Author: Martin Driver

Health leaders at NHS South Sefton and NHS Southport & Formby Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are reassuring residents that the NHS is here should they urgently need it over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Although GP practices in Sefton will be closed over the Bank Holiday, there are services and online support available to help people that need urgent same-daycare or treatment.

Some community pharmacies in the area may be open on Bank Holiday Monday – people should check their local pharmacy’s website for details.

NHS 111 can be contacted 24 hours a day, either online or by phone. Callers will be assessed, given advice, and directed straightaway to the local service that can best meet their needs, including Sefton’s local GP out-of-hours team.

For minor illnesses or injuries, Litherland Walk-in Centre is open from 8am until 8pm over the Bank Holiday but people should call the Centre on 0300 100 1004 before going along.

More about Litherland Walk-in Centre.

Patients can also seek medical advice at the West Lancashire Walk-in Centre and the Skelmersdale Walk-in Centre. Both centres are open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm, including Bank Holidays. Patients wishing to go to the Skelmersdale Walk-in Clinic need to call in advance to book an appointment, on 01695 402180.

More about the West Lancashire Walk-in Centre.

More about the Skelmersdale Walk-in Centre.

Anyone with Covid-19 (coronavirus) symptoms – a high temperature or a new, continuous cough and/or loss of taste or smell – who needs medical advice, should use the dedicated NHS 111 COVID-19 service online at www.111.nhs.uk/COVID-19.

After seeing the number of people who headed to its coastline this week, Sefton Council has adopted a new campaign ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend.

‘Wish you weren’t here!’ is the Council’s spoof take on the picture postcard message it is sending to people thinking of travelling to its beaches from across the north west.

Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing Cllr Ian Moncur said: “It’s not the message you expect to see on a postcard, or what Sefton Council would usually be telling the public, but at this time we need people to think about their own and others’ safety, as well as the wellbeing of our communities and Council staff.

“Our beaches are tempting but they are not able to cope with high level of visitors at the moment. Beach car parks are closed and parking is limited. Public toilets remain closed, bins are not in use and there are no Lifeguard patrols.

“Recently, data showed the Merseyside region as having a higher death rate than England and the rest of the North West, and it remains important that people stay home as much as possible and maintain the effort to reduce transmission of this dangerous virus.”

Sefton Council has asked people to continue being its eyes and ears and to report any large gatherings to the police by dialling 101 or to greensefton@sefton.gov.uk.

Cllr Moncur added: “We would also ask local people who are travelling to their nearby beaches to park considerately and ensure there is access for emergency vehicles at all times.”

The Government has now said that anyone over the age of 5 showing symptoms of Coronavirus – which now include a new continuous cough OR fever OR loss of/ change in smell or taste – is eligible for a swab test.

People should take the test within the first 3 days of showing symptoms.

People can apply either:

• online at nhs.uk/coronavirus
• on the phone by calling 119 between 7am and 11pm.

Key workers should continue to register via their employer or the self-referral route.

Applicants will then receive options of attending a walk-in or drive-in test centre, depending on availability, or of getting a test kit delivered to their home.

People going to a test centre will receive instructions on how to take the test and how and when they will receive their results when they arrive.

Currently, there is very high demand for tests and appointments for key, frontline  workers such as NHS and Social Care workers are being prioritised so a test is not absolutely guaranteed.

The test involves taking a swab of the nose and the back of the throat, which can be done by the person themselves or by someone else. Tests for children age 5-11 must be administered by a parent/guardian.

Results will be emailed or texted to individuals. The aim is within 48 hours if attended a test centre, 72 hours for home tests.

Those who are taking the test at home are asked to read the instructions carefully and to  ensure they put the lid on securely and apply the barcode lengthways to speed up the process of  sending their results.

A dedicated Testing call centre has been set up, if people have not received their results they can ring 0300 303 2713 – this is not for clinical advice. People should ring NHS on 111 or in an emergency 999.

Link to information about local help in Sefton.