Health leaders in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent are looking for community champions to help spread the word about plans to transform the way healthcare is provided across the county.

The Together We’re Better programme, a partnership of health trusts, clinical commissioning groups and local authorities, aims to provide services which better meet the needs of local people, offer a greater focus on prevention and wellbeing, and work more effectively by breaking down the traditional boundaries between organisations so they work together to share ideas and learning.

There are lots of challenges to our health and social care system and a Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) is being developed to address these. If you live or work locally, Conversation Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent is your chance to take part in an open discussion about your health services and the way they are delivered.

NHS England has published its Accessible Information and Communication Policy to show how the Accessible Information Standard can be adopted by other organisations. An easy read version and a British Sign Language video of the policy are also available.

Health experts are urging pregnant women to get their free vaccination before the flu virus starts circulating this winter.

Cannock Chase Clinical Commissioning Group is warning that flu can cause many complications during pregnancy, particularly in the later stages, such as premature births or low birth weights. In some cases, it can lead to stillbirth or even death in the first week of life.

However, getting your free flu vaccination can help prevent difficulties and keep mother and baby safe.

Press release from University Hospital North Midlands: 18 October 2016

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health have created an online survey aimed at gathering patient and community views on Children’s Emergency Services at County Hospital, prior to the College’s independent review.

The RCPCH is particularly interested in hearing from members of the public who have used the Children’s Emergency Service in the last 12 months at County Hospital. However, they are also seeking the thoughts of the wider Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent community. Click here to complete the survey.

Parents with young children are being urged to get them vaccinated against the misery of flu as winter approaches.

Children who were aged two, three and four on or before 31 August 2016 will be eligible for a free flu vaccination and Cannock Chase Clinical Commissioning Group is calling on parents and guardians to look out for a letter offering their child the opportunity.

One of the most senior health commissioners in Staffordshire has announced his retirement after almost 40 years working with the NHS.

Andrew Donald, the Accountable Officer of Stafford and Surrounds, Cannock Chase and South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsula Clinical Commissioning Groups, will leave his post on 30 April 2017.

Even though we’ve just said goodbye to the summer holidays GP practices are gearing up for winter and those in at risk groups are being reminded to book in for their free flu jab.

Adults over 65, those with long term health conditions, children aged 2 - 7, carers and pregnant women may all be eligible.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people see their GP and tens of thousands are hospitalised because of flu.

In March this year we worked with patients, the public and the community and voluntary sector to look at how we can better involve them in making decisions about local health services. We heard some really good examples of engagement and involvement and how these had made a difference.

We now want to take that conversation a step further and work with a wide range of representatives to co-produce how the NHS locally involves and engages with the wider population.

With students all over the country starting university, and many enjoying their new-found freedom during Freshers’ Week, local doctors are urging students to practise safe sex by taking care to use a condom or a dental dam.

Doctors at Cannock Chase Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsula CCG and Stafford and Surrounds CCG are advising students to be aware of the risks associated with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and how to avoid them. In 2015, there were more than 435,000 STI diagnoses in England and there is still a great deal of confusion about how people can catch STIs.