Eligible people are encouraged to come forward for their flu vaccine and COVID-19 booster as soon as they can to help protect themselves and loved ones over winter when viruses circulate most.

If you are over 50, pregnant or have a long-term health condition then you are eligible for both vaccines.

All primary school children will be offered a free flu nasal spray vaccine at school with parental consent. Children aged 2-3 years on 31 August 2022 are eligible for a free nasal spray vaccine at their GP surgery.  

We’re collecting feedback about health visiting and school health teams (known as your Healthy Family Team). This will help us make sure services continue to meet the needs of local children and their families.

We would like to hear your views as a parent, partner, step-parent, grandparent or carer who uses the service. It should take around 15 minutes to complete the survey and the closing date is 16 Dec 2022.

As more and more families feel the strain as cost-of-living pressures, we’re encouraging more people to take up the Healthy Start scheme.

The scheme offers funds worth £4.25 per week to pregnant women and children (0-4 years) who are in low-income families, as well as to all pregnant women under the age of 18. Funds can be used to purchase fruit, vegetables, milk and infant formula. Eligible families with a baby under the age of 1 receive £8.50 per week. 

Yesterday was Stress Awareness Day and it highlighted the ways that stress can affect people and what you can do to manage your stress before it becomes a problem. Millions around the UK experience stress and it is damaging to our health and wellbeing.

A free, NHS-approved Mind Plan is available on Every Mind Matters website. Answer five short questions and you will get a personalised mental health action plan, providing practical tips to help you deal with stress and anxiety, boost your mood, sleep better and feel more in control.

You can also join a 4-week email support programme where you can get reminders, swap in new tips and are encouraged to make looking after your mental wellbeing part of your everyday routine.

New ‘virtual wards’ offer alternative to hospital

New state-of-the-art technology will see patients with respiratory infections or a flare up of a long-term lung condition across Nottinghamshire monitored from the comfort of their own home rather than in hospital. Patients who are eligible will be referred to a 'virtual ward' – a safe and efficient alternative to an NHS hospital bed – where they can be treated in the place they call home. 

Patients in virtual wards will be supported and monitored on a daily basis using remote monitoring apps, utilising technology platforms and medical devices such as pulse oximeters, which record vital health data about blood oxygen saturation and pulse rates. Patients can also receive face-to-face care from teams based in the community.

Mandatory housing measures for all poultry and captive birds are to be introduced to all areas of England from 00:01 on Monday 7 November, following a decision by the United Kingdom’s Chief Veterinary Officer.

These measures will legally require all bird keepers to keep their birds indoors and to follow strict biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks from the disease.