Support and services over the festive period, 2025-26
Key information and resources
We have drawn together some key information to help you navigate services and how to get help and support if you need it during the festive period
The Healthwatch information and signposting service will be closed from Monday the 22nd to Sunday the 28th of December. No messages will be responded to during this period.
You can still contact us and we will respond as soon as possible after this period:
- Via our Helpline form
- 01273 234 040
- helpline@hwbh.co.uk or office@hwbh.co.uk
If you would like to leave feedback about a specific health or care service, you are invited to share your experiences via our Contact Us page.
We wish you a safe, happy and peaceful festive period,
Healthwatch Brighton and Hove
Staying well
If you’re worried about your health, don’t delay - your NHS wants to help you get the care you need this winter.
Winter conditions can be bad for our health, especially for people aged 65 or older, and people with long-term conditions such as heart or kidney disease, COPD (including emphysema and chronic bronchitis), asthma or diabetes. Being cold can raise the risk of increased blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes.
The cold and damp weather, ice, snow and high winds can all aggravate any existing health problems and make us more vulnerable to respiratory winter illnesses. But there are lots of things you can do to stay well this winter.
To keep illness at bay, NHS Sussex recommends:
- Get advice if you feel unwell
- Get your vaccines
- Keep your home warm
- Keep active
- Look after your mental health
- Check your medicine cabinet
- Handwashing
- Remember your prescriptions
- Look in on vulnerable neighbours and relatives.
The right resource
Emergency Departments are here for you when you need them, but they are very busy. If you need help over the winter, call 111 or visit NHS 111 online. It’s free to call from landlines and mobiles and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
To help ensure services remain available for those who need them most, the NHS in Sussex is asking the public to choose the right NHS service for their needs, use NHS 111 online or by phone as the first point of contact for non-life threatening health concerns, only use 999 or attend A&E for serious or life threatening emergencies, and to avoid visiting hospitals if they have flu or COVID 19 symptoms unless it is an emergency.
Please also support timely discharge for loved ones who are medically ready to leave hospital.
NHS 111
NHS 111 is a non-emergency service you can use if you are unsure which healthcare service you need to visit. It can connect you to healthcare professionals, including nurses, emergency dentists or GPs.
The advisors at NHS111 can also arrange face-to-face appointments, and if assessed as needing an ambulance, send one directly. A call back by a clinician can also be requested using NHS111 online, based on health care need.
If you are struggling to breathe and have a tight chest, chest pain or you are being sick, please call 999 immediately.
Your GP’s opening hours may change over Christmas and New Year. Information should be available on your surgery’s website or telephone answering service. If you need medical advice outside of your GP’s opening hours, or should you need an emergency supply of your prescribed medicine, visit NHS 111 online or call 111.
Mental health services
If you are struggling, you're not alone. You can find lots of local resources and support.
For immediate help
If your life - or someone else's life - is in immediate danger, please call 999 or go to A&E.
How Are You Really Feeling?
NHS Sussex has updated their How Are You Really Feeling? mental health resource for people across Sussex.
These are designed to help people find support more easily – especially people who are digitally excluded, neurodivergent, or less confident using English. It includes clearer language, improved visuals, and new printed and translated materials to help ensure no one is left behind when seeking support.
For same or next day help
You can get help with your mental health in different ways depending on what you prefer. All services are free.
- Call NHS 111 and select the mental health option (also known as the Sussex Mental Healthline) or the Samaritans on 116 123 (both available 24/7)
- Visit a Staying Well service (out-of-hours mental health crisis support service for people aged 18+ available in Brighton
- Text the word SUSSEX to 85258 (24/7 mental health text-messaging support service).
- Download the Stay Alive app - a suicide prevention resource full of useful information and tools to help you stay safe in crisis.
Pharmacy opening times
Advice from NHS Sussex is to make sure you have the prescription medicines you need and stock up your medicine cabinet as your pharmacy’s opening times may be different over the festive period.
Your pharmacy will be able to confirm any changes to their opening hours via their website, telephone service or an in-store notice.
Check the opening hours for pharmacies in your area during the Christmas bank holiday period.
Coping with loneliness and isolation
The winter and festive season can be particularly challenging for those living alone. Isolation and loneliness can have a real impact on mental health, as well as physical health, for those who are unable to leave home. Help and support is available here.
Ageing Well Festive Directory
Ageing Well have put together some handy info and events for people aged 50+ during the festive period, including a timetable of festive events and shared meals happening on Christmas Day.
Food banks and Cost of Living support
For details of Christmas opening times for community food banks, meals and shops please visit Brighton & Hove Food Partnership's webpage.
Cost of Living support
Help is available this winter for households in Brighton & Hove struggling to pay for food, fuel and other essential costs: Cost of living support (brighton-hove.gov.uk)
Cold Weather
Extra support is available this winter if you are of pensionable age and struggling to pay your energy bills because you no longer receive a Winter Fuel Payment.
You can access help with:
- providing one-off direct financial support if you are struggling to heat your home or pay your energy bills
- checking your eligibility for Pension Credit and Winter Fuel Payments and help to make an application
- energy advice on keeping warm in an affordable way this winter
If you need extra support this winter, visit the Council website here or call the Community Hub helpline on 01273 293 117 (option 2). The Community Hub helpline is open from 10am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday.
You can also get information on how to stay warm, healthy and prepared for winter.
Dental Practices
Your dentist’s opening hours may change over Christmas and New Year. Information about closures and other options available to you during any closure time should be available on your practice’s own website or telephone answering service.
The NHS Sussex Dental Helpline, 0300 123 1663, will continue to operate Monday – Friday, 8am – 4pm, over the festive period, except for bank holidays. They can support with information to help you access NHS dental services. Alternatively, you can find out how to access a dentist on their website.
We published a guide to local NHS dental services.
Looking after your physical health this winter
The cold weather, being stuck at home and all the tempting food around the festive season can play havoc with our physical health so it’s important to take steps to stay active and healthy this winter.
Here are some national resources to help you stay physically healthy this winter:
- The One You website has a lot of advice and ideas for healthy meals you can cook at home.
- Public Health England has provided some free, easy 10-minute workouts for exercises you can do in your own home.
- You can also try the exercise suggestions on the NHS Fitness Studio.
