News
NHS 111 Offering Crisis Mental Health Support in the South East
Patients experiencing a mental health crisis can now benefit from support through NHS 111 in the South East, the head of NHS mental health services has confirmed. Across the region and the rest of England, patients are among the first in the world to have access to a 24/7 full package of mental health crisis support via a 3-digit number, NHS 111. People in […]
South East’s Medical Director urges people to order repeat prescriptions ahead of the August Bank Holiday
With the August Bank Holiday fast approaching, the South East’s Medical Director is urging people living in the region to order any repeat prescriptions that are due in good time. Each Bank Holiday the NHS 111 phone service sees an increase in calls from people who need urgent repeat prescriptions. Pharmacies may have limited opening […]
NHS urges students across the South East to consider an NHS career
NHS England’s Chief Nurse in the South East has congratulated local students receiving their A Level, T Level or BTEC results today, calling on anyone not sure of their career path to consider joining the NHS through the final remaining healthcare degree places available. Already this year, nationally, 33,560 people in England have applied for […]
Disruption to NHS in South East expected as strikes about to start
Disruptions to NHS services in the South East are expected from Thursday as junior doctors get ready to strike again. The latest strike action will run from 7am on Thursday (27 June) until 7am on Tuesday 2 July, and is set to affect most routine care as the NHS prioritises urgent and emergency care, with […]
Just over a week left to get your spring COVID-19 booster
The offer to have a spring COVID-19 booster will end soon. People eligible for the booster have until Sunday (30/6) to get their top-up. This includes anyone currently aged 75 and over, or who will be aged 75 by 30 June 2024, along with older adult care home residents and people with a weakened immune […]
NHS announces twenty hospitals in South East to roll out ‘Martha’s Rule’ in next step in major patient safety initiative
The NHS has today announced the 143 hospital sites that will test and roll out Martha’s Rule in its first year. Twenty of these sites are in the South East Confirmation of the first sites to test implementation of Martha’s Rule is the next step in a major patient safety initiative, following the announcement in […]
South East’s Medical Director urges people to order repeat prescriptions ahead of May’s next bank holiday
With the last of May’s bank holidays fast approaching, the South East’s Medical Director is once again urging members of the public to order any repeat prescriptions that are due in good time. Many pharmacies will be closed on Monday 27 May and others may have limited opening hours, making it more challenging for patients […]
Call to Prioritise Regular Blood Pressure Monitoring on World Hypertension Day
The NHS in the South East is urging all adults aged 40 and over in the region to make regular blood pressure monitoring a priority this World Hypertension Day. The theme of this year’s awareness day, which is being marked today, is: “Accurate Blood Pressure Measurement, Control It, Live Longer.” Recent statistics reveal that over […]
New report shows Virtual Wards in the South East are having a positive impact on patient care
Since the start of the region’s Virtual Wards Programme, over 110,000 patients in the South East have been able to receive hospital level urgent care from their home. The programme launched in April 2022, and whilst some patients are transferred to a virtual ward after an initial stay in hospital (as an ‘early supported discharge’), the […]
GP practice appointments see significant increase across South East compared to pre-pandemic levels
There were one million more GP practice appointments available to patients in the South East in March this year compared to March 2019 (pre-pandemic) recent NHS figures reveal. There were 4.5m appointments with health care professionals offered last month compared to 3.5m in March 2019 – an increase of 29%. Of the 4.5m appointments last […]