'Get 'Winter Ready' with new checklist say Sefton health and community leaders

SEFTON'S health and community leaders are urging people to help themselves, their loved ones and the people they care for stay well this winter with the help of an online winter ready checklist.

Dr Pete Chamberlain, local GP and Chair of NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said:- "Staying well this winter is really important for your health and the health of older loved ones and neighbours. The cold and damp weather, ice, snow and high winds can all aggravate any existing health problems and make us more vulnerable to respiratory winter illnesses. It's especially important for those aged 65 or older and people with long term conditions such as heart or kidney disease, diabetes or breathing conditions like COPD (including emphysema and chronic bronchitis) and asthma."

Margaret Jones, Director of Public Health, at Sefton Council, said:- "The good news is there are lots of things you can do to stay well this winter and lots of services and organisations that can support you whether it's getting your flu and all your Covid19 vaccines, help to heat your home, keeping active, meeting people, improving your health and wellbeing, getting advice from a health professional, or choosing which service you need."

To help people navigate the many organisations and services available in Sefton that could meet their needs to stay well this winter, healthcare and community partners have created an online checklist. By focusing on a few simple questions this online tool can help provide advice or signpost people to services that may provide the solutions. The checklist was presented to people who work with various community groups at a winter ready engagement event coordinated by NHS South Sefton and Southport and Formby CCGs, Sefton CVS and Healthwatch Sefton.

Diane Blair, Healthwatch Sefton Manager, said:- "The checklist was very well received and is being used by various community leaders to help signpost people to the range of other services that may be useful for them and to help advise on how to stay well this winter and how to access health services should they become unwell."

Angela White, Chief Executive of Sefton CVS, said:- "It's always important to take stock of your health and ensure you have in place what you need to be ready for the cold winter months. This checklist makes you think about your health and wellbeing, or you could use it to speak to family members or neighbours who may be older or more vulnerable to see how they are and whether they're prepared for winter. The checklist highlights local advice and support from across the health and VCF sectors' that may be useful to them."

Dr Rob Caudwell, Local GP and Chair of NHS Southport and Formby CCG, said:- "If you do become unwell, the NHS is always here for you when you need it. If you need medical advice and aren't sure where to go, use NHS 111 online or call:- 111 for assistance. Remember, your local Pharmacists are health experts who can help with all sorts of conditions and treatments and GP practices are open and continuing to provide services, including face to face appointments where these are needed. Please use this checklist to help you and those around you have a happy and healthy Christmas."

The 'Winter Ready' Checklist is available online now... See:-

Winter health checklist for South Sefton for Southport and Formby area:- Checklist.

Winter health checklist for South Sefton:- Checklist.

New CBI North West Chair says:- "levelling up holds the key to Post Pandemic prosperity."

KAREN Smart, who is the Managing Director, at Manchester Airport, has been named as the next Chair of the CBI North West Regional Council. She will take up the role in January, replacing Ian Funnell of tech firm ABB Limited, who has held the position for 3 years. Originally from Macclesfield, Karen served for 23 years in the RAF prior to joining Manchester Airports Group in 2014. Since then, she has held a number of senior operational leadership roles at London Stansted and East Midlands Airport prior to taking up her current role. If you don't know, Regional Councils are part of the formal CBI governance process. Meetings bring together members working within a similar industry, sector, Region, or nation to help shape CBI policy; which in turn gives the CBI its mandate on the issues that business faces. Karen will be taking on her new role at a challenging time for North West business, but believes the CBI can play a crucial part in helping the Region bounce back from the economic ravages of Covid to navigate a path to an equitable and prosperous future.

This week, CBI's incoming Regional Chair, Karen, said that levelling up ambitions will be vital if the North West is to secure a lasting recovery from Covid and build future prosperity. She told the media:- "I'm thrilled to be appointed Chair of the CBI's North West Regional Council, and I look forward to working with fellow Council members and other business leaders across the Region to meet the challenge of rebuilding the North West economy from the Pandemic. Following the turbulence of the past 2 years, I firmly believe that the CBI has a vital role to play in ensuring that our Region not only fulfils its potential, but sets its sights on a more prosperous future. Together, we will lay the foundations for that, advocating for the North West in the critical conversations to come around levellingup, and ensuring that voices are heard from across the diverse sectors that make up the fabric of our Regional economy."

Damian Waters, CBI North West Director, said:- "I'm delighted to confirm that Karen will be the new Chair of the CBI North West Regional Council. She will bring a wealth of knowledge of the Region and insight into the issues that matter to businesses. Karen's expertise will be a major asset for businesses and for the CBI as we look to build upon the North West's diverse strengths to drive forward the strategies for growth set out in our Seize The Moment economic vision. I look forward to working with her to achieve these goals."

Across the UK, the CBI speaks on behalf of 190,000 businesses of all sizes and sectors. The CBI's corporate members together employ nearly 7 million people, about ⅓ of private sectoremployees. With offices in the UK as well as representation in Brussels, Washington, Beijing and Delhi, the CBI communicates the British business voice around the world.