This year Mental Health Awareness Week brings a host of unique issues and it’s natural that some people might be struggling.

Doctors are urging people to remember that NHS services are still there for them over the long bank holiday weekend, whatever their need.

A number of pharmacies will be open across Portsmouth to provide prescriptions and essential over-the-counter medication.

While we are all staying at home it can be difficult to know what to do if you need medical help or advice, but local doctors want to remind you that there are a range of services and support available.

A Freephone mental health crisis helpline for children and young people across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight has been launched today.

After an unprecedented joint effort to ensure health and care services can respond to the coronavirus pandemic, the message is: if you need medical help – of any kind – the NHS is here to help you.

During the COVID-19 pandemic all routine NHS and private dentistry has stopped. The NHS is continuing to provide urgent and emergency dental care. This will be available to both NHS and private patients. 

A drive-through coronavirus testing facility is to open in Portsmouth as part of the Government’s UK-wide drive to increase testing for thousands more NHS and other key workers.

Leading Hampshire and Isle of Wight mental health charity Solent Mind have launched a free helpline, available to those experiencing poor mental health or wellbeing issues as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Hanway Medical Practice (HMP) is this week writing to its patients about its merger with the Portsdown Group Practice, now the proposal has been agreed by the NHS in Portsmouth. 

Your NHS services are still operating to care for and treat people over this Easter holiday weekend – despite the temporary changes brought in to help tackle the Coronavirus pandemic.

Are you or someone you know experiencing a crisis and need urgent mental health support? Call 111 or visit www.111.nhs.uk and speak to the NHS Mental Health Triage Service.

We know that COVID-19 (Coronavirus) will have a serious impact on the lives of women, children and men who are experiencing domestic abuse.

Following Government advice that is designed to help reduce the spread of coronavirus, the council has taken a number of steps to help ensure the wellbeing of customers, staff and the wider community, while also keeping essential services running.

Over the last couple of weeks, you are likely to have noticed a marked difference in the way things are being done in general practice as we manage Covid-19. ​Thank you for adapting so quickly to these new ways of working.

Blood centres are open and you can still come to give blood. They have followed government guidelines to put special safety measures in place for social distancing.

Sadly we’re already hearing of scams arising based on the coronavirus, targeting isolating elderly people. In particular, there have been instances of individuals trying to gain access to people’s homes by claiming to have come to swab test them for the virus.

NHS Portsmouth Clinical Commissioning Group’s Primary Care Commissioning Committee met today (26 March 2020) via teleconference to discuss an application for Hanway Road Practice to merge with Portsdown Group Practice.

The NHS is doing all it can to make sure it is able to support all those who will need hospital treatment as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Under the current circumstances, with the need to promote social distancing, it is no longer possible to hold next week's Primary Care Commissioning Committee in public, as would normally be the case.

As part of our regular review of the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Local Resilience Forum (HIOW LRF) has now declared the Coronavirus outbreak a major incident.

PLEASE NOTE: The decision has been made to cancel the next Governing Board meeting, due to be held in public on 18 March.

Please be aware that the next Primary Care Commissioning Committee meeting takes place on Thursday, 26 March between 9.30am -  11.30am, at Studio (Ground Floor) at the Portsmouth Guildhall.

Dr Nick Moore has been re-elected to his role at the CCG, and so will serve another three-year term providing clinical leadership.

Doctors and staff will meet patients from the Portsdown Group Practice next week to discuss a planned GP practice merger in Portsmouth. 

We have created a new page where you can find the latest information and updates on Coronavirus. 

People who use Hampshire’s NHS Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS) are being encouraged to take part in an online survey.

“The inspectors said that hospital staff should be proud of the improvements they have made, and I would heartily agree."

Many of us don’t like to talk about it, but it comes to us all – the period at the end of our lives, when we reach our final weeks, days, and hours.

A Portsmouth GP practice which operates from two sites has organised two public meetings for its patients to find out more information about its plans for a merger. 

The festive season is already upon us and it’s important to order your repeat prescriptions in time for the holidays.