Health

People across Sefton have been given the opportunity to help shape the future of health, care and wellbeing across the borough.

Anyone with an interest in health and care is being encouraged to take part in a survey which will help develop the borough wide Sefton NHS Five Year Plan, Shaping Sefton II.

When finalised, the plan, will be the borough’s response to the NHS Long Term Plan, published at the start of this year. Currently in draft form, Shaping Sefton II builds on the vision for transforming health and care set out in the original Shaping Sefton plan, developed in 2014.

Already the subject of engagement with health, care and wellbeing professionals and volunteers across Sefton through a range of events; there is now a chance for everyone in the borough to help shape the final document via the online survey.

The new five year plan will aid the delivery of our local Health and Wellbeing Strategy, currently being refreshed by Sefton Council, and will also support the work of the Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership in developing its response to the national NHS Long Term Plan.

Fiona Taylor, chief officer of NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Southport and Formby CCG and the senior responsible officer for the Sefton Health and Care Partnership, said: “This is a great opportunity for everyone in Sefton to have a look at our draft plan and let us know if we are heading in the right direction for the next five years.

“Shaping Sefton II is a very important plan as it looks to build on the successes of the original document while looking at some of the biggest health and care challenges we are facing together between now and 2024.

“We have based our thinking on your health and care priorities including the findings of the Sefton Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) which outlines the health and care needs of everyone in the borough.

“I would encourage as many people as possible to have a look at our new draft plan, tell us what they think, and more importantly let us if we have got our priorities and ambitions right – or indeed if we have missed anything?”

To see a copy of the draft Shaping Sefton II plan and take part in the online survey go to: www.seftonfiveyearplan.co.uk 

People are asked to give their views about the plan before 21 October when the survey closes. All the feedback received will be used to finalise Shaping Sefton II.  

Sefton’s Director of Public Health, Matthew Ashton, is delighted to release this year’s Public Health Annual Report (PHAR) which focus’s on the topic of air quality across the borough.

This year’s report takes the form of a short animation in order to better explain what air pollution is, where it comes from in Sefton and what happens when dirty air is breathed in. 

The PHAR also talks about what the Council and others are already doing to improve air quality with some recommendations about what should happen in the future.  The video can be viewed online at www.sefton.gov.uk/PHAR 

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “Air pollution is a growing concern for many people who live in Sefton and the quality of the air we breathe is an issue that affects everyone.

“I am delighted that this topic was chosen as the theme for this year’s PHAR and I hope that it opens up a wider conversation about how we can all do more to protect our air.”

Matthew Ashton added: “In addition to bringing more transparency to the topic of air quality and how it affects the health and wellbeing of Sefton residents, this report is also my opportunity to recognise the work that Sefton Council has been doing to make Sefton’s air cleaner.

“Air quality is a topic that is becoming more and more important to people not only locally, but also at national level. We cannot make change happen alone and I echo my report when I call for more joined up action that will help people to breath cleaner air now and in the future.”

The PHAR and a short supplementary document can be viewed online at www.sefton.gov.uk/PHAR

On World Suicide Prevention Day  (Tuesday, 10 September) the Champs Public Health Collaborative and Samaritans hosted an event at Everton Football Club’s Goodison Park, in association with the club’s charitable arm Everton in the Community.

The event brought together a group of delegates made up of communications teams from hospitals, CCG’s and local authorities, media contacts and journalists, education staff and students to learn about the responsible reporting of suicide.

With figures for suicide in 2018 being released just last week by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showing that suicide numbers have increased in general across the UK since 2017, never has it been more necessary to raise awareness on suicide and ensure that it is being talked about in a responsible manner in order to prevent further deaths.

In Cheshire & Merseyside (C&M) suicide rates have in fact fallen since 2017, likely in part due to the ongoing work taking place across the sub-region, implementing the NO MORE Suicide Strategy, which aims for zero suicides.

It is as part of this strategy that the important event was organised, to continue to educate people, particularly those that may be in a position where they must report on suspected suicide.

The event was chaired by Cllr Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council and Elected member champion for suicide prevention in Cheshire & Merseyside (C&M). Cllr Gittins’ introduction was followed by a brief overview by Sue Forster, Director of Public Health (DPH), St Helens and DPH lead for Suicide Prevention, of the NO MORE Suicide Strategy in C&M and the aims for zero suicides throughout the area. She also highlighted the benefits of downloading and using the Stay Alive app, as a way to potentially mitigate suicidal crisis.

A key theme of the event was the media coverage of suspected suicide and how this can have both negative and positive effects on individuals and society. Renowned suicide prevention charity Samaritans delivered a workshop discussing best practice when it comes to reporting on or communicating suspected suicide.

This was followed by presentations from several organisations delivering men’s mental health programmes in the local area. Dave Scott from James’ Place presented on the recently established centre in central Liverpool, delivering interventions for men who are going through suicidal crisis through counselling for the individual and their family and friends.

Mike Salla, Phil Cooper and Professor Andy Smith spoke about how their organisations Everton in the Community, State of Mind and Edge Hill University are working together to deliver sport programmes for men which benefit their mental health.

The day concluded with a powerful and moving talk from former professional footballer Clarke Carlisle and his wife Carrie Carlisle, who spoke openly about their personal experience of suicidal crisis.

Clarke Carlisle knows all too well about how an individual comes to be in a position where they are considering taking their own life, and he shared his own experiences of this, discussing the stigma which is still very much attached to men’s mental health.

Carrie Carlisle then talked about how the experience affected her and their families, discussing the ways in which media can have both a negative and positive impact in the search for an individual who is known to be suicidal.

It is hoped that the event has opened attendees up to conversations about suicide and enabled them to feel more able to communicate about the subject in a responsible manner, consequently ensuring that further lives are not lost.

If you are having thoughts about suicide – speak to Samaritans 24/7 on 116 123 (free) or www.samaritans.org