People with persistent stomach problems living in the South West are being urged to get checked for cancer as part of the NHS and Public Health England’s  ‘Help Us Help You’ campaign. TV adverts and social media posts in the region will urge people to speak to their GP if they have a symptom including […]

With autumn in full swing and the risk of flu as prevalent as ever, we’re urging people with eligible health conditions to take up their free flu vaccination. We know from previous years that flu kills. Evidence shows that people who get flu and COVID at the same time are more likely to need to […]

Latest figures have highlighted the drop in patients seeking medical help when experiencing potential symptoms of lung cancer; and fewer people are accessing treatment for the condition in hospitals across the South West. The data tells us those attending hospital for suspected lung cancer following referral by their GP, fell to below 20% of normal […]

A dedicated support package totalling £1.24 million is being used to strengthen suicide-prevention work across the South West and to provide practical and emotional support to friends and family who have lost a loved one to suicide. The latest wave of funding from NHS England and NHS Improvement comes as events are held across the […]

As schools reopen in September, parents and carers are being urged to check their children have had all their pre-school vaccinations to protect them from serious diseases and help prevent outbreaks. While the majority of parents in the South West do ensure their child is fully vaccinated, some children starting school are either missing key doses or have not been vaccinated at all.    Early childhood […]

Patients with diabetes are being urged to take up the offer of appointments and health checks as the NHS in the South West emerges from the covid pandemic. Attendance dropped sharply during lockdown, posing an increased risk of serious complications that can damage the feet, eyes, heart and kidneys. While more people have been coming […]

Patients in the South West have welcomed news that hundreds of people with cystic fibrosis across the region might benefit from a ‘transformative’ treatment. NHS patients will be among the first in Europe to be prescribed Kaftrio, which significantly improves lung function, helping people with cystic fibrosis to breathe more easily and enhancing their overall […]

As the NHS returns to a ‘new normal’, all pregnant women are being urged to receive their free vaccination against whooping cough. Women who are between 16 to 32 weeks pregnant should contact their GP practice or midwife to make an appointment. Although vaccination rates are generally rising in the South West (see data table), significant […]

Doctors in the South West have welcomed the announcement by NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens that ‘covid-friendly’ cancer treatments will be expanded and extended through a £160 million initiative. The funding will pay for drugs that treat patients without having such a big impact on their immune system or offer other benefits such as […]

In July we launched our Help Us Help You survey across the South West to find out what local people thought of the way services changed due to the coronavirus pandemic. We had a fantastic response with over 6,600 people completing the survey. So thank you to everyone who took the time to share their […]