1. Covid 19 - information and support

    Advice and Information -

    Healthwatch is working with Bristol City Council, NHS Volunteer Responders, volunteer groups and health and social care organisations to make sure you can get the information and support you need.

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

    News -

    Latest NHS Coronavirus Guidance | Over 30 Translations Now Available

  3. Are you a Volunteer or Key Worker?

    News -

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

  4. 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.

  5. Guidance for Carers - from Carers UK

    News -

    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

  6. 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.

  7. Coronavirus council information

    News -

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

  8. Safeguarding Tips

    News -

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

  9. 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.

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

    News -

    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.

  11. Call for temporary foster carers in Bristol

    News -

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

  12. Helping Bristol's homeless during lockdown

    News -

    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.

  13. How to get emergency dental care

    News -

    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.

  14. New stay safe video in eight different languages

    News -

    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.

  15. 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.

  16. 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.

  17. 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.

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

    News -

    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.

  19. 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.

  20. 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.

  21. 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.

  22. 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.

  23. 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.”

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

    News -

    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.

  25. 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.

  26. Jump in coronavirus cases puts Bristol above national average

    News -

    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.

  27. Zoom in for our first virtual AGM

    News -

    Join us on Zoon for our virtual AGM on Monday, October 12, 6-7pm, to reflect on our 19/20 year with updates on the latest news and project work being carried out in Bristol.

  28. Survey about your experience of seeking support for Bladder and Bowel issues during coronavirus

    News -

    Bladder and Bowel problems are not openly talked about. We would like to hear about what is working well and what is not during coronavirus and the kind of support you found helpful and less so. Deadline now extended until November 30.

  29. Test and Trace - how can it be improved?

    News -

    Contact tracing is working well in the South West with an 83.3 per cent success rate compared to a national average of 77 per cent.

  30. COVID-19 - engaging Bristol's black communities

    News -

    Black women have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, says Bristol Area Lead Dr Acomo Oloya. So how do we tackle the issues that have made black communities vulnerable?

  31. COVID-19 update: advice in different languages

    News -

    CASS have been working closely with the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (BNSSG CCG) over the last few months to ensure all communities in Bristol receive accessible information about COVID-19.

  32. Healthwatch is making a difference nationally

    News -

    Healthwatch’s work, highlighting people’s experiences of health and care, has formed part of a major House of Lords report on learning key lessons from the health pandemic.

  33. New report shows Somalis in Bristol hit hard by pandemic

    News -

    More than a third of Bristol Somalis who took part in a Covid-19 study were hospitalised or had family or friends needing admission. New recommendations from the report says Covid information needs to be accessible and in different languages.

  34. Historic turning point - Covid vaccines rolled out to first patients at Southmead Hospital

    News -

    The new Covid-19 vaccine has been rolled out in Bristol today – with the over 80s and care home staff first on the list to receive it.

  35. Our Area lead Julie tells BBC Radio Bristol about problems getting to a dentist during the pandemic

    News -

    NHS dentistry has been pushed to crisis point by Covid-19 – new research by Healthwatch has found.

  36. Phased roll-out begins for Covid-19 vaccinations

    News -

    Local vaccination services run by GPs will open across the area this week, as the roll-out of the biggest immunisation programme in NHS history starts.

  37. Vaccine programme musn't 'breed complacency' says Boris during his visit to Bristol

    News -

    If you’re over 80 and still haven’t had your Covid-19 vaccine the message is – you’ll be contacted very soon. By the end of this week, every neighbourhood area in BNSSG will have a GP practice vaccination centre up and running.

  38. Number of Bristol COVID-19 cases fall but 'cases still high across all areas of the city'

    News -

    Cases of COVID-19 in Bristol have fallen slightly on the previous week, but Bristol City Council have warned that cases remain high across all areas of the city.

  39. Mental health support during latest lockdown

    News -

    Are you struggling to cope with a rainy, cold lockdown in February and the pressures of the pandemic? Have you suffered family bereavement or loss of income and need support? There are several services to help you or your loved ones.

  40. Allergy advice and the Covid-19 vaccine

    News -

    If you have certain allergies you may be concerned about whether you should get the Covid vaccine. In most cases the vaccine is safe, even for people with a history of reactions to certain drugs and food. Here's the latest allergy information.

  41. Do you need help getting to your COVID-19 vaccination?

    Advice and Information -

    Do you need help with arranging transport for your COVID-19 injection? Have you been contacted about your vaccination but don't have a way of getting to your surgery? Our latest pamphlet contains all the information you need to get there safely.

  42. Spotlight: Bridge View Medical

    Advice and Information -

    Bridge View Medical is a large primary care network in South Bristol. We spoke to Practice Manager, Brent Stephen, about how the practice is coping with the demands of the vaccination roll-out.

  43. Disabled people made up 6 in 10 of all COVID-19 deaths last year, according to official data

    News -

    59.5% of all the coronavirus deaths between the 24th January and the 20th November 2020 were disabled people, the latest data from the Office for National Statistics has revealed.

  44. Surge testing - visit your nearest pop-up centre to help research on how the virus is changing

    News -

    There’s just a few days left to get a covid “surge test” if you live in specific postcodes in Bristol and South Glos are over 16 and do not have symptoms of the virus.