Which health service should you use if you feel unwell?

Do you know which health service you should use when you or your family feel unwell?

If you need urgent medical care, there are urgent treatment centres (UTCs) at Gosport War Memorial Hospital, Petersfield Community Hospital, and St Mary's Campus in Portsmouth where you may be seen much faster than at the QA Emergency Department.

Throughout winter, please help the NHS to ensure our emergency department is kept free for those patients in need of emergency or life-saving care.

Find out more about picking the right health service by clicking the link below.

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Money: time to get in control

With costs going up, we all need to get on top of our finances. On our money advice pages you can:

• find free, confidential advice
• check what benefits you're entitled to
• get support with debts
• see how to keep everyday costs down
• find out how to make your money go further

If you’re worried by rising electricity and gas prices, Switched On Portsmouth are here to help. Visit them online or call 0800 260 5907.

Find out more

Portsmouth libraries offer more than just books!

Have you checked out Portsmouth libraries' brand-new website yet?

Find out how you can borrow free digital magazines, e-books, music, newspapers and more. You can also find information on all nine libraries, upcoming courses, reading groups, events and the home library and mobile library services.

There's lots for children to enjoy too - including Rhyme Time sessions, craft workshops and reading challenges!

Find out more

It’s HIV testing week from 7-13 February

If you’re worried about your own or someone else's HIV status, why not take the FREE finger prick test? It's quick and easy to do with Portsmouth's Sexual Health services, or you can order a home test kit.

There are now ways to prevent you infecting others or from becoming infected yourself. Knowing your HIV status makes sure you can build fulfilling relationships and have a healthy and safe sex life.

Info and free tests

Foster Portsmouth mark Race Equality Week

Foster Portsmouth is marking Race Equality Week between 7-13 February by celebrating the vital contribution of their foster carers from the BAME community.

Tamara Groen, a supported lodgings carer for four years, shared: "As a woman of colour and daughter of an immigrant, I am particularly passionate about immigrant and refugee rights. This led me to hosting young people, particularly unaccompanied asylum seekers, through supported lodgings."

To reflect the looked after children and young people in our city, we need additional foster carers from diverse backgrounds, including from the BAME community.

Learn more

Foster Portsmouth recently celebrated the first anniversary of the Mockingbird programme launch. The programme creates a support network for foster carers and has been shown to provide significant benefits for both foster carers and children.

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Spotlight on... LGBT History Month

2022 sees the 50th anniversary of the very first Pride March in the UK in 1972 and this month is LGBT History Month; an annual month-long celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history.

For LGBTQ+ young people who are exploring their gender identity and/or sexuality and their families, there is support and guidance available in Portsmouth. There are also some useful links and resources on our website.

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Mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, self-harm and suicidal thoughts can affect anyone, but they’re more common among people who are LGBTIQ+.

To stop problems from escalating, it's important to identify children's social, emotional and mental health needs at the earliest opportunity and help them to access the most appropriate support as soon as possible.

Guidance has been produced for families in Portsmouth which details the signs you might see in a child or young person who is struggling as well as when and where to get help, with details of useful resources and local services.

Explore guidance