Webinar - Community-based approach to leg care in Dorset

The latest Neighbourhood Connections webinar, taking place on Friday 30^th November at 11am, features Crane Valley Leg Club for people in Dorset living with leg wounds, chronic oedema, and other lower-limb conditions. The club supports a more community-focused approach to healthcare by helping people access appropriate lower-limb care in a familiar, friendly and supportive setting. Find out how it aims to improve health outcomes, encourage early intervention, promote independence and self-management, and reduce loneliness through social connection and peer support. This webinar is created for colleagues in primary care, the wider NHS, councils or voluntary and community organisations who wants to discover how this approach aligns with the aims of neighbourhood-based health and wellbeing services in Dorset. For more information and to book a space on the webinar please click on the following link: Neighbourhood Connections Tickets, Friday 30 October  •  11 AM - 12 PM GMT+0 | Eventbrite

Dorset young people call for better breast cancer education

The latest report from Healthwatch Dorset, co-produced with youth volunteers from Bournemouth School for Girls, has found significant gaps in young people's understanding of breast cancer, highlighting a need for better education and awareness in schools. The findings come from a breast cancer awareness project led by young volunteers in Year 12 and supported by Healthwatch Dorset, aimed to explore how much young people know about breast cancer, identify misunderstandings and understand where they find information and support. To read the report please click on the following link: Early awareness matters: Breast cancer education for young people | Healthwatch Dorset

Move for 10, a new campaign encouraging women to get moving

This Girl Can has launched Move for 10, a new national campaign encouraging women to get active for just 10 minutes at a time, 10 times over a month. Designed to help tackle the gender activity gap, the campaign shows how small bursts of movement, from walking and cycling to dancing or gardening, can boost mood, improve sleep and increase energy levels. A free online (or printable) tracker helps participants record their activity and celebrate their progress. I’ve attached a copy of the tracker for information, for more information please click on the following link: https://www.thisgirlcan.co.uk/movefor10

It’s not too late to get your vaccination

It’s that time of year again to get you Covid-19 and flu vaccinations. There are plenty of opportunities for eligible people to get vaccinated this autumn from your GP practice, community pharmacies and walk-in clinics.

For more information about flu vaccination eligibility and where you can get it, please click on the following link: https://staywelldorset.nhs.uk/vaccinations/flu/

For more information about the covid-19 vaccination and where you can get it, please click on the following link: https://staywelldorset.nhs.uk/vaccinations/covid/

For more information about other vaccinations available including shingles and RSV please click on the following link: https://staywelldorset.nhs.uk/vaccinations/

Hospital pilot for Unpaid Carers

Help & Care is leading a new six-month pilot, which commenced in July, to support unpaid carers whose cared-for person has a planned hospital admission. The pilot is currently focused on Dorset County Hospital (DCH) and South Walks House, although, as a test-and-learn initiative, the scope and delivery may evolve during the pilot period.

The service offers support to carers both before a planned hospital admission and following discharge, providing follow-up assistance where needed. The pilot aims to improve carers' preparedness, reduce the risk of issues such as missed appointments and avoidable admissions, and help carers feel more supported and organised throughout the process.

This pilot complements existing Adult Social Care services delivered through our contracts with The YOU Trust and Volunteer Centre Dorset. Val is working closely with Julia Cherrett and Janet Tolley at Dorset County Hospital, including colleagues within The Hive and PALS, and is also engaging with teams at South Walks House and several Primary Care Networks.

Referrals can be made directly to the team via email at: contact@helpandcare.org.uk

Download the information sheet

Help shape a free signposting tool

Finding the right support at the right time can make a huge difference. Community Action Network (CAN) is looking for a small number of charities, voluntary organisations, community groups, and social enterprises across Dorset Council and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council areas to help test a new digital tool that makes it easier for people to find local services. The Links Generator is a simple-to-use tool within Service Finder, CAN’s free directory of local support services for professionals. It allows you to create a personalised webpage with services, information, and resources relevant to your organisation and the people you support.

Instead of sending people to a large directory to find information themselves, you can create a tailored webpage, powered by their shared dataset. The page can be customised with your logo, colours and branding so that visitors experience a page that feels like part of your own website, while benefiting from automatic updates to information about local support services. The Links Generator lets you create a list of services you want to display on your website, in newsletters, on social media and in digital campaigns. Whenever information in CAN’s database is updated, your page updates automatically. There’s no need for you to edit, update or manually maintain anything. Whether you support families, carers, older people, young people, or individuals facing financial hardship, the Links Generator can be tailored to showcase the support most relevant to your community.

CAN is looking for testers. Before launching the Links Generator more widely, they’d like to work closely with a small group of local organisations to make sure it meets the needs of the voluntary and community sector. As an early tester, you’ll:

• Influence future development of the tool
• Provide feedback on usability and functionality
• Help shape a resource designed specifically for local communities
• Improve how people discover local support services.

Your feedback will directly help create a better experience for both organisations and the people they support. They’re particularly interested in hearing from small charities, community groups, voluntary organisations, social enterprises and local support services. If you’d like to help shape a new approach to community signposting while gaining access to a free, branded community services page, they’d love to hear from you.   Please email servicefinder@can100.org   

Share your thoughts with us on the way AI tools are used in the NHS – The Patients Association 

How do you feel about artificial intelligence (AI) being used in the NHS? The Patients Association is partnering with Heidi to understand patients’ awareness, expectations and concerns about AI in healthcare, including what information people want about how it is used.

The anonymous survey is open to people across the UK and takes around 15 minutes to complete. Your views will help us better understand what matters to patients as AI becomes part of health and care.

Share your thoughts on the way AI tools are used in the NHS Survey

Dorset Cancer Care Foundation event

Dorset Cancer Care Foundation is exploring the development of a Cancer Support Hub in Wimborne, with plans to establish further hubs in Bournemouth and Dorchester in the future.

As part of this early stage of development, they are inviting people affected by cancer to attend an information-gathering event where they can share their experiences, tell us about local needs, and help shape future support.

They would be grateful if you could help spread the word to anyone who may be interested, including patients, family members, carers, supporters and those working with people affected by cancer.

The event will give attendees the opportunity to:

• Learn about the proposed Cancer Support Hub
• Share their experiences and ideas
• Discuss the support that would be most valuable locally
• Connect with others in a relaxed and informal environment

When:  Friday 13 November, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Where:  Wimborne Community Centre, 41-44 King Street, Wimborne, BH21 1EA

Download the information leaflet.

Is your vision roadworthy? From Dorset Police

Dorset Police is supporting a national campaign highlighting the vital role that good vision plays in safe driving. 

Poor vision costs lives. Eighteen people sadly lost their lives on UK roads in 2025 and around 3,000 are seriously injured every year due to drivers or riders with uncorrected or defective eyesight.

With the clocks changing, we will have fewer daylight hours over the coming months. Please make sure your eyesight meets the minimum standards for driving, including when travelling at night.

Please watch this video of a driver who was unable to read the numberplate of a police vehicle until he was a very short distance away:

You must be able to read a number plate from 20 metres away (about the length of five parked cars). We all can play our part in helping to keep the roads safe and protect all road users.

Shaping independent patient voice in the Health Bill: seven principles for what comes next

As the Health Bill progresses through Parliament, our new report, Shaping what comes next: independent patient voice in the Health Bill, sets out seven principles to ensure patients can influence decisions about health and care. The report sets out how independent patient voice must go beyond gathering feedback, ensuring patients help shape decisions and that decision-makers listen, act and show how their voices have made a difference

Developed following a roundtable with patients, carers and national, local and community organisations, the report calls for independent patient voice that is properly funded, has clear legal powers and holds decision-makers to account.

Being heard is not enough. Patients must be able to see what changes as a result of sharing their experiences.

Read the report

Improving care, protecting rights: making a difference across the UK

Care Rights UK is bringing together a panel of speakers from across the UK to discuss how to improve care systems and protect care rights. Panellists will speak from different viewpoints, sharing their professional and personal perspectives of using the media, law and campaigning to bring about change.

Speakers include

• Emma Jones, Partner at Leigh Day solicitors
• Zita Noone, advocated for her sister in care
• Alannah Francis, senior reporter, The i Paper
• Naomi Fulop, Board member, Covid Bereaved Families for Justice
• Alison Leitch, Care Home Relatives Scotland
• Melanie Minty, Interim Chief Executive, Care Forum Wales

Book now

Have your say on bone health care

Could more broken bones be prevented before they happen? Four All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) are joining forces to investigate whether people at predictable risk of osteoporosis and fractures are being identified and supported early enough.

The inquiry is eager to hear from people who:

• Have received treatment for prostate cancer.
• Have undergone a stem cell transplant.
• Live, or have previously lived, in a residential or nursing care home.
• Receive, or have previously received, care in their own home.
• Family members, unpaid carers and representatives can also complete the survey on someone else's behalf.

Take the survey

Understanding medical information

Medipher, a health-literacy tool, is researching how people understand medical information such as letters, test results, prescriptions and medical terminology.

This short anonymous survey will help them understand what patients find difficult, what they do when something is unclear, and what would make a digital health-information tool feel useful and trustworthy.

Please do not share names, diagnoses, test results, medication details or other personal medical information. Taking part is voluntary and should take around 3 minutes.

Medipher provides educational health information only. It does not diagnose conditions or recommend treatment.

Take the survey

Social prescribing can make a significant difference to people’s health and wellbeing. Our research, commissioned by the National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP), found that patients valued the time, listening and individual support they received from Social Prescribing Link Workers.

As social prescribing develops, patients' experiences should remain central to decisions about how it is delivered. That means continuing to listen to what patients say works, understanding where there are barriers to accessing support, and making sure the model reflects the needs and preferences of the people it is intended to support.

Read the reports

Patient Entrepreneur Programme

The NHS CEP Patient Entrepreneur Programme (PEP) is a programme aimed at people with lived experience (as a patient or family carer) of a condition who have developed a new innovation to improve patient care. The programme aims to give individuals the skills and knowledge to develop their innovation, while giving them access to a network of mentors, healthcare experts and training.

Delivered by the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme (CEP) the programme gives people with lived experience access to an established and respected programme of innovation learning and development while benefitting from additional wrap around support.

Find out more.

The King’s Fund – Children’s mental health and social media: creating a healthier online environment (4 November 2026, 9-10am)

Join this free online event to explore how society can create a healthier online environment for children and young people, with insights from policy experts in the UK and Australia on social media, mental health and shared responsibility for children’s wellbeing. To find out more and to book yourself on this event, use the link below:

 Children’s Mental Health And Social Media | Free Online Event | The King's Fund

Patients Association – CANCERSurvey 

CANCERSurvey – the Cancer Advocacy Network Comparison of Experience Research Survey – is a European study about people’s experiences of cancer care. It is run by WECAN through the European Patient Advocacy Institute (EPAI), with support from the international health research charity Picker.
The survey asks about your experience of cancer care, including diagnosis, treatment, communication, support, and life after treatment. Your answers will help patient organisations understand what is working well and where care needs to improve.
You will not receive personal feedback from taking part. But when your answers are combined with thousands of others, they can help show what needs to improve in cancer care.

To take the survey please click the following link: CANCERSurvey Landing Page - WECAN Advocate

Volunteer Centre Dorset – latest dates for Community Conversations

As many of you know, Dorset Council is bringing together partners from the voluntary sector, community and faith sector, health organisations and town & parish councils for a series of Community Conversation events. 

These are not formal sessions, they will be open, honest discussions about how we work together and how things can be done better. This is also an opportunity to move beyond discussion and shape practical changes together on things like;

• Having a stronger voice in local decision-making 
• Influencing how services are designed and delivered in your area 
• Help shape more joined-up, community-led solutions 
• Building relationships with other organisations and partners 

The local session for St. Leonards and St. Ives, Verwood, Cranborne and Edmondsham, Alderholt, Knowlton is Thursday 29 October, 9.30am - 12.30pm at St Leonards & St Ives Village Hall, St Leonards, with a follow up on Friday 27 November, 1.00pm - 4.00pm at Verwood Hub, Verwood

The sessions are designed to work together, so attending both sessions in each area would be really beneficial. Dorset Council recognises this is a significant time commitment for some organisations, so if funding is a barrier to attending these events, they invite you to get in touch via communitiesforall@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.

You will need to let Dorset Council know you are planning to attend by completing a short form to help them know how many people to expect and any access or dietary requirements ahead of the sessions.

Can you help the Friendly Food Club?

The Friendly Food Club are involved in several initiatives over the coming months that you may be able to help with including:

• Knitters or crocheters needed - Children they work with love their knitted and crocheted fruit and vegetables and are regularly given out to kids at their cooking and engagement sessions. They would like more people to help knit or crochet their fruit and vegetable characters. For more information and patterns please click on the following link: https://www.thefriendlyfoodclub.org/knit-for-us
• Volunteers needed – There are a number of events coming up to help raise awareness of their work and they are looking for people who can spare a few hours to attend and help spread awareness of the charity. Awareness events are taking place on 24^th November (Groves Garden Centre, Bridport), 1^st December (Goulds Garden Centre, Weymouth) and 5^th December (Asda Weymouth). For more information please contact Cameron: cameron@thefriendlyfoodclub.org 

National Police Survey

Over 120,000 people have already shared their thoughts in a major new research study exploring people’s views and experiences of crime, anti-social behaviour, and policing in the UK. On average, it takes 10 minutes to complete, and it is entirely multiple-choice. No questions are mandatory, so you can skip any you would rather not answer. If you get distracted, you can save your progress as you go and come back whenever you wish. Your views matter. We want to hear from people with a range of experiences and opinions, whether positive, negative, or somewhere in between. You do not need to have had contact with the police to take part. Every response helps build a better understanding of what matters most to local communities. 

Complete the survey here. 

Martha’s Rule is rolled out to every A&E Department in England

The NHS is expanding Martha's Rule to all hospital emergency departments in England to help patients and families challenge staff and seek a rapid review of their care if they want. We welcome this development as it gives patients and families a clear route to raise concerns if they feel a patient’s condition is deteriorating. Patients, loved ones and staff in A&E units will be able to call a dedicated phone number to trigger an urgent review if a patient's condition is deteriorating and they are concerned this is not being taken on board.

Learn more about Martha's Rule on the NHS website.

The King’s Fund – Children’s Mental Health and Social Media: creating a healthier online environment

The online world is now a central part of childhood. Join this free online event to explore how society can create a healthier online environment for children and young people, with insights from policy experts in the UK and Australia on social media, mental health and shared responsibility for children’s wellbeing. The session will also include an opportunity for questions from the online audience.

NHS App – Get Online Week 2026

Running from the 19 - 25 October 2026, digital inclusion charity Good Things Foundation’s national campaign aims to support people to get online. You could host an event in your area to support people with the NHS App using their event holder toolkit. Share these social media images and posters to promote any sessions to your patients.

As part of NHS England's partnership with libraries, members of the NHS App team will be going out to local libraries to support NHS App sessions during this week.

If your local library is hosting a session during Get Online Week, ask them to fill in this form and we may be able to send a member of the NHS App team to support the session. 

Cancer Matters Wessex

The past few months have been a busy and exciting time for the Lived Experience Volunteer Network, including holding a successful in-person September Away Day.

Eileen Stonock has played a pivotal role in the development of the Steering Group so that it continues to go from strength to strength. Her role as the Lead is now coming to an end and so Cancer Matters Wessex are currently seeking a volunteer with lived experience of cancer, either as a patient or a caregiver, to lead, support and inspire our Steering Group. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who is passionate about improving cancer services and ensuring that patient voices remain at the heart of the work of Wessex Cancer Alliance. Find out more about the role here.

To learn more about the Steering Group and Network's recent activities, achievements and opportunities to get involved, click the link below.

https://wessexcanceralliance.nhs.uk/get-involved/impact/

Scarlet Fever – know the symptoms and what to do

Scarlet fever is a childhood illness that some might associate with the past, but it remains fairly common in the UK. In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in cases. It’s an infectious disease caused by Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria, otherwise known as group A streptococci (GAS). Symptoms often start with a sore throat, fever, headache, nausea and vomiting and after 12 to 48 hours, a distinctive rash usually appears. If you think you or your child might have scarlet fever, contact your GP practice or NHS 111 as soon as possible. Scarlet fever is usually diagnosed based on symptoms, although a throat swab may be needed. For more information, please click on the following link: https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2026/09/21/what-are-the-symptoms-of-scarlet-fever-and-is-it-contagious/ 

National Patient Participation Group Forum (NPPGF) webinar coming soon

At the next NPPGF event Eileen Irvin, Co-Head of Survey Research Methods Centre and Molly Dawson, Research Manager from Ipsos on behalf of NHS England, will speak about the annual GP Patient Survey (GPPS) including how the survey works and give a demo of how to analyse the results on their website. The webinar takes place on Wednesday 4^th November from 3pm – 4pm, for more information and to sign up to the event please click on the following link: National PPG Forum – Educational/Speaker Programme. GP Patient Survey (GPPS). (2)

Women's Health Survey launches across Mid Dorset

Women living in Mid Dorset are being invited to share their experiences and priorities for local healthcare as a new Women's Health Survey launches today. The survey, led by Healthwatch Dorset in partnership with Mid Dorset Primary Care Network (PCN), will run for six weeks and aims to gather views from women aged 16 and over living in Dorchester and surrounding communities including Puddletown, Cerne Abbas, Milton Abbas, Portesham and Crossways. For more information and to take part in the survey please click on the following link: Women's Health Survey

The King’s Fund – The Future Of Patient Feedback project

How can feedback be made easier, more meaningful and less of a burden for patients? How can feedback support service improvements and public accountability? What role should digital tools and AI play in the future of patient feedback?

These are just a few questions we'll explore in our new project 'The future of patient feedback'. Working with our partners National Voices, Edge Health and The Foundation, this project has been commissioned by NHS England to design a future patient, user and carer feedback system.

To find out more about project, please go to the following link: The future of patient feedback | The King's Fund.

Dorset Council’s Community Conversations

During summer and autumn 2026, Dorset Council is hosting a series of meetings across the county, which will bring together local organisations, town and parish councils, councillors, health partners and council staff for open and honest conversations. The aim is to understand how the council can work more closely with communities by exploring local challenges and opportunities, and shaping solutions together. Locations include Bridport, Beaminster and Dorchester. For more information and to register to get involved please click on the following link: Community Conversations - Dorset Council

Information day for people with low vision/sight loss

Dorset Blind Association are holding a free information event on Saturday 21th November from 10am – 2pm for anyone affected by sight loss. Whether you’ve recently been diagnosed with sight loss, have been living with a visual impairment for many years, or you’re supporting a loved one, Dorset Blind Association’s Low Vision Day is an opportunity to discover what’s available to help people live independently and confidently. The event takes place at the Dorford Centre, Dorchester and will feature specialists, exhibitors and support organisations from across Dorset. For more information please click on the following link: Discover the latest support for living with sight loss at Dorset Blind Association's Low Vision Day - Dorset Blind Association

Petition to appoint a Young Carer Champion in every school

Vikki Slade MP has started a petition to support carers who are still at school through the creation of Young Carer Champions in every school in England. There are over 2,500 signatures so far, to add your signature please click on the following link: Petition · Appoint a Young Carers Champion in every School in England - United Kingdom · Change.org.

For more information and to read the story behind the campaign please click here: Every Young Carer Deserves a Champion. Help Us Make It Happen.  | MYTIME Young Carers

Dorset Community Action – energy outreach project

 The wonderful team at DCA is working on a project around fuel poverty. The training, which is aimed at staff and volunteers working with vulnerable members of the public, trains front-line workers to understand what fuel poverty is, how people are affected by it and what to do to help them. Every participant is sent a comprehensive pack of information after the course to help them to refer and signpost people to help.

 DCA is working in partnership with Citizens Advice East Dorset & Purbeck to train all kinds of frontline workers. It is a fully funded project and so there is no charge for you.

 The training is ideal for all kinds of NHS Dorset front line staff,

although as many people will already know how people are affected by fuel poverty and will know about the Citizens Advice and other organisations taking referrals, I would suggest that we offer two be-spoke sessions:

A "refresher" of 30 minutes for people with prior knowledge, concentrating on how to help people, what help is available and how to make referrals.

A longer session with a bit more background for people who are newer to the subject.

A message from Caro Hart DCA Community Training Consultant:

 Both of these sessions can be run online or in-person and we can run them as part of an existing team meeting (the shorter one is probably better for that) or separately. We can manage the logistics through our Eventbrite page.

 We also have several more generic open online sessions that we are running over the next few months which are listed on our Eventbrite page; Energy Outreach Project SW England. Your people are of course most welcome to book on to those, but they may be a bit low level for your teams.

 I would be happy to have a chat about this and how we can deliver it. If you are able to put a short article in a newsletter, please let me know and I will send one.

 I am very grateful for your help with promoting this training.

Health & Community Event – Friday 16 October 2026

Volunteer Centre Dorset has extended an invitation to register to attend the Health & Community Partnership Event, taking place on Friday, 16 October at the Baptist Church (Dorford Centre) in Dorchester. (Please note: places for this event are limited)

We are bringing together Primary Care, Dorset County Hospital (DCH), community health services and Dorset's voluntary and community sector to help build more joined-up pathways between hospital, primary care and the community.

The idea for this event began from a need to better connect hospital and wider health workers with community colleagues to support patients to successfully return home from hospital, avoid an unplanned admissions, prevent patients escalating into crisis. 

We understand that for many health professionals supporting people well in the community increasingly means helping with many of the wider challenges affecting patients – loneliness, housing, financial hardship, caring responsibilities, transport, digital exclusion or simply struggling to cope at home.

This event is about making those connections easier. So come meet the people behind those services and develop relationships that make it easier to know who to contact, where to refer and what support is available.

During the morning we will explore:

Unpaid carers – recognising carers and connecting them with support in hospital and in the community.

Hospital to home – how DCH, Primary Care, community services and the VCS can work together to support successful discharge and recovery.

Prevention and avoiding readmission – connecting people with practical and preventative support before difficulties escalate.

Neighbourhood working – strengthening the relationships between Primary Care, community health services and local organisations that will underpin more joined-up neighbourhood care.

What's available in our communities – meeting organisations addressing wider determinants of health including loneliness, housing, poverty, transport and digital exclusion.

 Who should attend?

We would particularly welcome Social Prescribers, Care Coordinators, Practice Managers, PCN Clinical Directors, Frailty Leads, Occupational Therapists and other health and care colleagues involved in supporting people with complex needs, prevention, discharge, frailty and neighbourhood working.

 We hope you can join us. Please register to attend and come away with new contacts, clearer pathways and a better understanding of the community support available to your patients.

Healthwatch surveys – Your opportunity to give feedback!  

Healthwatch is currently running a couple surveys giving you the chance to share your views:

• The first one is GP access – One of Healthwatch Dorset’s top priorities this year is to find out how the national changes to the GP contract are impacting people in Dorset. They would love to hear your experiences, whether good, bad, or indifferent. Please click on the following link to access the survey: Share your experience online
• Leaving the hospital is an important milestone in a person’s healthcare journey. But it isn’t always a smooth experience. Delays, inadequate support and confusing information are affecting people’s discharge experiences – and hampering their recovery. Healthwatch want to understand how the hospital discharge process can be made better for patients and their carers. If you or someone you know has had a delayed or difficult hospital discharge please click on the following link to access the survey: Survey: Delayed or Difficult Hospital Discharge

Health & Community Partnership Event – 16^th October 2026

Volunteer Centre Dorset are holding a Health & Community Partnership Event on Friday 16^th October from 9am – 1pm. The event will feature community services and support already helping patients at the point of discharge, at home, preventing readmissions and improving recovery. Along with meeting the people behind those services there is the opportunity to make contacts that could be a real difference to your patients - and your day-to-day work. For more information and to book a space please click on the following link: Volunteer Centre Dorset - Health & Community Partnership Event - 16 October 2026

Carers cancer survey

Our friends at Wessex Cancer Alliance want to better understand the experiences of the unpaid carers who are affected by cancer. It’s an area where nationally and locally they lack insight.  Many people do not think of themselves as a ‘carer’ and do not see themselves as needing the care and support they deserve. Yet we know that caring for someone with cancer can be challenging, tiring and often invisible. Many care-givers tell us they simply “get on with it” and are not always asked how things are for them. For more information and to take part in the survey please click on the following link: Cancer carers' survey 

Still time to get involved in a community conversation near you!

During summer and autumn 2026, Dorset Council is hosting a series of community conversations in 13 different locations across the county. The sessions will bring together local organisations, town and parish councils, councillors, health partners and council staff for open and honest conversations. The aim is to understand how Dorset Council can work more closely with communities by exploring local challenges and opportunities, and shaping solutions together. The sessions will be friendly and welcoming and we will make sure that everyone’s voice is heard. After each conversation we will update this page with the themes that are raised. If you represent a voluntary or community sector organisation and are interested in being involved, please click on the following link to register your interest: 

Community Conversations Expression of Interest Form.

Free online legal sessions on medical negligence 

You don't need to be sure that you have a case to take part. The sessions offer an opportunity to discuss your circumstances and ask questions with an experienced lawyer. Each confidential session will last around 30 minutes to one hour.

Sessions are available on:

·         Tuesday 13 October 2026, 10am–2pm

·         Thursday 15 October 2026, 6pm–9pm

·         To book a session or find out more, contact Dominic Smith at Dominic.Smith@slatergordon.uk

Why patient trust matters to technology & data in healthcare

Our fifth webinar of Patient Partnership Week 2026 explored why patient trust must be at the heart of how healthcare organisations use AI and data.

Read the Blog

An introduction to continuing healthcare

Hear from our continuing healthcare experts about:

• What is NHS Continuing Healthcare?
• What are the eligibility criteria
• Dispelling the myths surrounding continuing healthcare
• How you can prepare for funding assessment
• Ask our experts about continuing healthcare - Q&A.

Book now

Help improve research for ALS/MND patients

This is your opportunity to give your feedback on a clinical trial for ALS. The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is looking for adults who live in the UK and have lived experience as a patient or carer of ALS/MND.

Register your interest

Could Hospital Discharge Be Better? Share Your Experience with Healthwatch England

Healthwatch England wants to learn more about your experience of being discharged from the hospital, to highlight where and how this process can be improved.

Take the Survey

New Campaign Highlights How Where You Live Impacts Life Expectancy

The Patients Association is supporting the Health Equals campaign in calling for a change in the law to tackle health inequalities.  Check your postcode, explore the campaign and find out how you can get involved

Find out more

Take Part In the Great British Bone Checker  

Osteoporosis is a condition where bones lose strength and become more likely to break. Over 3.5 million people in the UK are currently living with the condition.

It’s never too early or too late to start looking after your bones. The Royal Osteoporosis Society's free risk checker gives personalised bone health results in less than three minutes.

The bone checker is not for people who have been diagnosed with osteoporosis or had their bone health assessed by a healthcare professional. But the society has lots of information and support for you here.

Healthy Movers – a programme for children in Dorset

The Healthy Movers programme, commissioned by Public Health Dorset and in partnership with Youth Sport Trust aims to support two to five-year-olds physical literacy, development and wellbeing, helping them gain a better start in life. The free programme helps and supports early years practitioners and families in recognising the progress children can make with their physical literacy, which supports their confidence, motivation and resilience. For more information or to register interest in participating in the programme please see the attached poster or contact Laura Roberts: lroberts@activedorset.org 

Wessex Cancer Alliance survey – understanding the experiences of people who support or care for those affected by cancer

Many people do not think of themselves as a ‘carer’ and do not see themselves as needing the care and support they deserve. Yet we know that caring for someone with cancer can be challenging, tiring and often invisible. Many care-givers tell us they simply “get on with it” and are not always asked how things are for them.

To recognise and support carers better, we are asking people to share these experiences via this survey.  It will be open until the end of October 2026.

It will help us understand what really matters to carers, what makes their life easier or harder, and where support is missing. Their experiences will be used to help improve local services, shape future support, and make sure carers are better recognised, listened to and supported.

Taking part is voluntary. Answers will be anonymous and kept confidential. For more information visit: www.wessexcanceralliance.nhs.uk/cancer-carer-project/.

Every response will help us build a clearer picture of what caring is really like.  Please take part if this applies to you and/or please do share this widely with your networks.

Free telephone call blockers for vulnerable people in Dorset

Dorset Police and Age UK North, South and West Dorset have successfully launched a call blocker initiative that is protecting elderly and vulnerable residents from scammers and nuisance callers. People considered vulnerable, have memory issues/dementia, have a long-term health condition or live alone can have a free device fitted. For more information please click on the following link: Truecall Call Blocker Service or call 01305 269444 

On Track 2026 – free wellbeing event for Veterans & all in the Armed Forces community

On Track, a dedicated wellbeing event recognising the unique experiences and challenges faced by those in and around the armed forces will be taking place on Thursday 8^th October at the Tank Museum. The event is designed for all members of the armed forces community – including regulars and reserves, service families, the bereaved, service leavers, veterans, and anyone connected to life in the forces. The focus of On Track is on community, celebrating the power of positive, supportive communities and their impact on our mental health and wellbeing. Whether you’re looking for support for yourself or someone close to you or simply want to learn more about the resources available, On Track is here to help. For more information and to reserve a ticket please click on the following link: https://tankmuseum.org/events/on-track/