Jane Mullarkey at St Helens Welbeing Service has very kindly collated information that can help us to share what support services are open in St Helens over the festive period for those who may need some support.
The NHS in Cheshire and Merseyside is urging people to know how to access urgent help while their GP practice is closed during the Christmas and New Year bank holidays.
Anyone still eligible for the flu, COVID-19 or RSV** vaccines should
get booked in ahead of the busy winter holiday period, when we
expect flu, and other respiratory viruses to spread between people
more easily as we spend more time indoors
Flu hit hospitals in the North West even harder last week, as a ‘tidal wave’ of infections led to a 28% increase in hospital cases across just seven days.
Residents across Cheshire and Merseyside are being urged to make their voices heard and help shape the future of local GP and health services by taking part in a new survey launched by local Healthwatch. Plans to improve patient access to primary care services were launched in spring 2024. We want to see what change, if any, people have noticed since then in their experience of GP services.
This guide aims to provide guidance to Healthwatch on their power to Enter and View health and
care services. It includes recommended practice based on learning from the Healthwatch
Network.
Is local Healthwatch accountable to Healthwatch England?
No, your local Healthwatch is commissioned by their local authority and will be accountable to them.
However when something is a problem and other local Healthwatchs are experiencing it too, Healthwatch England will gather evidence to look at the problem on a regional or national basis.
Part of the local Healthwatch duty is to carry out Enter & View visits. Local Healthwatch representatives carry out these visits to health & social care services to find out how they are being run and make recommendations where there are areas for improvement.