Health

As part of the ‘Help Us, Help You’ campaign, NHS England is raising awareness of cancers in the abdominal area and urological cancers.

It is encouraging anyone who has had tummy troubles such as discomfort or diarrhoea for three weeks or more, or seen blood in their pee – even just once, to contact their GP practice.

Persistent tummy troubles can be a sign of a number of cancers, including bowel, ovarian or pancreatic cancer, and blood in pee – even just once, can be a sign of urological cancers, including bladder or kidney cancer.

The number of people being sent for urgent cancer checks by their GP has been at record levels since March 2021.

However, people who are suffering with abdominal or urological symptoms may be reluctant to visit their GP. They may be embarrassed about their symptoms, concerned that they might be wasting their doctor’s time, or they may just put their symptoms down to getting older.

While it’s probably nothing serious, any of these symptoms could be a sign of something that needs treatment. If it is cancer, finding it early makes it more treatable and can save lives.

Visit nhs.uk/cancersymptoms for more information.

It’s ‘Ask Your Pharmacist Week’ and health professionals in Sefton are reminding residents of the range of healthcare services and support available at your local pharmacy.

Your community pharmacist can help with:

• Advice and treatment for minor illnesses such as coughs, colds and earache
• Advice on staying well and preventing disease
• Support to maintain good sexual health
• Help to quit smoking
• Personalised support to get the most from your medicines

In addition to this, many pharmacies in Sefton now offer a range of new services including:

• Blood pressure monitoring for people aged 40 and over
• Flu vaccinations for over 50s and other eligible groups
• Support with newly prescribed medicines for a range of long term conditions

Susanne Lynch MBE, head of medicines management at NHS Cheshire and Merseyside in Sefton said: “Pharmacies have always been a great resource for residents, offering a range of NHS services and friendly, face to face support, close to home and with no need to book an appointment.

“In recent years community pharmacies have added to their services, with many now offering additional services such as blood pressure checks and support for people with a range of conditions, from asthma to epilepsy to Parkinson’s Disease. Speak to your local pharmacy about which services they offer to find out more.

“If you are one of our more vulnerable residents and you do not normally pay for your prescription, then Care at the Chemist is a great way for you to be seen by a health professional who can advise on treatment for a number of ailments and offer medication where appropriate, without needing to see a GP. Just ask your pharmacist about Care at the Chemist.

“With a busy winter for the NHS ahead, we would encourage people to think about their pharmacist first when you have a minor health concern. All pharmacies have private consultation rooms where you can discuss your health concerns and medication in confidence.

“Pharmacists are clinically trained and if your symptoms suggest anything more serious, your pharmacist will direct you to the most appropriate service.”

For NHS services, convenient access to medicines, support for healthy living and prompt clinical advice, Ask Your Pharmacist.

Find a pharmacy near you, search using your town, city or postcode on the NHS website.  

Southport’s Macmillan Centre is hosting a Health and Wellbeing Event at Southport College on Mornington Road, offering a range of support, information and activities for people affected by cancer.

The event is being held on Thursday 3 November from 2pm-4pm in the college’s Oasis Canteen and will be the first of their Health and Wellbeing Events to be held face-to-face since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Support and information

It is organised jointly by the Southport Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre and Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust, who work together to ensure those living with and beyond cancer have access to the support and information they need throughout diagnosis, treatment and adjusting to life following a cancer diagnosis.

Anyone is welcome to attend and will be able to meet a range of service providers from health and social care, community, voluntary and faith organisations and support groups on the day.

The Southport Macmillan Centre singing group will be opening the event and attendees will be able to enjoy complementary therapy taster sessions from Sefton OPERA (Older Persons Enabling Resource & Action).  Attendees will also get the opportunity to talk to a variety of clinical nurse specialists and representatives from the lung, urology and colorectal departments at Southport and Ormskirk Hospital, but are advised that if they need to speak to a particular specialist to please call the Macmillan Centre to check if they will be attending.

Face-to-face setting

Tanya Mulvey, manager at the Southport Macmillan Centre said: “We are delighted to be able to hold our Health and Wellbeing Event in a face-to-face setting again, to be able to meet and support people in person.

“Our new partnership with Southport College means that they have very kindly agreed to us using their Oasis Canteen as our new venue, which gives us plenty of space to allow for social distancing as well outdoor space that attendees can use.”

Always useful to share

Dr Graeme Allan, Macmillan GP and cancer clinical lead for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside in Sefton, said: “These events are ideal for people to come along and meet others who have had similar experiences – it is always useful to share.

“We hope that attendees come away from the event with an idea of what we can help you with. It’s a friendly and informative event and everyone is very welcome.”

Mary Macnab, urology nurse specialist at Southport Hospital, said: “We usually see over 100 people come along to the Macmillan health and wellbeing events, they are always a great success and the more people we can support the better.

“The people attending always enjoy meeting others they can chat to about their experiences, whether that be other patients, clinical nurse specialists or someone from a support group.

“Many people who attend the events have then gone on to join one of the support groups such as the walking, cycling or craft groups, which they feel is another good way to meet others and get out and about during or after treatment.”

Book a place

Anyone who would like to attend the Macmillan Health and Wellbeing Event can come along for free to Southport College’s Oasis Canteen from 2pm-4pm on Thursday 3 November. Attendees are asked to call the Southport Macmillan Centre on 01704 533024 to book a place so that everyone can be accommodated and catering can be provided.

The Southport Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre is a joint partnership between NHS Cheshire and Merseyside and Macmillan Cancer Support. The centre is based at 29 Wright Street in Southport, and offers regular drop-in sessions at the centre from 10am to 4pm Monday-Fridays.

For more information about the work of the Southport Macmillan Centre or to get in touch with the team visit: www.southportmacmillancentre.org.uk or call 01704 533024.

With winter illnesses and cold weather on the way, healthcare leaders in Sefton are inviting all those over 50 years of age to get protected this winter by getting their COVID-19 autumn booster vaccine as well as their annual flu jab.

All over 50s

On Saturday 15 October, the autumn booster rollout expanded to include all over 50s, as well as those previously eligible for the jab including:

• frontline health and social care workers;
• care home and housebound residents;
• anyone who is pregnant;
• carers aged 16 or over;
• those aged 5 and over who have a weakened immune system or who live with someone at high risk from COVID-19.

Anyone now eligible can have their autumn booster if it’s been at least 3 months since their previous COVID-19 vaccine dose. For anyone who has missed their first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, the offer to get these jabs is still available through the NHS national booking system.

Save lives

Jan Leonard, primary care lead for Sefton at NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, said: “As with previous vaccination rollouts, the NHS is focusing on delivering the jabs to those most at risk first, to get them up to date protection ahead of the winter period and to save lives.

“COVID-19 is still very much with us in Sefton and the protection we get from the vaccines needs to be topped up to keep us safe from serious illness, so it’s just as important to get your autumn booster when eligible, as it is to get any other doses of the vaccine you may have missed.”

Those eligible for the autumn booster are also likely to be eligible for a flu vaccination. The two jabs may need to be booked separately, but it’s safe to get both vaccinations at the same time.

Don’t hesitate

Margaret Jones, director of public health at Sefton Council, said: “The best time to get your flu jab is now, before flu starts to spread in the winter months. The flu vaccination is the best way to stop you getting the virus in the first place, and if you do catch it, the vaccine can protect you from getting seriously ill.

“Winter viruses are already circulating locally and, if unprotected, you could become seriously ill if you catch flu and COVID-19 at the same time, so if you’re eligible for both vaccines then don’t hesitate to get booked in.

In the video below, Sefton GP Dr Abdul Zubairu urges those eligible to get their autumn booster and flu jabs.

Booking

To book a COVID-19 autumn booster, anyone eligible can book an appointment at a vaccination centre or participating pharmacy in Sefton, or find a walk-in vaccination site nearby, by visiting the NHS website at: www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination

The flu jab can be given at GP surgeries and participating pharmacies. To book a flu jab through a participating pharmacy in Sefton, visit the NHS website at: www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/book-flu-vaccination

Symptoms

Anyone who has a COVID-19 infection or who is showing symptoms of the virus should wait until their symptoms are better before getting their jabs. They should ideally wait:

• 4 weeks (28 days) if you are aged 18 or over
• 12 weeks (84 days) if you or your child are aged 5 to 17
• 4 weeks (28 days) if you or your child are aged 5 to 17 and at high risk from COVID-19, or live with someone who has a weakened immune system