This month is National Walking Month. Walking is a fantastic way to keep active and maintain a healthy heart and it's fun, flexible and free. But it can take its toll on your feet!

IW Ambulance Service has paid tribute to the incredible support they have received from partner agencies over the past year

Dealing with the reality of being diagnosed with a life-limiting illness can be devastating. You may react by feeling angry, sad or guilty. It can affect your memory, concentration, motivation, thoughts and beliefs.

With Mental Health Awareness Week (10-16 May) around the corner and at a time when everyone is feeling the impact of the challenges over this past year, many people are reconsidering what role they play to support the wider community.
The Isle of Wight NHS Trust are hosting a virtual Mental Health Recruitment Event on Thursday, 14 May, 12.30pm to 3.30pm to enable anyone interested in a career in mental health to find out more about the day-to-day experience of those who work in different roles at the Trust and to get more information about current vacancies.

Isorropia Foundation, the Isle of Wight’s mental health wellbeing organisation, celebrates its second birthday on 1 May 2021.

The Isorropia team, a blend of professionals and people with lived experience, delivers a wide range of bespoke wellbeing programmes designed to empower people to take control of their wellbeing, develop resilience and live their best possible life. 

Over 100 clinicians, vaccinators, administrative staff and volunteers have worked 7 days a week to ensure all groups are vaccinated

The Isle of Wight NHS Trust has taken another step forward in delivering its mental health transformation plans, with the acquisition of two new buildings to be used as Integrated Mental Health hubs in Newport and Sandown.

Every year on April 16 the Trust celebrates World Voice Day.

Four Isle of Wight Ambulance Service (IWAS) Emergency Vehicle Operatives (EVOs), Adam, Lynsey, Kenny and Steve, join a cohort of twenty-four South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) Emergency Care Assistants next week to embark on the Paramedic Apprenticeship.

The Isle of Wight NHS Trust’s mental health transformation plans are moving ahead, in partnership with Southern Housing Group, with the development of a community-based mental health recovery service for people with complex mental health needs. 

 Woodlands, a ten-bed rehabilitation ward based in Wootton, is being converted into a supported community housing scheme to provide wraparound support to help residents to move towards independent living.

COVID-19 has affected our lives in so many ways. Our normal daily routines have been disrupted with more people working from home and having to support home schooling as well as balancing our normal jobs. It is no wonder that these changes may have caused some of us anxiety and sleep disruption.

To celebrate LGBT+ History Month, married couple Karen and Charlotte, who work at the Isle of Wight NHS Trust, are sharing their story and encouraging other staff from the LGBT+ community and allies to join the Trust’s LGBT+ Staff Equality Network.

The Isle of Wight NHS Trust Ambulance Service wants to remind the public of the importance for people to learn basic life support skills and not to be afraid to give Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) to help save a life.

The research team at St Mary’s Hospital is supporting the delivery of the world’s largest trial into treatments for patients hospitalised with COVID-19.

People aged 70 and over who have not yet been vaccinated against Covid and who would like to be are today being asked to contact the NHS to arrange a jab.

The Isle of Wight NHS Trust has extended the deadline for applications to the IOW NHS Mental Health Charitable Fund to 19 March 2021. This follows a short pause on the fund in December to simplify the application process and to allow additional time for applicants who might be impacted by the pressures of the current Covid-19 lockdown period.

A large-scale NHS COVID-19 vaccination centre on the Isle of Wight will open to the public tomorrow (1 February) meaning even more people will be able to get vaccinated as part of the biggest vaccination programme the NHS has ever seen.

People on the island dealing with the effects of Long COVID are being supported by a new service launched by the NHS.

The Covid vaccination programme is now well underway on the Isle of Wight with scores of residents receiving their first dose.

Our new Paediatric Emergency Department (Children’s A&E) means our Trust can now provide our young patients a much better experience when they come into our emergency department.

A pop-up drive-through coronavirus mobile testing unit will be available on the Island from Friday 8 January, and will be available for at least the next three weeks.

I have one message to our community. We need you now more than ever.

Maternity staff at St. Mary’s Hospital welcomed 3 babies into the world on New Year’s Day 2021.

On behalf of everyone at Isle of Wight NHS Trust thank you for your incredible efforts to support the NHS during 2020.

The IOW NHS Trust has seen a 25% drop in referrals to cancer services and are urging the public to get in touch with their GP if they have any symptoms that they are concerned about.

When you next visit St Mary’s Hospital you will notice two large electronic display screens outside the main entrance that are visible from the road side.

The Isle of Wight NHS Trust Ambulance Service is delighted to announce the installation of another public access defibrillator for the island community

On Christmas Day, Natasha, a Chemotherapy Sister at St Mary’s Hospital, and her sister Hannah, a Director at Milford Del, an agency that provides care and support for people who cannot wholly look after themselves, are running several miles dressed as reindeers, to raise money for the Island’s foodbank.

At the beginning of the pandemic, Martin Swan, an acclaimed Island artist, and also an Out of hours GP driver at St Mary’s Hospital, began to draw portraits of the colleagues he works alongside in the Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC).

The first NHS Trust in the UK to launch an ambulance decontamination programme for all emergency and non-emergency vehicles

The NHS will begin vaccinating patients against coronavirus at dozens of hospital hubs from this week at the start of the biggest immunisation programme in history.

The IOW NHS Trust’s Falls Prevention team are encouraging people to move a little more while at home to keep physically active during the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions and the cold winter months.

We are inviting applications for a share of a £193K fund to support mental health and wellbeing

People aged over 50 in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight will be able to get their free flu vaccination from December 1

A safe haven to provide children and young people with mental health support on the island will once again be able to see people face-to-face via booked appointments.

MPs and NHS leaders in the South East have joined forces to honour health and care staff who have helped to improve patient experience in the regional round of the NHS Parliamentary Awards, announced today.

It’s World Antibiotics Awareness Week (16 to 22 November) and the Infection team at St. Mary’s Hospital is reminding us why it is important to only take antibiotics when we really need them.

The NHS is urging pregnant women to continue using health services to protect themselves and their unborn baby

Gunville Methodist Church has become the latest guardians of a Public Access Defibrillator (PAD)

The Isle of Wight NHS Trust has announced restrictions to visitors for all of services, beginning tomorrow, Thursday 5 November.

People who use mental health and learning disabilities services on the Isle of Wight will benefit from a new joined-up approach that will mean there is ‘no wrong door’ when they need support.

 Isle of Wight NHS Trust has published its Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Service strategy after months of work with people who use services, staff, stakeholders in the public, community and voluntary sectors and its partner organisation, Solent NHS Trust. 

This #Stoptober we are stepping up support for our staff and people who use our services who want to quit  smoking, ahead of going completely smokefree.

Thanks to basic life-saving skills, Paul Gould is alive and celebrating his 55^th birthday and giving thanks to the people that came quickly to his aid.

Today on Wednesday 14 October we celebrate Allied Health Professionals (AHP’s) to raise awareness of their roles with NHS.

The IOW NHS Trust’s children’s ward are really pleased to have now received Phoebe’s light on the ward and that it is in action helping children have less stressful blood tests or cannulas.

Parents are being urged to take up the offer of having their children vaccinated against flu to reduce the spread of the virus

The Isle of Wight NHS Trust Ambulance Service is delighted to announce the recruitment of twenty-four new volunteer Community First Responders (CFRs).

Now that children have returned to school, it is important that parents are able to access the right support if their child becomes unwell.

Islanders are being reminded that now is not the time to overlook virus prevention measures.

We are delighted to have introduced the Associate Practitioners for Dementia service that aims to significantly improve the patients’ time whilst in hospital.

Would you like to help us to train teenagers to better manage their asthma symptoms?

Islander Nick Culshaw, who received a heart transplant, is calling on Island families and friends to sign up to the Organ Donation Register 

A new service to help people manage chronic long term health conditions is up and running at St. Mary’s Hospital

Vaughan Thomas, who has served a three-year term as Chair, will stand down in October

We are pleased to announce that we have been shortlisted for two categories in this year’s Nursing Times Awards

The Friends of St Mary’s staff and volunteers were delighted to get ‘back to business’ by re-opening their new main shop in the foyer.

As we approach the August bank holiday, people are being reminded to ensure they order their repeat prescriptions in good time.

From Monday August 24 people will need to go to Newclose County Cricket Club, in Blackwater Road, Newport, to access a coronavirus test

Two students at St. Mary’s Hospital still managed to celebrate their graduation against all the odds thanks to their pharmacy colleagues

Isle of Wight NHS Trust has relaxed some restrictions on visiting patients at St Mary’s Hospital.

In association with Hospedia, Vectis Radio is now available free of charge to patients at St Mary's Hospital
on their bedside entertainment system.

Most people will now be able have a blood test which their GP has asked for within their own practice, bringing the service closer to home and reducing the need to travel.

From Monday 3 August, outpatients clinics will resume within the Main Outpatients Department at St. Mary’s Hospital.

Face coverings will be mandatory in additional enclosed public spaces from Friday - including shops, supermarkets, shopping centres and transport hubs.

Over 95% of people attending the Emergency Department at St. Mary’s Hospital during May and June spent less than 4 hours in the department

A safe haven to provide children and young people with mental health support on the island has updated its opening times and ways to access the service.

Students from Platform One College of Music on the Isle of Wight have recorded a charity song in lockdown to thank key workers including NHS staff for all their efforts during the Covid-19 outbreak.

This year to mark 72 years of the National Health Service the Island’s NHS want to say a special thank you to our Island community for the overwhelming support received over recent months

A third of IOW NHS Trust staff have now been tested to see if they have had the COVID-19 infection

Leaders from the health, care, community and voluntary sectors have thanked key workers across the Isle of Wight for their ‘phenomenal response’ to the coronavirus pandemic.

From Monday 15^th June, all visitors and patients attending appointments must wear a face covering at all times.

Lifesaving training is to restart following an easing of the Government’s COVID-19 measures as more people return to work.

The Islands NHS Mental Health Services have made it easier for Isle of Wight Residents to access mental health services they need, when they need them.

A teaching assistant from Wroxall Primary School has held a 12 hour hula hooping fundraiser to help raise money for the Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Mountbatten Hospice.

Solent and Wightline Cruises is supporting the IW Ambulance Service in the transfer of critically-ill patients across the Solent

Matrons Julie Hailes and Jan Appell at Isle of Wight NHS Trust have braved the shave to help raise funds for Mountbatten Hospice.

Cake design competition winner Amelie, 13, decided to donate her cake to the staff at Isle of Wight NHS Trust as a big thank you for all their hard working during the coronavirus pandemic.

A sculpture celebrating the Thursday night Clap for Carers has been donated to the NHS for display during the pandemic

The Trust is delighted to share a collection of short films titled ‘Day by Day’.

Maggie Oldham, Chief Executive said: “We are very lucky to have a wonderful community spirit on the Island and we continue to be hugely grateful for all the support shown to the NHS and social care...

When the coronavirus pandemic took hold in March it meant that most of our clinical staff were now required to wear masks that covered their mouths.

For Pippa, who only has 30% hearing in one ear and relies on lip reading to do her job, this was a real barrier. We caught up with Pippa to find out how she and her team have worked together that’s meant she has been able to continue in her job role.

As part of Equality and Human Rights week at Isle of Wight NHS Trust we spoke to Lina, from the Philippines, who works as a Hospital at Night Clinical Coordinator in our Critical Care Outreach Service.

Doctors are urging people to remember that NHS services are still there for them over the long bank holiday weekend, whatever their need.

COVID-19 tests are now available to anyone aged 5 or over who has coronavirus symptoms.

The IOW NHS Trust is supporting the Mental Health Foundation’s (MHF) message that showing kindness to others is good for our own mental health and wellbeing too.

Video consultations has enabled face to face contact with patients without them having to leave their homes

Residents of the Isle of Wight are now able to access specialist mental health support by calling the NHS 24/7 Mental Health Triage Service via 111.

11 new student Physician Associates have joined St. Mary’s Hospital whilst universities are closed to help respond to the current Coronavirus pandemic

Isle of Wight announced as first phase of new ‘test, track and trace’ programme

Isle of Wight NHS Trust has launched a new service for passing on essential personal items to patients.

A Freephone mental health crisis helpline for children and young people across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight has been launched today.

The Research Team based at St Mary’s Hospital is contributing to the global effort to fight coronavirus.

The Royal Air Force landed a CH47 Chinook helicopter today (Friday) at Seaclose Park as an exercise to practice longstanding helicopter landing site procedures, should they be needed, to transfer patients.

Your NHS services are still operating to care for and treat people over this Easter holiday weekend – despite the temporary changes brought in to help tackle the Coronavirus pandemic.

People with minor illness should not attend the Urgent Treatment Centre at St. Mary’s Hospital unless asked to attend by an Urgent Treatment Service Clinician.

Army personnel have been deployed on the Isle of Wight to help with the reconfiguration of St Mary’s hospital as part of the national planned mutual aid arrangements for military support for major incidents.

The transfer of sexual health services to Solent NHS Trust took place yesterday, Wednesday 1 April, with all the current IoW NHS colleagues transferring to Solent under the TUPE scheme.

We are facing extraordinary times due to the outbreak of Coronavirus (Covid-19) and it’s important that we all heed the advice to stay safe at home. This is a crucial step we can all take to help limit the spread of the virus and keep healthy and well.

Sadly, two people in our care have died having tested positive for COVID-19.

All nursing and care homes on the Island are being given equipment and training to monitor key observations remotely and reduce the need for people to go into to deliver care homes.

As part of our regular review of the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Local Resilience Forum (HIOW LRF) has now declared the Coronavirus outbreak a major incident.

Download your copy of this month's Conversation with Maggie.

Maternity staff were delighted to welcome two ‘Leap Year’ babies born on Saturday 29^th February at St Mary’s Hospital.

Isle of Wight NHS Trust has opened a new three-bed End of Life Care Unit to help support people as they approach the end of their lives.

In collaboration with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police, the Isle of Wight NHS Trust recently held a training day to raise awareness of the issues faced by Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual & Transgender people (LGBT+).

A partnership between Isle of Wight NHS Trust (IWT) and Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust (PHT) will improve hospital-based services for people living on the Isle of Wight.

Download your copy of this month's Conversation with Maggie.

Isle of Wight NHS Trust has opened a new 14-bed Community Unit to help ease winter pressures and support people to leave hospital as soon as they are able to.

The festive season is already upon us and it’s important to order your repeat prescriptions in time for the holidays.

The icon character at Robin Hill’s new Christmas event on the Isle of Wight, Pippa the polar bear, will be leaving her POLAR Hollow on Thursday 12^th and Monday 16^th December to bring some festive cheer to the children’s wards at both St Mary’s Hospital on the Island and Southampton General. 

Working together, staff at the Trust and Isle of Wight College, were challenged to design a Christmas tree to represent equality and diversity – ‘Diversitree’.

We were absolutely thrilled to learn that Dana and Specsavers team are raising funds for a Public Access Defibrillator (PAD).

Download your copy of this month's Conversation with Maggie.

Outpatients Department moves to bigger, brighter location ahead of new Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) opening.

The Board of Isle of Wight NHS Trust is due to meet on November 14.