Shingles Support Society

28/05/2026

Not about shingles - but you might be interested:

The Patients Association is holding a focus group to understand patients’ experience of short notice cancellations of surgery.
There are many reasons why short notice cancellations occur, such as the patient decides not to have the surgery (patient choice), the necessary pre-surgery screenings and assessments (e.g., blood tests, consultation with specialists) were not done in time to clear the patient for surgery, acute medical conditions such as a respiratory infection made it too risky to do the surgery, or lack of theatre capacity (bed/staff shortage).

The online focus group will be held on June 24th. Participants will receive an £80 voucher.
If interested, fill in this form:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ShortNotice
It is open until 5th June!

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

22/04/2026

DULOXETINE?

The Guideline for GPs that we supply does not mention duloxetine, but NHS Choices does...

As we all know, treating postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is really tricky, usually relying on amitriptyline or gabapentin/pregabalin.

If you have experience of duloxetine for PHN, we would be very interested to hear about it. Email [email protected] will get to us faster than leaving a message here.

02/03/2026

Survey on patient experiences of receiving test results - about any condition

Patients Association is seeing your experience of receiving test results.
The survey will close on Friday 6th March. We're especially interested in hearing from patients who have experienced the following:
* Delays in receiving results
* Unclear or inconsistent communication
* Difficulties linked to digital systems
* Staffing pressures affecting turnaround times
* Lost or missing results

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

26/02/2026

SHINGLES AWARENESS WEEK

Make it your mission to tell ONE ELIGIBLE PERSON about the shingles vaccine!

Anyone in their 70s can get it from their GP and anyone who becomes 65 after the 1st Sept 2023...

And anyone over 50 could choose to buy it at a chemist shop that does jabs.

25/02/2026

The research team at Buckingham University are seeking adults (18+) living with persistent or recurring chronic pain for at least 3-months to take part in a research study exploring the topics of self-compassion and how people relate to themselves. Self-compassion is a broad term, and they are interested in hearing from a variety of voices on the topic.

What’s involved?
✏️ A short pre-study demographics questionnaire.
💬 One-time interview lasting roughly 45-90 minutes (online or face-to-face) with a member of our research team.

For more info, eligibility criteria and to register please see the recruitment poster attached or simply get in touch with them by contacting the lead researcher, Dr Jenna Gillett, on [email protected]

23/02/2026

Helplines Awareness Week

Our director, Marian Nicholson, contributed too.

Read how helplines are so important for helping people.

Film Photography & Darkroom Exhibition portrait project in collaboration with the Helplines Partnership charity

19/02/2026

Patient Association: fill their survey:

They ask us to share their Patient Experience Survey throughout your networks. They want to hear about patients’ experiences with NHS services over the last six months: what’s working well, what isn’t, and what needs to change.

These responses will be used in a report to support their campaigning and advocacy work, helping us make the strongest possible case to government, the NHS, and policymakers for the improvements patients need and deserve.

We want to hear about your experiences with NHS services over the last six months: what’s working well, what isn’t, and what needs to change.

04/02/2026

Since our followers could be in the age group that might have had replacement joints, I am sharing this:

NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) is looking for people who have had a hip and/or knee replacement to let us know their views via a survey:

https://www.healthwatchdarlington.co.uk/news/2026-02-03/nice-lived-experience-questionnaire-people-who-have-had-knee-or-hip-replacement
by Sunday 8th February 2026

The focus of the survey is using (or potentially using) online platforms to support rehabilitation, before and after hip and/or knee replacement. The results will inform the NICE committee, of the patient experience and viewpoint, when making recommendations on Digital platforms to support rehabilitation before and after primary elective hip or knee replacement surgery.

NICE is looking for people who have had a hip and/or knee replacement to share their views.

20/01/2026

If you have had a Zostavax vaccine in the past, it is safe to have Shingrix now.

08/01/2026

Chickenpox vaccine now given to children in the UK. With the MMR vaccine which is now MMRV (for varicella).

This has been given to children in other countries for 20 years. And when a person has the vaccine, they don't develop shingles later!

Find out about the chickenpox vaccine, including who can get it on the NHS, how to get it and what the side effects are.