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Advice and Information -
People have told us they can have problems registering with a GP. This article explains more about your rights and what do to if you are refused the right to register. -
Advice and Information -
Health issues unfortunately don't leave us alone at the weekend and people are often in need of medical assistance out of hours. Using NHS guidelines, we have provided some advice and information on where you can go for help when your GP is closed. -
Advice and Information -
Find out what support is available to help you when travelling to your GP, hospital or other NHS services. -
Advice and Information -
Take a look at our advice article on the organisations and groups that can support you if you’re grieving. -
Advice and Information -
If you are experiencing or feel at risk of domestic abuse, or are worried about someone who might be, find out where you can go for advice and help. -
Advice and Information -
Many people who provide unpaid care are unaware of their rights. Find out more about the help and support you are entitled to. -
Advice and Information -
The wait for planned medical care or surgery can be frustrating. That’s why you must get regular and accessible updates while you wait. -
Advice and Information -
Your mental wellness is as important as your physical health but seeking help can be daunting. Here's what to expect when you seek support for your mental health. -
Advice and Information -
Do you or a loved one need help with social care? Read the article below and find out answers to key questions about who can access adult social care and how to pay for it. -
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Our complaints process outlines how to make a complaint about us and our approach to making sure complaints are resolved. -
Advice and Information -
Mental health problems are more common among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) people. If you are struggling, feel alone or need a little help, then check out our guide on how you can get the support you need. -
Advice and Information -
Confused about Long Covid? Find out the common symptoms and how to get support. -
Advice and Information -
Do you know about your rights to language support in NHS settings? -
Advice and Information -
Are you having trouble finding an NHS funded dentist? Read our tips on what to do if you’re facing problems. -
Advice and Information -
Are you struggling to find an NHS dentist? The new dental recovery plan might help you get the dental care you need. -
Advice and Information -
The new Pharmacy First scheme enables your local pharmacy to treat some common conditions with prescription-only medicines, without you visiting your GP. Find out everything you need to know. -
Advice and Information -
From 31 October 2023, GP surgeries must give patients online access to their new health record entries. Find out what information is in your record and how to access it. -
Advice and Information -
Did you know you can choose which hospital you go to when referred for a test, diagnosis, or treatment? Find out how. -
Advice and Information -
NHS social prescribing link workers can connect you to the right community groups and services to help support you. -
Advice and Information -
The usual processes the NHS follows to discharge you from hospital have changed since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Here’s what you can expect when it’s time to leave hospital. -
Advice and Information -
The cost of living crisis has put many people under financial strain, and prescription costs are more than some can afford. Find out what help is out there to help you cover the cost of your medication. -
Report -
Please find our monthly newsletters here which focus on health and social care and any events that are happening.
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Report -
Our annual reports highlight all our work over the previous year. This shows how improvements have been made in health and social care services in St Helens with the help of your feedback. -
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What is an Enter and View visit?
Visits can either be announced or unannounced. The majority of visits will be announced by contacting the provider up to a week beforehand. This allows the provider the opportunity to ask questions.
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Here you'll find our latest Board Meeting Minutes. -
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Here you will find all other reports including all things health and social care. -
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This visit was arranged in advance and took place to understand the reasons why people were attending, specifically whether they had attempted to access any other services prior to going to A&E. Listening Events allows Healthwatch to gather the experiences of individuals, which provides additional rich and detailed information, enhancing the statistics regarding A&E attendance.
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Advice and Information -
YMCA St Helens provide a Young Peoples Listening Service for young people aged 12 to 18, which is taking referrals now offering one to one support for young people aged 12-18 who would benefit from mental health focused support and/or someone to talk to. -
Advice and Information -
Children and young people need their Teenage booster to protect against polio, tetanus and diphtheria MMR vaccine to protect against measles, mumps and rubella MenACWY vaccine to protect against meningitis and septicaemia HPV vaccine to protect against types of cancer.
The immunisation teams will be holding clinics over the summer holidays for year 8 children and older who have missed their immunisations in school. Please contact your local immunisation team to make an appointment or to check your child’s immunisations to ensure they are fully protected. For more information, visit www.merseycare.nhs.uk/imms -
Advice and Information -
Shout is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope with mental health. They offer support, advice and signposting.
If you need support text SHOUT to 85258 -
Advice and Information -
St Helens Council Youth Services have been consulting with members of the St Helens Youth Council to create an online Mental Health Toolkit –aimed at educating young people about the importance of self-care.
#GrowYourHappy is an easy to read, navigate, fun, pressure-free online space, full of swipe able recommendations, resources, support services and mood-boosting content.
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Advice and Information -
ChatHealth, a confidential text messaging service for young people in St Helens, is now available. -
Advice and Information -
Are you pregnant or have a child aged 0-5 years? If so then download the CATCH app. You’ll find useful health information from the NHS, national charities and organisations, along with details of local services and support. -
Advice and Information -
Parents in Mind peer support – mothers, birthing parents, dads & partners -
Advice and Information -
Being Dad Podcast - Weekly discussions with dads around different experiences and themes related to parenting and managing mental health. -
Advice and Information -
Although most people using the health service are happy with their care and treatment, things can sometimes go wrong. If you're not satisfied with the service you've experienced from a hospital, doctor, dentist, local surgery or other NHS provider, you are entitled to complain about it. -
Advice and Information -
We can’t recommend a Dentist or GP, however, NHS choices has a section on their website where you can search for practices in your area: -
Advice and Information -
An explanation about the work of Healthwatch St Helens provided in BSL by Signing Solutions. -
Report -
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. -
Advice and Information -
How Can I Take Control Of My Health and Wellbeing? -
Advice and Information -
On this page you will find various documents to download that will help you with you healthcare needs. -
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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.
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Advice and Information -
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. -
News -
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.
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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. -
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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 -
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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. -
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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.