New community diagnostic centres to offer X-rays, blood tests, MRIs and more
Diagnostic services used to identify serious conditions such as cancer and heart disease will soon be available closer to home for people living across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire. Over the coming months, three new community diagnostic centres will begin providing services, such as X-rays, MRI and CT scans, blood tests, ultrasounds…
Vaccinations for flu and Covid-19 start today for those most at risk
Vaccinations against flu and Covid-19 start today for those in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire most at risk of falling seriously ill. Despite the unusually warm September weather, the winter vaccination programme, which had been due to start next month, has been brought forward following the identification of a new variant of…
Local NHS seeks views of patients and families on process of leaving hospital
People in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire who have recently been in hospital are being asked to share their views on how their journey from ward to home was managed. Health leaders from BSW Together, which is the integrated care system that covers NHS services in the region, will use the feedback…
Disruption of consultant strike to add to bank holiday pressures for local NHS
The NHS in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire is gearing up for a busy end to August as this weekend is set to be preceded by industrial action, before being immediately followed by a bank holiday. Consultants at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, the Great Western Hospital in Swindon and Salisbury…
Mental health support available to help relieve stress of exam results day
The NHS in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire has a wide range of resources available to help any students feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of receiving important exam results during August. A-level students in the region will find out how they fared in this summer’s exam season on Thursday 17 August, while…
Latest wave of industrial action draws renewed call for public support
A fresh strike by junior doctors later this week has led to the NHS in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire renewing its call for people to help their local health service in any way they can. Junior doctors from the Royal United Hospital in Bath, the Great Western Hospital in Swindon and…
Enjoy a safe summer holiday by stocking up on self-care essentials
As the school holidays enter full swing, families in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire are being encouraged to check their medicine cabinet is stocked with essentials, and know what to pack in order to stay healthy when going away. Keeping some medicines and first-aid essentials at home, such as painkillers, antihistamines, insect…
Information on diabetes drug shortages
The NHS is currently facing supply issues with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), a range of drugs used for managing blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes. These medications are: Dulaglutide (Trulicity®), Exenatide (Byetta® or Bydureon®), Semaglutide (Ozempic® or Rybelsus®), Liraglutide (Victoza®) and Lixisenatide (Lyxumia®). Supply of these medications is not expected…
Patients warned of further disruption during upcoming strike by consultants
Industrial action by the most senior doctors working in the NHS is likely to cause significant disruption to services in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire. Consultants at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, the Great Western Hospital in Swindon and Salisbury District Hospital are due to take part in a national 48-hour…
Issues affecting the Libra Diabetic App
Issues have been reported with the Abbott FreeStyle LibreLink app, which monitors glucose levels in diabetic patients. Patients who have been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes can use a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) to monitor their blood glucose levels on a constant basis, so they don’t have to take blood samples frequently throughout the day…