Posted at the request of our local health professionals.

NHS 111 is here for you this bank holiday weekend

GPs in Sefton are encouraging residents to contact NHS 111 first if they need urgent medical advice and support over the May bank holiday weekend (29-31 May).

People who need urgent health care across Sefton are being asked to contact NHS 111, which is staffed by trained professionals and clinicians, who will direct people to the most appropriate health service.

Use NHS 111 either online by visiting www.111.nhs.uk or by calling 111 if you do not have access to the internet. It is fast and simple and the easiest way to be sign posted to the right service that you or a loved one needs. This could be a local pharmacy, GP or a walk-in centre. In an emergency, you should call 999.

Dr Rob Caudwell, GP and chair of NHS Southport and Formby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said:

“NHS 111 is there any time to advise you how to safely manage your condition at home, or direct you to the right health service for your needs, which may include a local walk-in centre, GP, pharmacy or hospital.

“If you are assessed as needing to attend a hospital, you will get a timed appointment at a hospital emergency department. Remember, in a life-threatening medical emergency such as loss of consciousness, stroke or serious injury, you should always call 999 straight away.”

Dr Craig Blakey, GP and urgent care lead for NHS South Sefton CCG, said:

“The NHS is coming under immense pressure as restrictions are eased and residents need to access health care.

“We are still here for you and 111 is vital in ensuring that you are guided to the right service you need whilst helping to ease pressure on our vital health services.“

You can use NHS 111 either by visiting the website 111.nhs.uk or by calling 111.

You can also find trusted advice about hundreds of health conditions on NHS.uk and the NHS app which provides secure access to a range of NHS services.

For anyone experiencing life-threatening illnesses or injuries like stroke, heart attack or loss of consciousness, continue to dial 999 right away.

For detailed information on health services including pharmacy times over the weekend please visit the CCG websites: southseftonccg.nhs.uk  / southportformbyccg.nhs.uk

You can also check @NHSSSCCG or @NHSSFCCG on Twitter, or ring NHS 111.

Just in case you were planning to come to Formby, you ought to be aware that high tides will reduce the amount of beach available for play or parking.

With high tides along our coastline this weekend, you might be best planning a visit for another time.

If you are visiting, follow the advice of the RNLI Lifeguards, HM Coastguard and Mersey Fire & Rescue Service.

Find out more:https://t.co/jU8Gh7KsWd pic.twitter.com/rzgxqxtnBR

— Sefton Council (@seftoncouncil) July 24, 2021

Time to relax more, I'm going to take a break from social media, enjoy your weekend

Enough said!

Isn't it a shame that so many visitors can't be bothered to take home all the stuff they could be bothered to bring with them in the first place! https://t.co/HyGad3TUP8

— Sean Brady (@FormbyVillage) July 23, 2021

Is this a sign of retail recovery in our village high street?

Best of luck with your new venture. https://t.co/8tsh8TeSNG

— Sean Brady (@FormbyVillage) July 23, 2021

I wish our house had visitors like this, red squirrels have been spotted nearby on the estate, but despite lots of trees near the house, none have been tempted.

Still, we live in hope, have a good day. Incidentally these are great photos.

'Mouse' the urban Red Squirrel was on early patrol this morning in the garden.@GardenReds @Formbyvets @lancashirewild #thelastred #redsquirrel #mousetheredsquirrel #formby @NTFormby @SonyUK @SonyAlpha #wildlifephotography #A9 #alphapro #sonyalpha pic.twitter.com/qmVC2elRcl

— Terry Donnelly (@terrydonnelly01) July 23, 2021

Formby is full!

Please take note, it is simply not worth going anywhere Victoria Road car park. https://t.co/FNdR5E42xQ

— Sean Brady (@FormbyVillage) July 22, 2021

One of my weekly 'must reads', here's the latest edition.

If you missed the #Sefton Coast column in the Visiter this week, you can read it online here:https://t.co/KaUF8oqgkx@seftoncouncil @BSBIbotany @NMBiodiversity @ukorchids pic.twitter.com/OKtTvvlUfB

— Green Sefton (@GreenSefton_) July 22, 2021

Lots of jellyfish have been spotted on Formby beach, one visitor even reported that they got stung. Mind where you tread.

Did you know that a group of #jellyfish is called a smack? If you spot a jelly at the seaside but you’re not sure what species it is then check out our handy guide -> https://t.co/9tTQrdtiSB

Be sure to report your sightings too ✔️

📷: MourneSeaTours #JellyfishSighting pic.twitter.com/QY65WpRTfd

— Marine Conservation Society (@mcsuk) July 22, 2021

You can't stop people from open water swimming when the sun comes out

Costa Del Mersey 🏊 #UNESCO pic.twitter.com/hCh3if2xZa

— Liverpool Confidential (@LivConfidential) July 21, 2021

This important debate is happening today, let's hope our MPs act on the urgency of this crisis

Tomorrow MPs from across Parliament will be debating the UK's priorities for the COP26 climate conference.
We urge politicians to put nature centre stage at COP26 and recognise the vital role nature-based solutions play in tackling the climate crisis. 🌍https://t.co/gpyHVgyN9a pic.twitter.com/dViqtWnlY3

— The Wildlife Trusts (@WildlifeTrusts) July 21, 2021

Thank goodness for the RNLI

Big shout out to all the @RNLI beach lifeguards who are doing a fantastic job at the moment 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 especially being outside all day in these hot temperatures #rnli #beachlifeguards pic.twitter.com/KEEzMIfDgf

— Rachel Hubbard (@RachelPrytherch) July 20, 2021

Get your jab, it will save your life

"Make sure you book in for your first and second doses to protect your friends, family and community." - Local GP Dr Pete Chamberlain.
Find details of local walk-in clinics to #GrabAJab: https://t.co/yt1X92TzaV
Or book via the national booking service: https://t.co/VH71DzYt5o pic.twitter.com/hLapEEABjy

— NHS Southport and Formby CCG (@NHSSFCCG) July 19, 2021

Disappointing behaviour in Formby

Local park bench - if we can’t be bothered putting this in the bin what hope for the planet pic.twitter.com/E0BqrNoomb

— Phil Pickett (@Philpickett8) July 21, 2021

Twitter has recently enabled 'spaces' on the platform.

Last year we introduced Spaces: live audio conversations on Twitter. Since then, we’ve been building and testing with a limited group, and have found that hearing people’s voices bring conversations on Twitter to life in a completely new way. 

Source: https://blog.twitter.com/en_us/topics/product/2021/spaces-is-here.html

A message from our local health leaders.

Health leaders in Sefton support Type 2 diabetes prevention week

During Type 2 diabetes prevention week (10-16 May), health professionals in Sefton are raising awareness of how living a healthier lifestyle can prevent the risk of developing the condition.

There are 12.3 million people in the UK at increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes but there are steps you can take to reduce your risk.

You can prevent Type 2 diabetes by eating a healthy, balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight and keeping physically active.

People living with Type 2 diabetes face a significantly higher risk of dying with COVID-19 and the condition can also lead to heart disease and stroke, as well as vision loss and blindness.

Dr Nigel Taylor, diabetes lead for NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Southport and Formby CCG, said:

“People with Type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or the insulin they produce doesn’t work properly. Around 90 per cent of the 3.8 million people diagnosed with diabetes are living with Type 2.

“There are almost 1 million more people living with Type 2 diabetes, who don’t know they have it because they haven’t yet been diagnosed.

“While other factors like age and ethnicity affect a person’s risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, being overweight is the most significant risk factor that can be changed.”

There are some groups at higher risk of Type 2 diabetes: men, people of South Asian or Black ethnicity, people who are overweight and people with a family history of Type 2 diabetes

Find out your risk of Type 2 diabetes by using the Diabetes UK Know Your Risk Score at riskscore.diabetes.org.uk or by searching ‘Know Your Risk’.

If your score comes back as ‘at risk’, sign up to your free local Healthier You programme via self-referral.

Or, if you think you or a family member may be at risk, ask at your GP practice about your free local Healthier You programme.

For patients living with diabetes, the My Diabetes My Way interactive website gives support for people who have diabetes and their family and friends. Once registered you can have access to view your diabetes-related health records and tailored advice as well as information created by NHS experts in diabetes. You can ask your GP practice about registering for access to this support service.

The Sefton Diabetes and You programme for patients recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes offers education sessions to help people to manage their condition. If you have Type 2 diabetes and would like to attend, please request a referral from your GP or practice nurse if you need one.

This service is currently operating remotely due to COVID-19 but support is available for vulnerable patients.

For more information on how to get involved please visit: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/get_involved/diabetes-prevention-week

Posted on behalf of Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals

Hospitals support volunteers with VIP training.

Volunteers have an important role to play in the NHS and this year Southport and Ormskirk hospitals took steps to further enhance their skills.

Jamie Johnson, 19, from Southport, was one of seven volunteers who took advantage of an eight-week Volunteer Improvement Programme (VIP), specially designed by Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust and funded by NHS England.

The former student at Southport’s KGV College is taking a gap year before going to study accounting and finance at university. He’s been hospital bleep volunteer since last summer.

Jamie said the VIP course was “very interesting” and included lots of transferable skills, such as one module around emotional intelligence.

Volunteering with the Trust means you can:

• Give something back to your local community
• Make a real difference to patients, their families, friends and relatives
• Meet new people
• Learn new skills and improve your CV
• Do something different and have fun!

We have lots of opportunities available. If you know someone who would be interested, check out our website.