If you need help and support over the next few weeks, please read below as there is help out there.

Support over the festive season

Please find attached a copy of an ad ‘Support over the festive season’ that was printed in the local media on 16 December. It has opening times for Citizens Advice, Isle of Wight Council help centres and more. Please share it with your residents.
We have also attached two more documents of local support contacts, (one has been put together by People Matter IW) for your use and onward sharing.
We continue to share information about support with the cost of living on our website.

A full run down of changes to Isle of Wight Council opening times is on the council’s website.

Warm Spaces

We have a number of new warm spaces listed on our website, some of which are open over the Christmas period at different times. This is the web link to warm spaces on the Isle of Wight.

Christmas Day meals and company

A number of places on the Island are open on Christmas Day for a shared meal and company. Some are also open on other days throughout the holidays.

More information is available on our cost of living web pages.

Please share this Facebook post and Tweet with your residents.

Staying well this festive season

The following advice remains. Please encourage people to stay as safe and well as possible this festive season.

If you’re planning to meet family and friends over the festive period, there are some things we can all do to stay safe and protect ourselves and loved ones:

• Wash hands regularly
• Cover coughs and sneezes
• Avoid others if you’re not feeling well
• Get vaccinated https://orlo.uk/ADMpD
• If you can, let in some fresh air when meeting up inside. Just a few minutes of fresh air can help.

Share our Facebook post and Tweet.

News from the NHS

An urgent plea has been issued to communities amid significant pressures on all NHS services in Hampshire and Isle of Wight.

Dedicated health and care teams continue to do all they can to ensure patients receive safe, high-quality care – but they need your help amid sustained pressures across the board.

It comes as figures show:

• Almost every bed at hospitals across Hampshire and Isle of Wight is occupied by patients needing care
• Latest figures show were more than 38,000 urgent appointments or attendances with GP practices, urgent treatment centres, minor injuries units and emergency departments in the last week alone – an average of one every two seconds
• The actual number is likely to be far higher as most GP practices are experiencing three times their usual level of demand in relation to Group A strep

Help us help you. As always, your NHS remains open and here for you. If you are concerned about your health, feel you are getting worse or need help, please come forward.

You can also help health and care teams help you by choosing the right service when you need medical help or advice. This will help you get the treatment you need in a timely way.

Make sure you are ready to treat common illnesses and injuries at home. Keep stocked up on essentials such as paracetamol, plasters, bandages and upset tummy remedies and order repeat prescriptions in good time so that you don’t run out. The NHS website provides lots of advice on conditions, symptoms, treating illnesses and injuries as well as when to seek further support.

Remember to keep any medicine in a safe place and well out of the reach of children and check medicines regularly to make sure they are within their use by dates.

If you need urgent help but it is not a life-threatening emergency, please visit 111.nhs.uk. If you or someone you know is experiencing a medical emergency you/they should attend a local Emergency Department or call 999.

• Medical emergencies can include:
• loss of consciousness
• an acute confused state
• fits that are not stopping
• chest pain
• breathing difficulties
• severe bleeding that cannot be stopped
• severe allergic reactions
• severe burns or scalds

Call 999 immediately if you or someone else is having a heart attack or stroke. Every second counts with these conditions.

Also call 999 if you think someone has had a major trauma, such as after a serious road traffic accident, a stabbing, a shooting, a fall from height, or a serious head injury.

You can also help by:

• Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 and flu if you are eligible and have not yet taken up the offer. Visit www.nhs.uk/wintervaccination to find out more
• Continuing to practice good hand hygiene
• Covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing
• Supporting family members being discharged from hospital by helping with transport and ensuring they have suitable clothing to return home in
• Downloading the Healthier Together app for advice if you have children or carer responsibilities. The app can help you decide whether you can self-care at home or if you need help, which service is best for the needs of children aged up to 18. It also provides advice and guidance for pregnant women.
• Using online services where possible to request repeat prescriptions, follow up on results, request a fit to work certificate, or general queries
• Using NHS 111 online to symptom check whether you need further advice or can self-care at home safely
• The NHS website has information on signs and symptoms of conditions including Strep A, what to look out for and what to do in an emergency

More information on which service to use and when is available here. This includes mental health care and dentistry as well as urgent treatment centres.

Industrial action impact on Lymington branch line

Islanders and visitors planning to use the train that runs from Brockenhurst to Lymington before taking the ferry to Yarmouth (or the other way) should plan for disruption to their journey.

South Western Railway (SWR) has confirmed there will be no train services on the Lymington branch line between Sunday 18 December and Monday 2 January 2023. There will be two more 48 hour strikes on 3, 4 and 6, 7 January when there will be no trains to Lymington or Portsmouth.

This is due to industrial action.

People travelling are advised to check their route before setting off using the SWR website. There are links through to live journey planner that shows maps of operating routes for the various days.

Bluestar route 6 buses between Lymington and Brockenhurst will be operating.  Check their website for specific info about the Christmas and New Year period.