'Planning our meals was key to saving'

Rob Finch thought he was running a pretty tight ship until he did the Eat4Cheap challenge and shaved nearly 20% off the family's weekly shopping bill. Eat4Cheap is more than just a money-saving challenge, it's an attempt to demonstrate that eating healthily is cheaper than…

10 health benefits of stopping smoking

Smoking is bad for your health, but exactly how will stopping make life better? Here are 10 ways your health will improve when you stop smoking. Stopping smoking lets you breathe more easily People breathe more easily and cough less when they give up smoking because their lung capacity…

Addiction - information page from the NHS

Addiction is a strong, uncontrollable need to take drugs, drink alcohol or carry out a particular activity, such as gambling. It becomes the most important thing in your life and leads to problems at home, work and school. There's no single reason why addictions develop. Some…

Information about what to do after someone has died

Information from Citizens Advice on what needs to be done after someone has died and what is involved in arranging a funeral. Please click on the External Links section to find out more.

Shingles Vaccination - Information page

The NHS information page on Shingles gives information on: Eligibility for the shingles vaccine What is shingles? How long does it last and how serious can it be? What causes shingles? How do you catch shingles? How safe is the vaccine? Are there people who…

Dignity in Care Charter

For further information on Dignity in Care and the Reading Dignity in Care Charter, click on this sentence.

Adjusting to disability

We often talk about disability as if it's a lifelong condition. In fact, more than 80% of people with a disability were born without it and find they have to adjust. If you become disabled through accident, illness or a deteriorating medical condition, life will change significantly. But…

Care Act 2014 and the pets of people taken into hospital

FROM THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT Legal situation Until 2014 section 48 of the National Assistance Act 1948 has provided for local authorities (LA) to make provision for the protection of property (e.g. pets) of people who are taken into hospital. This means they must board…

Paying for your own care?

CHS Healthcare provide a free service to support you to arrange a package of home care or to find the right care home

Scams and how to avoid them

Scams come in many forms; unwanted contact can be received by email, letter, and telephone or in person making false promises to con victims out of money. There are numerous scams but the most common are fake lotteries, deceptive prize draws or sweepstakes, clairvoyants, computer…