Your local NHS in south Sefton is reminding people to prepare for holidays wisely and to examine their options should they or a family member become ill or have an accident whilst out and about over the school holidays.

NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is reminding people to be organised with packing if they’re going abroad and to think about which NHS service to use should a member of the family take ill over the break.

The advice it is offering for those preparing to go abroad is:

• Remember to take your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) card if you are going to Europe
• Pack plenty of sun cream, always pack a high factor and specialist sunscreen for children and babies
• Try to keep out of the sun between 11am and 3pm when on holiday
• If you have to go out in the heat, walk in the shade, apply sunscreen and wear a hat
• Wear light, loose fitting cotton clothes
• Drink plenty of cold drinks to keep hydrated

With people being out and about a lot more with the family over the school holidays, the local CCG  is also reminding people that A&E and 999 services are for life-threatening and serious conditions and to remind others of this should they become unwell.

Pharmacies can offer confidential advice on minor health issues and assist with what over the counter medication you can take. Over the August bank holiday when GP practices are closed, some pharmacies will remain open to ensure people can get the support they need; you can find out which pharmacies are open by visiting your local CCG website and following them on social media, where there will be regular updates.

Dr Andrew Mimnagh, chair at NHS South Sefton CCG said: “It’s always a busy time over summer for the NHS and whilst we want you to have a good break, we are keen to remind you to use the NHS services in the right way. If you, a family member or someone you care for do become unwell do take a look at the advice on offer on which service to use depending on the health issue.

“It is a time when people become more active and make the most of being outdoors which we certainly encourage but a time when we may see more accidents and busier A&E departments. By using the services in the right way, it means that you are helping the NHS and other residents who may have a more urgent condition to be treated but always seek advice if you are unsure.

“It’s not only important to make sure that you know where to go if you fall ill when you are at home, but also vitally important to make sure that you are fully prepared if you or a family member or friend falls ill if you go away on holiday. For those going abroad to Europe and afar it is vital to get appropriate travel insurance as health bills can be significant in many parts of the world.

“With the August Bank Holiday weekend fast approaching, it is also important to prepare in advance if you require any repeat prescriptions over the weekend and to know which pharmacies are open on the Bank Holiday Monday, when GP practices will be closed.”

Continue reading “NHS remind people to examine their options during summer holidays”

Public Health England has launched the One You physical activity campaign to encourage people to do brisk 10 minute walks* with the accompanying Active 10 app.

According to evidence reviewed by Public Health England (PHE) more than 850,000 adults aged 40-60 in the North West** do not achieve ten minutes of continuous brisk walking over the course of a month and are missing out on important health benefits such as preventing cancer, heart disease and poor mental health.

The findings also reveal how lifestyles have changed over time, showing that people in the UK are 20% less active now than they were in the 1960s and on average walk 15 miles less a year than two decades ago. The sedentary nature of modern, busy lives makes it difficult for many to find the time for enough exercise to benefit their health.

PHE’s new One You physical activity campaign is encouraging adults to build 10 minutes continuous brisk walking into their day as a simple way to improve their health. This is particularly aimed at those who have an inactive or low activity lifestyle and may find incorporating activity into their day challenging. The ‘Active 10’ app has been developed to show how much brisk walking a person is doing each day and how to incorporate more of it into their lifestyles.

Meeting the CMO’s physical activity guidance of 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise can provide health benefits including a lowered risk of type 2 diabetes (by 40%), cardiovascular disease (by 35%), dementia (by 30%) and some cancers (by 20%). Taking at least one brisk ten minute walk a day has been shown to reduce the risk of early death by 15%.

To stay healthy, the Chief Medical Officer advises adults aged 19-64 to do 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise each week. This should consist of a mix of aerobic activity such as cycling or fast walking, and strengthening exercises on at least two days a week.

The severity of the current physical inactivity epidemic amongst adults contributes to one in six deaths in the UK and is costing the NHS over £0.9 billion per year.

Continue reading “Failure to walk briskly may increase health risks”

North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) is changing the way it responds to 999 calls to improve emergency care for patients. On 7 August 2017, NWAS went live with a new system that will ensure the sickest patients will receive the fastest response. It is the result of the largest study of an ambulance system ever completed, anywhere in the world. What are the changes? The … Continue reading New ambulance standards

The Mayor of Sefton’s office are throwing open the doors of Bootle Town Hall next month for National Heritage Open Day. Hour long tours of Bootle Town Hall will be available throughout Saturday September 9, forming one of over 5,000 events across England to reflect the rich and diverse cultural heritage of our communities. Four tours will take place from 10:30am, 11:30am, 1.30pm and 2.30pm, … Continue reading Mayor throws open door to Town Hall

Sefton Inclusion Service are running a number of ‘Social Communication Coffee Events’ for those parents/carers of a child with a diagnosis of Autism or social communication difficulties, providing a listening ear or some professional advice and the chance to meet a network of other parents of children with ASD/ social communication needs The events involve: A brief talk from a professional on a topic ie: sleep/ … Continue reading Social Communication Coffee Events