1. New testing sites opening in Kent

    News -

    12 new testing sites are opening in Kent this week offering tests for people with no Covid symptoms.

  2. National lockdown : what does it mean for me?

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    To help stop the spread of coronavirus, the government is advising everyone to stay at home from 5 January 2021.

  3. A vaccine with your name on it!

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    One million adults in Kent & Medway will be offered the Coronavirus vaccine in the coming weeks and months. When will you get yours?

  4. Have you had a stroke recently? We need to hear from you

    News -

    If you, or someone you know, has had a stroke since June 2020 then we'd really like to hear from you. Your story could help improve the stroke service for other people.

  5. More new testing centres

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    Another five new testing centres are opening next week for people who have no Covid symptoms.

  6. Your feedback has been heard

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    Thanks to you, people who may be Deaf or Blind will get better support at Covid testing sites across Kent.

  7. East Kent Hospitals publish their maternity strategy

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    East Kent Hospitals have published their maternity strategy which outlines how they plan to improve the care they offer to parents and new-born children.

  8. We're raising your vaccine questions directly with decision makers

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    Unsurprisingly we've had lots of calls and emails about the Coronavirus vaccine in recent weeks. We've been able to help some frontline workers get access to their vaccine.

  9. Do you use Orchard surgery in Lydd?

    News -

    The GPs who provide care at Orchard surgery have decided to close the practice from 30th April 2021.

    Are you a patient there? We have the information you need.

  10. I couldn’t get there fast enough!

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    How does it feel when you get your vaccine call up?


    This week we chatted with Lesley whose had her first Covid vaccine.

  11. New mass vaccination centre opens in Kent

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    Kent's first mass vaccination centre has opened in Folkestone in the old Debenhams building.

  12. Second mass vaccination centre opens tomorrow

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    Kent is to have a second mass vaccination centre which will open tomorrow (Feb 2nd) in Gravesend.

  13. Calling everyone living in ME15

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    Everyone living within the postcode ME15 will soon be offered a Covid test at home after the South African variant of Coronavirus may have been found in the area.

  14. Have you been looked after by the community nursing team?

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    Do you have ideas about what could be improved about the nursing care that you receive at home? Your questions could help inform what researchers should focus on.

  15. Protecting your patients and yourself

    News -

    Everyday, people share with us their stories of living and working during the pandemic. Everything you tell us is anonymised and shared with the right person to ensure they hear your story and wherever possible make improvements as a result.

  16. Your Vaccine questions answered

    News -

    So many of you have been in touch to share your experience of being vaccinated, or to ask questions about the vaccine programme. We asked the Head of the Vaccine Programme all your questions, and more.

  17. All over 70s told to contact the NHS for their vaccine

    News -

    If you are over 70 years old and have not yet had your Coronavirus vaccine, you are being asked to contact the NHS to get booked in.

  18. What’s it really like to be a parent, teacher, cook, cleaner, partner as well as a work colleague?

    News -

    We hear from working parents about how lockdown is affecting them.

  19. All adults with learning disabilities are now being offered the vaccine

    News -

    All adults with learning difficulties are to be offered the Covid vaccine as part of the priority groups.

  20. When I told my friend that I was getting the vaccine, his response was ‘Bravissimo!'

    News -

    This week we spoke to Libby who has recently had her first COVID-19 vaccine.

  21. Fourth large-scale vaccination centre opens on Monday 22nd February in Thanet

    News -

    A Thanet call centre will be transformed into a life-saving vaccination centre serving vulnerable people in Thanet and those within a 45-minute drive.

  22. Being invited for the vaccine made me feel like there’s hope

    News -

    This week we spoke to 21-year-old Sebastian who has recently had his vaccine.

    We've been hearing peoples' vaccine stories and questions and sharing them directly with decision makers. Tell us your story.

  23. Your feedback has helped parents to get medication for their children

    News -

    Thanks to you, we've been able to help other parents to get the help they need to change the prescriptions for their child's mental health.

  24. The challenge is that my husband won’t remember having the first vaccine

    News -

    People who look after someone at home are now entitled to the Covid vaccine. Penny looks after her husband who has Parkinson's. Both of them have recently been vaccinated for Covid. We spoke to Penny about her experience.

  25. The reality of home-schooling and working

    News -

    Just like us, many of you have been juggling work and home school for the past nine weeks. Home-schooling in the winter has been much harder than the initial lockdown.

  26. If you're D/deaf and use East Kent Hospitals, we can help you to get an interpreter

    News -

    D/deaf patients are now being offered a free card that clearly indicates that they need a British Sign Language interpreter when they have an appointment at East Kent hospitals. Get in touch if you want yours.

  27. Inspirational women for International Women's Day

    News -

    To celebrate International Women's Day we chatted to the brilliant Katy Styles. We've worked with Katy many times over the years and we know she has inspired many other people too.

  28. Can I finally hug my Mum in a Care Home?

    News -

    From this week, some visitors are being allowed into Care Homes. But what are the rules and regulations and will you actually be able to hug your loved ones just yet?

  29. Covid : one year on

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    Today marks a whole year since the Government announced the first lockdown. How has your life changed since then?

  30. Have you had Covid? Are you still struggling?

    News -

    Have you, or someone you know, had Covid and are still feeling the effects four weeks later?

  31. We get your vaccine questions answered

    News -

    Every day we’re taking calls from people with questions about the Covid vaccine.
    If we don’t know the answer, we don’t rest until we find it.
    Here are a few of the questions we’ve heard this week. We hope the answers may help you too.

  32. A vaccine with your name on it - book it!

    News -

    There are slots available this week for the Covid vaccine. Have you had yours? Book it today!

  33. Over 1 million Covid vaccines

    News -

    Over 1 million people in Kent and Medway have now received their Covid vaccination. Have you had yours? Tell us about it.

  34. Help improve Diabetes services in East Kent

    News -

    A major new project has started to improve diabetes services across East Kent. So now is your chance to get involved and share your thoughts.

  35. Have you ever thought about using Talking Therapies? Maybe you think it might help you, but you’re not sure how?

    News -

    This is your opportunity to have your say about how the Talking Therapy service in Kent currently works and how it could be improved for the future.

  36. Have you experienced End of Life care services recently?

    News -

    The NHS in Kent & Medway are looking to hear feedback from people who have had experience of end of life care services. They want to learn from your feedback to inform a new strategy to help them improve the care offered to people.

  37. Did you know you can now get Covid tests from your pharmacy?

    News -

    All of us are now being encouraged to take a Covid test regularly even if we don't have any symptoms.

  38. 42 year olds and over can now get their vaccine

    News -

    The Covid vaccine programme has today been extended and anyone over the age of 42 can now book their vaccine.

  39. Have you booked your Covid vaccine yet?

    News -

    Anyone aged 38 or over , is now entitled to get their Covid vaccination.

  40. Do you really know if you are negative?

    News -

    We might feel fine, but around a third of all people with Coronavirus have no symptoms.

  41. Twin crisis of access and affordability calls for radical rethink of NHS dentistry

    News -

    Healthwatch England warns dental crisis shows no signs of slowing, with four in five people, 80%, struggling to access timely care during the last lockdown.

  42. Over 1 million vaccines in Kent & Medway. Have you had yours?

    News -

    Over 1 million people in Kent & Medway have now had their first dose of the Covid vaccine. Have you had yours? Tell us about it.

  43. Talking about wheelchair services

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    Together with the Kent Physical Disability Forum, and other local groups, we've been working for several years to improve wheelchair services in Kent & Medway.

  44. “I can't ignore the feeling of pride that I enjoy volunteering within this excellent team.”

    News -

    This week we are celebrating!

  45. Are you a patient at Sheppey Healthcare GP Practice?

    News -

    All patients at Sheppey Healthcare GP practice are being asked to share their thoughts to help inform the future of the practice. Is that you?

  46. Celebrating our volunteers all week and every week

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    Our volunteers are our lifeblood. They help us with every aspect of Healthwatch from making decisions about our priorities, listening to patients and ensuring peoples' voices are heard.

  47. Do you live in Canterbury? Have you had your Covid test yet?

    News -

    If you live or work in the Canterbury postcode CT1 or CT27, you are being encouraged to get a Covid test at one of the 5 testing sites in the area.

  48. "Covid was frightening. I couldn't afford to get ill"

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    We're lucky enough to hear from Carers every week so we know just how brilliant they are and how vital it is that they get the support they need. Today marks the start of Carer's Week, and to celebrate we chatted to Jenny who is a Carer.

  49. New research exploring vaccination confidence provides vital lessons for public health campaigns

    News -

    Healthwatch England has joined forces with Traverse to explore vaccination confidence among people from African, Bangladeshi, Caribbean and Pakistani backgrounds living in the UK.

  50. New GP data-sharing system delayed

    News -

    NHS Digital have recently announced plans to allow an NHS system to extract patient data from doctors’ surgeries in England. The new data-sharing system was due to start in July but has now been pushed back to 1 September.