News and reports

We are looking for volunteers to help us assess our inpatient hospital sites.

Patients across Cheshire and Merseyside are being asked to plan ahead for the August bank holiday weekend (Saturday 23 August – Monday 25 August) by ordering any necessary repeat prescriptions, to avoid running out of essential medication. The NHS recommends any repeat prescriptions due in the days over the summer bank holiday should be ordered by Friday 15 August to give GP practice and community pharmacy time to get their prescription and medication ready.

Healthwatch St Helens joins 131 local Healthwatch to oppose Government plans to undermine independent public voice.

A total of 488 residents in St Helens participated in the survey. The survey revealed both challenges and successes in how GP services are provided, shedding light on real-life challenges with phone queues, online booking systems, and the 8am appointment scramble.

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board commissioned the nine Healthwatch organisations to assess how recent changes to GP services are functioning in practice—and to ensure public feedback plays a key role in shaping future improvements.

A new report has been published from 9 local Healthwatch across Cheshire and Merseyside from 6,944 people in how their GP services are provided.

People across Cheshire and Merseyside are being urged to use NHS 111 for all non-emergency healthcare needs ahead of industrial action by resident doctors (previously known as junior doctors).

Live Well helps residents and professionals find local health, wellbeing, care, and community services and other information. They are conducting this survey to better understand how the directory is currently being used, how well it meets your needs, and what improvements are needed.

Measles is an infection that spreads very easily. It can cause serious illness in some people and, in rare cases, can spread to the lungs or the brain. Babies and pregnant women are at increased risk of harm. Having the MMR vaccine is the best way to prevent it.

Free instant access digital mental health support is now available across St Helens for everyone aged 18+. The NHS commissioned service provides free, safe, and anonymous online mental health support whenever you need it. There are no waiting lists for support and no referral needed. Access to the platform is available instantly 24/7. Go to www.qwell.io to get started today.

Support available includes:

- Live chat or messaging with qualified mental health professionals
- Self-help tools, articles and podcasts
- Online community

Live chat available from:
Monday to Friday: 12pm - 10pm
Saturday and Sunday 6pm - 10pm

Free instant access digital mental health support is now available across St Helens for everyone aged 10-25. The NHS commissioned service provides free, safe, and anonymous online mental health support whenever you need it.

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust has launched Count Me In, an innovative new approach to research. The aim is to increase the number of patients and service users involved in research so future care and treatments can be improved.

St Helens Mind have received some funding to create a Men's Suicide Prevention group aimed at 18-30 year old men.