I welcome news that local health managers have rowed back on proposals to cut the upper age limit for which women are eligible for IVF treatment on the NHS after protests – but more cuts are to come. Faced with a growing deficit, NHS chiefs proposed a series of cuts to local health services, including […]

Concerns were raised at a recent meeting of the Health Scrutiny Committee that some people find it more difficult than others to access GP and other healthcare services. This could depend on appointment booking systems, public transport, how rural the area they live in is and how close they are to a boundary with another […]

Wednesday 18th October is National Burn Awareness Day. The aim of the day is to raise awareness of how to prevent burns as well as what to do if they do happen.  Children along with the elderly are especially vulnerable to burns and scalds as their skin is thinner and therefore burns quicker. Over 600 children a […]

  Local councillors outside Yate MIU At a meeting of South Gloucestershire’s Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee last Friday, Conservative Councillors failed to support a recommendation for the Clinical Commissioning Group to review and invest in services at Yate Minor Injuries Unit. The recommendation was moved by Lib Dem councillor Sue Hope and supported by […]

Thank you to everyone who has responded so far to our survey about the Yate Minor Injuries Unit closing when it gets too busy. It was very clear from your experiences how frustrating and worrying it is to find the service closed when you are in distress. In some cases people had travelled from Thornbury […]

Southern Brooks Community Partnership are currently recruiting community volunteers who live and/or work in Yate to learn: more about health and wellbeing; where to gain support to improve health; and hold the skills to have a ‘health chat’ with friends, relatives and neighbours as well as other residents of Yate to make steps to health […]

I recently reported on the difficult choices local NHS officials are facing due to the funding crisis in the health service. Most controversially they are proposing to limit fertility treatment, which is already not being provided in line with national recommendations. We have now launched a petition calling on the Government to increase funding – you can sign […]

Faced with a growing deficit, NHS chiefs have proposed a series of changes to local health services to cut costs. You can find out more about their plans and how to have your say on their website. Most controversially, they are proposing to limit fertility treatment to women between 30 and 35 years of age. They already […]

Your Focus Team was shocked to learn that Sirona, who run the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) in Yate, are being allowed to shut the doors to new patients when they’re busy so they can meet their waiting time targets. Of course there is no guarantee if you’re redirected to A&E that you’ll be seen any […]

A consultation is underway on a new strategy to guide the work of the South Gloucestershire Health and Wellbeing Board to improve the health of everyone living and working in South Gloucestershire. It will be adopted by the organisations that make up the Health and Wellbeing Board and sets out four key areas for action: […]