Health

Last night (Thursday 26 January), Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust, as well as Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, were awarded the Honorary Freedom of the Borough by Sefton Council.

Dedication, sacrifice and heroism

In a special ceremony held at Bootle Town Hall, Council Leader Ian Maher presented the award in recognition of the dedication, sacrifice and heroism shown by local healthcare workers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Around 70 of the Trusts officers and their invited guests attended last night’s ceremony and civic reception.

Honour and a pleasure

Making the presentation, Cllr Maher said: “It really is an honour and a great pleasure to thank our NHS partners and healthcare heroes.

“People were going into a situation during the pandemic where they did not know the outcomes. It is pure bravery.

“The Freedom of the Borough is awe of our frontline workers and I am confident that people across Sefton will agree that the work of these NHS staff need to be recognised and rewarded.”

Selflessness and resilience

Ahead of last night’s ceremony, Sue Musson, Chair of Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “It is a great honour for the Trust to be awarded Sefton Council’s Freedom of the Borough for our services during COVID-19.

“The pandemic presented immense challenges for all of us working in healthcare, and this award recognises the remarkable courage, selflessness and resilience of our staff who cared for patients, families and each other at a very dark time. We are so grateful to receive this very special honour and for the continuing friendship and support of colleagues across the Borough.”

Tireless

Neil Masom OBE, the chair of Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust said: “This is a tremendous honour for the tireless and often challenging work of colleagues during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Every one of them is on the frontline in one way or another whether they are in a clinical, support or administrative role. We all work as one team and one family, ensuring we deliver the best possible care for those in need.”

Fantastic recognition

Dame Jo Williams, Chair of Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and Louise Shepherd, Chief Executive of Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are hugely honoured to be recognised and to have been awarded the Freedom of the Borough from Sefton Council. It is fantastic recognition for our staff and colleagues who have worked tirelessly and bravely during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Alder Hey is privileged to play a vital role in supporting the health of children in Sefton and around the world. This would not be possible without the support we receive from children and families around the Borough and from our friends and partners in the Local Authority and other agencies.”

Huge challenges

Joe Rafferty CBE, Chief Executive of Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Like all other NHS organisations, the COVID-19 pandemic presented huge challenges for Mersey Care, and I see this honour as recognition for everyone who have worked so hard during some of the most difficult times in the history of the NHS.

“We’ve had to adapt, quite often find different ways of working, but I’m extremely proud of the way we’ve continued to care and kept our mental health and community health patients and service users safe.”

Highest honour

Freedom of the Borough is the highest ceremonial honour Sefton Council can bestow. It will stand as a permanent record of the Borough’s endless appreciation and debt of gratitude to the Trusts and their staff.

Organisations receiving Freedom of the Borough gain the ‘right, privilege, honour and distinction of marching through the streets of the Borough on all ceremonial occasions with colours flying, bands playing, drums beating and bayonets fixed’.

Previous organisations to have been granted Freedom of the Borough include RAF Woodvale, in 2011, and No. 238 (Sefton) Squadron, 156 Regiment, Royal Corps of Transport, in 1982. Individuals who have had the honour bestowed upon them include Jamie Carragher, in 2004, and Donald “Ginger” McCain in 2006.

HMS Mersey will receive Freedom status in April while England footballer Alex Greenwood will also receive the Freedom of the Borough in a ceremony planned for late 2023.

Southport resident Danny, aged 26, was experiencing anxiety and depression when he found the NHS social prescribing service in Sefton. He shares his story and encourages others to reach out and use the service if they need help.

Social prescribing is designed to help people with their health and wellbeing by linking them in with local services for practical, social, physical and emotional support. After having feelings of anxiety and depression, Danny spoke to his GP and was referred to the service.

Amazing

He said: “The social prescribing service is amazing. It’s not something I had ever heard of, but honestly, without Damian and the service, I don’t think I would have managed to get to where I am now, which is feeling a lot better than I have been.”

After the initial referral, social prescribing link worker Damian contacted Danny and they began having regular chats to talk about his mental wellbeing issues and which local services might help him.

Accomplished

Danny continued: “There are a few ideas that he thought could benefit me, the first one was the Southport Park Run. After doing it with Damian two or three times, I have been back myself since and I have finished it on my own.

“After being in the mindset that I have been in, you don’t tend to think you can do things like that, you’re always putting yourself down. But once you actually do it, and you’ve finished it, the feeling is really great. You feel so accomplished. I’m proud of myself that I managed to do it.

“It’s that personal connection which really helps. They do make you feel very safe, and like you can tell them anything. It’s honestly been a massive help to me.”

Watch Danny talk about his experience with social prescribing below.

Priorities for change

Nikki Williams, senior social prescribing link worker in Southport and Formby said: “Social prescribing is about working with people on wider health and wellbeing needs, so non-medical issues that may be going on in their life, having a chat with them to work out what their priorities are for change, and then linking them in to the appropriate service.

“Social prescribing can cover social isolation, linking people into community groups and getting out and meeting people, but it can also be practical information and referring into specialist services around housing, benefits and support to get back to work.

“I think everybody can benefit from social prescribing. If you’re feeling anxious, depressed, or lonely and think a social prescriber could help you, then contact your GP practice and ask about the service to get help with your wellbeing.”

Below, Nikki explains social prescribing. 

Collaboration

The social prescribing service in Southport and Formby is a collaboration between Sefton CVS and Southport and Formby Primary Care Network.

In Southport and Formby, people can be referred to the social prescribing service by anyone in their GP practice. People can find out more about their social prescribing service and how to access it by talking to their GP practice.

You can use the links to find out more about:

• social prescribing;
• Southport and Formby Primary Care Network;
• Sefton CVS.  

The ‘Living Well’ bus will return to Asda Bootle on Wednesday 11th January to offer Sefton residents all COVID-19 vaccines, including first, second, booster and seasonal (autumn booster) and free health checks.

Asda car park

The bus will be parked in Asda car park from 10:30am-4pm and residents can come along throughout the day with no need to book.

Residents will be able to get up to date with any COVID-19 vaccines they may have missed, including first, second or booster doses and the seasonal (autumn booster).

Those who are eligible to receive the autumn booster include people aged 50 and over, frontline health and social care workers, and those deemed at risk because, for example, they have either a weakened immune system, a learning disability or are pregnant.

Free holistic health checks will also be available for residents aged 18 and over if time and capacity allows, which include a pulse check and blood pressure check, cholesterol and blood glucose check and a BMI check.

Still circulating

Jan Leonard, primary care lead for Sefton at NHS Cheshire and Merseyside said: “A new year is a great time to take steps to boost your health and wellbeing, and we’re reminding residents that COVID-19 is still circulating and the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is to get up to date with your jabs.

“If you are eligible for a seasonal (autumn) booster and haven’t had a chance to go for it yet, we would strongly encourage you to take up the offer.

It’s also a brilliant opportunity to have a health check which will help to find any hidden health problems and tackle them early on.”

You can find out more about the COVID-19 vaccine, who is eligible, and how to book an appointment online or find other walk-in vaccination sites  here.