Advice and Information

Your Health & Care Digest. Sharing local resources and much more.

This month we share details about what's on in Swindon for Mental Health week, Stroke Associations 'Here For You' and much more.

For new arrivals to the UK it can be confusing where to go if you need medical assistance. Here we outline your rights as a refugee, where you can access emergency help and how to register for a GP.

COVID-19 testing rules have now changed across England. Find out the latest information on where to go to get tested, which test is most suitable for you, and what to do if you get a positive COVID-19 test result.

The flu virus kills almost 11,000 people and hospitalises tens of thousands more in England in an average year. It’s more important than ever to get your flu jab this year.

As the COVID vaccination efforts continue at STEAM, we look at what reasonable adjustments have been made to help patients with physical and neurodiverse disabilities.

To date, over 30 million people in the UK have received their first dose of the vaccine. But as this is a phased rollout - what does that mean for you and your loved ones in light of new variants of COVID?

Mouth cancer is otherwise known as oral cancer and is where a tumour forms in the mouth. Regular self-checks and awareness of symptoms are key to early detection and resolution. We explore what to look out for and how to keep your mouth healthy.

The last year has seen a great deal of change in the provision of health and social care services. Both patients and health care professionals have had to adapt how we communicate. Here, we provide a quick guide to one-way - video consultations.

Vaccine misinformation and delay among ethnic minority communities is fast becoming an issue in the fight against COVID-19. Here, we share downloadable leaflets and multimedia materials to help share the message that vaccines are safe.

As of Monday 8 of March, the government's roadmap out of lockdown begun, and with it, the introduction of a single named nominated visitor to residents in care homes. New guidance has been issued increasing the number of visitors. Find out more here.

As of 1 April 2021, VoiceAbility has been awarded the advocacy contract to support people in Swindon to make complaints about care or treatment they have received from the NHS.