Archive for the ‘Events’ Category

The NHS is joining forces with Macmillan Cancer Information at a free health and wellbeing clinic in Southport on Thursday 12th November.

The event is organised by Macmillan Information and Support Centre in partnership with Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust and NHS Southport and Formby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

The event at Southport Theatre and Convention Centre is an opportunity to find out how to access local support, information and advice to help patients and their families adjust to life with and beyond cancer. It will run from 1pm to 3.30pm.

Jackie Brunton, Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust’s lead cancer nurse, said: “We’re delighted to join forces again with Macmillan, building on the success of previous health and well-being clinics. We would also be delighted to welcome friends and family to come along as we understand how a cancer diagnosis affects not just the person with cancer.”

Visitors will have the opportunity to find out what local support, information and advice is available to them, their families, carers and friends to adjust to life with and beyond cancer. Clinical nurse specialists will also be on hand. There will also be:

• Healthy food demonstrations
• Hand massages from Sefton OPERA (Older Persons Enabling Resource and Action)
• A benefits advisor
• Representatives from local cancer support groups
• A performance by the Living Well Centre/Macmillan Singing Group
• Expert-led sessions around fitness, wellbeing and Macmillan’s work

Helen Jones, Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre Manager, said: “We understand how patients can often feel they lose the safety net of support they receive while attending the hospital regularly for treatment. These events are designed to help people to return to everyday activities and make the most of the good things in their life. If you have any questions, we are here to help.”

Places are free but limited, booking is essential. For information or to book a place contact Macmillan Information & Support Centre on /7 or email .

Sefton council is offering subsidised parking at 80p per car.

Alzheimer’s Society Sefton is inviting people living with dementia, their family, and their carers to their ‘pop up’ memory cafe at the Salvation Army in Southport on the 15 October.

This is a chance to meet up in an informal setting and have a chance to speak about personal experiences of dementia and memory loss while hearing about the experiences of others in a similar situation.

Alzheimer’s Society staff will be available to give support and there will be lots of information for anyone worried about their memory or to find out what services are available locally.

If you know of anyone who would benefit from this please share this leaflet them. There is no need for people to book, just come along on the day.

In an effort to support new mothers and help them make small steps in getting back into fitness, Active Sefton has set up exercise classes for new mums called ‘Active Buggies’.

The sessions are designed to provide a gentle re-introduction to fitness, all exercises involve buggies, which gives mums the opportunity to get fit without the need for childcare. They are also a great session to meet other mums & socialise!

Prices start from £10 for six sessions, and the first session is free!

If you, or someone you know might be interested, Active Buggies has a FaceBook page with much more information and if you have any questions you can call Jessica-Meg on /. You can also view this informative leaflet here.

Healthwatch Sefton invites you to attend its ‘Care to Share’ event.

You will be able to learn more about our work, hear from special guest speakers, including our national body, Healthwatch England, have the opportunity to have your questions answered by NHS and social care providers and enjoy a free complementary breakfast or supper.

Special guests who have already confirmed include: Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust, Mersey Care NHS Trust, Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust, The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, with more to be confirmed.

• Bootle Town Hall – Tuesday 20th October 2015 5-7pm
• Best Western Royal Clifton Hotel – Wednesday 21st October 2015 10-12:00

View the flyer for more information and booking details.

Southport and Formby CCG is once again inviting interested parties in the area to its governing body meeting in September.

The meeting is held by the CCG on a bi-monthly basis, and provides an insight into the decisions currently being made in health care in the community.

Those who wish to attend the meeting will also hear doctors, nurses and other health care professionals who make up the governing body, discuss how well health services are performing in the area.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday 23rd September 2015 at Family Life Centre, Ash St., Southport, PR8 6JH.

The meeting begins at 1pm, with an open public session where people can ask questions shortly before the formal session gets underway.

Anyone with an interest in local health is welcome to come along and is asked to call to confirm their attendance. Papers for the meeting can be found in advance of the governing body meeting on the CCG’s website.

Are you thinking about fostering or adopting children? You can find out more at one of Sefton Fostering & Adoption Service’s regular information sessions.

The next session takes place 22 Sep, 6.30pm at The Vincent Hotel in Southport (Lord Street, PR8 1JR) and is a chance to meet Sefton’s expert team and experienced carers over a drink and bite to eat.

On Tuesday 15 September health commissioners are inviting Southport and Formby residents to come to their ‘Annual Review meets Big Chat’ event and have their say about the future of services in their local communities.

This year, NHS Southport and Formby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is combing its annual review meeting with one of its ‘Big Chat’ style events. So, as well as hearing about the CCG’s performance and achievements over the past 12 months, residents will also be invited to take part in workshop sessions, where they will be invited to give their views to influence  how services in their local communities develop and improve in the future.

Dr Rob Caudwell, chair of the CCG, said: “We would like as many people as possible to come along and get involved with our discussions around shaping future services. On the day there will be short presentations as well as the opportunity for those who attend to join in and give their ideas of how we can develop our plans further.”

Copies of the CCG’s annual report and accounts for 2014-2015 will also be available for people to take away.

The event is being held from 1pm – 3.30pm at the Royal Clifton Hotel, Promenade, Southport, PR8 1RB.  A light lunch will be served at 12.30pm.

Anyone who would like to come along is asked to confirm their attendance, along with any special requirements they may have, by calling or by emailing

Have you or someone you know had recent experience of using community dermatology services in Sefton? If so, healthcare leaders in the borough want to hear from you.

Community based dermatology services are commissioned by NHS Southport and Formby and NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) who regularly review their quality to make sure they constantly offer the highest standards of care for local people.

The CCGs know that patients who use the current service highly rate their experience but the healthcare commissioners want to find out more.

Dr Rob Caudwell, the CCGs’ GP lead for dermatology, said: “Speaking to patients about their experiences of using our services helps us to identify what works well and if we need to make changes to further improve them, so I’d encourage anyone who has recently been treated by community dermatology to get in touch and tell us what they think, we’d welcome their more detailed feedback.”

The service currently operates 13 clinics a week across four community venues in Sefton, diagnosing and treating patients for an extensive range of skin conditions. People are generally referred to the service by their doctor for things like severe eczema that can’t be treated by their practice. It also provides minor surgery for minor skin related problems. The current contract comes up for renewal on 1 April 2016 and all the views gained as part of this review will be used by the CCGs to refine the service.

Over the next couple of weeks, the CCGs will also be attending a number of community dermatology clinics and inviting patients and carers to take part in a survey.

Anyone else who would like to complete a survey should contact the Engagement Team on , or email before Friday 17 July 2015.

If you are thinking about growing your family through adoption or fostering, Sefton Fostering and Adoption Service is holding one of its regular free info sessions at Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre on 15 July at 6.30pm.

It is a great opportunity to listen to Sefton’s experts, ask them questions and chat all things adoption and fostering over a nice drink.

To find out more, contact Sefton Fostering and Adoption Service FREEPHONE or by email:

Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust is joining forces with Macmillan Cancer Information at a free health and well-being clinic in Southport on Thursday 9 July.

The event at Southport Theatre and Convention Centre is an opportunity to find out how to access local support, information and advice to help patients and their families adjust to life with and beyond cancer. It will run from 4pm to 6.30pm.

Jackie Brunton, the Trust’s Cancer Services Manager/Lead cancer Nurse, said: “We’re delighted to join forces again with the Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Service, building on the success of previous health and well-being clinics.  We would also be delighted to welcome friends and family to come along as we understand how a cancer diagnosis affects not just the person with cancer.”

Cancer nurse specialists will be on hand to offer advice and support along with local organisations including Sefton Active Lifestyles, local benefits advisors and Sefton/West Lancs Carers Support.

Information on fitness, walking groups, diet, benefits, stopping smoking, and carers’ support will also be available as well as the opportunity to talk to other people living with and affected by cancer. Refreshments will be provided and interactive sessions will include:

• A presentation on the benefits of physical activity during and after cancer 
• A tai chi taster session
• Mini make-up classes from Boots No7
• Healthy food demonstrations
• Hand massages from Sefton OPERA (Older Persons Enabling Resource and Action)

Barbara Flowers, Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre Manager, said: “We understand how patients can often feel they lose the safety net of support they receive while attending the hospital regularly for treatment.

“These events are designed to help people to return to everyday activities and make the most of the good things in their life. If you have any questions, we are here to help.”

Places are free but limited, booking is essential. For information or to book a place contact Helen, Barbara or Sarah at the Southport Macmillan Information and Support Centre on or

A further event will be held on Thursday 12 November between 1pm and 3.30pm.