Two new Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccination programmes have been introduced from 1 September.

RSV is a major cause of respiratory illness in the UK but is relatively unknown. It can be particularly dangerous to infants and the elderly. There are 30,000 hospitalisations of children under 5s in the UK every year. The new vaccines will protect those most vulnerable to RSV.

 The vaccines are being offered to the following groups of people:

• pregnant women (from 28 weeks) to protect their babies
• older adults aged 75 to 79 years old.

We are running a month-long campaign to raise awareness of suicide prevention, self-harm and mental health, from World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September until World Mental Health Day on 10 October.

Suicide affects people from all walks of life. It has a devastating and long-lasting impact on friends and family members who have lost a loved one. 

Mental health can fluctuate throughout a person’s life, depending on their circumstances and how well they feel able to manage the situation they are facing.

The theme for this year’s World Suicide Prevention Day was 'change the narrative'. Together we can speak more openly, break down barriers and encourage anyone who needs support to reach out.

You don’t have to suffer in silence. Help is available for anybody who is struggling.

This year's flu vaccination programme started at the beginning of September, and the vaccine is being offered to the following groups:

• pregnant women
• all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2024
• primary school aged children (from Reception to Year 6)
• secondary school aged children (from Year 7 to Year 11)
• all children in a clinical risk group aged from 6 months to less than 18 years.

Everyone else who is eligible for the flu vaccine, plus those eligible for this autumn's COVID vaccine, will be able to get them from 3 October, with the booking system for flu and COVID-19 opening from 23 September. 

It is important to top up your protection, even if you have had a vaccine or been ill with flu or COVID-19 before, because immunity fades over time and these viruses change each year.

Nottinghamshire Sustainable Food Network was recently presented with a Sustainable Food Places Bronze Award. The award recognises the Network’s effort to promote healthy, sustainable and local food and to tackle some of today’s greatest social challenges, including food poverty and diet-related ill health.

The Network brings a range of partners together - such as community and voluntary bodies, our Public Health team, district and borough councils, health and academic organisations – to improve the local food system. Partners work together to achieve the vision of the Nottinghamshire Food Charter: that everyone in Nottinghamshire, no matter what their age and where they live, should have access to healthy tasty affordable food which should also be positive for the environment and local economy. 

A new Citizens' Panel, aimed at engaging people in the future of health and care services, is being launched for residents in Mansfield and Ashfield.

The Citizens' Panel, which is being run by NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, will be an important opportunity for people to have their say on a wide range of health and care topics, helping the NHS to plan for future services.

The Panel will primarily be online, and will consist of surveys, polls and questionnaires throughout the year. It will complement other existing public engagement activity run by NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, such as events, focus groups and social media.

Once people sign up to the Panel, members will receive requests for feedback as well as a regular newsletter with information about health and care services.

Do you want to further your career in health and social care? Maybe you’re thinking about roles in nursing, social work or occupational therapy?

Inspire Learning’s Access to Higher Education course in Health and Social Care is a stepping stone if you don’t have the qualifications you need to get into university, or you’ve been out of formal education for some time.

Study online or in person at Beeston Library. Funding support is available through flexible payment options or an Advanced Learner Loan, and no GCSEs are needed to enrol as you’ll be supported to work towards Functional Skills in Maths and English. The course is FREE if you’re aged 19-23 and this is your first ‘full’ Level 3 qualification.