Help Us Help You this winter by choosing the right NHS service

NORTH West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is helping people to choose the right NHS service so they can get the most appropriate treatment for their medical needs. The number of people attending A&E and calling:- 999 for an Ambulance is growing each year. Ambulance services, hospitals, GP surgeries and Walk In Centres get especially busy during winter. By choosing the right health service, you will help to relieve pressure whilst also being better placed to look after yourself and others. This further reinforces the national 'Help Us, Help You' campaign, aimed at easing the pressure on NHS urgent care and emergency services. Below is a list of options depending on your medical need:-

► Self care... This is the best choice to treat minor illnesses and injuries. A large range of common illnesses and injuries can be treated at home or with over-the-counter medicines and plenty of rest.

► NHS 111... If you're not sure what to do and need medical advice fast, call:- 111 for free! There is also the online version at:- 111.MHS.UK 

► Pharmacists/Chemists... Are a great source of health care advice and information. They are experts in medicines and will help you decide if you need to see a Doctor.

► GP's... Can help if you have an illness or injury that won't go away and any long standing conditions. Other examples may include vomiting, ear pain, stomach ache and backache.

► Walk In Centres... Provide consultations, advice and treatment for new minor injuries and illnesses.

► A&E or 999... Is for life threatening situations and emergencies, such as:- choking, chest pain, severe difficulty breathing, blacking out and blood loss.

The Trust has also produced a short animation to help people decide when to visit a Walk In Centre, which provide consultations, advice and treatment for minor injuries and illnesses. The animation can be viewed at:- NWBH.NHS.UK/Are-You-Winter-Ready. The Trust has 3 Walk In Centres in Knowsley:- Halewood, Huyton and Kirkby along with 1 Walk In Centre, in Litherland, Sefton.

Louise Johnston, Head of Adult Community Services (physical health) said:- "With the festive season fast approaching, it's really important to choose the right health service this winter that can best support you and your family. You can help yourself to stay well by keeping warm, having your flu jab if eligible, eating a healthy diet and drinking plenty of fluids. If you do become unwell, its essential you know what to do and which service will ensure you have a speedy recovery. Our Walk In Centres are there to provide an important service to the community but they cannot do it alone. If you are unsure of the best option, contact NHS 111 for advice."

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS services shortlisted in national awards

SERVICES provided by Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust have recently been shortlisted for 3 national NHS awards that recognise the excellent work of staff, patients and carers, and highlight good practice among other NHS organisations.

The services have been shortlisted for the finals of the annual:- 'NHS Elect Patient Experience and Quality Improvement Awards 2019/2020' which this year seeks to celebrate projects that achieve great strides in increasing patient experience and care while improving efficiency. The services that have been shortlisted are as follows:

► The Central Lancashire Moving Well Service in the:- 'Excellent Teamwork Award' category.

► The Seclusion Continuous Improvement Group in the:- 'Co-created Service Award' category.

► The Blackburn and Darwen Pulmonary Rehabilitation Team in the:- 'Patient Experience and Communications Award' category.

Maria Nelligan, Director of Nursing and Quality, at Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, said:- "It's excellent to see that three of our services have been shortlisted in the national NHS Elect Awards, something that testifies to the great person centred work that is being delivered by our staff and services in Lancashire and South Cumbria. The Central Lancashire Moving Well Service is 1 of our newer services and is doing some excellent work in helping people with problems with their muscles or joints and includes teams from a range of disciplines. Likewise, the Trust developed the Seclusion Continuous Improvement programme that has also done some excellent work in listening to people we provide care to and their families. Our Community Pulmonary Rehabilitation Service has also achieved excellent outcomes for people with lung conditions and who feel short of breath."

The Excellent Teamwork Award recognises services that work effectively as teams and have an inspiring patient centred purpose. The Central Lancashire Moving Well Service works to improve outcomes and experience, reduce variation and provide joined up care for people who have problems with their muscles or joints. The service includes teams that are able to deal with:- community physiotherapy, rheumatology, musculoskeletal issues, chronic fatigue and persistent pain.

Sue Kong, Director of NHS Elect, said:- "We were hugely impressed with all of the award entries we received for our NHS Elect Patient Experience and Quality Improvement Awards and shortlisting was an exceptionally difficult task. For Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust to appear as finalists in three categories is a great achievement. Reading all the submissions was a really positive experience and it was inspiring to learn of all the hard work and commitment to delivering and communicating great patient experience and quality improvement across the NHS."

The Co-created Service Award recognises services that have been created together with patients, carers and clinicians. The Seclusion Continuous Improvement Group was formed following feedback from people with experiences of seclusion. The group comprises current and former service users, their families and clinicians.

The Patient Experience and Communications Award recognises services that have positive, honest stories sharing successes and failures. The Blackburn with Darwen Community Pulmonary Rehabilitation Service has been shortlisted for achieving excellent outcomes for patients following their person centred care approach in helping help people with lung conditions and who feel short of breath.

Winners will be announced at the NHS Elect National Conference, on 5 December 2019. The awards run each year and consist of 4 categories.

Italian TV Station shoot a live broadcast at Sorrento Formby

ON 25 November 2019, Sorrento Italian Restaurant, in Formby, shared their love of football, live on TV, with Italian TV Station, Canal 21. The restaurant and its love of football. they also chatted the Restaurant and Riva Lounge, trip to see Liverpool Play at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, Madrid, Spain.