In this issue:

• Cost of living survey 
• Healthwatch board meeting
• Pharmacy opening hours - May bank holidays
• Support Groups
• COVID-19

If you have feedback about these topics, or any recent experiences about health or care services you think we should know about, give Healthwatch Tameside a call on 0161 667 2526. Or email info@healthwatchtameside.co.uk

If you want to give us your feedback via one of our surveys, please go to www.healthwatchtameside.co.uk/share-your-views

Thank you.

Cost of living survey

Have you completed our survey yet? If not, we would appreciate you spending 10 - 15 minutes answering the questions.

We want to find out how the increases to the cost of living are affecting people's physical and mental health.

You can complete the survey online at www.healthwatchtameside.co.uk/share-your-views

Or you can give us a call on 0161 667 2526 to request either a paper copy or a call back to complete the survey over the phone. There is an answer phone, so please leave a message and we'll call you back as soon as we can.

The survey is closing on 19 May 2023.

Thank you

Healthwatch board meeting

Our next board meeting is being held on Monday 22 May 2023, from 1 to 3pm. The venue is 4C Community Centre, Taunton Rd, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL7 9DR.

For more information, please see www.healthwatchtameside.co.uk/event/2023-05-22/healthwatch-tameside-board-meeting-may-2023

Pharmacy opening hours - May bank holidays

Information about which pharmacies are open on the May bank holidays can be found at https://greater-manchester.communitypharmacy.org.uk/our-news/easter-may-bank-holiday-opening-hours-easter-to-may-2023/

Support groups

Here is some information about a local support group. If you run a support group in Tameside, and would like to be mentioned in a future ebulletin, please get in touch via email info@healthwatchtameside.co.uk.

Tameside Pulmonary Fibrosis Support Group - the group provide an opportunity to meet others who understand what you are going through, open to anyone affected by pulmonary fibrosis - patients, family, carers and friends.

They meet via Zoom, on the first Wednesday of every month, from 2 - 4pm. They have a speaker at each meeting, either talking about all things to do with Pulmonary Fibrosis, or sometimes something completely different. 

Contact details: phone - 07533 802620, email - tpfsg1@gmail.com

COVID-19

The NHS is offering a further vaccination to those at highest risk of severe illness from Covid. Those who can get a spring vaccination include people aged 75 and over (by 30 June 2023), people with a weakened immune system, and residents of care homes for older adults. If you are eligible, you will receive an invitation. For more information see www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-spring-booster-resources/a-guide-to-the-covid-19-spring-booster-2023. The last date people will be able to book a spring booster will be 29 June, with the last spring vaccinations on offer the following day, 30 June 2023. 

For more information, see www.tameside.gov.uk/covidvaccine and www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/

A leaflet has been produced for adults with suspected or confirmed coronavirus who have not been admitted to hospital. You can read it at www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/12/C1634-suspected-Coronavirus-important-information-to-keep-you-safe-at-home-V8_210422.pdf

For people with symptoms of respiratory illness, including COVID-19, there is information about what to do here www.gov.uk/guidance/people-with-symptoms-of-a-respiratory-infection-including-covid-19