1. Are you under 18, live in East Kent or Swale and have a long term health condition?

    News -

    This is your chance to speak up.

    The NHS want to hear from you because they want to improve the way your care is organised and co-ordinated.

  2. Last chance to have your say on changes to heart services in West Kent

    News -

    This week is your last chance to share your thoughts about changes to cardiology services in West Kent.

  3. Helping people to get registered with a GP

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    Many people come to us because they are struggling to register with a GP near to them. This month we've been able to help two families to get registered.

  4. We're helping people every day

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    Every month, we give support, information and signposting to nearly 2,000 people.

    Every day, we help individual people. This month we helped someone who needed a dental check up before they could start medical treatment.

  5. Have your say on Kent's strategy for Carers

    News -

    Nearly 150,000 people are thought to be looking after someone in Kent right now. Many of them may not realise that they are carers.

  6. Spotlight on reducing digital exclusion

    Report -

    Many organisations in Kent are working hard to tackle the inequality caused by our increasing reliance on technology. We decided to review one of these projects to see what difference it is really making to people.

  7. Getting you answers about the GP eConsult service

    News -

    Many of you have been in touch to share your experience of using the GP eConsult service. We shared your stories with the right decision makers and we've got an update for you.

  8. How has lockdown affected people's mental health and dignity?

    News -

    New research highlights the challenges faced by health and social care services in England and the importance of feedback for improving care.

  9. Plans to tackle NHS backlog : our response

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    In a new report, MPs have today warned that tackling the backlog caused by the pandemic is an "unquantifiable" challenge and have called for a broad national health and care recovery plan to be introduced.

  10. £6.8million to help tackle the lack of dentist appointments

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    The NHS has today announced emergency funding to help create hundreds of new dentist appointments.

  11. Did you know today is Dignity Action Day?

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    Dignity is precious. It is especially important when we are feeling more vulnerable such as when we are in hospital, being looked after at home or living in a care home.

  12. Changes to vascular services

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    The NHS is asking for your thoughts about the future of vascular services in Kent & Medway

  13. Read our scrutiny of the public consultation on Ruby Ward

    Report -

    One of our statutory responsibilities is to act as a critical friend on public consultations. Our role is to ensure people have been involved and listened to as part of any public consultation.

  14. We chat to the Director of Adult Social Care about Carers

    News -

    We asked Chris McKenzie from Kent County Council, your questions about Kent's adult carers strategy.

  15. What did you tell us in December?

    Report -

    2,438 of you came to us in December to share your experience of using health and social care services or to seek information.

  16. Kent NHS trusts not consistently meeting the legal rights of deaf and blind patients to accessible information

    News -

    Local NHS trusts are only partially meeting their legal duty to help people with additional communication needs, new findings show.

  17. Making it easier for people with learning difficulties to attend hospital appointments in East Kent

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    We've been working with East Kent Hospitals for several years now helping them to make it easier for people with learning difficulties to attend a hospital appointment. Check out what's changed as a result.

  18. Have your say on changes to Kent's bus service

    News -

    Kent County Council are asking for your thoughts on plans to make changes to the bus service here in Kent.

  19. Did you know that 300 million people in the world live with a rare disease? Today is their day and I am one of them.

    News -

    Today (February 28th) is Rare Disease Day. In a leap year it’s celebrated on February 29th - the rarest day of the year. It’s a worldwide event to raise awareness of rare diseases and advocate for people like me who live with a rare disease.

  20. How will the NHS tackle the backlog?

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    With a record six million people currently waiting for hospital treatment in the UK, the NHS has set out its plan to address the backlog that has built up during the Covid-19 pandemic and tackle long waiting lists for care.

  21. What did you tell us in January?

    Report -

    2,624 of you came to us in January to share your experience of using health and social care services or to seek information.

  22. Cardiology services in West Kent to be located at Maidstone Hospital

    News -

    A decision has been made to centralise inpatient cardiology services at Maidstone Hospital.

  23. How do we make our decisions?

    Report -

    It's important to us that you know how we make our decisions.

    In this section you will find the minutes from our steering group meetings plus an overall explanation about how we make our decisions on a daily basis.

  24. New idea to support older people and people with disabilities in Kent to live better at home

    News -

    A new project is being developed by Kent County Council to help support people with disabilities as well as older people in Kent to stay in their own homes and communities.

  25. Kent and Medway Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report

    Report -

    Read Kent and Medway Safeguarding Adults Board's 2022/23 annual report, acknowledging the large range of work done to safeguard vulnerable people who may be at risk across Kent and Medway.

  26. Have you had lung cancer, or looked after someone who has?

    News -

    Your experience could help improve early detection of lung cancer.

  27. What difference have we made this month?

    News -

    A highlight this month has been helping a young pregnant woman, who was homeless, to get the dental care that she needed.

  28. "I couldn’t even lift my little finger". Read Dave’s Covid story

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    We recognise that Dave's story could be upsetting for many of you, particularly those of you who didn't have a happy ending to a Covid diagnosis.

  29. What happens when the person you care for is discharged from hospital?

    Report -

    Around 150,000 people in Kent are looking after someone right now. What happens when the person they care for is discharged from hospital? What support is available? How do they cope?

  30. More needs to be done to ensure people with a learning disability, mental ill health or autism get the right care at the right time. Do you agree?

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission has today published a report highlighting the lack of progress since their 2020 ‘Out of sight – who cares?’ report.

  31. NHS announces plans to recruit more GPs in Medway, Swale and Thanet

    News -

    A £500,000 package has been authorised by health leaders to combat the GP shortage in the most disadvantaged areas of Kent including Medway.

  32. Celebrating excellence at the Healthwatch Recognition Awards

    News -

    40 people and organisations were winners last night at the prestigious Healthwatch Recognition Awards in Ashford which recognised the people and organisations who had listened to you.

  33. Needing the NHS while out at sea

    Report -

    Being a fisherman is a tough job. It's dangerous with long hours and in difficult conditions. They also work unsociable hours making it hard for fishermen to use public services.

  34. Helping people to get dental care

    Report -

    Read how we have helped people to get the dental care that they need

  35. What did you tell us in February?

    Report -

    3,979 of you came to us in February to share your experience of using health and social care services or to seek information.

  36. Lack of NHS dental appointments widens health inequalities

    News -

    A new survey of public attitudes to NHS dentistry shows half of adults in the South East find dental charges unfair amid escalating costs of living. 45% of people in the South East told us they struggle to get an NHS dental appointment.

  37. 9 million people in the UK are lonely right now. Are you one of them?

    News -

    Everyone can feel lonely at some point in their life.

  38. Changes to the way homeless people are supported in Kent

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    Kent County Council has recently agreed its budget for 2022/23. It’s been well known that the Council needs to make significant savings this year and that they would have to make tough decisions and one of those is about the homeless service.

  39. What did you tell us in March?

    Report -

    2,395 of you came to us in March to share your experience of using health and social care services or to seek information.

  40. Helping people to get the care that they need

    News -

    2,395 people came to us this month either to tell us their experience of using health or social care services, or seek information.

  41. Are you an adult who receives care?

    News -

    Are you the relative, or friend, of someone who does?

    Do you consider yourself vulnerable?

    Do you know someone that could be vulnerable?

    Then this announcement is for you.

  42. How do you feel about Care Homes after the pandemic?

    Report -

    Today we are talking to Care Homes across Kent. We wanted to make sure they were hearing from you about how you feel about Care Homes and care at home since the pandemic.

  43. We simply wouldn’t be where we are today without our volunteers. They are EVERYTHING!

    News -

    Have you ever thought about volunteering?
    In a new series to celebrate Volunteers Week, we chat to some of our brilliant volunteers about what it means to them.

  44. New initiative to support women with mental health issues during pregnancy and after birth.

    News -

    Up to 20% of women develop mental health problems during pregnancy or in the first year after giving birth. Many more experience mild mood changes. Partners may also experience poor mental health.

  45. Visible, valued and supported. We LOVE Carers!

    News -

    A carer is someone who provides unpaid care and support to a family member or friend who has a disability, illness, mental health condition, addiction or who needs extra help as they grow older.

  46. Major milestone reached in fight against Covid

    News -

    A major milestone has been reached in Kent and Medway’s fight against Covid - 19 with the four millionth jab being administrated. This is a major achievement in the county’s fight against Covid - 19.

  47. We're going to Rise. Are you?

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    We'll be celebrating inclusion for everyone at the Rise Expo on June 22nd. Come and join us!

  48. What did you tell us in April?

    Report -

    1,465 of you came to us in April to share your experience of using health and social care services or to seek information.

  49. Stories of Care Home residents receiving the wrong medicine

    News -

    Today we heard stories of Care Home residents in Herne Bay receiving the wrong medicine. In some cases people were given other peoples' prescriptions, or weren't given their medication at all. What's your experience of care homes in Kent?

  50. Sittingbourne vaccine centre still open for business

    News -

    The vaccination centre in Sittingbourne which opened in April at the Sittingbourne Memorial Hospital is still open for appointments. Both adults and children can be vaccinated there and all stages of the Covid vaccination programme are offered.