Help us help you in 2026: Open letter from BNSSG ICB and chief medical officers

Dear Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire residents,

Help us to help you stay well in 2026.

We hope you had a peaceful festive break and are looking forward to a happy and healthy 2026.

New Year is always a challenging time for the NHS and you will have no doubt heard and read about the pressures that health and care services are under, as we respond to an increase in seasonal illnesses and the number of people needing urgent and emergency care.

Please be assured that we are working closely together across health and care services to manage this demand and maintain safe and effective care for local people. We are grateful for the dedication and commitment of staff as they respond to this challenge.

At this difficult time of the year, we are also appealing to all residents, to ‘help us help you’ by following simple advice that can make a real difference both to you and local NHS and care services in the coming weeks:

• Protect yourself and others by taking up your NHS flu and Covid-19 vaccination if eligible. This is one of the most effective ways to protect your health and help manage demand on services and if you are offered a vaccination, it’s important you take it up. You can find out how to access your jab online or by talking to your GP or pharmacist.
• Make sure you get the right care, first time – choose the best service for your needs. Our Emergency Departments (A&E) are very busy caring for the most seriously ill people, so if it’s not a life-threatening emergency, please use a more suitable service. There’s a network of alternative services available for you including community pharmacies, GPs, urgent treatment centres and more – and if you need help selecting the right service you can just contact NHS 111, online and by phone, at any time.
• Stop the spread of winter bugs, by washing your hands regularly, catching coughs and sneezes in a tissue (and disposing of it afterwards) and staying at home if you are unwell. Flu and Covid are highly contagious, and by taking action to stop the spread, you’re not only protecting yourself, you’re also protecting more vulnerable members of our community.
• If you have a loved one in hospital, please do what you can to help them return home as soon as they are medically fit for discharge. Simple things like arranging transport and picking up groceries can make a big difference to the discharge process and help to free up hospital capacity for other patients.
• Look after your wellbeing. Cold weather and winter bugs mean we spend more time indoors at this time of year, making it all the more important to look after your physical and mental wellbeing. Our website has lots of tips and advice on the support available to you in the community to help you stay active, stay warm and stay well this winter.

Finally, please remember that health and care staff are people too, with their own pressures and concerns. Please treat them with the kindness and respect they deserve as they work to care for us all, across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

Thank you for your support,

Dr Joanne Medhurst
Chief Medical Officer
NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board

Professor Tim Whittlestone
Group Chief Medical and Innovation Officer
Bristol NHS Group