Archive for September, 2014

Staff from SUPPORT, Sefton’s NHS stop smoking service, are encouraging people across the area to take part in the Stoptober challenge during the 28 days of October.

Research shows that people who manage to stop smoking for 28 days are five times more likely to stop for good, and four times more likely to do it with support from an NHS stop smoking service.

Throughout Stoptober, the SUPPORT team will be offering free and friendly, one-to-one advice on the best ways to stopping smoking to anyone living in Sefton. 

Colette Kearney, Stop Smoking Coordinator for Sefton’s SUPPORT Team says:

“This October we’re encouraging as many people as possible across Sefton to take up the Stoptober challenge and to successfully stop smoking with support from our team.

“We know that stopping smoking is one of the single most important things you can do to improve your health, but it can be very hard to do without the right help.

“The good news is that it’s much easier when you do it with support from an NHS stop smoking adviser, so we want to invite anyone considering taking part in Stoptober to get in touch with our team for help and advice.

“Our advisers can help you put together a personal plan to help you stop,  and can advise you about Nicotine Replacement Therapy and other products that can help curb your cravings. Or if you’re not ready to stop just yet, we can also help you to reduce the amount you are smoking, as a first step towards stopping completely.”

She adds, “You can sign up to start the Stoptober challenge at any point during October, and can get as much or as little support as you need from our team to help you stay on track.”

To contact Sefton’s Stop Smoking Service (SUPPORT) for help or advice, please call: or visit: www.healthysefton.nhs.uk

You can also find the team on Facebook at facebook.com/SeftonSupport or follow them on twitter @seftonSUPPORT for tips and advice.

For more information on Stoptober, visit: https://stoptober.smokefree.nhs.uk

The Alzheimers Society in Southport is holding a Carers Support and Information Programme in January 2015.

If you are a non-professional carer looking after a person with dementia then this course is not to be missed.

The course covers a wide range of dementia related topics such as information about the condition, legal and money matters, activity ideas, sources of support and much much more. It also gives people the opportunity to meet other carers in a similar position to themselves.

The course is free and runs over four, two and a half hour sessions at the Wellbeing Centre, Scarisbrick Avenue, Southport. Dates and times are as follows:

• 14 January from 1 until 3.30pm
• 21 January from 1 until 3.30pm
• 28 January from 1 until 3.30pm
• 4 February from 1 until 3.30pm

Early booking is essential. Call for more information and booking details.

The Living Well Centre in Southport is holding a week of advice and information for individuals and families of people with disabilities.

‘Choices for Living’ commences on Monday 29 September and every day has a different theme.

View the flyer for more information.

Please note – there is also an additional date on Monday 6 October from 2pm – 8pm at the May Logan Centre in Bootle.

The Atkinson in Lord St, Southport is holding a Festival of Wellbeing in October.

As part of the festival a free programme of events will take place, including practical arts activities, demonstrations, training, displays and presentations.

The events will be held from 6 – 10 October and are aimed at the general public, healthcare professionals and anyone with an interest in ‘getting the most out of life’.

• Mon 6 Oct – Stay creative
• Tues 7 Oct – Be mindful
• Wed 8 Oct – Get active
• Thurs 9 Oct – Fight dementia
• Fri 10 Oct – Good food, good mood

View the Festival of wellbeing brochure for more details.

Visit www.theatkinson.co.uk for further information and contact details of all of the organisations taking part in this festival and any updates to the programme.

Fostering and Adoption Services in Sefton are hosting an information session on 23 September, 6.30pm at The Vincent Hotel in Southport.

Sefton’s expert team will deliver informative presentations, as well as answer all and any questions that you have around fostering and adoption, whether it be myths around who is or isn’t eligible to foster or adopt to the time it takes to be approved.

Also on hand will be current foster carers & adoptive parents to give you the inside track on what is involved. The session is non-ticket and free – so why not pop along?

Anyone wanting more details can call FREEPHONE , Monday to Friday 9am-5pm or visit www.seftonfostering.co.uk or www.seftonadoption.co.uk

 

The NHS Trust Development Authority has confirmed the appointment of Sue Musson as chair of Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust.

Sue is currently the senior independent director at Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Trust based in Wigan, and she is a former non-executive director at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.

She has 20 years’ Board-level experience as an executive and non-executive director in commercial and public sector organisations. She is currently managing director of a management consultancy company specialising in Board development and runs a property holding company.

Sue was born in the north-eastern US state of Connecticut and first came to the UK as a visiting student at the University of York.

After graduating from Columbia University, she moved to the UK and began her career in management consultancy, working with the European Commission and a number of UK and European agencies and Government departments.

Sue holds a number of public appointments. She is patient representative on the National Joint Registry (NJR), the expert body for joint replacement surgery in the UK. In this role, she works closely with her colleagues to bring the patient’s voice to the work of the Registry; as the NJR’s “Hippy Chick”, she also authors a popular blog recounting her experiences of joint replacement surgery. Sue regularly chairs appointment panels for the Judicial Appointments Commission, and is a member of the Panel Advising Foundation Trust Governors.

Sue, who lives in Lymm, Cheshire, is married to Mike and has two children, Harry and Annabel. She said: “I am delighted to be appointed as the Chair of the Trust. I look forward to working with my new colleagues and with all the Trust’s stakeholders during this challenging and exciting time for the NHS.

“Non-executive appointments to NHS trusts made by the NHS Trust Development Authority are subject to the Code of Practice of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Sue has been appointed for two years from 1 November 2014 and is entitled to receive a remuneration of £30,000 per annum. She succeeds Sir Ron Watson CBE whose eight-year term as chair ends in October.

NHS Southport and Formby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is inviting people to come along to its first Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 24 September.

There will be a range of presentations focusing on the CCG’s work in 2013-2014 and the progress it has made in its first year of operation since becoming responsible for planning and buying or ‘commissioning’ the majority of local health services.

Dr Rob Caudwell, chair of the CCG, said: “This is a chance reflect on what we have achieved in a relatively short period of time, as well as looking ahead to the challenges we face over the coming 12 months.

“We will describe how we have developed our five year strategy and how the views of all our partners, including local people have helped us to shape our plans for the future.”

Copies of the CCG’s five year strategy and its first annual report and accounts for 2013-2014 will be available for people to take away.

The CCG’s regular Governing Body meeting takes place in public immediately after the close of the Annual General Meeting, which people are also welcome to attend.

The event is being held at Formby Christian Fellowship, 93 Church Rd, Formby, Merseyside L37 3NB and the programme runs as follows:

• 12.30 – 1pm Light refreshments
• 1pm – 2pm Annual General Meeting
• 2pm – 4pm Governing Body Meeting

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