Since July, the ICB has been hosting involvement and engagement events, as well as dropping in at existing local community groups and care homes, working with community champions, and promoting the survey, following a review of urgent and emergency health care services. The work being done will help inform potential improvement plans and complement the introduction of nationally mandated Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs). UTCs are being introduced by the NHS across the whole of England, to treat minor injuries and illnesses.

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent currently has four minor injuries units (MIUs) and a walk-in centre (WIC), so these are being looked at, to see if they are best suited to meet local needs, and the national criteria for UTCs, or if suitable, alternative services could be offered. Read more.

The Council is to continue its Warm Spaces Grant Programme again this winter, in an effort to combat the increasing cost of living. The Council will maintain it's support to residents and ensure widespread coverage across the Borough. The period that the programme will cover is from 1st November 2024  to 31st March 2025. Warmer Public Community Spaces in East Staffordshire can be found here.

Finding the right help at the right time to support Children and Young people with their mental health and wellbeing can be confusing. Sometimes it might just be about getting a bit of advice or help with problems that are more serious or don’t get better with self-help and need specialist advice and support.

Staffordshire County Council's updated easy to follow interactive map of Children and Young People’s Mental Health shows the support available in Staffordshire to support their emotional and mental health.

This year a new vaccine will give vulnerable people protection against another common winter virus that can cause serious health complications, for the first time. People can now have vaccination defence against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) with a new vaccine, in addition to the winter vaccines we are used to having each year – flu and COVID-19.

RSV is a common cause of coughs and colds. For most people, symptoms are mild but for young babies and older people, RSV can lead to severe illnesses such as pneumonia and bronchiolitis and result in hospital admission. The new vaccine is being offered to people aged 75 to 79 and to pregnant women so that their babies are protected. Young children with a high risk of serious RSV infection may also be offered a vaccine. You can read further information on RSV, flu, and COVID-19 vaccinations here.

From Monday 16 September until late December 2024, improvements to the emergency department at Queen's Hospital Burton will mean at certain times there will be some restrictions on vehicles and pedestrians outside A&E. Please follow this link to find out more.

The Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB) People's Panel is a group of residents who take part in surveys to express their views on health services in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. These surveys provide insights to the ICB to help shape health services in our community.

The panel is operated by an independent provider which operates the panel on behalf of the ICB. The People's Panel currently has just over 2,000 members, and we work with partners to maintain a panel which is representative of the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent population. If you live in Staffordshire or Stoke-on-Trent, you can join the People’s Panel – you will need to respond to surveys based on your own experience rather than those of anyone else. You can join the panel via the ICB website here. Follow this link to see the benefits of joining the panel and contact information for questions of further information.

Help is at Hand in Stoke-on-Trent, with a major campaign to ensure residents know where to go for advice and support about nutritional, healthy food for them and their families. 

The Hubb Foundation’s work is delivered on behalf of Stoke-on-Trent City Council through its Holiday, Activities and Food (HAF) programme. The end of the school holidays doesn’t mean the end of meals provided to those who need them. Through the campaign, residents can find signposting to local agencies who can offer short- and long-term assistance if needed. Information on the range of advice, support and information on offer as part of the Help is at Hand campaign is available at www.stoke.gov.uk/helpisathand.

The WaitLess app combines current waiting time, queue numbers and travel-time at urgent care facilities in the county. This displayed information helps you make an informed decision about where to seek the fastest treatment for minor illness and injuries. Along with this, the app displays all available pharmacies in the area as an alternative treatment option. Read more.

Cannock Chase Can and Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles Community Team is working with Staffordshire Libraries and Museum of Cannock Chase to help promote the projects they have developed through the ‘Know Your Neighbourhood’ funding programme.

A series of films have been produced which are being promoted throughout October through the Cannock Chase Can Overcoming Loneliness Month. These short videos focus on key community activities such as volunteering, arts and culture, churches, outdoor recreation that can encourage connection, bring joy, and combat social isolation. You can find the videos here.

Beat the Cold, along with NSCHT and its inhouse Transformation Management Office to identify homes where health outcomes could be improved by warmer living conditions. The scheme involves innovative software being used to target patient diagnoses of childhood asthma and other indicators of cold-related risk. A text message service will then signpost targeted patients to support available to reduce their risk associated with fuel poverty across the city and in Staffordshire. Read more.

Compton Care, a specialist palliative and bereavement support provider, have opened Compton’s Cafe at the Codsall Community Hub - home of South Staffordshire Council. The Cafe offers a comfortable and welcoming place for all.  

Proceeds from the Cafe will contribute to the specialist care and support provided to local families living with life limiting conditions. Read more.

Op COURAGE is an NHS mental health specialist service designed to help serving personnel due to leave the military, reservists, armed forces veterans and their families. The service is supported by trained professionals who are from, or have experience of working with, the Armed Forces community.

This service can help if you're finding life difficult after leaving the military. Follow this link for more information.

Indi in the Community is an inclusive weekly social group for adults with disabilities to connect, have fun and enhance their wellbeing. 

During each session, Indi in the Community partners with activity providers and workshop leaders to offer an exciting activity tailored to different interests and abilities. From art and music sessions, to sports and nature walks, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!

The sessions provide opportunities to try something new, enhance physical and emotional wellbeing and create friendships. An inclusive space giving a warm welcome regardless of background, ability or circumstance. Find out more here.

Community Health Champions are passionate about people. They share important and easy to understand messages with their friends and family, people they work and volunteer with, and people in their communities.

The project has been able to transition smoothly from its earlier funding supporting recovery from the COVID19 pandemic into new arrangements. Work in the first quarter has focussed on developing a new Theory of Change to align the project's work to the wider Health Inequalities programme. You can read the full report here.

Leaders from University Hospitals North Midlands (UHNM) have experienced first-hand what it’s like for wheelchair users accessing services at Royal Stoke University Hospital.

Senior leaders joined forces with the Corporate Safety Champion for a lived experience session where they gained valuable insight to how wheelchair users get about at the Royal Stoke University Hospital. They spent time going to different buildings and clinical areas while using an electric wheelchair, highlighting the challenges and obstacles patients and service users experience. Several obstacles were identified during the lived experience session which are now being addressed so improvements can be made. Read more.