  19. CCG urges local people to be kind to themselves with launch of online directory of mental health and wellbeing services

    News -

    Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group is marking Mental Health Awareness Week by encouraging people to be kind to themselves during lockdown and to always seek help when it is needed. Find out more.

  20. Taking the fear out of breast screening for women with learning disabilities

    News -

    A new film that aims to help more women with learning disabilities to access breast screening has been made featuring women who live locally to Bath and North East Somerset. Find out more.

  21. GPs spell out the best way to get NHS help over the Spring bank holiday weekend

    News -

    GP practices across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire will be reducing their opening hours this bank holiday weekend, but local people are being reassured that the NHS is still on hand to provide help where it’s needed. Read more.

  22. AWP publish a COVID-19 Wellbeing Guide for Bath & North East Somerset

    News -

    Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership have published a wellbeing guide put together by one of their service users in Bath and North East Somerset. Read more.

  23. Opticians to provide urgent NHS eye care services

    News -

    People across Bath, North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire can now access free NHS treatment for urgent eye care from their local optician. Read more.

  24. 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.

  25. Volunteer with a B&NES disability rights group

    News -

    Local Bath & North East Somerset resident, Lara, is inviting disabled people living in the area to be part of a disability rights group and tell us why this is important to her. Find out more.

  26. 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.

  27. New guidance: Preventing infection in hospitals

    Advice and Information -

    FROM TODAY, HOSPITAL VISITORS AND OUTPATIENTS NEED TO WEAR FACE COVERINGS

  28. Maternity Voices Partnership Plus Survey - B&NES, Swindon & Wiltshire

    News -

    B&NES, Swindon and Wiltshire Maternity Voices Partnership want to gather the views of pregnant women and those who have had their babies with a survey they are running. They will share the findings with local maternity services. Find out more.

  29. 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.

  30. Quality Accounts for NHS Providers

    Report -

    A Quality Account is a report about the quality of services offered by an NHS healthcare provider. Each year local Healthwatch are given the opportunity to respond to these. Find out more about this and read our responses to providers.

  31. How to get an NHS dentist appointment during COVID-19

    Advice and Information -

    Routine dental care has had to change because of COVID-19, with social distancing rules making it difficult to access services. Here’s some information on how to access an NHS dentist during the pandemic.

  32. Annual Report 2019/20

    Report -

    Read our annual report for 2019/20 and find out about all the brilliant work carried out by our team and our wonderful volunteers throughout the year.

  33. Health leaders call for sensible approach to easing of lockdown restrictions as NHS services anticipate busy weekend

    News -

    Health leaders at Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group have asked the public not to throw away the recent progress made in tackling coronavirus. Read more.

  34. Hospitals prioritise patient safety as public is urged to attend important outpatient appointments

    News -

    A worrying trend of patients avoiding important face-to-face hospital appointments has prompted a warning that doing so could have serious implications for long-term health. Read more.

  35. 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.

  36. 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.

  37. Grant award for Rheumatic Disease podcasts

    News -

    Bath Institute for Rheumatic Diseases (BIRD) has been awarded £4,148 to make and promote a series of podcasts for patients from our community pot fund. Find out more.

  38. What's the difference between social distancing, self-isolation and shielding?

    Advice and Information -

    Self-isolation, social distancing and shielding have been introduced by the Government to help you and your loved ones stay safe from COVID-19. Find out what they mean in practice and what applies to you.

  39. CCG stresses importance of reaching out at first sign of mental health worries

    News -

    People in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire who have lived through a mental health crisis are urging others to make use of the help available throughout the region at the very first sign of things getting too much. Read more.

  40. Don’t Wait and Worry

    News -

    A radio campaign will run from Monday 24 August called 'Don’t Wait and Worry', encouraging people across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire to see their GP if they have symptoms which could be signs of cancer. Find out more.

  41. Community Pharmacy Swindon & Wiltshire News letter

    News -

    The Community Pharmacy Newsletter for August is available here to read.

  42. Let's Do This: Better Health Campaign

    News -

    On Monday 27th July, Public Health England is launching a major new adult health campaign to seize the opportunity for a national reset moment of health. Find out more.

  43. Community Pot Project 2019/20: Action for M.E.

    News -

    At the beginning of 2020 we invited organisations across B&NES to apply for our Community Pot fund. Action for M.E. received funding to address health and social inequalities for adults with M.E. by providing a number of channels of support.

  44. Community Pot Project 2019/20: Bath Institute for Rheumatic Diseases

    News -

    At the beginning of 2020 we invited organisations across B&NES to apply for our Community Pot fund. Bath Institute for Rheumatic Diseases was awarded funding from this to produce a series of four podcasts about rheumatic diseases. Read more,

  45. Community Pot Project 2019/20: Bath Rugby Foundation

    News -

    At the beginning of 2020 we invited organisations across B&NES to apply for our Community Pot fund. Bath Rugby Foundation received funding to look at the barriers to employment for young adults with SEND transitioning from school or college.

  46. Community Pot Project 2019/20: Carers' Centre Bath and North East Somerset

    News -

    At the beginning of 2020 we invited organisations across B&NES to apply for our Community Pot fund. the Carers's Centre B&NES received funding to extend their support line hours, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more.

  47. Community Pot Project 2019/20: Swallow Charity

    News -

    At the beginning of 2020 we invited organisations across B&NES to apply for our Community Pot fund. SWALLOW received funding to support adults with learning disabilities to transition back to 'normal life' after the COVID-19 lockdown. Find out more.