Health and care professionals across Sefton are joining together to encourage residents to ālive self-care for life’ as part of Self-Care WeekĀ 2020 which takes place between 16 and 22 November.
āLive self-care for lifeā is about making improvements in your life to protect your physical health and mental wellbeing. Throughout the week short films will be shared giving tips on different aspects of self care from NHS South Sefton CCG and NHS Southport and Formby CCG, Access Sefton and Living Well Sefton.
There are lots of things you can do yourself to look after your health and wellbeing. There is a range of easy online tools you can access from home, including the NHS website which gives information and advice on health conditions, symptoms, healthy living, medicines and how to get help.
The NHS App allows you to access a range of NHS services on a phone or tablet, and you can visit the Every Mind Matter NHS website for practical tips and expert advice on looking after your mental health.
Another way to get quick and easy advice on self care is by visiting your high street pharmacy, as Susanne Lynch, head of medicines management for both CCGs in Sefton, explains: āYou can easily access over-the-counter medicines and expert advice from your local pharmacy.
“Pharmacists are highly trained health professionals who can give advice and recommend treatments for self treatable conditions such as indigestion, sore eyes, sprains and strains.
āThey can help you choose the right treatment for your ailment, explain the normal duration of symptoms and advise on which medicines to keep in your medicine cabinet at home.ā
Over the counter medicines can be easily accessed at your pharmacy without the need to see a doctor or have a prescription. For those who find it difficult to access over the counter medicines, the Care at the Chemist scheme is available in 22 pharmacies across Sefton.
Ryan Forrest, service manager at Access Sefton, the CCGsā commissioned talking therapies service, says: āAccess Sefton offers free, easy access to a range of effective NHS talking therapies, including guided self-help, cognitive behavioural therapy and counselling. Our services are available to Sefton residents aged 16-plus.
“Due to the pandemic, we are currently offering one-to-one treatmentsĀ onlineĀ via the secure Attend Anywhere service and by telephone, as well as interactive guided self-help via the SilverCloud digital mental health platform.
“Referrals to Access Sefton can be made quickly and easily using our secure online form at www.insighthealthcare.org/accesssefton, or by calling us on 0300 303 2708.”
Gemma Boardman, programme manager at Living Well Sefton, said: āLiving Well Sefton supports people to make small changes to their lives that can have a big impact on their wellbeing. We have mentors to help reach these goals and all Sefton residents are eligible.Ā They can self refer via our website or give us a call on 0300 323 0181.ā
Margaret Jones, director of public health for Sefton, said: āThere are lots of easy things we can all do to make ourselves healthier and happier and this self care week I would urge people across Sefton to think about what changes they and their families can make.
āThese could include keeping active, eating well, stopping smoking and limiting alcohol to recommended levels and people can use the āself-care for lifeā resources to achieve some simple goals.
āA flu vaccination is also important, particularly for people aged over 65, anyone who is a carer or children aged two or three so I would encourage everyone who is eligible, or whose children are, to make an appointment. Itās a quick and effective way of protecting you and those around you.ā
You can find more information about self care week and the local support available from each CCG website: www.southseftonccg.nhs.net and www.southportandformbyccg.nhs.netĀ
