1. Don’t miss out on your Covid Booster this Autumn

    News -

    The booster programme for Covid is now underway. Have you had yours?

  2. A new service for people with learning difficulties and autism in Medway

    News -

    Medway Maritime Hospital are now offering people with autism or learning difficulties the option of having a general anaesthetic for procedures that would normally be done under a local anaesthetic.

  3. What do you know about ADHD?

    Advice and Information -

    October is ADHD Awareness Month and we’ve got all the info about what ADHD really is.

  4. What is Dyspraxia?

    Advice and Information -

    Dyspraxia is a condition that affects your physical co-ordination.

  5. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK.

    Advice and Information -

    Most women diagnosed with breast cancer are over the age of 50, but younger women and men can also get breast cancer.

  6. What is high cholesterol?

    Advice and Information -

    It’s a word we hear about all the time, but do you actually know what it is and why it’s important?

  7. What is high cholesterol?

    Advice and Information -

    It’s a word we hear about all the time, but do you actually know what it is and why it’s important?

  8. Where can I get sexual health advice, now?

    Advice and Information -

    Forgotten your pill or had unprotected sex? Maybe you’re worried about something? Here’s what to do and where to go if you need help urgently.

  9. Do you know what your pituitary gland is?

    Advice and Information -

    Your pituitary gland is about the size of a pea and is situated in the bony hollow, just behind the bridge of your nose.

  10. Testing your knowledge for World Menopause Day

    Advice and Information -

    Menopause is when your periods stop due to lower hormone levels. This usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55.

  11. Do you have osteoporosis?

    Advice and Information -

    Osteoporosis is a health condition that weakens bones, making them fragile and more likely to break.

  12. Lung cancer is one of the most common type of cancer

    Advice and Information -

    Around 47,000 people are diagnosed with the condition in the UK every year.

  13. World Diabetes Day

    Advice and Information -

    Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high.

  14. Do you run a charity or voluntary group in Medway?

    News -

    Medway Voluntary Action are calling for your feedback about how the cost of living is affecting your charity or voluntary organisation

  15. Did you know that three quarters of all suicides in this country are by men?

    Advice and Information -

    There are more worrying statistics:

  16. Taking the opportunity to learn more about AIDS on World Aids Awareness Day

    Advice and Information -

    AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is the name used to describe a number of potentially life threatening infections and illnesses that happen when our immune system has been severely damaged by the HIV virus.

  17. All of us will experience grief at some point

    Advice and Information -

    We will all deal with it in our own way, but if your feelings are getting too much, there is support for you.

  18. Bowel cancer is one of the common types of cancer. Get all the facts here

    Advice and Information -

    Bowel cancer is a general term for cancer that begins in your large bowel.

  19. Strep A advice for families - Information from the NHS

    Advice and Information -

    There has been a widely reported increase in group A streptococci bacteria infection, particularly among children.

  20. Christmas support for those in Medway- Helplines included

    Advice and Information -

    The year coming to a close, for some means an opportunity to celebrate and be grateful in good company. For others, the fall in temperature and rise in cost of living means rather than exchanging gifts, they are in need of significant help.

  21. Kent & Medway Public Consultation - Specialised vascular services

    Advice and Information -

    Improving vascular services report

  22. 2 million people live with sight loss. Are you one of them?

    Advice and Information -

    Some people are born blind, but for most people sight loss or blindness can occur later. Around 340,000 people in the UK are registered as being blind or partially sighted.

  23. Dry January. Are you in?

    Advice and Information -

    Are you up for the challenge to go 31 days alcohol-free?!

  24. Why is obesity a problem?

    Advice and Information -

    Obesity is a common health problem in the UK.

  25. Regardless of your IQ, how is your STIQ?

    Advice and Information -

    Sexually transmitted infections (STI), also called STD’s, are a risk for everyone who is sexually active.

  26. Looking after your health during the Cost of Living crisis.

    Advice and Information -

    The continuing cost of living crisis is adversely affecting people's physical and mental wellbeing, with vulnerable people and those on lower incomes hit the hardest.

  27. What support is out there for LGBTQ+ people

    Advice and Information -

    Mental health problems are very common amongst lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ+) people. We have put together a guide on how you can get the support you need if you are struggling, feel alone or need a little help.

  28. How to recognise epilepsy?

    Advice and Information -

    Epilepsy is a common condition that affects the brain and causes frequent seizures.

  29. Have you heard of NHS Talking Therapies? (Formerly IAPT)

    News -

    Thousands of us use the mental wellbeing service every month to help us deal with anxiety and depression. If you, or someone you know, have used the service, we want to hear your story.

  30. Helping more people get health and care information the way they need it.

    News -

    Healthwatch is committed to ensure healthcare information is clear and understandable to help you make decisions about your health and care and get the most out of services.

  31. Have you used community navigators or social prescribers recently?

    News -

    Thousands of you across Kent & Medway have been supported by social prescribers or community navigators.

  32. How do I know if I have an eating disorder?

    Advice and Information -

    If you or people around you are worried that you have an unhealthy relationship with food, you could have an eating disorder.

  33. Is your work is affecting your health? Maybe it’s time to do something about it?

    Advice and Information -

    We all know that a work life balance is hard to achieve. But sometimes we need to take a moment to step back and consider what we can do to help ourselves.

  34. Covid-19 spring booster vaccinations

    News -

    More than a million people will be eligible for a spring Covid-19 jab in the south east, as the NHS begins to roll out the next phase of the vaccination programme.

  35. Support during pregnancy and when caring for those under 5 years old

    News -

    The theme this month is about support during pregnancy and when caring for those under 5years old which you can download at the bottom of the page.

  36. Heroic individuals and organisations working within our Mental Health Community

    News -

    At the end of last month, organised by both Healthwatch Kent & Healthwatch Medway, 200 guests came together to celebrate the best in health & social care.

  37. What to watch for in your health and community this month

    Advice and Information -

    Each May multiple awareness raising campaigns are running, some focused on specific weeks or days.

     

  38. What to watch for in your health and community this month

    Advice and Information -

    Each June multiple awareness raising campaigns are running, some focused on specific weeks or days.

  39. NHS Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC)

    Advice and Information -

    A PPC could save you money if you pay for your NHS prescriptions.
    The certificate covers all your NHS prescriptions for a set price. You will save money if you need more than 3 items in 3 months, or 11 items in 12 months.

  40. What have we achieved this year?

    Report -

    19,714 people came to us for clear advice and information about topics such as mental health and the cost-of-living crisis.

  41. What do you really know about Neurodiversity?

    Advice and Information -

    Increasing understanding of neurodiversity and autism.

  42. The voices of Windrush

    Advice and Information -

    A Windrush Day flag raising was hosted in Dartford to mark Windrush Day and the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the SSE Windrush. Organised by the North Kent Caribbean Network (NKCN) working in partnership with Cohesion Plus and Dartford Borough Council, the event took place on Monday 19th June.

  43. We run a signposting and information service, but what difference does it make and how do we support people?

    Report -

    1167 people contacted our information and signposting service in the past year. 243 of these people across Kent and Medway told us how they had been impacted by our information and signposting service.

  44. What people have told us about general practice

    Report -

    This report presents the feedback received from people via Healthwatch Kent, Healthwatch Medway and Kent and Medway Voice about their experiences of general practice from November 2022 to April 2023.

  45. What people have told us about dentistry

    Report -

    This report summarises the feedback received from people via Healthwatch Kent, Healthwatch Medway and Kent and Medway Voice about their experiences of primary care dentistry from November 2022 to April 2023. This includes 34 separate pieces of feedback.

  46. Primary care work

    News -

    In May, Healthwatch England shared their initial response to the Government's Primary Care recovery plan and what it would mean for you and your loved ones.

  47. What to watch for in your health and community this month

    Advice and Information -

    Each September multiple awareness raising campaigns are running, some focused on specific weeks or days.

  48. Understanding Care Homes near you

    Report -

    Having concluded our visits to 15 Care Homes across Kent & Medway talking to residents, their families and staff about the Enhanced Health in Care Home programme we have now completed our stakeholder facing report and have now shared our findings with Aging Well.

  49. Supporting joined up and equal social and health care provision and access

    News -

    Healthwatch Medway work to improve the experience of being a Medway resident regarding social needs, health and wellbeing.