The Government is investing £20 billion a year in the NHS as part of the NHS Long Term Plan, and local organisations have now been asked to work together to develop their own plans.

Healthwatch East Sussex, the county's independent health and care champion, has launched a series of activities to enable you to have your say about the future of the NHS in our area. You can take part in a survey, share your views on social media, and invite Healthwatch to local events.

Visit the ESBT website to find out how to take part.

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust is the first Trust locally to introduce a new process for people to record their wishes about how they would like to be treated in an emergency, when they may not be able to communicate.

The Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment, or ReSPECT as it’s known, was introduced by ESHT to some areas in 2018, and will be used on all hospital wards from April 2019. GPs and hospices in East Sussex are working towards introducing the process later this year.

Learn more about ReSPECT, and hear from local resident Molly about her experiences of the process.

This Diabetes Prevention Week (1 – 7 April) learn more about the small changes you can make to reduce your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, and the potential serious threats to your health that come with it.

Find out about the symptoms, how to reduce your risk, what to do if you think you're at risk, and how the NHS Healthier You Diabetes Prevention Programme could help.

The local NHS is urging women to respond to their cervical screening invitation letters, and if they missed previous invites, to book an appointment at their GP practice.

1 in 4 locally miss their cervical screening appointment.

Attending screening when invited can help protect against the risk of cervical cancer; it is estimated that cervical screening saves around 5,000 lives each year.

Read more about cervical screening.

A series of free, entertaining and educational talks for older people are being held in Hastings, St Leonard’s, Rother, and Bexhill this April and May.

The ‘Be your own doctor – avoiding frailty in older age’ events are presented by consultant geriatrician Dr. Elena Mucci, and have been organised by local Patient Participation Groups.

Dr Mucci’s talk is designed to help older people lead healthy, active and fulfilling lives, and to learn more about aging, health and self-care.

Visit the ESBT website for event dates, times and venues.

65 volunteers held over 5,000 ‘cancer conversations’ with their fellow residents in Hastings and Bexhill, to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer, improve early diagnosis and help to save lives.

Read how volunteers for the Hastings and Rother Community Cancer Awareness Project successfully improved people's awareness of cancer, and increased their willingness to seek further advice and/or take up the invite to their cancer screenings.

Crowdfunder has teamed up with East Sussex County Council and other local organisations to launch Crowdfund East Sussex, to support great ideas that make a difference to local communities.

Local groups and organisations with an idea that could benefit the local community can create a project on Crowdfund East Sussex and start raising money, awareness and support. Local people then have the opportunity to support the projects close to their heart.

Learn more about the platform and how it works.