Healthwatch North Tyneside

19/11/2025

19/11/2025

People needing urgent dental care who do not have access to an NHS dentist can now use a new emergency service in North Tyneside.

An Urgent Dental Access Centre has been opened in North Shields as part of a new regionwide network launched by North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board.

Find out how you can book an appointment 👇

https://healthwatchnorthtyneside.co.uk/news/how-to-access-new-urgent-dental-care-services/

18/11/2025

From pregnancy to childcare, through early health and development and on to starting school - Best Start in Life supports parents on every step of the journey. Get trusted advice and guidance at BestStartinLife.gov.uk.

Find out more about this new online resource for parents 👶🍼 👇

https://healthwatchnorthtyneside.co.uk/news/new-website-launched-to-help-give-your-child-the-best-start-in-life/

18/11/2025

Date for your diary! 📆

Come and join us at the 'Winter Wellbeing Drop-in' at North Shields Methodist Church in Hawkeys Lane on Tuesday December 2 from 1pm to 3pm.

There will be free tea and coffee alongside advice from our local Northumbria Police officers, North Tyneside Council's Care and Connect team and , as well as free blood pressure checks by Nuffield Health Newcastle Hospital.

For more information contact MHA Communities North Tyneside on 07928 512440.

17/11/2025

A series of events are being held this Thursday (November 20) to support the thousands of unpaid carers in the borough.

wants to use to make sure every carer knows where to turn for advice, understands their rights and feels supported in their caring role.

Find out more about Thursday's events 👇

https://healthwatchnorthtyneside.co.uk/news/day-of-events-this-week-to-help-support-unpaid-carers/

13/11/2025

Important news from Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust for patients on strike action by resident doctors starting tomorrow 👇

https://healthwatchnorthtyneside.co.uk/news/important-update-on-industrial-action-2/

13/11/2025

An NHS lung screening programme in North Tyneside and Northumberland has found dozens of cancers so far, with the majority in their early stages. Current or former smokers aged 55 to 74 from two GP practices in Longbenton and Wallsend will soon be invited to take part.

David Cooper, consultant respiratory physician for Northumbria Healthcare, said: “We know that finding lung cancer early makes a huge difference to the treatments we can offer and the outcomes, so it’s fantastic that the programme is helping us find these patients when we can give them more options.”

Find out more 👇

https://healthwatchnorthtyneside.co.uk/news/cancers-found-early-thanks-to-ongoing-northumbria-screening-programme/

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

13/11/2025

Health leaders have issued an urgent warning following the early arrival of a potentially deadly flu virus with cases rising quickly in schools, care homes and hospitals.

Doctors are increasingly concerned about rising flu cases, much earlier than expected, due to a new, strong strain of the virus, causing severe illness among older people.

More than 950 vaccination sites are available in GP practices, community pharmacies and local hospitals. Vaccinations for adults can be booked online at www.nhs.uk, on the NHS App or by calling 119 free of charge.

Find out more 👇

https://healthwatchnorthtyneside.co.uk/news/get-your-flu-jab-now-doctors-urgent-warning-as-virus-spreads-quickly/

07/11/2025

Six organisations have been awarded grants from a new fund set up to improve awareness of cancer prevention in North Tyneside.

The Cancer Awareness Grant Fund was launched in June by Healthwatch North Tyneside with an appeal for local voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations to bid for grants.

The fund is a collaboration between Healthwatch North Tyneside, Northern Cancer Alliance and North Tyneside Council’s Public Health Department.

£15,000 has been invested in six projects based across the borough that will use a variety of means to work with residents to recognise early warning signs of cancer, to promote healthier lifestyles that reduce cancer risk and encourage participation in screening programmes over the next 12 months.

Information gained about barriers to accessing screening and cancer-related support will be fed back to commissioners to improve these services for all North Tyneside residents.

Find out more 👇

https://healthwatchnorthtyneside.co.uk/news/six-new-projects-funded-to-help-improve-access-to-cancer-prevention-support/

Springfield Community Association Walking With in North Tyneside

06/11/2025

Winter can be tough on your lungs, especially if you have .

Breathe easier this winter with three simple steps:

1. Stop smoking – smoking damages your lungs, speeds up
breathing problems, and makes your medication less effective.

2. Get your winter vaccinations – cold air can weaken your
immune system, protect yourself from flu, RSV, and COVID-19
(if eligible).

3. Use your inhalers the right way, every day – helping keep airways open, control symptoms and prevent flare-ups.

Find out more:

https://healthwatchnorthtyneside.co.uk/news/nhs-urges-people-to-take-three-simple-steps-to-breathe-easier-this-winter/

04/11/2025

Women will be able to access the morning-after pill free of charge on the NHS in high-street pharmacies across England from this month.

In the “biggest change to sexual health services since the 1960s”, the oral emergency contraception pill will be available for free to women from almost 10,000 pharmacies across the country without needing to see their GP or get an appointment at a sexual health clinic.

Find out more:

https://healthwatchnorthtyneside.co.uk/news/free-morning-after-pill-for-women-at-high-street-pharmacies-thanks-to-nhs-expansion/

02/11/2025

Tell us about your experiences using health and care services in North Tyneside over the past 12 months and have the chance of winning £100 in LOVE2SHOP vouchers.

Have you or the person you care for had excellent care? Is there something your care provider could have done better? Are you having problems accessing a service? The more you can tell us, the better the feedback we can give to decision makers to help them improve health and care services.

Last year more than 800 people took part in our annual survey – let’s do even better this time!

Take the short, confidential survey here: http://bit.ly/48IuyAz