Health

Hopes for a return to more normal lives for all have soared with news of the vaccine roll-out. Here, medical experts unite in their reassurance to the public that vaccines meet strict standards of safety and effectiveness.

Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust has appointed a new chairman who aims to improve emergency access and reduce its deficit of £64m.

Jewish Care has launched an appeal to help fund the extra support for older people who are relying on the charity more heavily since the Covid-19 pandemic

A former stroke patient who now volunteers to help others recover at King George Hospital has written a book about her recovery.

Queen’s Hospital has been praised for dramatically improving its treatment of stroke patients.

Jan Scott is Saint Francis Hospice’s service development manager and has had a key role in ensuring some of the services were able to continue reaching out to people who needed them.

This morning health secretary Matt Hancock has announced that London will revert to being in the Tier 2 band on December 2.

The short answer is unlikely to very unlikely, depending on how you’re admitted. A reporter spoke to Magda Smith, chief medical officer of Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Trust, to find out what happens on admission to Queen’s or King George Hospital.

Covid vaccination sites are starting to be identified as the east London NHS prepares to start vaccinating the most vulnerable residents in early December.

The NHS has launched a campaign to get cancer referrals back up to pre-pandemic levels.

Ward volunteer Angela Bridge has experienced Saint Francis Hospice from both sides, both providing and receiving its care

Dr Gurmit Dhillon, a psychotherapist from IAPT Talking Therapies Redbridge has written a guest column on the effects of Covid-19 on mental health in BAME communities.

More patients have died from Covid-19 at King George Hospital and Queen’s Hospital since the start of the pandemic than almost anywhere else in London.

Memories of Sunday lunch with the family, trips to the cinema and live concerts are being brought back to life for residents of a Chigwell care home, thanks to a donation of refurbished MP3 players.

The country’s top nurse visited King George Hospital for a virtual meeting to see the wards and congratulate three nurses who received awards for their service during the pandemic.

The town hall’s education chief has demanded the government do more to protect schools from Covid-19.

Peter Batt, a Saint Francis Hospice trustee, shares his perspective as a volunteer

A Lidl is being investigated by Redbridge Council after a councillor reported a “huge amount” of shoppers not wearing face masks.

Special care homes for elderly people recovering from Covid-19 are being set up to help prevent the virus sweeping through nursing facilities as it did earlier this year.

The trust which runs King George Hospital in Goodmayes has apologised for the first time over a patient’s death more than four years ago.

Rapid coronavirus test kits that can provide results within an hour are set to be rolled out across east London.

One in four children in Redbridge are finishing primary school obese, new figures reveal.

A virtual reality app which encourages people to hit the borough’s streets to get active has launched with cash prizes.

Councillors have criticised the long delays for blood tests in Redbridge.

Jules Goodger, ward volunteer at Saint Francis Hospice, says she’s always guaranteed a smile and a laugh from patients and staff

Redbridge politicians have reacted to the news that the children’s emergency department at King George Hospital is to close overnight during winter.

Teachers’, parents’ and childrens’ wellbeing and mental health will be a priority in schools as part of a new government initiative.

The death of a King George Hospital patient after an “unnecessary scan” damaged his kidneys revealed “systemic medical failings” at the hospital, a coroner concluded.

Patients will not be able to use King George Hospital’s emergency department for children overnight during the winter as part of plans to help manage the coronavirus pandemic.

Private companies will be able to have a say in how NHS money is spent in the borough after a huge merger planned for next year.

Saint Francis Hospice’s direct marketing manager Katharine Ayres explains the different ways to pay tribute to a loved one, especially if you weren’t able to attend the funeral

With infection rates on the rise, Redbridge Council is advising parents of the potential risks of allowing children to go out trick or treating.

As the coronavirus infection rate continues to climb in Redbridge the council held a series of public meetings to highlight what needs to be done to get the virus under control.

A Goodmayes shisha lounge was ordered to shut down for 20 days after fire extinguishers were used on police officers trying to stop an illegal event.

The daughters of a man who died at King George Hospital, two weeks after he contracted coronavirus under its care, say they were shocked to see a Covid patient coming and going from the ward for cigarette breaks.

The health trust which runs Queen’s and King George hospitals, confirmed 17 Covid deaths last week.

Joanne Alavoine is part of the Saint Francis Hospice human resources team

A school denies threatening to fine the parents of a girl who was shot in the lung 10 years ago after they kept her home from school due to coronavirus.

A third permanent Covid-19 testing centre for Redbridge is set to open in Woodford Green this week.

Reception volunteer Abigail Feeley explains why she gives up her spare time to work at Saint Francis Hospice, which cares for people from Havering, Redbridge and Barking and Dagenham

Redbridge has seen its Covid contact tracing rate fall once again, new figures reveal, as the borough and all of London moves to Tier 2 high restrictions starting at midnight (Friday, October 16).

When the pandemic hit, Angel Supermarket in Ilford decided to support the local community by launching an online supermarket kugans.com - an initiative of Angel Supermarket.

Being a new mum in the middle of a pandemic is a daunting prospect for many – but for those giving birth at Queen’s Hospital, a community spirit has flourished.

Are you looking to quit smoking this Stoptober?