News
£1.24 million to bolster suicide-prevention in the South West
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 […]
Is your child starting primary school in September? NHS calls on South West parents to check children’s vaccinations are up to date.
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 […]
People with diabetes in the South West encouraged to attend NHS appointments and health checks
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 […]
South West patients to benefit from “Life-changing” Cystic Fibrosis Drug
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 […]
Pregnant women urged to protect their babies from deadly whooping cough
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 […]
South West doctors welcome roll out of ‘Covid-friendly’ cancer treatments
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 […]
Help Us Help You survey receives fantastic reponse
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 […]
Elective operations and procedures re-start in the South West
Patients who need planned treatments are being urged to take up re-scheduled dates for care, as the NHS returns to the new normal. With the number of people in hospitals with COVID-19 continuing to decline, services across the South West are gearing up to work their way through the backlog of patients who had their […]
NHS mental health crisis helplines rolled out across South West
People across the South West now have access to dedicated 24/7 NHS mental health crisis helplines, to ensure that everyone can get the urgent care they need during the global pandemic. Although part of the existing NHS Long-term Plan, universal coverage has been brought forward to help people cope with the impact of coronavirus. Mental […]
Say Thank You Together for the NHS Birthday
This year has been the most challenging year in NHS history. Those challenges would have been made all but impossible without the help and support of countless individuals and organisations around the country and across the South West. On Sunday 5 July, the day the NHS was founded, the whole country is invited to come […]