1. Latest NHS Coronavirus Guidance | Over 30 Translations Now Available

    News -

    Latest NHS Coronavirus Guidance | Over 30 Translations Now Available

  2. Are you a Volunteer or Key Worker?

    News -

    Your response required by Thursday 26th March: COVID-19 Volunteer and Key Worker Register

  3. List of help if you're self isolating

    News -

    Here is a list of local food deliveries and launderettes that can help if you're self isolating due to COVID 19. Please note this is not an exhaustive list.

  4. Guidance for Carers - from Carers UK

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    As the situation with Coronavirus evolves, it's important to know what support is available to you as a carer and those you look after. This page sets out the current government guidance as it relates to carers & offers suggestions for making plans

  5. COVID-19: links to help and support

    Advice and Information -

    Here is a list of links for help and advice regarding Coronavirus and specific health conditions.

  6. Coronavirus council information

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    Bristol City Council want to keep you updated on their Coronavirus policy and how the lock-down is effecting essential services throughout the city.

  7. Safeguarding Tips

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    Safeguarding tips, which we recommend community groups adhere to and suggest people familiarise themselves with these tips to keep themselves safe too.

  8. A round-up of our work to offer reliable and sound support to those in need

    News -

    Here is our latest newsletter with all the most up-to-date information on support, advice and services available in the coronavirus outbreak.

  9. Do your bit for the NHS - go to the right place for medical care

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    Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire CCG have launched a campaign to help local A&E services, encouraging people to go to the right place for minor injuries and illnesses.

  10. Coronavirus and mental health services

    Advice and Information -

    In the light of Coronavirus, there have been some changes to the ways that mental health and wellbeing services in Bristol are running.

  11. Interactive Map of Local Community Services

    Advice and Information -

    Take a look at this amazing list created by 'Bristol Independent Businesses' - it brings together community resources, Mutal Aid Groups and food delivery services that are available across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

  12. Call for temporary foster carers in Bristol

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    Bristol City Council is looking for new emergency foster carers during the COVID 19 situation.

  13. Helping Bristol's homeless during lockdown

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    Are you are a hotelier, B&B or AirBnB owner? If so please consider offering a room so that a homeless person can self-isolate.

  14. How to get emergency dental care

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    People who need emergency dental treatment are advised to contact their regular surgery - and their case will assessed on a priority basis. They will then be referred to one of two new dental hubs, in Bristol and Weston, for treatment.

  15. New stay safe video in eight different languages

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    A video message to stay safe at home to help stop the spread of the coronavirus in eight languages has been produced and you can click below to see it.

  16. Help restore treasured community playground hit by fire

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    A young teenager is leading a fundraising drive to help rebuild an adventure playground in St Paul's which has been devastated by fire. HW has seen the valuable work carried out by the APE Project first hand is supporting the fundraising drive.

  17. Nominate your carer or provider who has been your lifeline during the pandemic.

    News -

    Share your stories of care with Healthwatch - we want to recognise all the wonderful work being done to help people in their homes and the wider community. A virtual hug from us to all the social care sector.

  18. How Bristol's SEND service is adapting and improving through health crisis

    News -

    Children, young people and families have helped develop a blueprint to address failings identified in Bristol City Council’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities provision.

  19. Healthwatch guides to help you get online advice and support

    Advice and Information -

    Use our new Healthwatch guides to help you get to grips with using health websites and apps. From Patient Access and NHS App to using Zoom, you can download and print our step-by-step guides.

  20. Healthwatch can now help find you the right support from NHS Responders

    Advice and Information -

    If you are at home self-isolating and need a support lifeline you can now call Healthwatch to get help from the new army of NHS Responders.

  21. How to get help from your GP

    Advice and Information -

    GP services are now starting to offer online consultations and have made other changes to the normal service at surgeries - read this latest update from the Bristol, North Somerset and South Glos Clinical Commissioning Group.

  22. Support available for children and their families

    News -

    This week it has been reported that only a small fraction of “at risk” children are taking up the emergency school places kept open for them, prompting concerns that they are facing increased danger during the lockdown.

  23. Mental health service 'gaps' - tell us your views

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    The health pandemic has resulted in many mental health support services either being suspended or becoming ‘self-service’ over the internet due to social distancing.

  24. Don't delay in seeking medical help during coronavirus

    Advice and Information -

    People are not seeking help for potentially life-threatening health conditions due to the Covid-19 outbreak, Healthwatch has learned.

  25. Julie ready to help as a volunteer NHS Responder

    Blog -

    Our Healthwatch Bristol Area Lead Julie Bird has signed up as an NHS Responder after being moved by her work with Healthwatch - where she heard "heartbreaking" stories from the public in need of help.

  26. Concerns over patient transport services during pandemic

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    People with disabilities and those who are less mobile may be struggling to attend necessary medical appointments due to reduced transport services.

  27. Share Your Care - ABC charity's 'compassionate' advice

    Advice and Information -

    We are highlighting the work of Bristol-based Anorexia and Bulimia Care Charity (ABC) who have been nominated in our ‘Share Your Care’ hunt to raise awareness of amazing carers or services.

  28. Bristol Sanctuary

    Advice and Information -

    Bristol Sanctuary are a mental health service that have adapted to ensure they are still providing a useful service throughout the Coronavirus pandemic. If you are struggling or need someone to talk to then The Bristol Sanctuary can help you.

  29. A big hearty thanks to all our volunteers

    News -

    We are celebrating Volunteers' Week June 1st to 7th by saying a big thank you to our 30 volunteers and 7 trustees who help us at Healthwatch Bristol, North Somerset and South Glos.

  30. Age UK Bristol launch support hub

    Advice and Information -

    Age UK Bristol have launched a support hub to help older people and their families cope with the impact of Coronavirus in Bristol.

  31. New review says BAME groups at higher risk of dying from Covid-19

    News -

    A new review has shown the risk of dying from Covid-19 is higher among Black and Asian Minority Ethnic Groups compared to white groups. Healthwatch awaits recommendations from these findings which will really benefit BAME staff and patients.

  32. Volunteers' Week - thank you John!

    Blog -

    Thanks John your work is helping ensure patients' voices are heard by key decision makers at local hospitals.

  33. Stay Alert - from Covid scammers

    Advice and Information -

    Police are warning of a new scam where callers pose as NHS Track and Trace advisors who ask the householder to pay £500 to be tested or face a “penalty.”

  34. Action needed after report shows BAME adversely affected by pandemic

    News -

    Large scale research and data collection is needed to tackle “humbling inequalities" in Covid-19 death rates, according to the new Public Health England report. We want our feedback to build an understanding of health experiences of BAME groups.

  35. Bristol researchers find higher Covid-19 death rates amongst BAME communities

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    Healthwatch wants its feedback to help understand the experiences of all communities. Death rates in Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Groups from Covid 19 are higher than white British people, according to researchers based in Bristol.

  36. Our round up of how we've worked for you this year

    Report -

    Read all about how we expanded our geographical area, our staff team and developed new work areas to ensure we continue to make an impact on health and social care services near you.

  37. Enter and View at Elgar House

    Report -

    Read our report on Elgar House, Southmead Hospital, where we observed the facilities and spoke to patients on the wards. We found delays in sorting patients' care at home leading to prolonged stays.

  38. Do No Harm

    Report -

    First Do No Harm is a report published last week of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review. Read more to learn more about the report, why it was commissioned and its findings.

  39. Read how people who need care at home were affected by pandemic

    Report -

    Lu, who suffers from chronic condition fibromyalgia, tells us how her family stepped up to look after her when she suffered a distressing fall and how she struggled to get help for severe shoulder pain.

  40. NHS Race and Health Observatory

    News -

    A new NHS centre to investigate the effects of race and ethnicity on people’s health has got the go ahead after Covid 19 helped to focus minds on the continuing problem of racism in medicine.

  41. Helping people cope with sudden bereavement

    Advice and Information -

    Sudden is a charity who help people struggling from bereavement. They can help families in many different ways, including those who have lost people to Covid-19, undiagnosed medical conditions, suicide & road crashes to name a few.

  42. New report finds excess deaths among adults receiving social care

    News -

    The COVID-19 pandemic has been felt hardest among those who rely on social care, and those working to care for them, a new report has found.

  43. Videos in 10 languages to help more people understand key advice

    News -

    Videos providing important Covid-19 tips and advice are now available in more than 10 languages to reach people in the region who do not speak English as a first language.

  44. New 24-hour helpline launches for those struggling with affects of pandemic

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    A new 24/7 phoneline to help people cope with the pressures of Covid-19 and beyond has been launched for people in the Bristol, North Somerset and South Glos region.

  45. Jump in coronavirus cases puts Bristol above national average

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    People are being warned to take more care following Covid-19 guidelines after 79 reported cases in the last week in Bristol. This is a jump of 88 from the previous week and a rate of 17 per 100,000 people - above the England average of 15.

  46. Open letter shows progress in reopening health services ahead of winter

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    An open letter outlining plans to get services back to their pre-pandemic levels but still ensure everyone’s safety has been released.