It was great to see Pennine Care mentioned in The Guardian last week, in this piece exploring the link between empathy and care in NHS organisations. It’s based on a new study from the University of Leicester, rating NHS trusts using an overall “empathy score” www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

“Caring for someone can be rewarding, but it can also be demanding and overwhelming at times. We focus on creating a supportive environment where carers and families feel valued, informed and empowered.” Denise & Samantha are carer support workers. Check out our website for support #CarersWeek

Not long to get your nominations in 🗳️ The deadline is Friday 5 June to share who you think should win a Pennine Care People Award, including the community choice and eight other categories for colleagues. Visit our website or drop us a message for more info

Cheers to our volunteers 🙌 Vincent is 93 years young and a volunteer befriender on Saffron ward, based at The Meadows in Offerton. He loves to find out people’s history and encourages reminiscence, which he feels is good for people. Thank you Vincent and to all our volunteers #VolunteersWeek

Oldham parent infant mental health services welcomed Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, to see first-hand the impact of our work with babies and families. The team provide a range of support to help parents build a secure attachment with their baby.

It’s Mental Health Awareness Week, what action do you take to improve your mental health and the mental health of others? We'll be sharing lots of practical advice, recovery stories and ideas of actions other people take throughout the week on our Facebook and Instagram @penninecarenhs

The dogtor will see you now 🐶 This lovey cocker spaniel Stevie is our newest Pets As Therapy volunteer, bringing joy to our Stockport mental health wards along with dog-dad Mo. If you have pet with a friendly temperament, they can register through Pets As Therapy to volunteer & make a difference.

The #PennineCarePeople Awards 2026 are open for nominations. We have nine categories, including community choice - chance to thank and celebrate a person or service who went above and beyond for you, a friend or family member. Head to our website for full details and to nominate. Deadline 5 June.

Congrats to our colleagues who are North West champions in two categories at the 1st NHS Excellence Awards. The ‘let’s talk boobs’ breast health project won improving health outcomes award. 'Care closer, care smarter’ won the delivering value award with NHS GM & Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS

Become a governor and shape local NHS mental health, learning disability and autism services. If you're interested, put yourself forward by 30 April to represent Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside and Glossop, or the rest of England. Full details on our website.

Our teams celebrate many cultural and religious events, creating spaces for belonging, reflection and shared understanding. Taking time to connect with one another and learn about different cultures and traditions can have a positive impact on our mental health.

Resident doctors will be striking from Tues 7 April until 7am Mon 13 April. Please attend your appointment as normal, unless you hear from us. Call 111 NHS Mental Health any time if you need urgent mental health advice. More info is also on our website.

Happy Easter! We hope you have a fun and restful long weekend. Special thanks to our NHS colleagues and everyone working and caring for others over the Bank Holiday. This page isn't monitored in evenings, weekends or on Bank Holidays. There are lots of helpful contact details on our website.

From today, neighbourhood mental health service is the new name for ‘living well’ services across Greater Manchester. For example, Stockport living well service is now Stockport neighbourhood mental health service. You can read more about the service and name change on our website.

Are you interested in shaping local NHS mental health, learning disability and autism services? We're looking for governors to represent Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside and Glossop, to ensure local views are considered in decisions we make. Full details are on our website.

We’ve published a shared digital and data strategy for Pennine Care and Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS It sets out a five-year ambition to make mental health and learning disability care more connected and seamless for patients across Greater Manchester. More info on our website.

We’re sponsoring a new research study called RELATE-YP, to trial if cognitive analytic therapy is helpful to young people who self-harm. Co-led by @manchester.ac.uk, funded by @nihr.bsky.social, currently running across Pennine Care, Greater Manchester Mental Health & @rdash-nhs.bsky.social

Eid Mubarak and Happy Ugadi to our communities celebrating from today. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the holy Islamic month of Ramadan. Ugadi (Yugadi) and also Gudi Padwa are festivals celebrating the Hindu New Year. Wishing you all a joyful and peaceful time with loved ones.

Have you seen the new tulip trail in Ashton? 🌷 There are nine new sculptures to find, including this one near our HQ. It's a good excuse to get some steps, enjoy some art, and celebrate creativity. Which one is your favourite?

Congratulations to Ikechukwu Onyenaobia, one of our student nursing associates, on being shortlisted in this year's National Student Nursing Times Awards. Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on 16 April. Good luck, Ike!

Ey up! Fancy joining Pennine Care Charity to take on the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge? We're excited to have another team taking on the peaks again on Sunday 17 May. The 24-mile route includes the peaks of Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough within 12 hours. Drop us a message if interested.

Taylor Ward in Tameside has welcomed volunteer Jan to lead a weekly trumpet choir session for patients. It gives patients the chance to focus on something positive, creative and fun. Even a short session lifts mood, reduces anxiety and helps people feel more connected during their recovery.

Our Oldham parent infant mental health service has been celebrating #WorldBookDay by sharing the benefits of reading to your baby - building warmth, security and shared joy. They're also asking, what's your favourite book? Follow Parent Infant Mental Health Services, Pennine Care NHS on Facebook

We've launched a new Respect campaign to promote a culture of kindness, safety and mutual respect across our services. This sets out clear expectations for patients, service users and visitors about how our staff - and everyone who uses our services - should be treated. Read more on our website.

We’ve become the first mental health trust in the country to offer appointment notifications directly through the NHS App, helping you to easily manage your appointments. The pilot in Bury has already sent more than 7,000 appointment notifications - 44% through the NHS App.

"The most important thing to remember is that you're not expected to be an expert on eating disorders, but there to support in kind, loving and compassionate way." Danielle from our community eating disorders service has shared this advice on supporting someone with an eating disorder.

Our community eating disorders service provide support for young people, along with advice to carers and family members. Meet our colleagues from the north team, which covers Bury, Oldham and Rochdale, and south team, which covers Stockport, Tameside and Glossop. #EatingDisordersAwarenessWeek

Warm wishes to Muslim and Christian patients, colleagues and communities who are marking these important traditions from today and tomorrow. Ramadan Mubarak to everyone who is observing this holy month. Blessed Lent to those taking part in the 40 day observance from Ash Wednesday until Easter.

On Hope unit, the team are always trying to find fun and creative ways to help young people with their mental health recovery. They recently held their first ‘cultural day’ - about Scotland with it being around Burns Night, complete with coos, haggis and Irn Bru. #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek

Introducing the new icon for neighbourhood mental health teams - the new name for 'living well' services across Greater Manchester. Thanks to everyone who voted, this icon was chosen as the favourite by over half of voters (and second choice for 27%).

"Get it off your chest. I owe Noreen my life. I couldn’t even imagine being where I am today - it’s fantastic.” Noreen (pictured) and Bury NHS Talking Therapies helped transform the life of Jaime, who lived with severe anxiety and depression for over a decade: www.penninecare.nhs.uk/about-us/lat...

Help us to improve the digital services we offer - including video appointments, websites, patient portal, mobile apps and other online tools. Our digital team need your views as part of our digital strategy for mental health and learning disability services: www.penninecare.nhs.uk/about-us/lat...

Have your say on the new neighbourhood mental health services icon and brand by Friday 23 January. You can vote for your favourite using the link on this webpage: www.penninecare.nhs.uk/living-well-...

The Meadows in Stockport organise lots of activities to provide some fun, support, reminiscence and a welcome distraction for people living with dementia. They recently welcomed Tickled Pink for a morning Cinderella pantomime (oh no they didn’t!), with dancing, singing and amazing feedback.

Winter can be a tough time – but you’re not alone. Call NHS 111 Mental Health for urgent support 24/7. You can also drop in to some services: 💚 Bury - BIG Peer-Led Crisis Service 💙 Oldham Listening Space ❤️ Rochdale Listening Lounge 🧡 Stockport Open Door 💜 SAFE Tameside Details on our website.

From February, 'living well' mental health services across Greater Manchester will change their name 'neighbourhood mental health services' based on your feedback. You can help to choose a new service icon, to go alongside the new name. Vote on three options: www.penninecare.nhs.uk/living-well-...

Pennine Care Charity secured £32,600 from Greater Manchester Green Spaces Fund, to transform land at Birch Hill into a community garden and growing space. This will provide a calm, natural environment for patients to enjoy, supporting our green plan to improve health while tackling climate change.

Bury living well service has launched a new weekly community group, to support mental wellbeing and life skills such as routine, preparing food, socialising, and managing emotions. The group is being shaped by people with lived experience, with a second group planned in Prestwich.

“Previously I had no hope and couldn’t see a future. But I’m now in a good place. I feel positive and excited about putting some dreams and plans in place." Stockport mum Lisa shared her recovery story after being supported by Stockport living well service: www.penninecare.nhs.uk/about-us/lat...

Oldham Library now has a baby loss remembrance tree, where parents or family can visit to remember their babies, share their messages, and find information about support services. We hope this can provide a space for parents to hold your loved ones in mind and get any support you need.

It’s been lovely to see lots of support and kindness over Christmas. Thanks to everyone who donated gifts or raised money for our services and patients. And to everyone who helped to organise donations for local food banks and charity appeals to support those in need over the festive period.

Thanks to everyone who supported Pennine Care Charity in 2025. Here's a short message from Wes, Pennine Care Charity director. We have a 500 mile challenge and some other great events if you fancy getting active and giving something back - which are both great for your own mental health!

We hope you have a fantastic Christmas, New Year and festive period, from all of us at Pennine Care NHS. If you need urgent mental health support and advice, you can call NHS 111 Mental Health any time. Please note this Bluesky acccount is not monitored between now and the New Year Bank Holiday.

A special shout out to all the health and care colleagues working over Christmas and New Year. Nurses Emily, Olivia and Elle are working Christmas Day on Hope unit, one of our child and adolescent mental health services at Fairfield Hospital in Bury.

Share your views on digital support for mental health and learning disability services. We are improving the digital services we offer - including video appointments, websites, patient portal, mobile apps and other online tools. For details visit: www.penninecare.nhs.uk/about-us/lat...

"Without therapy, I wouldn’t have got a dog through fear I wouldn’t have enough time to look after one. Thanks to Ruth, I realised I can make time, and it’s great for me." Simon from Royton was helped by NHS Talking Therapies when work stress and anxiety affected his health. Story on our website.

Chanukah Sameach. Wishing our Jewish patients, colleagues and communities a happy Hanukkah. The Jewish festival of light started on Sunday evening and lasts until next Monday. Our chaplain Rabbi Chanan Tomlin led a celebration at the Irwell unit in Bury.

Being creative, learning new skills and practicing mindfulness all have a positive impact on our mental health. The process of creating and doing an activity – drawing, painting, writing, making something – can be a good meditative practice to focus, reduce stress, improve mood and self-esteem.

Thanks to everyone at Saddleworth Santa Dash and at The Snipe who made a donation to Pennine Care Charity the past weekends. Your generosity has raised over £400 towards community-based groups and projects for people who use our mental health, learning disability and autism services.

Hospitals are incredibly busy at the moment. Alternatives to help: 📲Call NHS 111, including the new NHS 111 Mental Health 🚪Drop-in mental health services 🧑‍⚕️A pharmacist, for health advice 💉Have your flu vaccine, as flu reaches record levels in hospitals More at www.penninecare.nhs.uk/winter