1. Your community needs you – NHS call for volunteer army

    News -

    Protect your loved ones and protect the nation, volunteer to help those that are most vulnerable to the effects of coronavirus (COVID-19) stay at home. Join the army of NHS volunteers today.

  2. Your COVID-19 story

    News -

    We want to hear how the Coronavirus is affecting you and your family. Tell us your story, no matter how small, and we can use it to identify any gaps in services

  3. New Corona Helpline launched in Kent

    News -

    A new 24 hour Helpline has been launched to support people who need urgent help in Kent

  4. What services are still available during the pandemic?

    News -

    Many of Kent's health & social care services are still operating albeit in a slightly different way.

  5. What is Healthwatch doing to help right now?

    News -

    Everyone has been thinking about how they can help during the Corona epidemic. Here is a snapshot of what the Healthwatch team has been doing.

  6. New Emergency Dental Care now available

    News -

    New Urgent Dental Care Centres are being opened to provide emergency dental treatment during the Coronavirus pandemic.

  7. We want to hear from more people about lockdown. Could you help?

    News -

    It’s really important that we hear how people are coping right now. We can ensure that your feedback can inform emergency planning and help organisations to plan how to get back to 'normal'.

  8. Do you know someone who is helping to look after someone?

    News -

    Many people might normally be caring (albeit informally) for a neighbour or family member. For example, they may usually collect a prescription or do the shopping for someone. They may cook a hot meal for someone regularly.

  9. COVID-19 has disproportionately affected Black and Asian people according to latest PHE report. Tell us your experience

    News -

    Share your story to help Kent services learn and improve from the experiences of people from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds during COVID-19.

  10. Do you have a friend or relative in a Care Home right now? Can you tell us your thoughts?

    News -

    This month our spotlight is on Care Homes, as we gather feedback from residents, families and Care Home staff about how Kent’s Care Homes are coping and what lessons have been learnt. We want the positive stories as well as what could be improved.

  11. Becoming a carer for the first time in the middle of a pandemic

    News -

    Many people have found themselves looking after someone during lockdown for the first time in their lives. This is never a planned life event and would be hard even during ‘normal’ times.

    Catherine talked to us about her experience.

  12. New testing location in Kent

    News -

    A new drive through testing facility for Coronavirus opened at Manston Airport in Ramsgate opened this week. This site will join the existing locations in Ashford & Ebbsfleet to increase the number of people who can be tested each day.

  13. Tough decisions facing Kent County Council

    News -

    This week, the Council announced it was facing a £40 million shortfall in its budget.

  14. Kent Care Homes & Covid : The Reality

    News -

    Today we are publishing a report detailing feedback from 204 Care Homes across Kent. The report shares what it has been like during COVID-19 and what lessons have been learnt.

  15. Listening to pharmacists

    News -

    During Covid, we have heard about the challenges people had getting their prescriptions, particularly in the early days of lockdown. We have shared that feedback directly with the Local Pharmacy Committee and now we want to hear from pharmacists too

  16. What will you want your care home to look like?

    News -

    It’s a fact of life that we will all get older, and some of us may need to go into a residential or nursing home. Whilst we might try not to think about it too much, people who work in care homes need to plan for our future.

  17. Do you live in Swale? We have your invitation

    News -

    Would you like to get involved in discussion with leaders from health and care in Medway & Swale about what they should do?

  18. Blood tests back at Darent Valley Hospital thanks to your stories

    News -

    We’ve been hearing stories from people in North Kent about huge queues and long waits to get their blood tests done at Gravesham Community Hospital.

  19. How are you doing in lockdown 2.0?

    News -

    As we all face another lockdown and uncertain times ahead, please remember that there is support is available to you, and your family, during lockdown 2.0

  20. Did your child miss their flu vaccine at school?

    News -

    If your child is aged 5 - 11 and missed their flu vaccine at school then there is a solution.

  21. Are you registered at New Road GP surgery in Folkestone?

    News -

    The surgery has had to close temporarily after 8 members of staff have tested positive due to Coronavirus.

  22. Kent to move into Tier Three

    News -

    With numbers of Covid patients on the increase, and the news today that Kent will move into Tier Three restrictions next week, it's a good time to remember to look after yourself.

  23. Don't struggle alone

    News -

    There is help for you and the people around you.

  24. Get your Vitamin D supplements

    News -

    Did you know that everyone is advised to take Vitamin D supplements every day during the autumn and winter months?

  25. How are our hospitals coping?

    News -

    It's no secret that Kent & Medway's hospitals are under extreme pressure right now due to increasing numbers of Covid patients.

  26. A vaccine is getting closer

    News -

    The last few days have brought great hope to us all as we've watched the first Kent residents get vaccinated against Coronavirus.

  27. 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.

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

    News -

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

  29. A vaccine with your name on it!

    News -

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

  30. 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.

  31. Your feedback has been heard

    News -

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

  32. More new testing centres

    News -

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

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

    News -

    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.

  34. I couldn’t get there fast enough!

    News -

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


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

  35. New mass vaccination centre opens in Kent

    News -

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

  36. Second mass vaccination centre opens tomorrow

    News -

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

  37. Calling everyone living in ME15

    News -

    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.

  38. 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.

  39. 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.

  40. 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.

  41. 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.

  42. 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.

  43. 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.

  44. 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.

  45. 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.

  46. 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.

  47. 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.

  48. 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?

  49. Covid : one year on

    News -

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

  50. 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?