Please see below links to Coronavirus recommended Apps:
NHS Central Lancashire CCGs - Coronavirus: Apps to help children and young people
NHS Central Lancashire CCGs - Coronavirus: Apps to help self-management
Self Care Week - 16 to 22 November 2020
Cervical screening
Cervical Screening Awareness Week took place in June, so we’ve added a blog about it with a link to some social-media posts here
Just because Cervical Screening Awareness Week has passed, it doesn’t mean you’ve missed the boat. Cervical screening is a really important screening test, so we’ve added a couple of posts below.
If you’ve never had a cervical screening before, you might be wondering what will happen at your appointment. The NHS has some easy-to-understand guidance here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-screening/
(England, Scotland and Wales)
You may not know that the way we test cervical screening samples has changed. We now look for certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) which are associated with cervical cancer before we test your cervical cells. If none of the ‘high risk’ HPV are found, we don’t need to do any further tests. https://www.jostrust.org.uk/information/cervical-screening/primary-hpv-testing
(Northern Ireland)
Cervical ‘smears’ are a screening test, which means we aim to find changes to the cervix and treat these changes before they become cancerous. https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/cervical-screening
Group B Strep
If you’re pregnant, talk to your midwife about Group B strep (GBS). It’s a fairly common infection that can have a serious effect on your baby if you’re suffering from it when you give birth. https://gbss.org.uk/info-support/about-group-b-strep/what-is-group-b-strep/
If you’re pregnant and have had a positive test for Group B strep, you might find this information about what to do next useful: https://gbss.org.uk/info-support/group-b-strep-testing/what-does-my-test-result-mean/
Did you know that Group B strep can be harmful to newborn babies, and many women don’t know they’re carrying the infection? https://gbss.org.uk/info-support/group-b-strep-infection/
Samaritans
Many people have been finding life more difficult during lockdown. The reasons are different for everyone, but the Samaritans are there for anyone to talk to, day or night. ‘Talk to Us’ happens each July, and local branches talk about how they support their communities. Now more than ever, community support is vital. Have a look at what the Samaritans are up to here: https://www.samaritans.org/wales/support-us/campaign/talk-us/
The Samaritans want to help before it becomes a crisis. They have some brilliant advice about the signs to look out for before you hit crisis point: https://www.samaritans.org/wales/ho...ficult-time/signs-you-may-be-struggling-cope/
Sarcoma awareness (29th June to 5th July)
There are around 100 different types of sarcoma. Sarcomas are uncommon types of cancer which can grow anywhere on the body. https://sarcoma.org.uk/about-sarcoma/understanding-sarcoma-0
It’s sarcoma awareness week and many people don’t know what a sarcoma is, you can find out more about raising awareness through Sarcoma UK https://sarcoma.org.uk/get-involved/26-challenge/sarcoma-awareness-week-29-june-5-july
3rd July 2020 - Bereaved Parents Day
If you or someone you know has lost a child, you’ll know how crushing that feels. Bereaved parents day is organised by ‘A child of mine’ to raise awareness of the huge challenges that families who lose a child face. https://achildofmine.org.uk/national-bereaved-parents-awareness-day/
‘A child of mine’ was set up by parents who had lost a beloved child and realised that there was very little in the way of support for them at the most challenging time of their lives. They hope that ‘A child of mine’ will help to ensure that no other parent faces that alone. https://achildofmine.org.uk/
Light a candle on 3rd July at 7.00pm, post a picture of your candle on your Facebook feed and help to support parents who have lost a child. It’s a pain we all hope we will never know. https://achildofmine.org.uk/national-bereaved-parents-awareness-day/
COVID-19 and hygiene
With caring responsibilities being a significant part of life for many families, what are the things we need to consider when thinking about personal care for the elderly members of our family? https://www.choosecomforthome.com/guide-to-personal-hygiene-care-for-the-elderly/
If you’re caring for someone who’s elderly, there are some really useful tips here about maintaining some independence with personal care: https://www.countrywidehealthcare.co.uk/blog/post/personal-hygiene-care-for-the-elderly
If you have young children, how can we help them to become confident and independent with their handwashing and hygiene? https://familyapp.com/fun-and-easy-hygiene-tips-for-children/
While cases of coronavirus are decreasing, simple hygiene techniques can help to reduce the possibility of transmission within your home: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/how-to-prevent-germs-from-spreading/
Food habits
How do you make sure you eat a balanced diet of fruit and vegetables? The easy answer is ‘eat a rainbow’: https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/nutrition/5-a-day/colourful-foods
If you’ve been missing restaurant meals, this handy guide to healthy restaurant-style meals should help to tide you over until we can eat out socially again: https://www.bhf.org.uk/informations...zine/nutrition/restaurant-style-meals-at-home
With more time being spent in our gardens and outdoor spaces, a BBQ doesn’t have to mean burnt burgers and sausages! These brilliant recipes will liven up your meals and are healthy too. https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/healthy-barbecue
Homelessness
If you’re familiar with the book ‘A street cat named Bob’ you’ll be saddened to hear that Bob the cat died in June. This incredible tale emphasises the importance of pets and companionship for our mental health and well-being: https://www.thebookseller.com/news/...vuBYtx8sr7PQEAFX4Wc1-Kz7JCVzv30K_ZC0xqm7nfC_U
Coronavirus has proved a massive challenge for most of us, and it has been incredibly hard on those who find themselves homeless. St Mungo’s are helping to raise awareness and offer advice about how you can help: https://www.mungos.org/homelessness/how-to-help-during-coronavirus/
Activities and travel
As restrictions are eased, and we can travel further to exercise, ‘Walking Britain’ have a fantastic walk finder. Simply type in the area you wish to visit and find a suitable route: https://www.walkingbritain.co.uk/find-walks-by-me.php
Now we can socialise, to an extent, with others from outside our household, if you have children in the group we’ve found some brilliant ideas for socially distanced games: https://www.asphaltgreen.org/blog/rep-it-out-games-for-social-distancing
(England)
If you’re planning on travelling on public transport in England, you’ll need to wear a face covering. There are some exceptions including children under 11 and those with certain medical conditions and disabilities. You can check the exemptions here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for-passengers
(Scotland)
If you’re planning on travelling on public transport in Scotland, you’ll need to wear a face covering. There are some exceptions including children under 5 and those with certain medical conditions and disabilities: https://www.transport.gov.scot/coro...ansition-plan/advice-on-how-to-travel-safely/
(Wales)
Wearing a face covering on public transport is recommended to help reduce the spread of coronavirus. If your journey takes you into England or Scotland, wearing a face covering on public transport is compulsory: https://gov.wales/face-coverings-frequently-asked-questions
(Northern Ireland)
Wearing a face covering on public transport is recommended to help reduce the spread of coronavirus. If your journey takes you into England or Scotland, wearing a face covering on public transport is compulsory: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-overview-and-advice#toc-4
If you’re exempt from wearing a face covering on public transport because you have a medical condition or disability, you don’t need a letter from your GP; you can print off your own exemption card here: https://disabilitypartnershipcalderdale.org/2020/06/16/mask-exemption-cards-print-wear/
If you have someone in your life who has communication difficulties, or a condition that may impact their ability to understand coronavirus, these social stories might help: https://www.lgfl.net/covid19socialstories
Sun safety
Many of us don’t apply enough sun cream. To get full protection, you need more than you might think: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/sunscreen-and-sun-safety/
Are you drinking enough? Many of us don’t drink enough water to meet our body’s needs. Dehydration can have an impact on your health and if you’re feeling thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. https://www.nhsinform.scot/campaigns/hydration
Since March, temperatures and the lack of rainfall have been anything but average. When heatwaves are forecast, there’s an alert system that tells you what you need to look out for: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/heatwave-how-to-cope-in-hot-weather/
National Citizen Service
If you have a 16 or 17 year old who was thinking about doing National Citizen Service this year, they may have thought they couldn’t go ahead because coronavirus has changed things. NCS are still encouraging youngsters to get involved and ‘Keep Doing Good’ https://wearencs.com/
30th July - International Day of Friendship
Since 2011, the International Day of Friendship has been used to promote peace, understanding and reconciliation among all the citizens of the world. On a local level, we can raise our awareness of issues affecting others and promote kindness, mutual understanding and friendship to others: https://www.un.org/en/events/friendshipday/background.shtml