#OneStoke – Community Health Champions

Ways to contact your GP

vast — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 11:20:39 +0000

GP practices are often the first-place people go for health advice or treatment but it’s not always easy to get an appointment when you need one.

The Integrated Care Board (ICB) has launched a local campaign to help people understand the different ways they can contact their GP practice and get the right help more quickly.

By promoting use of digital options, the campaign aims to encourage people to make contact digitally reducing pressure on phone lines, ease the 8am rush for appointments, and make access to care simpler and more convenient for patients.

NHS App – a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services and information on your smartphone or tablet. You can order repeat prescriptions, access appointment information or manage your hospital appointments.
Online Consultation – you can contact your GP practice to request help with admin tasks, ask about a medical problem or medication or access trusted NHS health advice.
GP online services – this service lets you request medical help or an appointment once you have been triaged by the team, order repeat prescriptions or view your GP medical record.

Healthy appetite for Poems, Pies and Pals

vast — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 10:12:00 +0000

Healthy appetite for Poems, Pies and Pals

Those who attended Poems, Pies and Pals at the Dudson Centre recently have praised the “sense of community” they experienced.

The event was sparked by a call from the Ageing Well Partnership for community events to help tackle loneliness and isolation in Stoke-on-Trent.

After discussing ideas, this collaborative event featured micro-volunteering, a delicious hot meal, and a performance by Stoke-on-Trent Centenary Poet Laureate Nick Degg – all supported by the Community Foundation for Staffordshire and Shropshire and Beth Johnson Foundation.

More than 30 people came along and joined in with the micro-volunteering activity – wrapping more than 100 Christmas gifts for older people living in the local community which are being distributed through our Welcoming Spaces network.

Feedback from the event was overwhelmingly positive and even inspiring some to share their own poetry.

“We usually live in very insular circles, so it’s great to be part of something different”,

“helping in this way makes me feel like I am giving something back”,

“people were very welcoming, chatty, the space was warm and social”,

“there was inclusion and happy, smiling faces and people working together”,

“loved every minute”.

Natalie Hawkins, Support and Volunteering Projects Manager at VAST, said: “We were delighted with how the event ran and it was a great introduction to micro-volunteering and what can be achieved when everybody pulls together.”

“We think this paves the way for similar events in future as there is clearly an appetite for events where people are empowered to share something of themselves with others.”

To find out more about volunteering in Stoke-on-Trent, get in touch on 01782 683030 or email volunteering@vast.org.uk.

Winter pressures – what you can do to help!

vast — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 14:38:36 +0000

Winter pressures - what you can do to help!

This week Royal Stoke University Hospital declared a “critical incident” and has asked the public to use its Accident and Emergency department only in cases of serious or life threatening emergencies.

It is more important that ever to use the right service and to think Pharmacy first!

A pharmacist can assess you and prescribe medicine for lots of common conditions including: Urinary tract infections (sometimes called UTIs or ‘water infections’), Shingles, Impetigo (a skin infection that starts with red sores or blisters), sore throat, painful sinuses (sinusitis), and some ear infections. It’s quick and easy to find a pharmacy online.

Did you know that NHS 111 can book you an urgent GP appointment? Including in the evening and at weekends. You can phone 111, go online at nhs.uk/111, call or use the NHS App.

111 can book you an appointment at Haywood Hospital’s Walk-in Centre in Stoke-on-Trent – open till 9.30pm every day! The walk-in centre can treat injuries like minor burns, wounds, suspected fractures, and conditions like ear infections. They can also book you an A&E slot if you need one!

If your condition is not too serious, they’ll suggest another service that’s more appropriate, or where you can be seen sooner.

The Stoke-on-Trent Community Directory helps you to find out about health, mental health and wellbeing services, and what’s on in your local area. It has lots of details of a wide range of care, services, self-help groups, community and voluntary organisations, and much more.

Winter checklist

Have my Covid-19 vaccination or booster (if eligible).
Have my flu vaccination (if eligible).
Download the NHS App on my phone.
Sign up for access to online GP services.
Ordered and collected repeat medicines.
Make sure there’s enough food and medicines in the house.
Keep an eye on elderly neighbours and relatives.

#OneStoke – Community Health Champions

Ways to contact your GP

Ways to contact your GP and beat the 8am rush

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Healthy appetite for Poems, Pies and Pals

Healthy appetite for Poems, Pies and Pals

Winter pressures – what you can do to help!

Winter pressures - what you can do to help!