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?

    News -

    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!

    News -

    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. How to get an NHS dentist appointment during COVID-19

    Advice and Information -

    We’ve heard from hundreds of people since the pandemic started with questions about how to get a dentist appointment or emergency dental care.

    Here are some of the answers.

  6. More new testing centres

    News -

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

  7. 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.

  8. East Kent Hospitals publish their maternity strategy

    News -

    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.

  9. Someone I love has died - where can I find support?

    Advice and Information -

    It can be tough at any time to lose someone, but particularly hard during a pandemic when you can feel more alone than usual.

    Take a look at our article on the organisations and groups that can support you if you’re grieving.

  10. COVID-19 vaccine: what you need to know

    Advice and Information -

    Take a look about what you need to know about the COVID-19 vaccination programme including how you will know when it's your turn, where to go, and why it's important.

  11. Spotlight on dental services

    Report -

    Since the start of the pandemic, we have had a constant stream of feedback about NHS dental services.

  12. 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.

  13. What did you tell us in November?

    Report -

    Thanks everyone for sharing their thoughts and experiences with us this month.

    This report details everything you told us in November. We've shared your stories with decision makers to help them make decisions about services.

  14. 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.

  15. 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.

  16. New mass vaccination centre opens in Kent

    News -

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

  17. Second mass vaccination centre opens tomorrow

    News -

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

  18. 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.

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

    News -

    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.

  20. 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.

  21. What did people tell us in the first two weeks of January?

    Report -

    You spoke and we have listened. Read on to find out what you told us in the first two weeks of January.

  22. 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.

  23. 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.

  24. 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.

  25. 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.

  26. 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.

  27. What did people tell us in the second two weeks of January?

    Report -

    You spoke and we have listened. Read on to find out what you told us in the second two weeks of January.

  28. 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.

  29. 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.

  30. 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.

  31. 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.

  32. Extending the interval for Covid vaccines to 12 weeks – what’s the rationale?

    Advice and Information -

    Acting on advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the four UK chief medical officers announced in December, that the second doses of covid vaccines should now be given at 12 weeks rather than initial 3-4 weeks.

  33. 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.

  34. 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.

  35. Are you worried about how the Covid vaccine might affect your long term condition?

    Advice and Information -

    Many people have been asking us what they should do if they have a long term condition and they want the Covid vaccine. We have some answers.

  36. 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.

  37. 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?

  38. What did you tell us in Feb?

    Report -

    Thanks to everyone who shared their story with us over the first two weeks of February despite the big freeze!

  39. Covid and the Vaccines – great news but it’s not all over yet

    Advice and Information -

    The UK government has published their four-step roadmap of a route back to a more normal way of living. In England, the easing of restrictions on our current covid lockdown began on March 8th with the return of schools.

  40. Covid : one year on

    News -

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

  41. 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?

  42. Read what people told us in the last two weeks of Feb

    Report -

    Every day we listen to people who tell us their experience of using Kent's health and social care services right now. Our job is to make sure your voice is heard by the right people, at the right time, in the right way.

  43. 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.

  44. Brushing our teeth – what’s it all about?

    Advice and Information -

    It’s all about stopping plaque and tartar build up on our teeth.

  45. 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!

  46. 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.

  47. Feeling stressed? You're not alone

    Advice and Information -

    April marks Stress Awareness Month, a national awareness month that has been held every year since 1992 to raise recognition of something we all struggle with from time to time.

  48. 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.

  49. 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.

  50. 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.