1. 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.

  2. When will I be vaccinated?

    News -

    One million adults in Kent & Medway will be offered the Coronavirus vaccine in the coming weeks and months. When will you get yours?

  3. Testing sites for people with no Covid symptoms

    News -

    Five testing sites across Medway are offering free Covid tests to people working in key professions who don't have any Covid symptoms.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. Medway vaccination centres

    News -

    All of us are waiting for the call for our Covid vaccination. Have you had yours yet?

  7. 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.

  8. Everyone can now get a Covid test in Medway

    News -

    Testing is now available for all us living and working in Medway if you don't have any Covid symptoms. One in three of us will have Covid with no symptoms so it's really important to get tested regularly to reduce the spread of the virus

  9. 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.

  10. I couldn’t get there fast enough!

    Advice and Information -

    How does it feel when you get your vaccine call up? This week we chatted with Lesley whose had her first Covid vaccine.

  11. 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.

  12. 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.

  13. 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.

  14. 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.

  15. All adults with learning disabilities are now being offered the vaccine

    News -

    All adults with learning disabilities in Medway are now being offered the vaccine.

  16. A snapshot of Medway - What's going on in our area?

    Report -

    We want to make sure you hear about everything important that is happening around Medway – as its happening - that could affect your health and wellbeing.

  17. 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.

  18. Medway Hospital in the news

    News -

    The Care Quality Commission published a report following a recent unannounced visit to the emergency department at Medway Maritime Hospital. Although they found many positives, they’ve asked the hospital to make a number of immediate changes.

  19. Did you know vaccine appointments are now available at Medway hospital?

    News -

    If you’ve been offered the vaccine, you now have the option to have it at the hospital on Friday, Saturday and Sundays.

  20. Covid has completely changed my life

    News -

    This week, we're talking with a number of people who have had Covid. They've been telling us how Covid is still affecting them more than three months later.

  21. 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.

  22. Are you worried about how the Covid vaccine might affect your long term condition?

    Advice and Information -

    Many people have been asking us what they should do if they have a long term condition and they want the Covid vaccine. We have some answers.

  23. Talking to Medway's Vascular Surgeon

    News -

    Today is International Women's Day. To celebrate we're talking to the inspirational Ginny Bowbrick. Ginny is a Mum of four and has worked in the NHS for 32 years, working at Medway hospital for 16 of those.

  24. Celebrating International Women's Day

    News -

    In the second of our interviews to mark International Women's Day, we chat to Jackie Brown who is Assistant Director of Adult Social Care in Medway.

  25. Can my children finally hug their grandma in a Care Home?

    News -

    From this week, some visitors are being allowed into Care Homes. But what are the rules and regulations and will you actually be able to hug your loved ones just yet?

  26. New large vaccination centre opens in Chatham

    News -

    The former DW Sports store in the Pentagon Centre will open as the new large vaccination centre on March 11th

  27. How Covid can change your life

    Report -

    Five people spoke to us in detail this week to tell us how Covid has changed their lives.

  28. Medway Councillors are listening to your feedback

    News -

    Back in November, we published a report detailing feedback from 53 Medway organisations about how they had coped during the first Coronavirus wave. Last week we returned to the Health & Scrutiny Committee to update Councillors on our progress.

  29. Have your say

    Page -

  30. Covid and the Vaccines – great news but it’s not all over yet

    Advice and Information -

    The UK government has published their four-step roadmap of a route back to a more normal way of living. In England, the easing of restrictions on our current covid lockdown began on March 8th with the return of schools.

  31. Have you had Covid? Are you still struggling?

    News -

    Have you, or someone you know, had Covid and are still feeling the effects four weeks later?

  32. Our feedback contributes to a national conversation about GPs

    News -

    This week, a national report has been published documenting the struggles that thousands of people have faced trying to get a GP appointment during the pandemic. The report features our work on the lack of support available on GP websites in Medway.

  33. Brushing our teeth – what’s it all about?

    Advice and Information -

    It’s all about stopping plaque and tartar build up on our teeth.

  34. We get your vaccine questions answered

    News -

    Every day we’re taking calls from people with questions about the Covid vaccine. If we don’t know the answer, we don’t rest until we find it. Here are a few of the questions we’ve heard this week. We hope the answers may help you too.

  35. A vaccine with your name on it - book it!

    News -

    There are slots available this week for the Covid vaccine. Have you had yours? Book it today

  36. Do you need help to complete your Census?

    News -

    Letters asking us to complete the Census have been dropping through everyone's doors in recent weeks. If you're struggling to fill in the form online, there is help available to you.

  37. Feeling stressed? You're not alone

    Advice and Information -

    April marks Stress Awareness Month, a national awareness month that has been held every year since 1992 to raise recognition of something we all struggle with from time to time.

  38. Have you ever thought about using Talking Therapies? Maybe you think it might help you, but you’re not sure how?

    News -

    This is your opportunity to have your say about how the Talking Therapy service in Medway currently works and how it could be improved for the future.

  39. What's life been like for parents whose children have additional needs?

    News -

    Lockdown has affected children who may have additional needs in so many ways. We chat to Nicola Carey-Shine who supports many Medway families about the ups and downs of lockdown.

  40. Did you know you can now get Covid tests from your pharmacy?

    News -

    All of us are now being encouraged to take a Covid test regularly even if we don't have any symptoms.

  41. Coronavirus: What does shielding mean?

    Advice and Information -

    Find out more about shielding, who it applies to, and what to do if you're a shielder.

  42. The Healthwatch Medway Guide to Pre-consultation & Engagement

    Report -

    During our work to scrutinise consultations; poor pre-consultation engagement was the main area vulnerable to legal challenge via judicial review.

  43. The Healthwatch Guide to Public Consultations

    Report -

    This guide is intended to support commissioners and service providers to deliver genuine, meaningful public consultations.

  44. How Deaf aware are you?

    Advice and Information -

    The theme of Deaf Awareness Week 2021 is ‘Coming through it together’.
    As we continue to live with the pandemic, this year’s event aims to raise awareness of Deaf issues while focusing on positivity and togetherness .

  45. Help Medway become a child friendly place to live

    News -

    Would you like Medway to be a place where all young people are involved and benefit from the local decisions, services and spaces that shape their lives?

  46. What's it like to be homeless in Medway?

    Report -

    We chatted to five women, and three men, about their experience of being homeless in Medway. They want you to hear their story.

  47. Vaccination programme continues at pace

    News -

    Anyone aged 38 or over , is now entitled to get their Covid vaccination.

  48. Twin crisis of access and affordability calls for radical rethink of NHS dentistry

    News -

    Healthwatch England warns dental crisis shows no signs of slowing, with four in five people, 80%, struggling to access timely care during the last lockdown.

  49. Over 1 million vaccines in Kent & Medway. Have you had yours?

    News -

    Over 1 million people in Kent & Medway have now had their first dose of the Covid vaccine. Have you had yours? Tell us about it.

  50. Do you look after someone right now? There is help available for you

    News -

    We're lucky enough to hear from Carers every week so we know just how brilliant they are and how vital it is that they get the support they need. Today marks the start of Carer's Week, and to celebrate we chatted to Tracey who is a Carer in Medway.