You can make Christmas extra special for some of Sefton’s vulnerable children by getting behind the Mayor’s Christmas Toy appeal.

Each year thousands of toys, gifts and stocking fillers are lovingly donated by kind hearted residents from across the borough and given to our most deserving families.

New gifts unwrapped for children of all ages, can be taken to either Bootle, Maghull or Southport Town Halls or dropped off at any Sefton Council library or leisure centre by Wednesday December 18.

Residents can also donate at the Asda store in Bootle and Southport. Gift tokens are particularly welcome to be given to older children.

All presents will then be distributed to children and young people throughout the borough by volunteers from Sefton Council and Sefton Children’s Trust on behalf of the Mayor.

Cllr June Burns, the Mayor of Sefton, said: “The generosity of the people of Sefton is amazing and every year thousands of people donate a present to the annual Mayor’s Christmas Gift Appeal.

“Putting smile on a little one’s face at Christmas is one of the best things a person could do and so I urge as many people as possible to get involved.

“Any donation is welcome and we are looking for gifts for all ages from babies and toddlers to teens.

“To ensure we can get the right gift to the right child may I please ask that the gifts be new and are left unwrapped.”

For further information on the Mayor’s Christmas Gift Appeal please call 07837863075.

There is another great film lined up by Age Concern Crosby for December’s Flicks and Friends at the Plaza Community Cinema, Waterloo.

Especially for those aged over 60, there will be a showing of Knives Out next Tuesday (10th) with doors opening at 12.30pm and the film starting at 1pm.

The £1 entrance also includes biscuit. Bring along a friend to this popular event.

The film – Knives Out – is a dramatic thriller about a detective and a trooper who travel to a lush estate to interview the quirky relatives of a patriarch who died during his 85th birthday celebration.

It stars Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis and many more.

There is no need to book, just turn up in plenty of time on the day itself.

Sefton residents are being asked to play their part in this year’s Public Health England’s (PHE) ‘Keep Antibiotics Working’ campaign this winter and all year round by ensuring they use antibiotics correctly and understand when they are not required.

Healthcare professionals at NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Southport and Formby CCG are teaming up with Sefton Council to support the campaign.

Antibiotics are medicines that treat bacterial infections by killing or preventing the spread of that infection. They are only prescribed when:

• the condition is unlikely to clear up without them
• the infection could spread to others
• antibiotics could significantly speed up recovery
• the illness is serious.

Antibiotics are not prescribed for viral infections such as colds or flu because they are not effective in fighting these types of illnesses. Viral infections can be treated with a combination of self-care and over the counter medicines.

Susanne Lynch, a pharmacist and head of the medicines management team at the CCGs in Sefton, said: “We’ve done a lot of work already to explain to people that antibiotics are not always the answer but this campaign will hopefully add to this, helping GPs and pharmacists spread the word more and remind people about the risks of taking antibiotics when it’s not necessary.

“We need to preserve antibiotics for when we really need them and we are calling on the public to join us in tackling antibiotic resistance by listening to your GP, pharmacist or nurse’s advice and only take antibiotics when necessary. Taking antibiotics just in case may seem like a harmless act, but it can have negative consequences for you and your family’s health in the future.”

Matthew Ashton, Director of Public Health, Sefton Council, added: “It is really important that you use antibiotics properly to keep yourself well this winter. Always make sure that your antibiotics have been prescribed to you, that you are taking the recommended dose and that they are in-date.”

If you have any questions about any of your antibiotic prescriptions, you should visit your local pharmacist. They will be able to answer any questions you have and give you advice.

If you believe that you have a bacterial infection, it is recommended to call NHS 111 or visit your local pharmacist for advice.

Local residents with an urgent but non-life threatening medical concern this winter are being encouraged to use NHS 111 by health commissioners in Sefton.

NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Southport and Formby CCG are supporting the national ‘Help Us, Help You’ campaign, focussing on different services over winter, one of which being NHS 111.

NHS 111 is operated by fully trained advisers 24 hours a day, seven days a week who will listen to your medical concerns and, if necessary, arrange for you to speak to relevant healthcare professionals, such as a nurse, doctor or emergency dentist.

You can access the service by dialling 111 or online at www.111.nhs.uk

Dr Craig Gillespie, local GP and chair of NHS South Sefton CCG, said: “NHS 111 is a service that all local residents can benefit from if they need health advice. Using 111 can save time that would be spent in a GP practice or walk in centre.”

Dr Rob Caudwell, local GP and chair of NHS Southport and Formby CCG, said: “If you have any mobility issues or are having trouble leaving the house because of your illness, NHS 111 allows you to get help from the comfort of your own home. Staying at home will also limit the spread of germs to vulnerable people in the community.”

NHS 111 will advise you on whether you should book an appointment with your GP or extended GP access service, give self-care advice, or direct you to an appropriate, local service if needed.

Whatever the need is, NHS 111 will ensure that you get the right care, from the right person, as quickly as possible.

So, if you think you need urgent medical help, call 111 or visit www.111.nhs.uk

To find out what services are available in Sefton visit either NHS South Sefton CCG’s  or NHS Southport and Formby CCG’s websites.

NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), NHS Southport and Formby CCG and Sefton Council are supporting safeguarding adults awareness activities from 18-22 November.

Information hubs, organised in conjunction with the Merseyside Safeguarding Adults Board (MSAB), bringing CCGs and councils together with a range of other partners across the borough, will be stationed throughout Sefton to give local people the opportunity to access information and advice on safeguarding.

This is an opportunity for local people to meet safeguarding professionals and find out more about what they can do to ensure that adults in Sefton, who may be at risk, are able to live fulfilling lives, free from abuse and neglect.

Trained staff at each venue will be on hand to answer questions about safeguarding adults, in addition to offering advice and distributing relevant information.

Deborah Butcher, Interim Director for Adult Social Care at Sefton Council, said: “I’m so pleased that Sefton is joining other local authorities across Merseyside to raise awareness of safeguarding.

“It’s so important for local people to educate themselves on issues like safeguarding and with the right access to information and advice on safeguarding, we can help to keep Sefton a safe place for all.”

Fiona Taylor, chief officer for NHS South Sefton CCG and NHS Southport and Formby CCG, said: “As commissioners of NHS services in Sefton, we are proud to be involved in this Merseyside-wide effort to raise awareness of safeguarding. The information hubs are a fantastic chance for local people to find out how they can play their part in ensuring adults are safe from abuse, exploitation and harm.”

Sue Redmond, Chair of Merseyside Safeguarding Adults Board, said: “By supporting the national awareness week, we as a board are hopeful that we can raise awareness of safeguarding in Merseyside communities, and the roles that everyone can play in preventing abuse and neglect.

“If, by our collective efforts, we are successful in better safeguarding even a small number of people across Merseyside, I feel it will have been worth it. As such, we aim to reach a wide range of people from all backgrounds and ages to say that safeguarding is everyone’s business.”

Trained staff at each venue will be on hand to answer questions about safeguarding adults, in addition to offering advice and distributing relevant information.

During the week, members of the board will also visit agencies across the region to gauge how adult safeguarding is being developed in different areas, to share and take note of best practice and to speak to individuals and staff who are affected by safeguarding adults.

The information hubs will be at the following Sefton venues on:

• Thursday 21 November at One Stop Shop Bootle (L20 3ET)
• Friday 22 November at Southport Hospital (PR8 6PN)

The MSAB was formed in 2017 and is made up of the four former safeguarding adults boards from Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral. The board includes senior managers from local NHS, local authority and Merseyside Police alongside members from other emergency services, probation services and the voluntary sector. It’s primary responsibility is to ensure that adults in Merseyside, who may be at risk, are able to live fulfilling lives, free from abuse and neglect.

If you think someone is being harmed or neglected, visit www.merseysidesafeguardingadultsboard.co.uk for advice and contact details.

A series of short videos showcasing some of the free support that is available to Sefton residents to support their health and wellbeing is being launched during Self Care Week (18 – 24 November).

Professionals from NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), NHS Southport and Formby CCG, Living Well Sefton, Access Sefton and NHS Informatics Merseyside have come together to create the video campaign. They are reminding residents of the advice and services in the borough to help them with minor illnesses and to generally look after themselves and those around them.

‘Think Self Care for Life’ is the strapline this year from the Self Care Forum and is all about people making improvements in their lives to protect their physical health and mental wellbeing.

Karen Nolan, Living Well Sefton Programme Manager, says: “Living Well Sefton enables people to make small changes to their lives that can have a big impact on their wellbeing. We offer individual and group support around a broad range of issues from eating better and being more active to managing debt. All Sefton residents are eligible can self refer via our website or give us a call on 0300 323 0181.”

Elizabeth Forrest, a Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) Therapist at Access Sefton, the CCGs’ commissioned talking therapies service, says: “We help people over the age of 16 with their mental health. You can self refer or be referred by your GP to the service for anxiety, depression and other common mental health conditions.

“We offer free, easy access to a range of proven one-to-one talking therapies, including guided self-help, cognitive behavioural therapy and counselling, as well as group workshops, telephone and web-based treatments.”

The CCGs in Sefton are also reminding you that your pharmacist can offer advice on minor illnesses and give you advice on what over the counter medicines you might need.

Grace Harris, a pharmacist at the CCGs, says: “It’s so important to look after yourself and those around you to avoid becoming ill, especially in winter. We are also reminding you to stock up on over the counter medicines before the Christmas period.

“We can offer clinical advice on a range of topics without an appointment or tell you which NHS service you might need if it is more serious. We can also advise on the correct use of medicines and devices when you need it.”

The CCGs head of medicines management, Susanne Lynch, also reminds people that antibiotics are not always needed and why it’s important that we reduce the prescribing of them: “We need to preserve antibiotics for when we really need them and we are calling on you, the public, to join us in tackling antibiotic resistance by listening to your GP, pharmacist or nurse’s advice and only take antibiotics when necessary.

“Taking antibiotics just in case may seem like a harmless act, but it can have negative consequences for you and your family’s health in the future.”

NHS Informatics Merseyside and the CCGs are also reminding residents about the NHS app, which can be used on an iphone or android device that gives people access to a wealth of information such as checking symptoms and much more. NHS 111 online (111.nhs.uk) or via telephone can also help with checking symptoms and directing you to the right NHS service should you need it. Both of these services can save time visiting your doctor when it may not be necessary.

To watch the short videos on Sefton services that can help you, please visit the NHS South Sefton CCG or NHS Southport and Formby CCG you tube pages or websites throughout the week as a new video will be added each day: www.southseftonccg.nhs.uk / www.southportandformbyccg.nhs.uk

For more information on Access Sefton please call 0300 303 2708 and for Living Well Sefton please visit: www.livingwellsefton.org.uk

Follow the campaign on twitter: #Seftonselfcare @NHSSSCCG @ NHSSFCCG

Age Concern Crosby is holding its next Flicks and Friends film on Tuesday, 19th November at 1pm at the Plaza Community Cinema in Waterloo.

This month’s film is Judy (12A), a biopic of the singer and actor Judy Garland, which stars Renee Zellweger.

It is set in the winter of 1968 when Judy arrives in London to perform a series of sold-out concerts.

Flicks and Friends is specifically for the over 60s and entrance to the film is £1.