Thousands of patients across the South East are putting extra strain on busy emergency departments (ED) by attending with minor illnesses that could be treated more quickly elsewhere, according to new NHS data.  The NHS has also released a striking short film titled “24 Hours Not In A&E” as part of a campaign to help people navigate their health concerns and avoid unnecessary visits […]

Patients across the South East now have more flexible ways to contact their GP, with practices rolling out online consultation services that complement traditional phone access   From October 1 this year, every GP practice in England has kept their online consultation platform open for the duration of their working hours for non-urgent appointment requests, […]

With Christmas just weeks away, NHS health leaders in the South East are urging eligible residents to get their flu vaccine now. From this coming Saturday (22/11) to Friday 28 November, there are over 200,000 flu appointments available across the region, including some walk-in sites that require no booking, helping ensure everyone who needs protection […]

The NHS in the South East is working hard to keep as many services going as possible but residents in the region are being urged to use services wisely with NHS 111 the first port of call for non-emergency healthcare needs with five days of industrial action by resident doctors set to begin on Friday. […]

The NHS in the South East is urging people to get their flu jab now, as health leaders warn there are only weeks left before the worst of the flu season typically strikes. Eligible individuals are being encouraged to come forward for vaccination to ensure they’re protected ahead of the seasonal flu peak. This year, […]

Parents across the South East are being urged to use half term as a chance to catch their child up on any missed flu vaccinations to ensure they are protected as winter and flu season begins to bite. Many school-aged children will have already received their flu vaccination at school or be booked to get […]

A new pilot programme offering flu vaccinations to children aged 2 and 3 has launched in several nurseries across the Thames Valley. Led by Thames Valley’s School Aged Immunisation Services (SAIS), the pilot is being delivered across 30 nurseries—10 each in Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and Buckinghamshire. All participating nurseries are attached to schools, and their sessions […]

To mark Allied Health Professionals Day, the NHS in the South East is celebrating the vital role of AHPs in transforming health services, improving patient outcomes, and supporting the 10 Year Health Plan’s ambition to bring care closer to home, embrace digital innovation, and focus on prevention. Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) are at the heart […]

The NHS in the South East is making encouraging progress in reducing waiting times for ophthalmology services with help from an AI telephone assistant Dora and virtual clinics.  Alongside efforts across the region to expand surgical capacity, an intelligent telephone assistant is speeding up referrals and reducing the administration burden, freeing up clinical staff time […]

The NHS in the South East is launching its annual flu and COVID-19 vaccination programme today, with all eligible individuals now able to receive their jabs to help protect themselves and others ahead of the winter season. Health and care teams across the region are working tirelessly to build immunity among those most at risk […]