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Rapid COVID-19 testing kits now available from pharmacies in Sefton

15 May 2021
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News, Sefton Council
Photo of Home Testing Kit components
Home Testing Kit components

People in Sefton can now access free rapid COVID-19 testing kits from ALL local pharmacies as part of a new service to help pandemic recovery.

The new ‘Pharmacy Collect’ service means that COVID-19 testing kits – known as lateral flow devices – are available from pharmacies free of charge. Anyone can request a box of test kits from the pharmacy counter for regular testing at home or elsewhere. The tests are intended for people who are asymptomatic and will be useful for those who need to undertake regular COVID-19 tests, such as those who need to leave the house to go to work.

Online checker

Example of the map showing pharmacies from which test kits are available
Pharmacy Finder

These testing kits are available in 9 out of 10 pharmacies in England and constituents can use a new online checker  to find their nearest pharmacy offering testing kits. ‘Pharmacy Collect’ offers a convenient option for people to access rapid COVID-19 testing, as many pharmacies are located in the heart of communities, on high-streets and within supermarkets.

It is hoped that widening the offer of tests will help to identify COVID-positive cases in the community and break the chain of transmission, avoiding the need for further lockdowns.

Simpler

Margaret Jones, Sefton’ Council’s Director of Public Health said:  “Around third of people with the COVID-19 virus are not showing any symptoms, so it’s important that all of us who are out at work or just out and about take a rapid test twice a week and it couldn’t be simpler than popping into you local pharmacy to collect the test kits.”

Dr Lisa Manning CEO of community pharmacy Sefton said: “Community pharmacy provision of COVID testing means that people in Sefton will have greater access to this support. Many people may choose pharmacy for health services because they can visit pharmacies in a variety of locations and at a time that suits them.

“Community pharmacists are pleased to be able to do their bit as people return to work and education. This is just one of many examples of how pharmacy teams have helped support patients, the public and the nation during the pandemic.”

Results

Rapid tests for people without coronavirus symptoms usually provide a result in around 30 minutes. Rapid testing involves taking a throat & nasal swab, dropping the sample into the container supplied and then checking the result after 20 to 30 minutes.

Rapid test kits can be collected from Bootle Town Hall and Splash World in Southport from 8am-8pm seven days a week. No appointments are needed.

Kits

Kits can also be collected between 2.30pm and 8pm, seven days a week, from walk-through Local Test Centres opposite Bootle Town Hall and at Crosby Library Car Park, Netherton Activity Centre and Southport Town Hall. No appointments are needed.

They are available from all Sefton’s pharmacies and they can be ordered online at www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

Emotional Wellbeing Strategy launched for Mental Health Awareness Week

14 May 2021
Bridie Finnan
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Categories: Front Page, Latest News, Uncategorized

Sefton Council has launched the Children and Young People’s Emotional Wellbeing Strategy as part of Mental Health Awareness Week.

The Strategy has been developed by the Sefton Emotional Health and Wellbeing Board.

The strategy focuses on increasing access, building resilience and early identification of the mental health and wellbeing of children and adolescents through schools, school-based interventions and partnership working between healthcare, education and the community/voluntary sector.

 

Councillor John Joseph Kelly, Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care said,

“This is an important strategy, which sets out our intentions for the next 5 years to make sure that children and young people in Sefton grow up heard, happy, healthy and achieving.”

 

Councillor Paul Cummins, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care added,

“It is a priority for all organisations in Sefton that children have positive emotional wellbeing and mental health, and this strategy will make sure that we are all working together towards this goal.”

 

The strategy has been developed by Sefton Council, South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group, Southport and Formby Clinical Commissioning Group, Sefton CVS, Alder Hey Hospital and members of the Sefton Emotional Health and Wellbeing Board, in conjunction with children and young people in Sefton.

You can read it here

 

Boost your mental health and make a difference to your local area by volunteering with Green Sefton

14 May 2021
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Green Sefton, Health, Latest News

As National Mental Health Awareness Week comes to a close this weekend, the Council’s Green Sefton service is calling on people across Sefton to consider volunteering at an outdoor space in their community.

Past volunteer activity undertaken by a group at Merrilocks Park with Green Sefton officers
Past volunteer activity undertaken by a group at Merrilocks Park with Green Sefton officers

Volunteers make a hugely valuable contribution to the management of Sefton’s beautiful coast and countryside. Volunteering can also be a great way for people to socialise with other likeminded people. And there are many mental health benefits to being around nature.

Evidence suggests there are five steps, recognised by the NHS and mental health charity Mind, that can improve mental health and wellbeing. These steps are – connecting with other people, being physically active, learning new skills, giving to others and paying attention to the present moment. All of them are closely linked with volunteering and influence how community opportunities are shaped to promote positive mental health.

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “Our volunteers are a fantastic asset to Sefton’s communities.

“Not only do they play a vital role in supporting the Council in the upkeep of our green spaces and 22-mile coastline, they also reap the benefits of being outdoors and connecting with nature.”

Mark Shaw, Green Sefton Service Manager, said: “It’s been a difficult 12 months where we haven’t been able to run as many collaborative volunteer opportunities as we would like to have done, but as the roadmap eases, we can’t wait to resume a full calendar of activities.”

Regular volunteers get involved in every aspect of Green Sefton and its partners’ work. These include practical tasks such as helping collect litter, talking to visitors, leading guided walks and monitoring wildlife or just being an extra set of ‘eyes and ears’ while out walking the dog.

Suzanne McCumiskey, Community Engagement Officer with Green Sefton, said: “We’ve got an exciting couple of months ahead of us as we’ll be taking part in the Great British Spring Clean, led by the charity Keep Britain Tidy, which also coincides with this year’s Volunteers’ Week. These are fantastic opportunities for anyone who wants to take up volunteering, to help give back to our beautiful parks and stunning coastline.”

Past volunteer activity undertaken by the Botanic Gardens Community Association and Green Sefton
Past volunteer activity undertaken by the Botanic Gardens Community Association and Green Sefton

Green Sefton is always looking to improve its volunteering opportunities, and as restrictions ease further next week allowing larger groups to gather outdoors, there will be an opportunity that’s right for everyone across the Borough.

Those who register an interest in becoming a volunteer will join a network where upcoming opportunities will be shared with them. Activities are arranged during both weekdays and weekends so that everyone has a chance to take part if they wish.

To find out more, people can contact the Green Sefton team directly by email at greensefton@sefton.gov.uk.

Localised testing will help identify and isolate new COVID variant cases in Sefton

13 May 2021
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News

Local coronavirus testing is being introduced in Sefton’s Formby area in response to recent COVID-19 outbreaks, which showed cases of the variant first identified in India.

Starting from Friday 14th May, mobile, drive-through test centres will be set up at Deansgate Lane Park in Formby (L37 3LF) and at Ainsdale Hope on Sandringham Road (PR8 2PJ), and there will be a walk-through test centre at Sefton Professional Development Centre (PDC) on Park Road (L37 6EW).

The Deansgate drive-through test centre will be open from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday, and the PDC on Park Lane will be open between 9am and 4pm seven days a week.

The test centre at Ainsdale will be open from 9am until 4pm on Friday 14th May, but from Saturday 15th May will be open 9am to 8pm seven days a week.

Appointments are not needed for tests at any of these centres.

There are also pop-up test sites at Formby and Freshfields rail stations.

Open 9am to 4pm until Friday 21 May, between 9am and 4pm, the two sites will be offering PCR tests to people without COVID-19 symptoms as part of efforts to find cases of the virus variant first identified in India. The teams at the pop-ups will also be handing out free home testing kits and will be joined by Community COVID Engagement Officers who can provide vaccination advice.

Identified sites

 Sefton’s Director of Public Health, Margaret Jones said: “Working with Public Health England, in response to a localised outbreak of infections and cases of the variant first identified in India, we have identified sites for test centres in and around Formby.

“We are encouraging everyone aged over 16 who lives, works or studies in Formby to attend one of these dedicated local test sites, once they are open.

“Anyone who has visited any venue in Formby over the last 2 weeks is also welcome to be tested at these test sites.”

Dedicated

She continued: “It’s important that people go to these dedicated test sites and not to our other sites, as these are the ones specifically set up to identify the Indian variant.”

This variant, which has been classified by Public Health England as a ‘variant of concern’, has been linked with coronavirus cases in Sefton’s Formby area.

Confident

Mrs Jones added:

“This variant, which was first identified in India, is not thought to affect people more seriously, inhibit the effectiveness of the vaccines, or to be more infectious than the dominant Kent variant. However, identifying cases is important so that infections can be identified, traced and contained before they spread any further will support the return to a more normal life that we all want to see.

“I am confident that our local communities will, as they did in Southport earlier this year, help us by taking part in this local, dedicated testing.”

Vaccinations

People across Sefton are being reminded of the need to continue taking every precaution, getting tested and registering the results. And it is important that people go along to get their first and second vaccination jabs when they are offered them. You can now get the COVID-19 vaccine if you’re aged 38 and over or if your 38th birthday is between now and 1st July. You can book your appointment online or by phone.

Anyone with the coronavirus symptoms of a new, persistent cough, a fever or loss of taste or smell to self-isolate and book a PCR test by calling 119 or visiting www.nhs.uk/coronavirus.

And, whether vaccinated or not, it’s still important that people going to work or out and about take rapid tests, which are free and widely available across the Borough, twice a week.

Rapid home test kits can be collected from Bootle Town Hall and Splash World in Southport from 8am-8pm seven days a week. No appointments are needed.

Rapid tests

Rapid tests for people without coronavirus symptoms usually provide a result in around 30 minutes. Rapid testing involves taking a throat & nasal swab, dropping the sample into the container supplied and then checking the result after 20 to 30 minutes.

Kits can also be collected between 2.30pm and 8pm, seven days a week, from walk-through Local Test Centres opposite Bootle Town Hall and at Crosby Library Car Park, Netherton Activity Centre and Southport Town Hall. No appointments are needed.

They are available from all Sefton’s pharmacies and they can be ordered online at www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

Assisted

People can also choose to have assisted testing at one of Sefton’s Rapid test sites, which are also open 8am to 8pm seven days a week and located at Bootle Leisure Centre and at Splash World in Southport.

Anyone without symptoms can visit the asymptomatic test sites at Bootle Town Hall and Splash World in Southport from 8am-8pm seven days a week, no appointments are needed.

Home Testing Kits can also be collected between 2.30pm and 8pm, seven days a week, from walk-through Local Test Centres opposite Bootle Town Hall and at Crosby Library Car Park, Netherton Activity Centre and Southport Town Hall. No appointments are needed.

Sefton Council has a range of schemes, grants, information and advice available to anyone who may be struggling financially due to Covid, or who may need support when Self Isolating. More information is available at www.sefton.gov.uk/COVID-testing.

 

Calling all Sefton businesses: tickets now available for the Good Business Festival July 2021

13 May 2021
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Business and Economy, Front Page, InvestSefton, Latest News

The Good Business Festival marks the launch of general release tickets today with a creative advertising campaign on the streets of the Liverpool City Region, highlighting the event themes of housing, ethical consumerism, sustainable food, and inclusion.  

Commissioned by Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, the Good Business Festival is a not-for-profit three-day event, which will take place Wednesday 7th to Friday 9th July at venues across the Liverpool City Region.

Aiming to tackle the world’s greatest challenges, the event will bring together the smartest minds to think big, galvanise our ambitions and focus on progress and not perfection. 

All ticket revenue will be donated directly to LCR Cares – a local community fund established by Mayor Rotheram – with tickets priced from as little as ÂŁ10 for a one-day pass. Purchase your tickets here: https://thegoodbusinessfestival.com/tickets/

With more than 70 sessions in six boroughs across 10 venues with leading business experts and creative minds, the festival will explore the economic, environmental, consumer and technological challenges our society faces, as well as offering ideas, inspiration and practical solutions.  

Watch this space for more information about Sefton’s role in the business event and how the Council’s InvestSefton service will be highlighting how they can support businesses across the borough.

InvestSefton leads on and supports economic growth in the borough and is the Council’s enterprise, business support and inward investment service. To find out how InvestSefton can help your business contact 0151 934 3452 or email investsefton@sefton.gov.uk or visit www.investsefton.com.

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region said: “The Coronavirus pandemic has dealt a hammer blow to people and businesses across our region and around the world but, with the rollout of vaccines gathering pace, there is now hope that the end is in sight. 

“Throughout the last few years, we’ve invested in an unprecedented package of support to protect and grow the local economy and launched projects like the Good Business Festival to reimagine, improve and reshape the way that we do business.

“We’ve also been leading the way in getting back to in-person events, so it would be fantastic to see as many people as there as possible to help us debate and imagine the positive, ethical future we want.” 

Also running from 7-9 July, The Good Business Festival Youth Summit will delve into themes including climate change, food production and distribution, oceans, activism and role models. More than 1,110 primary and secondary school children have been invited to attend across two days in the spectacular Knowsley Hall and Safari Park.

Hosted by TV presenter and conservationist Chris Packham the event will feature inspiring interactive sessions from partners including the UK Youth Parliament and the British Antarctic Survey.

Mayor Rotheram added: “For too long, leaders have made decisions about the future without consulting with the young people whose future it really affects. I want to change that. It’s fantastic that we’ll be joined by Chris Packham and some local young people, who will be bringing their enthusiasm, ideas and vision for how we can build a better future.”

Wayne Hemingway MBE, Creative Director, The Good Business Festival, commented: â€œThe Good Business Festival will tackle the big challenges that our society faces, from creating sustainable food to better housing, and examining how business can become a force for positive change.  Tickets are now on sale from only ÂŁ10 and all proceeds go to local Liverpool City Region charities. We’d all be daft not to be a part of it!”

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