Healthier Together Newsletter Welcome to the June Edition

 

Help name new health centre in Weston-super-Mare   

People living in Weston-super-Mare are being invited to help choose the name of a brand new neighbourhood health centre being built in the town.

The health centre will house a GP practice, which will replace the current Graham Road Surgery, as well as community and mental health services.

Construction on the new building started in February and it is expected to open in summer 2027.

Before the new health centre opens, the NHS is asking local people and stakeholders to help decide what it should be called. The aim is to choose a name that reflects the local area, community identity, and values, and feels welcoming and inclusive.

You can submit your suggestions by completing the online submission form. It closes on Sunday 12 July.

Read more about naming the new health centre on the Healthier Together website. 

Improving services 

Breakthrough blood test could detect heart and kidney disease earlier than ever

A North Bristol Trust (NBT) kidney doctor has led work on a new way to detect heart and kidney disease far earlier. These two conditions account for one in three deaths worldwide.

The new method identifies damage to the lining of microscopic blood vessels. It could transform the ability to detect disease at its very earliest stages, before it progresses and becomes potentially life‑threatening.

Find out more about the blood test on the NBT website.

Involving you 

 Join the Black Maternity Matters anti-racist leadership development programme 

Senior leaders from health and social care across the West of England are invited to join a new cohort of the Black Maternity Matters anti‑racist leadership development programme, running from July to November 2026.

The aim of the Black Maternity Matters collaborative is to address the racially inequitable outcomes experienced by women, families and babies racialised as Black.

Find out more about the programme on the Health Innovation West of England website.

Free workshops to help communities get more active  

Better Health North Somerset is hosting physical activity raising awareness workshops in July, September and December. 

The free workshops are for people who are working directly with the community and could help encourage individuals to become more active.

The aim of the workshop is to increase the knowledge, skills and confidence of attendees to more effectively incorporate physical activity promotion into their advice and referrals. 

Find out more about the workshops on the Better Health North Somerset website.  

West of England Academy summer school returns for 2026

The West of England Academy’s summer series is back.  

Hosted by Health Innovation West of England, the Academy is for people working in health and social care, including NHS colleagues, voluntary and community sector teams, and innovators.

This summer, the Academy is running four interactive online workshops to help people build confidence and capability in quality improvement. Each workshop is 90 minutes, free to attend, and fully standalone.

Find out more about the Academy on the Health Innovation West of England website. 

Integrated Care System news 

Bristol NHS Group doctors win national Parkinson's awards

Two Bristol NHS Group doctors have received national recognition at the 2026 Parkinson’s Excellence Network Awards for their outstanding support to people living with Parkinson’s.

Dr Mihaela Boca, Consultant Neurologist at Southmead Hospital’s Bristol Brain Centre, won the People’s Choice Award after being praised by patients for her compassionate and personalised care, while Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist Cathy Penman was recognised for her contribution to improving services, highlighting her work in underserved areas.  

Find out more about the Parkinson's Awards on the North Bristol NHS Trust website.

NICU Bereavement Team recognised at Mariposa Awards 2026

The NICU Bereavement Team at St Michael’s Hospital has received national recognition at the Mariposa Awards 2026 for its compassionate support to families experiencing baby loss.

The team was given a Special Recognition Award for Bereavement Team of the Year, while Lead Neonatal Nurse for Bereavement, Madeleine Holland, was also honoured with the Archie Award for Bereavement Professional of the Year.

Read more about Mariposa Award on the University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust website. 

Bristol NHS Group colleagues honoured in King's Birthday Honours List

Three Bristol NHS Group colleagues have been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours List.

Professor Andrew Mumford (pictured right), University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust's Professor of Haematology and Professor John Sparrow, former Bristol Eye Hospital Ophthalmology and Epidemiology consultant, received MBEs for their significant contributions to health.

Professor David Gunnell (pictured left), Honorary Consultant at North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT), received a CBE for services to Public Health and Suicide Prevention.

Image credit: University of Bristol. 

Find out more about the King's Birthday Honours List on the NBT website. 

Finding breast cancer sooner: study participant tells her story

A woman who had her breast cancer detected early shared her story as part of the BBC's Wake Up Call show. 

Clare Down, who was participating in the FAST MRI DYAMOND research at Southmead Hospital, was diagnosed early following a fast MRI. 

Clare’s fast MRI showed a small lump which hadn’t been identified during her mammogram, which a biopsy showed was cancer. She went on to have surgery and radiotherapy and is now clear of cancer.

Read more about Clare's story on the North Bristol NHS Trust website.

ICB Research Showcase promotes the need for research inclusion

The Integrated Care Board (ICB)  held a Research Showcase in Bristol.

Health and care professionals, researchers and community organisations came together in June to explore ‘research inclusion’ and what research means for the future of health and care services.

Associate Director for Research at the ICB, Paul Roy, said: “Bringing everyone from all areas of health and care research, voluntary sector and academics into one room has helped us garner an understanding of what is next for research.”

Read more about the Research Showcase on the Healthier Together website. 

Consultant Hepatology Nurse takes part in 61st Florence Nightingale Commemoration Service

A Southmead Hospital nurse was chosen as the Lamp Escort at this year's Florence Nightingale Commemoration Service held at Westminster Abbey in London. 

Katharine Caddick (pictured left), who specialises in hepatology, was one of two Lamp Escorts to honour the Commonwealth Nurses killed in the Second World War; the nurses, midwives, nursing associates and healthcare support workers who died during the COVID-19 pandemic; and the 162 nurses who lost their lives during the First World War.

The role is a testament to the work Katharine has done leading improvements in care for liver patients at a national level.

Find out more about the commemorative service on the North Bristol NHS Trust website.

New podcast: learning lessons from Martha's Rule  

In the latest episode of Health Innovation West of England’s podcast, find out about the local introduction of Martha’s Rule. 

Martha's Rule is a patient safety initiative designed to ensure that the concerns of patients and their families are heard and acted upon when a condition deteriorates. 

Guests from North Bristol NHS Trust and Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust share their experiences and insights.

Listen to the Martha's Rule podcast.

Smokefree Alliance up for national award

The Smokefree Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Alliance has received national recognition after being shortlisted for an MJ Achievement Award for its work to reduce smoking and tackle health inequalities.

The Alliance supports people to quit smoking through initiatives including stop smoking services, the Swap to Stop programme and targeted NHS support pathways. 

Award winners will be announced at a ceremony on 19 June 2026.

Find out more about the Smokefree Alliance on the Healthier Together website.

Mental health support benches offer a moment of calm and connection

People in Weston-super-Mare can now access mental health support more easily, thanks to new support plaques installed on benches in key locations across the town by North Somerset Council.

The mental health support benches initiative, led by the charity SAFE South West in partnership with local organisations, emergency services and councils, aims to support people who may be struggling by providing a quiet place to pause alongside clear routes to help.

Find out more about the mental health support benches on the North Somerset Council website.

Local health and care jobs

Here is a selection of vacancies in the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire area. For a full list of opportunities, please see the NHS Jobs website.

Looking for a job in social care? A variety of roles are available on the websites of North Somerset Council, Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council.

Dates for your diary

 
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