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HEALTH officials are asking people to continue to support their local GP practices during the Covid-19 pandemic. To ensure patients and staff are kept safe during the pandemic, all GP surgeries are required to ask patients to contact them first, before turning up at their local practice.  Most patients do this by phone, resulting in long waits to get through to their … [Read more...] about GP Practices in Tees Valley are asking residents for their continued patience and understanding with current demand for appointments.

NHS chiefs in Teesside are celebrating being highly commended for the innovative work they have done to improve the health and wellbeing of patients before surgery, which is making a huge difference to patient recovery. The ‘PREPWELL’ team were runners up in the Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine Team of the Year Category of the British Medical Journal Awards announced … [Read more...] about National Recognition for Improving Patient Care

HEALTH officials are asking people to support their local GP practices during the Covid-19 pandemic. To ensure patients and staff are kept safe during the pandemic, all GP surgeries are required to ask patients to contact them first, before turning up at their local practice.  Most patients do this by phone, resulting in long waits to get through to their surgery, … [Read more...] about How you can help your local GP practice

David Gallagher, Chief Officer of NHS Tees Valley Clinical Commissioning Group, urges people to protect their loved ones by signing up to the NHS COVID-19 contact tracing app. The quicker you know the sooner you could help keep your loved ones safe. … [Read more...] about NHS COVID-19 contact tracing app

COVID-19 has changed the way that people are accessing NHS services. A recent survey of 2,178 people found that almost half (48%) of the public would delay or not seek medical help at all. A fifth (22%) would not want to burden the NHS, and a similar proportion said that fear of getting coronavirus or passing it onto others was a major reason for not getting help. Today, NHS … [Read more...] about Help Us Help You campaign urges public to contact their GP if they are worried about a symptom that could be cancer

The NHS’ winter campaign – ‘Help Us, Help You’ – is here to help make it easier to understand the things you can do to manage your health during winter and get the best out of your NHS. We all know that the NHS can be especially busy during the winter months, and everyone can benefit by following the expert advice of NHS staff; to prevent an illness getting worse; take the best … [Read more...] about NHS launches Help Us Help You winter campaign

Mo was referred to the free local Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme which is run by Weight Watchers (WW). "I've experienced an overwhelming shift in both body and mind" There are many benefits I've felt on my (WW) journey so far. I was unaware of these benefits when I first embarked on this wonderful and transforming endeavour of self-discovery and … [Read more...] about With high cholesterol and a risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, Mo decided it was time for a change

Last month saw the launch of the Get Well for Winter campaign developed by the North East and Cumbria Learning Disability Network and Skills for People. Get Well for Winter is a programme running from 7th September until Christmas to support and empower people with a learning disability and their supporters in the North East and Cumbria to Get Well this Winter. It will focus on … [Read more...] about Get Well for Winter campaign

Every two minutes someone finds out that they have Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes can be a very serious health condition that can cause long term health problems. It can lead to sight loss, kidney failure, loss of a limb, and makes you at least twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke. Being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes can have a huge impact on you and your … [Read more...] about Type 2 diabetes – it’s time to get serious

GPs across Teesside are reminding members of the public that GP services remain open and that if anyone requires a consultation with a doctor or nurse, they shouldn’t delay contacting their local practice. During the Covid-19 pandemic fewer patients have been seeking help from their GP and this is concerning as there may be people who need medical advice and whose conditions … [Read more...] about GP practices are still open

Patients with COVID across the Tees Valley will receive care and support from the comfort of their own homes under an innovative new pilot, one of just three to be introduced in the country. Patients will be loaned an easy to use device called a pulse oximeter which is attached to the end of their finger and monitors the level of oxygen in the blood. The blood oxygen … [Read more...] about Tees Valley chosen as pilot site for innovative COVID ‘virtual ward’

Health chiefs across the North East and North Cumbria are warning local communities to remain vigilant and #doyourbit to prevent lockdowns and protect each other from coronavirus. While rates of the virus have remained generally stable across the region, health and care leaders are reminding communities that this could change at any point and they must not become … [Read more...] about Health chiefs make plea to help avoid local lockdown

We're interested in hearing from Mums, Dads, Grandparents, other family members, anyone who has accompanied someone to a maternity appointment - all your opinions are valuable. Anyone who is/ has been pregnant this year (especially during lockdown), may have experienced a different antenatal service to others previously. Services had to make amendments to fit in with … [Read more...] about Antenatal Services – Future Models of Care

MIDDLESBROUGH must act now to avoid the threat of a local lockdown in the coming weeks, businesses and residents are being warned. Mayor Andy Preston has today said he fears the town is “on the fringe of something serious” as he urges people to act responsibly. The Council and Public Health England are responding to several coronavirus breakouts across the town. And … [Read more...] about Town urged to act as COVID lockdown looms

Please see local pharmacy opening times below for the Bank Holiday on Monday 31st August. Avoid pharmacies if you are showing symptoms of COVID-19. Be patient, all pharmacies are under immense pressure and working around the clock to ensure that you get what you need and please order medicines as normal. Make sure you know the opening times! … [Read more...] about Your pharmacy August bank holiday opening times

Customers who have visited Armando's restaurant in Redcar between 19 and 22 August are being urged to self-isolate after two members of staff have tested positive for Covid-19. On Monday (24 August), the restaurant took the decision to temporarily close its premises after the team members began showing symptoms of the virus. Since the closure, both tests have come back as … [Read more...] about Staff test positive at Armando’s in Redcar

Please see here for important information regarding an increase of Coronavirus cases in Middlesbrough being investigated by public health experts. … [Read more...] about New Coronavirus cases found in Middlesbrough

On Monday 27th July, Public Health England launched a major new adult health campaign to seize the opportunity for a national reset moment of health.Nearly two thirds (63%) of adults in the UK are overweight or living with obesity. Gaining weight is often a gradual process that takes place over a number of years and modern life doesn’t always make it easy. But this extra weight … [Read more...] about Better Health

As dental practices are now starting to provide face to face treatment across Tees Valley, the message from health bosses is, if you need help from a dentist, contact your practice by phone or email. Please don't visit your practice unless you've been advised to. David Gallagher, chief officer, NHS Tees Valley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said:  ‘A number of … [Read more...] about Can I go to the dentist yet?

If you have utilised the Daisy Chain Family Support Service in Hartlepool and Stockton on Tees we would appreciate it if you could complete the below survey. The survey closes at the end of July 2020. https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/XHSZ6BP … [Read more...] about Family Support Service Survey

At the end of every financial year we publish a report that describes our work during the previous year. It tells people how we spent our budget; what our priorities were; and what some of our biggest successes and challenges were. It also includes who we have been working with such as local councils and details of what we have talked to local people about their health and … [Read more...] about Annual reports 2019/20

The Annual Reports for the former NHS Darlington CCG, NHS South Tees CCG and NHS Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees CCG for 2019 - 2020 are available here … [Read more...] about Annual Report

The Public Health Team at Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council would like to seek your views on our Sexual Health Services in the Borough. Since 1 April 2013, local authorities have had a responsibility to improve the health of the population through the provision and commissioning of effective and efficient Sexual Health services. The current service is commissioned from Virgin … [Read more...] about Sexual Health survey – we want your views!

NHS encourages personal responsibility as pubs reopen at the weekend Every preventable call out or visit to hospital due to alcohol slows down our response to another incident such as a stroke or a cardiac arrest. The NHS across the North East and North Cumbria is encouraging people to enjoy themselves responsibly as bars and pubs reopen on Saturday 4 July for the first … [Read more...] about NHS encourages personal responsibility this weekend

Worried you have cancer but not calling your GP because of Coronavirus? Read Margaret from Billingham’s story about how she battled Covid-19 at the same time as being diagnosed and treated for cancer during the Coronavirus pandemic. Margaret is 73 years old and lives with her husband in Billingham. Margaret who describes herself as always being fit and healthy began to … [Read more...] about Cancer during Covid-19 – Margaret’s story

Face masks are NOT considered to be suitable for children during the COVID-19 pandemic – particularly very young children, but they are unlikely to be beneficial to older children too. Homemade masks tend to prevent the spread of the virus to others, rather than offer protection to the wearer.If not used properly, they can increase the risk of spreading and catching COVID-19 … [Read more...] about Advice regarding masks and young children

Health chiefs across the area have joined together to launch a new cancer campaign “Why wait? Cancer doesn’t”, aimed at tackling the fall in the number of people going to their GP with concerns regarding cancer symptoms. Seven clinical commissioning groups (Tees Valley CCG, North Tyneside CCG, Sunderland CCG, South Tyneside CCG, County Durham CCG, Newcastle Gateshead CCG and … [Read more...] about Cancer campaign tackles drop in urgent referrals

The NHS in the north east and north Cumbria is reminding the public to have face coverings available to wear when they attend health care settings. Face coverings should cover the mouth and nose while allowing the wearer to breathe comfortably and can be as simple as a scarf or bandana that ties behind the head to give a snug fit. Alongside wearing a face covering, people … [Read more...] about Wear a face covering when attending healthcare settings

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) for Darlington CCG, Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees CCG and South Tees CCG will take place 3-5pm on Monday 20 July.  We will be presenting our annual reports from 2019/20 which will be added to the Tees Valley CCG website in advance of the AGMs. We are still exploring what format the meetings will take; however, if you are interested in … [Read more...] about Annual General Meeting

HEALTH officials across Teesside have launched a new service to provide  community access to Urgent Eye Care during COVID-19. NHS Tees Valley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (STHFT) have developed the temporary service to help people receive eye care without the need to attend hospital while COVID restrictions remain in … [Read more...] about New service improves access to Urgent Eye Care

During the current pandemic no one expects parents to act as teachers or childcare providers. Or to be able to provide all the activities that a nursery might. While children gain a lot from nursery, things that parents do at home can help their development more. For more information on how you can support your child's progression visit here … [Read more...] about Help children aged 2 to 4 to learn at home during coronavirus

FORMER armed forces personnel will soon be able to access a new NHS service to support them during a mental health crisis. Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LYPFT) has been appointed as lead provider for this new service to improve the health and lives of former military personnel across the North of England. The Veterans Mental Health High Intensity … [Read more...] about New Veterans’ Mental Health High Intensity Service in the North of England

HEALTH chiefs are warning that delaying childhood immunisations, during the Covid-19 pandemic, could lead to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. Public health experts, and GPs, across Teesside are urging parents and carers to continue to vaccinate their children to prevent against deadly and highly contagious childhood diseases including measles and whooping … [Read more...] about Delaying childhood vaccinations could lead to deadly outbreaks

TODAY is a great day for it! Your first day without cigarettes can be difficult, but there are resources to help you get through cravings, manage withdrawal symptoms, and stay motivated to become smokefree. It’s never too late - from the moment you quit your body starts to repair itself and if you are trying to quit, you don’t have to go it alone. There are a number of … [Read more...] about Today is the Day – to Quit

Please see local pharmacy opening times below for the Bank Holiday on Monday 25th May. Avoid pharmacies if you are showing symptoms of COVID-19: If you have a dry, persistent cough, fever, shortness of breath, loss of smell or loss of taste. Be patient, all pharmacies are under immense pressure and working around the clock to ensure that you get what you need and please … [Read more...] about Your pharmacy bank holiday opening hours

As lockdown measures continue, GPs want to send a very clear message that general practices are open and the NHS is still able to provide essential and urgent treatment for cancer. With health chiefs expecting a back log of patients with potential cancer symptoms they want to encourage people to contact their GP practice if they notice something out of the ordinary and offer … [Read more...] about Message from GPs – Don’t ignore symptoms of cancer

Type 2 diabetes is a condition that causes the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood to become too high. It can cause symptoms like excessive thirst, needing to pee a lot and tiredness. It can also increase your risk of getting serious problems with your eyes, heart and nerves. It is normal to feel angry, upset or shocked when you have been told that you have type … [Read more...] about Diabetes training for people living with Type 2 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes causes the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood to become too high. It happens when your body can't produce a hormone called insulin which controls blood glucose. About 10 percent of people with diabetes in the UK have type 1 diabetes. We're not sure what causes type 1 diabetes, but it's got nothing to do with diet or lifestyle. There’s so much … [Read more...] about Diabetes training for parents or carers of children with Type 1 Diabetes

WORKING with regional partners NHS Tees Valley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has launched a virtual programme to help parents and carers understand and respond to their crying baby. Research has shown that this knowledge helps to reduce risk and prevent the potential injuries caused by shaking. ‘ICON – Babies Cry, You can Cope’ is designed to help parents and carers … [Read more...] about Health officials launch campaign to prevent ‘shaken baby syndrome’ across the region

Health officials across Teesside are urging people to contact their GP if they have a symptom they are worried about as urgent GP hospital referrals for suspected cancer fall by 75% during the Coronavirus pandemic The plea is being made amid fears that people with cancer symptoms are not coming forward as they worry about seeking help during the lockdown. Dr Janet Walker, … [Read more...] about NHS urges people to seek help for cancer symptoms

Dr Mark Dornan has recorded a helpful video as a North East GP, outlining how to get healthcare during the coronavirus outbreak. In the video, Mark explains: How health and care services have had to adapt and we all need to use them differentlyWhy we need you to prioritise looking after your own health at this timeIf you do need help, please don’t wait The video is … [Read more...] about North East GP outlines how to get healthcare during the Coronavirus outbreak

FRONTLINE workers on Teesside benefit from construction industry PPE donation FRONTLINE workers on Teesside have benefited from a UK wide construction industry initiative to help source personal protective equipment (PPE) for NHS and care staff. Health officials in Tees Valley have taken delivery of boxes of protective coveralls donated from the National Equipment Appeal … [Read more...] about NHS and care workers on Teesside benefit from construction industry PPE donation

Please see local pharmacy opening times below for the Bank Holiday on Friday 8th May. Avoid pharmacies if you are showing symptoms of COVID-19: If you have a dry, persistent cough, fever or shortness of breath. Be patient, all pharmacies are under immense pressure and working around the clock to ensure that you get what you need and please order medicines as normal. There is no … [Read more...] about Your pharmacy VE Day, May Bank Holiday opening times

The Northern Cancer Alliance website has brought together sources of COVID-19 information and support for people affected by cancer. This includes information from cancer charities such as Macmillan, Cancer Research UK and the Teenage Cancer Trust, as well as tumour specific charities such as Bowel Cancer UK, Breast Cancer Now and Bloodwise. The website also includes health … [Read more...] about Useful information from the Northern Cancer Alliance

LOCAL GP surgeries are to remain open on VE Day to help the NHS cope with the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak. Patients across Tees Valley will be able to access their GP practice, as usual, on Friday, May, 8. The change to traditional bank holiday opening hours comes as GPs across the country continue to help alleviate the growing pressures on out-of-hours … [Read more...] about GP practices will remain open over the VE Day Bank Holiday

As social isolation continues during the Coronavirus lockdown health officials want to encourage people across Teesside to seek help if they are feeling lonely or distressed.  There is a range of support available both nationally and locally but people often don’t know where or how to find it. A new service called IMPACT, launched on April 1st, is supporting the mental … [Read more...] about Tackling loneliness and distress during lockdown

Community pharmacies across Teesside are currently seeing unprecedented demand for services during the Covid-19 pandemic. Local health officials are asking patients and members of the public to take some very simple steps to help support pharmacies and ensure that everyone continues to get the medicines, help and support they need. To help pharmacies to cope under the … [Read more...] about Pharmacies see unprecedented demand

The country is to be asked to observe a minute’s silence at 11 am today (Tuesday 28 April) to remember all the health, care and other key workers who have lost their lives to coronavirus. UNISON, the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Midwives – who between them represent more than a million NHS and public service workers, including porters, refuse collectors … [Read more...] about Call for minute’s silence to honour all workers who have died from coronavirus

The head of the NHS has launched a major new drive to persuade the public to seek the urgent care and treatment they need. NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens warned that delays in getting treatment due to coronavirus fears pose a long term risk to people’s health. The plea comes alongside new findings that four in ten people are too concerned about being a burden on … [Read more...] about Help us help you: NHS urges public to get care when they need it

Diabetes UK is urging parents not to let coronavirus fears stop them from seeking medical help if they’re worried their child is showing the signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is the most common form in children and young people. But new research from Diabetes UK has found that almost a quarter (23%) of all newly diagnosed children and young people with … [Read more...] about Diabetes UK urges parents to be 4Ts aware during lockdown

There has been a significant rise in the number of people using online GP consultations across Teesside during the Coronavirus lockdown and doctors want to encourage others to use them. GPs are urging people not to delay seeking treatment if they are unwell and as well as phone and video consultations, what are known as e-consultations, available in many practices across … [Read more...] about Rise in online GP consultations

Dental practices across the Tees Valley remain open and are just a telephone call away if you need advice during the Coronavirus pandemic.   Patients should first telephone their dental practice for advice and support and where appropriate  medication can be arranged to manage urgent dental care symptoms. Where clinically appropriate, urgent face to face treatment … [Read more...] about Bad toothache? Dental practices across the Tees Valley remain open

HEALTH officials in the Tees Valley are reminding people the NHS is still ‘open for business’ after concerns that patients may be putting off using health services for illnesses not related to Coronavirus. Despite mounting pressures across the UK, health chiefs are urging patients to continue to contact their local health services if they need medical help. Dr Janet … [Read more...] about NHS services are still ‘Open for Business’ across the Tees Valley

GPs urge people not to delay treatment if they are unwell Health officials are reminding people that GP practices remain open during the Coronavirus lockdown and not to delay treatment if they are unwell. Doctors across Tees Valley are urging patients to continue to contact their local practice if they have a serious healthcare need. David Gallagher, chief officer for … [Read more...] about DO NOT delay treatment if you are unwell!

HEALTH officials are urging patients NOT to contact their GP practice if they haven’t yet received a government Coronavirus social ‘shielding’ letter. Just under one million extremely vulnerable people across the UK, at highest risk of needing hospital treatment if they catch Coronavirus, have already been contacted by NHS England asking them to stay at home for at … [Read more...] about Health officials urge patients NOT to contact their GP Practice directly about social shielding

A PIONEERING new service is helping to support the mental health and wellbeing of people across Teesside. IMPACT on Teesside is the primary care therapy service, available for people aged 16 and over, who are registered with a GP surgery in Stockton-on Tees, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Redcar. Commissioned by NHS Tees Valley Clinical Commissioning Group the … [Read more...] about Looking after your mental health and wellbeing

Local provision for emotional health and wellbeing support for children and young people is still available over the telephone. Local Authority Wellbeing and Mental Health … [Read more...] about Local Children’s Emotional and Mental Wellbeing provision

LOCAL GP surgeries are to remain open over the Easter Bank Holiday to help the NHS cope with the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak. Patients across Tees Valley will be able to access their GP practice on both Good Friday and Easter Monday. The change to traditional Easter opening hours comes as GPs across the country move to help alleviate the growing pressures on out-of-hours … [Read more...] about GP practices across Tees Valley open over Easter

Kooth is a web based confidential support service available to young people aged 11-18 years across Teesside, County Durham and North Yorkshire. Kooth provides a safe and secure means of accessing mental health and wellbeing support designed specifically for young people.   Kooth offers young people the opportunity to have a text-based conversation with a qualified … [Read more...] about Kooth.com – An Online Service to Support the Wellbeing and Resilience of Young People

If you become unwell over the Easter weekend, your pharmacy is a great place to visit for professional advice on ailments such as coughs and colds. Pharmacies are also able to provide qualified health advice on everyday illnesses and answer any questions about prescribed and over-the-counter medicines. Make sure you know the opening times! You are advised to telephone the … [Read more...] about Your pharmacy Easter opening times

Feeling anxious? Need someone to talk to? If you are aged between 11 and 18 and live or study in Darlington and finding the current situation hard to cope with you can call a dedicated helpline being delivered by the Listening Post and Darlington Mind, from 1st April 2020. You do not need to be already accessing or waiting to access The Listening Post or Darlington MIND … [Read more...] about Children and Young People in Darlington (COVID-19)

IMPACT on Teesside, a pioneering new NHS-commissioned service, launches on 1 April 2020 and will support people across Teesside who are experiencing depression, stress, anxiety, and a wide range of other common psychological and emotional issues. IMPACT will also provide recovery support for people who have experienced mental ill-health in the past. Talking therapies are a … [Read more...] about Launch of Teesside’s new Psychological Wellbeing Therapies Service

Message from David Gallagher, Accountable Officer Today (Wednesday 1 April 2020) marks the creation of a new NHS organisation responsible for planning and buying health services for the people of Darlington, Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough and Redcar & Cleveland – NHS Tees Valley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). The CCG has been formed following the … [Read more...] about Update on COVID-19 and NHS commissioning group merger

Transfer of information Information that has been held previously by NHS Darlington CCG, NHS Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees CCG and NHS South Tees CCG is transferring to the new NHS Tees Valley CCG on 1 April 2020.  The new CCG will become the new data controller.  Any questions about the use of data (including patient data) by the new CCG should be directed to … [Read more...] about Transfer of information to newly formed CCG

Health chiefs in the North East have announced that they are now suspending non-urgent patient transport services to hospitals and clinics and starting to postpone non-urgent planned operations and outpatient appointments to ensure the NHS is as prepared as possible for Coronavirus. The news comes as the region’s NHS steps up plans to cope with increases in patients requiring … [Read more...] about Region’s NHS steps up plans to tackle Coronavirus

As the UK responds to the COVID-19 pandemic, community pharmacies in Darlington are working tirelessly to ensure that everyone’s medicines and healthcare needs are met over the coming days and weeks. Pharmacy teams are a critical part of the NHS and in the past weeks they have seen demand for Over- The-Counter (OTC) medicines, other products, advice and reassurance … [Read more...] about COVID-19: A MESSAGE FROM YOUR LOCAL PHARMACIES

The region’s NHS is appealing to the public to take sensible steps to help reduce the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). The plea from health chiefs comes as detailed planning continues across the NHS in the North East and North Cumbria to ensure it is well prepared to care and protect patients, staff and communities. Plans being rolled out include restricting visiting in … [Read more...] about Keep calm and take sensible steps to protect yourself and others

The NHS in Darlington and Public Health England (PHE) are well prepared for outbreaks of new infectious diseases. The NHS has put in place measures to ensure the safety of all patients and NHS staff while also ensuring services are available to the public as normal. The risk to the general public is moderate. If you have arrived back to the UK from mainland China, Thailand, … [Read more...] about Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)

The NHS in Darlington and Public Health England (PHE) are extremely well prepared for outbreaks of new infectious diseases. The NHS has put in place measures to ensure the safety of all patients and NHS staff while also ensuring services are available to the public as normal. The risk to the general public is moderate. If you have arrived back to the UK from mainland China, … [Read more...] about Information for the public regarding Coronavirus