New look NHS APP

The new look NHS App is being rolled out to users and will take a few weeks until it hits all devices. The improvements, based on feedback from both patients and staff, make it easier for people to find the services patients need and is part of the drive to improve digital access as set out in the 10 Year Health Plan for England. Changes include a new home page and relocating information making it easier to navigate to the services you need. You can find out more about the changes and view a video about the change on the following link: https://digital.nhs.uk/services/nhs-app/resources/new-look-nhs-app-what-is-changing

Operation Relentless Community Fund

The Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) is inviting community groups and organisations across Dorset to apply for the next round of the Operation Relentless Community Fund. The fund supports projects that help prevent and tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB), strengthen communities, and protect vulnerable people. It forms part of the PCC’s ongoing work to address antisocial behaviour in Dorset. Grants are available to support initiatives that engage young people, divert individuals away from violence or criminality, and build resilience within local communities. Voluntary and community sector organisations, charities, and other eligible groups are encouraged to apply. For more information and to apply for a grant please click on the following link: https://www.dorset.pcc.police.uk/working-in-partnership/operation-relentless-community-fund-asb/

Connect to Work – Skills and Learning Adult Community Education

Skills & Learning Adult Community Education (ACE) is pleased to announce that Connect to Work, our new Supported Employment service, is now live.   This service will support residents across Dorset, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) who face barriers to employment, helping them move into – and stay in – meaningful paid work.  

Connect to Work is for adults aged 18 and over who are not in employment or actively looking for work, but who want to work but need specialist help due to: 

• Learning disabilities or difficulties 
• Autism or other neurodivergence 
• Mental health conditions 
• Physical or sensory disabilities 
• Long-term health conditions 
• Complex or multiple barriers 
• Long-term unemployment requiring structured support 
• Being at risk of leaving their job due to a disability or health condition

Participants must also live in Dorset / BCP, have the right to work in the UK, and be able to engage in a structured programme. 

The service will be delivered in the community by a dedicated team of Supported Employment Specialists, and the Skills and Learning team are looking for referral partners to support with this.

Referrals can be made by completing the Expression of Interest form on behalf of your service user/patient/client:

Connect to Work Expression of Interest Form

For more information you can email us on connecttowork@salbcp.com

CAN events in April

Our friends at Community Action Network (CAN) have a number of events coming up in April including a volunteer fair, SEND information event, and drop-in information stations. More information about their volunteer fair and all their upcoming events: https://can100.org/training-and-events/all-events/

Help shape new area wards for Dorset Council

A public consultation has been launched to help shape new council wards for Dorset Council. The Local Government Boundary Commission for England wants to hear people’s views on where they live, to help make sure that the new wards reflect the size and shape of local communities. An electoral review is being carried out to make sure that each local councillor represents about the same number of electors, and that the wards they represent reflect community identities. The consultation closes on 1^st June, for more information please click on the following link: https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/news/consultation-launched-on-review-of-local-election-boundaries-in-dorset

Care Curious Community Hub meetings in Poole

If you have questions relating to care and support for yourself or someone you care for, please pop along to the Care Curious Community Hub to get information, support, and a hot drink! The hub has helped many people with the big things that matter but also the small things no one talks about. The hub operates from Heather’s Tearoom ( 233-235 Ashley Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 3NR) every Wednesday from 10am – 2pm. A poster is attached for information.

Carers Week 2026

Carers Week 2026 will take place from 8^th – 14^th June and will focus on building carer friendly communities. The campaign aims to highlight the need for greater recognition and support for unpaid carers. A carer friendly community is any place, space or organisation that values carers and takes practical steps to support them by identifying who they are, listening to their experiences, and ensuring they are not left to manage alone. Carers UK estimates that unpaid carers save the UK economy £184 billion each year (an amount comparable to the cost of running a second NHS!) yet many carers still do not receive the support they need. In Dorset we have fantastic people and organisations that support carers but we always want to strengthen the availability of local support—and this is where your help is vital. If your group or organisation would like to take part in celebrating and supporting carers, Fran Stauber would love to hear from you: fran.stauber@nhs.net.

Healthy Homes Dorset through Ridgewater Energy

Ridgewater Energy deliver a Dorset project called ‘Healthy Homes Dorset’ on behalf of Dorset Council and Public Health which provides free support to residents in the area. They offer free energy advice over the phone and by e-mail, or in certain cases by home visit. They also deliver projects which help replace kitchen appliances, install insulation, heating replacements and upgrades, as well as renewable energy technologies, which support you on your journey to a warmer, more energy efficient and greener home. All schemes are subject to eligibility requirements/survey (where applicable). For more information, or to see if you qualify for these services, please check their website: www.Ridgewaterenergy.co.uk  or call a member of the team on 01202 612726.

Resident doctors’ strike

Resident doctors are planning to go on strike between 7th and the 13th April.

We're keen to understand how the upcoming resident doctors' strike is affecting patients. Whether your care has been delayed, changed, or not impacted at all, your insight will help us better represent patient voices.

The survey is anonymous, but if you're happy for us to contact you for more information or to potentially share your story in the media, there’s an option to leave your details at the end.

Share your experience here.

Have you experienced long waits for healthcare results?

We’re looking to speak to patients who have experienced long delays in receiving their test results: particularly if you were told your case was urgent, or that you would be seen quickly, but have since faced unexpected or unexplained delays.

We’re especially keen to hear from anyone who has been given unclear or unusual reasons for delays, or who has been left waiting without an update.

We are working with a national media outlet, LBC News, to highlight the impact of delays in receiving test results on patients. If you feel comfortable speaking to a journalist about your experience, we’d really like to hear from you. You will have the option to change your name and for a different voice to be used if you prefer.

Contact the Patients Association to have your say by emailing: media@patients-association.org.uk

Help shape a migraine clinical trial

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is looking for members of the public who have experience of Migraines to be involved in the shaping of a commercial clinical trial.

Participants will need to read through draft documents that have been prepared for people interested in taking part in the study and give feedback on how clearly the information has been written and presented. This will help the NIHR to design a study that is focused on the needs of the participant, their family, and their community

Apply to take part

BOWRA Bag – a free stroke and brain injury support kit

The BOWRA foundation was founded in 2019 by former Royal Marine Mark Bowra MBE to help people rebuild their lives after brain injury and stroke through practical support and purposeful activity. The BOWRA Bag is a specially assembled toolkit of practical items designed to support survivors of stroke and brain injury in the early stages of rehabilitation. Each BOWRA Bag is bespoke to the individual, reflecting their goals, needs, and stage of recovery and can include things like a non-drip water bottle, resistance band/exercise loop, easy tie shoelaces and a knork (a fork with a built-in cutting edge) in an easy to carry rucksack. For more information on the BOWRA bag please visit their website: https://bowra-foundation.org/bowra-bag/  They are also looking for clinicians with a passion to support the project to join a focus and help play a key role in the bag's development. If you know someone who can help please contact: Megan.H@bowra-foundation.org

Do you know someone who could be a trustee at Dorset Community Foundation?

Dorset Community Foundation are looking for younger and more diverse members who want to give back to Dorset to join their board of trustees. They are looking for people with lived experience of working with grass roots charities and voluntary groups, or being helped by them, to bring a greater appreciation of what they need. They are also looking for anyone with financial investment experience. Please visit their website for more information: https://www.dorsetcommunityfoundation.org/news/seach-for-new-trustees/ or email them: admin@dorsetcf.org

Fundamentals of Care Programme – improving care at UHD

University Hospitals Dorset are inviting patients and/or carers to take part in a listening event on Tuesday 21^st April at Christchurch Hospital. Your stories, ideas and experiences will help give them guidance on the right support people need in their hospitals. Reasonable travel costs will be paid. More information is in the attached poster, to register please click on the following link Fundamentals of Care Workshop or call: 0300 019 8610

Download and view the information poster.

Help protect against future pandemics – Bird Flu clinical vaccine trial volunteers needed

Our colleagues at Wessex research hubs are currently looking for volunteers to take part in clinical trials for a Bird Flu vaccine. They’re looking for people aged 18 – 65 to take part, time and travel expenses will be paid. For more information and to register your interest please email uhd.bournemouthresearchhub@nhs.net

New podcasts now available

A couple local organisations release regular podcasts that may be interesting for you:

• Wessex Cancer Alliance have launched a series of short podcasts on the National Cancer Plan. To listen to all episodes click on the following link: The National Cancer Plan Podcast Series: an overview with Wessex Cancer Alliance - YouTube
• Dorset Women CIC’s popular podcase series is back and the latest episode is on the topic of Improving Access to Sex & Sexual Health Services. To listen to this and all episodes please click on the following link: https://dorsetwomen.org.uk/speaking-of-womens-health-podcast/

iPhone giveaway scam

A scam email impersonating O2 tells you that you've won an iPhone 15 Pro and simply need to complete 'a quick 4 minute survey' to receive this 'fantastic prize' is doing the rounds. You will not be entered into a prize draw and will instead go to a phishing website designed to take your personal details and payment information. You can report scam emails to report@phishing.gov.uk  and malicious websites to the National Cyber Security Centre: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/phishing-scams/report-scam-website