Author: Bridie Finnan

People in Sefton can now help themselves to live healthier, happier lives using accredited health applications included on sefton.orcha.co.uk.

Health and care partners across the NHS, local authority and voluntary, community and faith sector (VCF) in Sefton have worked with the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Applications (ORCHA) to develop an online health app library tailored to the health needs of Sefton residents.

Dr Peter Chamberlain, local GP and chair of NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said:

“This is a fantastic development for people in Sefton. Health apps can provide people with important information to help them manage their health conditions and live healthier and happier lives through exercise and healthy living. The ORCHA Health App Library makes it quicker and easier to access safe, accredited health and wellbeing apps, which can make a real difference to people’s lives.”

There are thousands of accredited health apps listed on sefton.orcha.co.uk and they have been carefully selected to meet the health needs of people in Sefton. They include apps to help people with children and young families, to help people keep active, eat healthier or to support their mental health or manage long term conditions such as diabetes, asthma or heart disease.

Dr Rob Caudwell, local GP and chair of NHS Southport and Formby CCG, said:

“Anyone can use sefton.orcha.co.uk to access health support and information that they can rely on. In addition, we’re training health and care professionals in Sefton on how to use the app library to select specific apps that can help to support the people they care for. For some people using these health apps can enable them to take better care of their own health.”

Liz Ashall Payne, CEO, ORCHA said:

“ORCHA is the world’s leading health app evaluation and distribution organisation and works with the NHS and health professionals across the UK. We continuously review all of the apps on the ORCHA health app library, ensuring that they meet stringent NHS guidelines, to provide health information you can rely on.”

Deborah Butcher, designate place director at Sefton Partnerships said:

“Digital health is revolutionising health and care services, helping to provide care that is more patient-centred and empowering. The apps selected for the health app library are aligned to our local assessment of the borough’s health needs. They give our health and care professionals more tools to support care and they give local people access to reliable, accredited information to enable them to live healthier, happy lives.’

‘This is another great example of how our partnership of NHS, Sefton Council and VCF organisations is working to improve the health and wellbeing of people in Sefton.”

Sefton residents will soon have the opportunity to recycle more as Household Waste Recycling Centres open for an extra three hours every day.

From Friday 1st April the region’s Centres will be open from 8.00am until 8.00pm.

There are 14 Household Waste Recycling Centres in the region. They are operated by resource management company Veolia on behalf of Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA).

Carl Beer, Chief Executive of MRWA, said: “The Recycling Centres accept a range of household materials for recycling, from batteries, cans and cardboard, through to garden clippings, glass bottles, wood, and white goods. They also accept lesser-known items such as food and drink cartons, clothes, hard plastics and electrical items. The lighter summer nights mean we can open for longer.”

Householders can check both www.recycleright.org.uk or www.merseysidewda.gov.uk for details of what can be accepted at their local site.

The Centres provide a popular service for residents and can become extremely busy at peak times so visits should be planned carefully.

There is a system in place for those who wish to visit in a van or with a large trailer. Bookings can be made at www.merseysidewda.gov.uk.

More information on what you can do with your household waste items can be found at www.recycleright.org.uk.

Formby – Altcar Road, Formby – L37 8EG
Sefton Meadows – Sefton Lane, Maghull – L31 8BX
Southport – Foul Lane, Scarisbrick New Road – PR9 7RG
South Sefton – Irlam Road, Bootle – L20 4AE

Sefton Council is proudly supporting International Women’s Day and working for gender equality and female empowerment.

International Women’s Day calls on the international community to recognise the role of women in society, share experiences, acknowledge inequalities and pledge to do more to achieve equality for all women.

This year, Sefton has launched its Women’s Network, which will hold its first event to coincide with International Women’s Day.

Sefton Women’s Network is a working group of women that meets monthly. The Network discusses how to address gender inequality, tackle challenges that discourage women accessing leadership opportunities and attract women into typically male-dominated careers and industries.

Sefton has a strong track record of women being visible at all levels of the organisation and efforts are made across all departments to foster understanding and equality.

This International Women’s Day, Sefton Council are not only celebrating women but recognising the challenges and inequality women face. Sefton has a strong track record in supporting women across the Borough, who disproportionately feel the effects of discrimination, harassment and abuse. Recently, the Council began consulting on a Domestic Abuse strategy in order to tailor support to victims, most often women.

Cllr Trish Hardy, Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing said:

“International Women’s Day is a celebration of women in society but also a recognition of the inequality and discrimination women face on a daily basis.

“I am proud that Sefton is a welcoming and inclusive borough for all women and we work with partners to provide support for the most vulnerable.”

 

Andrea Watts, Executive Director for People and Chair of the Women’s Network said:

“Sefton Council has always valued women across our organisation and it feels like a place where women belong at any level of the organisation. Our Senior Leadership Team is a 50/50 split men and women and makes for a diverse, vibrant discussion with a range of life experiences and leadership skills to draw on.”

“I am proud to support International Women’s Day and its goals of equality and empowerment and glad that this year we are marking it with first event for our Women’s Network, which brings together women at all levels across the organisation, which helps ensure a diverse range of opinion and challenge.”

The International Women’s Day flag will be flown from Bootle Town Hall on Tuesday 8^th March.