News and reports

We are celebrating Volunteers' Week June 1st to 7th by saying a big thank you to our 30 volunteers and 7 trustees who help us at Healthwatch Bristol, North Somerset and South Glos.

Bristol Sanctuary are a mental health service that have adapted to ensure they are still providing a useful service throughout the Coronavirus pandemic. If you are struggling or need someone to talk to then The Bristol Sanctuary can help you.

We are highlighting the work of Bristol-based Anorexia and Bulimia Care Charity (ABC) who have been nominated in our ‘Share Your Care’ hunt to raise awareness of amazing carers or services.

People with disabilities and those who are less mobile may be struggling to attend necessary medical appointments due to reduced transport services.

Our Healthwatch Bristol Area Lead Julie Bird has signed up as an NHS Responder after being moved by her work with Healthwatch - where she heard "heartbreaking" stories from the public in need of help.

People are not seeking help for potentially life-threatening health conditions due to the Covid-19 outbreak, Healthwatch has learned.

The health pandemic has resulted in many mental health support services either being suspended or becoming ‘self-service’ over the internet due to social distancing.

This week it has been reported that only a small fraction of “at risk” children are taking up the emergency school places kept open for them, prompting concerns that they are facing increased danger during the lockdown.

GP services are now starting to offer online consultations and have made other changes to the normal service at surgeries - read this latest update from the Bristol, North Somerset and South Glos Clinical Commissioning Group.

If you are at home self-isolating and need a support lifeline you can now call Healthwatch to get help from the new army of NHS Responders.

Use our new Healthwatch guides to help you get to grips with using health websites and apps. From Patient Access and NHS App to using Zoom, you can download and print our step-by-step guides.

Children, young people and families have helped develop a blueprint to address failings identified in Bristol City Council’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities provision.