Sefton residents urged to:- 'live self care for life'

HEALTH and care professionals across Sefton are joining together to encourage residents to:- 'live self care for life' as part of Self Care Week 2020 which takes place between 16 November and 22 November 2020. 'Live self care for life' 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 which 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:- "You 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. They 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."

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 CCGs' commissioned talking therapies service, says:- "Access 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 1 to 1 treatments online 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:- InsightHealthcare.Org/Accesssefton, or by calling us on:- 0300 303 2708."

Gemma Boardman, programme manager at Living Well Sefton, said:- "Living 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. They can self refer via our website or give us a call on:- 0300 323 0181."

Margaret Jones, Director of public health for Sefton, said:- "There 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. These could include keeping active, eating well, stopping smoking and limiting alcohol to recommended levels and people can use the 'self care for life' resources to achieve some simple goals. A flu vaccination is also important, particularly for people aged over 65, anyone who is a carer or children aged 2 or 3, so I would encourage everyone who is eligible or whose children are, to make an appointment. It's a quick and effective way of protecting you and those around you."

You can find more information about self care week and the local support available from each CCG website:- SouthSeftonCCG.NHS.UK and SouthportFormbyCCG.NHS.UK. To watch the short videos on Sefton services that can help you, please visit the CCG YouTube pages; NHS South Sefton YouTube channel / NHS Southport and Formby YouTube channel.

CHRISTMAS is still coming to Ocean Plaza, in Southport, for 2020, with some festive surprises to delight shoppers. The popular retail park has today welcomed a sparkling seven metre tall illuminated Christmas tree and eye catching festive decorations, thanks to funding from Southport BID. The lights were switched on by Samantha Johnson and her guide dog Rosie. Southport firm IllumiDex has been installing everything this week to ensure the popular retail park gives a warm welcome to local shoppers and diners.

A Southport Plaza spokesperson said:- "We are pleased to be working with Southport BID to be bringing some Christmas cheer to Ocean Plaza. We're delighted to light up Ocean Plaza for the 1st time this Christmas. We think everyone could do with some extra festive feelings this year; so why not admire the lights and tree while you're here? After a very hard year, we wanted to make our loyal customers smile. Click and collect is still available at Dunelm and Matalan this Christmas, with essential stores like Pets at Home and Poundstretcher open for those last-minute stocking fillers and goodies. We, as many other businesses have had a tough year, but our stores, restaurants and leisure offerings are eager to open to provide a truly magical, safe Christmas shopping experience. Southport BID has provided Ocean Plaza with a Christmas tree, a replica of the beautiful tree outside The Atkinson, a little smaller. The tree will be installed very soon. We are excited to see our new addition and can't wait to see it lit up. To complement our new tree we have added Christmas lights across Ocean Plaza for that extra bit of sparkle. These have been supplied and fitted by IllumiDex. We are very happy to have the Southport BID supporting Ocean Plaza in such a positive way. Southport BID CEO Rachel Fitzgerald has shown an interest in every business, establishing their needs and bringing businesses together, long may it continue!"

Southport BID CEO Rachel Fitzgerald said:- "Ocean Plaza is a very important part of Southport and its retail offer, allowing people to enjoy a greater diversity of shops. If we can help those businesses in any way, then we will do. I am looking forward to seeing the new Christmas tree and festive decorations there. People are still able to shop at Ocean Plaza during lockdown, either in essential stores or through click and collect at others. Hopefully the park is going to be ready to welcome even more people back when the current Covid restrictions end on 2 December 2020."

Find out more details about Southport BID at:- Southportbid.Com  and follow them o Twitter. For more details and to buy the new Southport Gift Card please visit:- SouthportGiftCard.Co.UK.