1. Giving blood during a pandemic

    Advice and Information -

    This week we spoke to Rheanna, who shared her experience of giving blood at the start of our second national lockdown.

  2. 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.

  3. Top Tips for lockdown health and well being

    Advice and Information -

    Many more people are suffering from anxiety, low mood or just feel ‘plain fed up’ because of the pandemic and the lockdown restrictions. This can often make us feel tired and can affect our enthusiasm for doing almost anything.

  4. Healthwatch Kent recognised in national awards

    News -

    Healthwatch Kent has been highly commended at a prestigious national award ceremony for their work to improve the wheelchair service for the 22,000 people who currently use a wheelchair in Kent and Medway.

  5. 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.

  6. Don't struggle alone

    News -

    There is help for you and the people around you.

  7. 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?

  8. What did you tell us in September?

    Report -

    The latest in our series of monthly reports details feedback from people all over Kent about how they are coping right now.

  9. Your comments are needed : New strategy for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities

    News -

    Kent County Council has published a new draft strategy which outlines its ambition that all children in Kent have equal access to support and education.

  10. Have you, or someone you care for experienced a mental health crisis?

    News -

    The Kent and Medway CCG are looking to improve mental health crisis care. They have created a short survey to hear about the experiences of people who have suffered a mental health crisis, or care for someone who has.

  11. 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.

  12. 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.

  13. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas

    News -

    Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to share your experience of health and social care this year.

    Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!

  14. What did you tell us in October?

    Report -

    Every month we publish a report detailing the issues people have told us about. Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to share their stories with us. Your feedback makes a huge difference for hundreds of other people.

  15. Don't struggle alone over Christmas

    Advice and Information -

    Christmas might not be quite as we planned, in fact the whole year hasn't been a bundle of laughs, but there is support available to you over Christmas and the New Year.

  16. 2020 : the good bits

    News -

    It wasn't the year that we planned, but thanks to you, we've still managed to make life better for hundreds of people. Check out our highlights

  17. 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.

  18. 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.

  19. 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?

  20. 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.

  21. 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.

  22. 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.

  23. More new testing centres

    News -

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

  24. 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.

  25. 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.

  26. 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.

  27. Spotlight on dental services

    Report -

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

  28. 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.

  29. 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.

  30. 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.

  31. 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.

  32. New mass vaccination centre opens in Kent

    News -

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

  33. Second mass vaccination centre opens tomorrow

    News -

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

  34. 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.

  35. 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.

  36. 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.

  37. 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.

  38. 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.

  39. 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.

  40. 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.

  41. 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.

  42. 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.

  43. 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.

  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. 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.

  47. 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.

  48. 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.

  49. 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.

  50. 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.