We know that in order to keep people safe during the covid -19 outbreak, care homes have had to make changes, and some very difficult decisions.

People are being urged to download the new NHS COVID-19 App in order to help contribute towards the national Test and Trace programme.

Downloading the app helps you to:

• Be alerted if you've been in contact with someone who has COVID-19
• Check your symptoms and book a test if you need one
• Easily check into local venues using the QR scanner

Download the app now for you android or Apple smartphone through your usual app store

The CQC, Healthwatch and partners have joined forces to launch ‘Because We All Care’.

This new campaign aims to help services identify and address quality issues, as well as support patients in response to COVID-19, by encouraging people to share feedback about their experiences of health and social care services in England.

Help us to help you by completing our short survey and sharing your local health and social care experiences with us: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/T8S7PPV

Over the past few months, we've noticed an increase in the number of people contacting us and wanting more information on mental health support services.

We have now created a survey in order to gather more thorough feedback, and help us to see how people's mental health has been across North Lincolnshire in response to COVID-19 and lockdown.

This information will also help us to identify which mental health services have been running well in the are, and where improvemtns can be made.

To complete the short form, please click on the link: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/mentalhealthinNL

Thank You!

Healthwatch gives people a powerful voice locally and nationally.

The more that people share their ideas, experiences and concerns about NHS and social care, the more services can understand when improvements are needed.

Right now, we need to hear your opinion more than ever.

Whether you've had an appointment with your local GP, at Scunthorpe hospital, with a dentist, visited a pharmacy or have been in a residential home: we want to hear about your experiences -the good, the bad, and the in-between too! 

Please let us know about your experiences by clicking on the 'Share your COVID-19 Experience' button on the right hand side, and filling out our short questionnaire. 

Thank you!!

COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It's caused by a virus called Coronavirus which was first identified in Wuhan City, China in December 2019. A number of cases have since been confirmed in European countries, including the UK.

Who is the most at risk?

People who are deemed the most at risk of contracting COVID-19 include:

• The elderly
• Those with a compromised (weakened) immune system
• Those who have recently travelled to heavily infected areas, such as China, Italy, Iran, South Korea and France.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to most other strains of Flu, and people who have the infection may experience:

• Fever
• Shortness of breath
• High temperature
• Aches and pains

It's important to note that symptoms may appear up to 2 weeks (14 days) AFTER initial infection, by which time the infected may have already spread the virus without realising. 

What can I do to protect myself?

There are a number of things which individuals can do to help prevent themselves from contracting COVID-19, as well as preventing it from spreading. Some things that you can do include:

• Wash your hands frequently with warm water and antibacterial soap for at least 20 seconds
• Make sure you catch sneezes and coughs in tissues and bin them immediately. 
• Clean shared spaces regularly (e.g. work spaces). It is also a good idea to disinfect items which are touched by many people, e.g. light switches and door handles. 
• Maintain social distancing (1-3 meters) from people who are coughing or sneezing

What should I do if I think I have Coronavirus?

If you think you may have Coronavirus or have recently been in contact with somebody does, the advice given by the NHS is to:

• DO NOT attend you GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital, as this could spread the infection further
• Stay at home (self-isolate) and avoid close contact with other people
• Use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service to find out what to do next (link below)

https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19

Do you have an experience of a health and social care service in North Lincolnshire that you'd like to share? We want to hear about it!

We'll be at the Ironstone Centre every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning at our Healthwatch Hub on the ground floor!

So come along for a chat and let us know what you think of the services in North Lincolnshire