2.06 million3 which is the highest volume ever screened in a single year – and includes those not responding directly to an invite.

The latest NHS Breast Screening Programme, England 2021-22 report also found that uptake was highest in the South East at 67.7% and lowest in London at 50.4%.

Screening is vital in helping the NHS identify cancers at an earlier stage and in 2021-2022 the NHS breast screening programme led to cancers being detected in 20,152 women across England, which otherwise may have been diagnosed and treated at a later stage.

New national figures on Cancer Survival in England, also published today, show that 91% of women diagnosed at an early stage of breast cancer, where the tumour is small (stage 1), have a survival rate of at least five years.

The five-year survival rate for diagnosis at a late stage, where the cancer has spread to other parts of the body (stage 4), is 39%.

NHS director of vaccinations and screening Steve Russell said:

Quote

 

“Screening is an effective way to detect cancers at an earlier stage and it is in part thanks to our national breast screening programme that survival rates for breast cancer are so high.

“Today’s figures show more than 20,000 women were diagnosed and able to get treatment because they attended breast screening check-ups last year, yet nearly four in ten women aren’t taking up their screening invite and booking an appointment.

“We are sending out more breast screening invitations than ever before in an effort to save even more lives and we want more women to take up their screening offer when invited, so please if you have been invited – book an appointment at your local screening service or mobile unit as soon as possible.”

 

Dame Cally Palmer, national cancer director for NHS England, said:

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“Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer and the risk increases with age, but it also has one of the highest survival rates, thanks to advances in NHS screening and treatment.”

“We know lives are saved when cancers are caught early and I would urge anyone who has received a breast screening invitation – even if you received the invite weeks or months ago – to make an appointment – it could save your life.

“It’s also important that women of all ages are aware of their breast health and know how to check themselves for cancer symptoms – this means getting to know how your breasts look and feel at different times and telling your doctor straight away if you notice any unusual changes.”

 

HIV, or the human immunodeficiency virus, is a serious medical condition that can have serious health consequences if left untreated. Early detection and treatment of HIV can greatly improve the health outcomes for those affected by the virus, and that's why regular testing is so important.

In Salford, there are a number of options for people who are interested in getting tested for HIV. These options include both private and public testing services, as well as home testing kits.

One of the best places to get tested for HIV in Salford is your local GP surgery. Many GP surgeries in Salford offer confidential and free testing for HIV, and you can usually get a same-day appointment. This is a good option if you are looking for a convenient and confidential way to get tested for HIV.

Another option for HIV testing in Salford is the local sexual health clinic. Sexual health clinics in Salford offer a wide range of services, including HIV testing, and are a good choice if you are looking for a more specialized testing facility. These clinics are staffed by healthcare professionals who are knowledgeable about HIV and can answer any questions you might have about the testing process.

If you prefer to get tested for HIV in the privacy of your own home, you can purchase a home testing kit. These kits are widely available online and are a good option if you are looking for a discreet way to get tested.

Testing Event In Salford This Friday

Not everyone is comfortable in a medical setting and with that in mind, on Friday 10th of February, a free testing event will be held at Pendleton Gateway, hosted by This is Me (Salford), BHA For Equality and the LGBTQ+ Peer Support Group.

The event will operate between 10am and 3pm and it is open to all.

Testing takes just 30 seconds and you can grab a brew and a cake whilst you wait.

More information can be found on the This is Me (Salford) Facebook Page : https://www.facebook.com/groups/1988332144681443

Regardless of where you choose to get tested for HIV in Salford, it's important to understand that getting tested is a critical step in protecting your health. Early detection and treatment of HIV can improve health outcomes, reduce the risk of transmission to others, and help to prevent serious health complications from developing.

HIV is no longer a death sentence because of advances in antiretroviral therapy (ART).

ART is a combination of medications that target the virus and slow down the progression of the disease. When ART is taken as prescribed, it can suppress the virus to undetectable levels, which greatly improves the health outcomes for those with HIV and reduces the risk of transmission to others.

Additionally, the development of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has transformed HIV from a rapidly progressive and life-threatening illness to a manageable chronic condition. With proper care and treatment, people with HIV can now live long, healthy lives.

Furthermore, the availability of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has also greatly reduced the risk of HIV transmission. PrEP is a medication that is taken daily by those who are at high risk of contracting the virus, and it has been proven to be highly effective in preventing transmission.

In conclusion, the combination of ART and PrEP has transformed HIV from a death sentence to a manageable condition, and people with HIV can now live long, healthy lives with proper care and treatment. It is important to remember that early detection and treatment of HIV is critical in achieving these positive outcomes so it is vitally important that you get tested and if positive, start treatment as soon as possible.

New data reveals the success rate for people quitting smoking around the UK

According to new data, released today by Haypp, 35% of smokers in Salford have successfully quit smoking. 

The online data, view UK quit smoking rates here, compares all of the cities around the UK based on the success rate for quitting smoking as well as government expenditure and other data splits such as gender and age. 

Looking at the gender split, the percentage of successful male quitters is 38% compared to slightly less for females at 33%. 

The research also found that the age group with the best chance of quitting in Salford was 18-34.

The top performing authorities, based on the percentage of successful quitters, are Rotherham, Barnsley, Warrington and Dudley. On the other end of the scale, some of the worst performing authorities were Sutton, West Sussex, Warwickshire and Swindon. 

Markus Lindblad, from Haypp, said:

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"Following UK government guidance, those who reduce the amount they smoke are more likely to stop smoking eventually, particularly if they are using licensed nicotine-containing product alternatives. The national harm reduction strategy, where the switch to alternative, less harmful, nicotine products such as nicotine pouches is encouraged, has been key to the UK being one of the most successful countries in Europe in reducing the number of smokers."

"There are several other possible contributing factors to these success rates, but the fact that each of these local authorities is offering support in multiple locations and in many forms across the area is likely to be one of the biggest factors. For example, Rotherham, Warrington have  invested heavily in quit smoking resources, with both investing over £250,000 into their local initiatives. Hopefully these figures will continue to rise as more people quit smoking or use smoking alternatives."

 

The proportion of smokers in England has been falling for many years - while 19.8% of the population were smokers in 2011, this number had fallen to 13.9% by 2019. This trend is expected to continue downwards to 2.5% by 2050, according to the government .

Thousands of people asked each year could be missing out on brief interventions to help curb problem drinking, or a potential referral to specialist alcohol services.

To help address this NICE is recommending that people being asked about how much and how often they drink alcohol should have the information added to a validated questionnaire to identify if they need help, NICE has said.

A new draft quality standard, which sets out priority areas for quality improvement for the care of adults with alcohol-use disorders, includes a statement about accurately recording alcohol use.

The new draft quality standard does not ask for health professionals to do additional work, but says information gathered should be correctly and appropriately stored. This should also avoid people being asked repeatedly about their alcohol use.

A large number of people who are alcohol dependent are not receiving treatment and this could be for a wide variety of reasons. According to data from Office for Health Improvement & Disparities, in England there were an estimated 602,391 dependent drinkers in need of specialist treatment in 2018 to 2019 (the most recent figures available) and only 28% were receiving treatment.

NICE is asking service providers, such as primary care services, secondary care services, social care services, criminal justice services, community and voluntary services, to ensure that systems are in place for the use of validated alcohol questionnaires when asking people about their alcohol use.

They should also ensure abbreviated versions of an appropriate questionnaire are available when time is limited.

The statement is included in the NICE draft quality standard for the diagnosis and management of alcohol-use disorders, developed by an independent advisory committee, which includes experts in the diagnosis and management of alcohol-use disorders.

Dr Paul Chrisp, director of the Centre for Guidelines at NICE, said:

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“Many of us are asked about our alcohol use when we interact with health services, but if an appropriate questionnaire is not used, people with alcohol problems could be slipping through the net and may not be receiving the support they need.

“We know a large number of people who are dependent of alcohol are not receiving treatment and this could be for a variety of reasons, but as part of a health and care system that continually learns from data, we do know that using a validated questionnaire provides commissioners with the information they need to organise appropriate services.”

 

The Recovery Pathways service, part of Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH), supported over 16,000 people struggling with their mental health in 2022.

Recovery Pathways supports individuals to build futures through art, people and places. It offers a range of unique and creative opportunities to build confidence and skills, and enable personal mental health recovery.

The 'Wellbeing through Creativity' arm of the service offers a variety of practical projects and courses, ranging from Textiles, Photography, Ceramics, Painting and Drawing, and Creative Writing, to Green Wellbeing, Woodwork and Sleep DIY.

The courses are run across a number of trusted community locations in Greater Manchester, including: Studio One, Benchmark, START, Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester Art Gallery, Platt Fields, and Crumpsall Park.

A number of these courses are designed for people with complex needs, experiencing severe and enduring mental health difficulties. Delivered in small groups, service users attend regular sessions, and receive regular support from Wellbeing Arts Tutors to achieve their goals.

Alongside this, the service offers a range of shorter courses, which are available to anyone living in Manchester over the age of 18 who can benefit from creative wellbeing support.

Recovery Pathways also provides an Individual Placement Support service; as well as support via the No. 93 Wellbeing Centre, a community hub at the heart of Harpurhey, which offers a further range of wellbeing activities and sessions.

Figures show that, in 2022, over 16,000 people benefitted from this wide-ranging support.

Reworx is just one of the newest creative textiles courses offered by the 'Wellbeing through Creativity' arm of the service. It teaches service users to utilise surplus second-hand clothes provided by the homelessness charity, Emmaus, to upcycle and redesign into fashion products, which are then donated back to Emmaus to sell in their charity shop to help raise funds for homelessness. So far, following completion of the first two courses, sales of Reworx bags have raised £86.

Kai, 28, was initially introduced to the textiles courses at Recovery Pathways as a service user under START. They are now using their lived experience to give back to the community, as a Volunteer at Reworx. 

They said:

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"I first attended a textiles course at Recovery Pathways around four months ago. At the time, I was in a really dark place with my mental health. Anxiety and depression meant I couldn't leave the house, I was struggling with day-to-day activities, I had lots of panic attacks, and I lacked confidence.

"My Care Coordinator recognised I was a creative person, and so made a referral to Recovery Pathways. Beforehand, I was anxious it wouldn't be right for me, but the second I stepped into the building, I felt at home. The textiles room particularly jumped out to me. There were so many different textures and colours, materials and artworks – it's a very inspiring room.

"My love for textiles just grew from there, and so did my confidence. Coming to the studio was such a safe space for me to escape. It's amazing to seeing the progress I've made – it saved my life. I poured myself into the courses, absorbed all the sessions and knowledge, and it's filtered through into my day-to-day life. There isn't a day that goes by where I don't do something creative now.

"I'm a completely different person now to the one who walked into this building four months ago. I've become more confident to be out and about, wear the clothes I want to wear, and do the things I want to do. I've also been able to exit an abusive relationship, which I never thought I'd be able to do.

"I've got lots of exciting things coming up - I'm applying to do an art foundation course, and hope to go on to do a BA. I'm also going to return to Recovery Pathways as a Volunteer on the next Reworx course, and I can't wait. I will be there to support others - those who may enter on their first day and feel as anxious as I did."

 

Peter Smith, Service Manager for Wellbeing and Recovery Pathways at GMMH said:

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"Recovery Pathways' courses are delivered in spaces at the heart of communities across Greater Manchester. They provide our service users with the chance to expand their horizons in a relaxed environment, meet new people, learn new skills, and enjoy the present moment. This type of social support is such an important part of mental health recovery.

"It's amazing to have reached so many people in 2022, and we will continue to grow and provide this vital support in 2023 and beyond."

 

Mia Nisbet, Wellbeing Arts Tutor at GMMH's Recovery Pathways service said:

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"Within our textiles sessions, service users are given the chance to self-direct their creative projects, tailoring them to fit what they specifically want to learn and create. This approach allows them to develop a creative identity and autonomous style, enabling them to feel in control of their experience and, in turn, build confidence, a sense self-worth and achievement.

"Peer support and volunteering brings so much value to this process. It provides an opportunity for our service users to continue to progress in their own recovery journey, whilst acting as trusted sources of support, using both their unique lived experience of mental health recovery and the practical skills they have gained on our creative courses to help others."

 

For enquiries regarding attending a 'Wellbeing through Creativity' course, please contact Recovery Pathways via email referrals.recoverypathways@gmmh.nhs.uk or telephone 07436 560917.

For more information about Recovery Pathways, visit: https://gmmh.nhs.uk/recovery-pathways.

Photo ©: Kai & Wellbeing Arts Tutor, Mia Nisbet

Coronavirus, chickenpox and scarlet fever were among the most commonly viewed conditions on the NHS website in 2022.

A 2022 Top Ten list compiled by NHS Digital shows the most popular pages related to Coronavirus, with 16.3 million visits to advice on COVID-19 symptoms, testing and self-care, followed by 4.3 million clicks on long Covid.

High blood pressure was the third most-visited condition, attracting 3.8 million views, while scarlet fever, chickenpox and monkeypox all saw big increases in visits, compared with 2021.

Visits to the chickenpox page more than doubled in 2022 to become the fourth most visited condition, with 3.7 million against 1.7 million in 2021.

Scarlet fever was the seventh most visited page, with 3 million visits in 2022 – seven times the amount of clicks in 2021, when there were 414,000.

There were also 60 times as many visits to the page on monkeypox with 2.1 million in 2022, compared to only 35,000 in 2021.

Visits to the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) page remained high, increasing from 3.1 million in 2021 to 3.5 million in 2022, making it the fifth most visited condition of the year.

Searches for fever in children were also up in 2022, with 3.4 million visits compared with 2.9 million in 2021, and diarrhoea and vomiting page visits increased from 2.4 million in 2021 to 2.9 million in 2022.

Tonsillitis received 2.8 million hits in 2022 from 2.1 million in 2021, and rashes in babies and children increased to 2.7 million in 2022 from 2.4 million the previous year.

The ten most viewed pages about medical conditions in 2022 were:

Coronavirus (16.3 million)
Long Covid (4.3 million)
High blood pressure (3.8 million)
Chickenpox (3.7 million)
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (3.5 million)
Fever in children (3.4 million)
Scarlet fever (3 million)
Diarrhoea and vomiting (2.9 million)
Tonsillitis (2.8 million)
Rashes in babies and children (2.7 million)

Joe Risk, NHS Digital's head of delivery for the NHS website, said:

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"Millions of people used the NHS website in 2022 for the latest Covid information or to book a vaccination, as well as for advice on topics ranging from high blood pressure to diarrhoea and vomiting.

"Providing access to the latest medical advice and making it as easy as possible for people to access is our top priority, to ensure we continue to support and improve health across the country."

 

The NHS website, which is managed by NHS Digital, is the UK's biggest health website with an estimated 2.6 million visits a day in 2022 from people seeking information and advice. It includes over 4,000 pages and provides information about 990 medical conditions.

The most popular page on the NHS website in 2022 was the COVID-19 vaccination booking page, with 60 million visits.

Other health services available on the website include applying for a free UK Global Health Insurance Card for healthcare cover abroad, finding a GP, and a BMI healthy weight calculator.

Tens of thousands of elderly and vulnerable people will receive tailored support at home as part of a new NHS plan to improve waiting times for emergency care.

Community services including falls and frailty teams will be scaled up, with up to 50,000 people a month supported by clinicians at home in high-tech ‘virtual wards’

Urgent community response teams will be scaled up to provide more patients with support at home within two hours, in recognition of the pressures facing A&E

The government and NHS England will publish an Urgent and Emergency Care Plan tomorrow to reduce waiting times and improve care for patients.

Tens of thousands of elderly and vulnerable people will receive tailored support at home each month as part of a new NHS plan to curb unnecessary trips to hospital, help at-risk patients receive faster treatment and improve ambulance response times.

It comes as the government and the NHS publish a new Urgent and Emergency Care Plan. Demand on the NHS is rising, driven by a number of factors including an ageing population with increasingly complex needs. A key part of the plan will be reforming the way the NHS provides services to adapt to the population’s changing needs, including by expanding care outside of hospitals

Falls and frailty teams mainly consists of nurses and while already in existence, this plan goes further and will see the standardisation and scaling up of these services. Building on learnings from this winter, it will ensure more services are in place in time for next winter, with local areas developing plans to do this. These teams join up care by connecting hospital expertise with emergency services and use technology to reduce the risk of falls by remotely monitoring patients. With an ageing population, falls are becoming increasingly common and some people are less able to cope and recover from accidents, physical illness or other stressful events which can lead to serious injuries, hospital admission, and subsequent moves into long term care. These services support vulnerable patients at home and in the community to remain living independently for longer, with up to 20% of emergency hospital admissions avoidable with the right care in place.

The NHS has already rolled out virtual wards – treating patients from the comfort of their own homes – with growing evidence that these are a safe and efficient alterative to hospital care, particularly for frail patients. These see patients supported by clinicians to recover in the comfort of their own home, rather than in hospital – and has increased the number of patients that can be cared for in this way by 7,000, a 50% increase since last summer. Another 3,000 ‘hospital at home’ beds will be created before next winter and the plan will include an ambition to see up to 50,000 people supported a month.

High tech virtual wards currently support frail elderly patients or those with acute respiratory infections and cardiac conditions. Patients are reviewed daily by the clinical team who may visit them at home or use video technology to monitor and check how they are recovering.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

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The health and care service is facing significant pressures and while there is no quick fix, we can take immediate action to reduce long waits for urgent and emergency care.

Up to 20% of hospital admissions are avoidable with the right care in place. By expanding the care provided in the community, the most vulnerable, frail and elderly patients can be better supported to continue living independently or recover at home.

This includes rolling out more services to help with falls and frailty as well as supporting up to 50,000 patients a month to recover in the comfort of their own homes. Not only will patients benefit from better experiences and outcomes, it will ease pressure on our busy emergency departments.

 

NHS Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard said:

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The NHS has faced unprecedented pressure this winter – with the “twindemic” of flu and Covid becoming a reality, alongside surging demand for all services, from GP appointments to A&E attendances and ambulance call outs.

Our extensive planning ahead of winter has helped to boost capacity – from extra 111 and 999 call handlers, to new falls services and more beds - and we now aim to build on that progress to help speed up care and improve the experiences of patients.

 

Boosting care in the community and treating more people at home is key to recovery – it is better for patients and their families, as well as easing pressure on NHS services.

Urgent community response teams will also be scaled up to increase the number of referrals and patients seen by a range of health and social care professionals within two hours, with services running 12 hours a day. According to the latest data, across the country, over 80% of patients referred were seen within two hours. These teams work with 111 and 999 services to provide urgent care to people in their homes, avoiding the need for hospital admissions and enabling people to live independently for longer, backed by a planned £77 million investment to support systems to continue to improve community health services in 2023-24.

Falls and frailty services have already been shown to improve patients’ experiences and reduce pressure on urgent and emergency departments. For example, South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust has rolled out an integrated frailty service linking up emergency services and hospitals.

As part of this, ambulance crews who are with the patient at their home can arrange a remote consultation with input from a consultant to agree the best course of action - from monitoring on a virtual ward to a face-to-face assessment. Thanks to this approach, there has been a 16% reduction in the number of patients aged over 75 being taken to hospital in an ambulance, enabling frail older adults to recover at home where that is best for them.

Taken together, these measures will help improve experiences for patients across the country and make it easier to access the right health or social care, all while reducing pressure on hospitals and preparing the NHS for future challenges. This will be backed by up to £14.1 billion available for health and care services over the next two years – the highest spend in any government’s history – which was announced in the Autumn Statement.

Cllr James Jamieson, Chairman of the Local Government Association, said:

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We are pleased to see the focus on expanding community health and care services and the recognition of the importance of therapy and recovery support to get people back home following discharge.

Collaboration and a focus on outcomes will be key to successful delivery of the plan.

 

Sarah McClinton, President of ADASS said:

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We recognise the importance of expanding and joining up health and care in people’s homes to stop them needing to go into hospital and enabling people to leave hospital safely with therapies and support to recover. Key to achieving this will be co-producing plans across health and social care and investment in the workforce in social care and community services and we look forward to engaging with this.

The NHS is encouraging people to come forward for their COVID booster before the offer, part of the biggest and most successful programme in health history, ends next month.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) yesterday advised that, thanks to the success of the programme, the offer of an initial booster dose should end when the current autumn campaign ends, which will be on Sunday 12 February.

Anyone yet to come forward for their COVID booster is being urged to do so before the end of the campaign.

The government has accepted the JCVI advice, which recommends that the booster offer for all 16 to 49-year-olds who are not considered at risk should end at the same time as this autumn’s campaign.

This means that Sunday 12 February will be the last chance for anyone who has been invited for a COVID booster to take up their offer, until future campaigns are agreed by the JCVI and government.

It comes as the JCVI is recommending moving to a more targeted offer to those considered to be at risk of serious illness.

The NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme has delivered 144.5 million doses of the vaccine since Maggie Keenan became the first in the world to receive an approved jab.

NHS Director of Vaccinations and Screening Steve Russell said: 

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“Over the last two years the NHS COVID vaccination programme has administered almost 145 million doses and as a result, the public have widespread protection from COVID-19 and its variants – a remarkable achievement.

“Following the decision by the government to accept JCVI advice today, I would encourage anyone who has not yet had their COVID booster to book an appointment in the next couple of weeks and make the most of the offer available.

“Once the NHS receives updated guidance for the next phase of the vaccination programme, our fantastic NHS staff will make sure the vaccine is as accessible and convenient to those eligible as it has been in each of the previous campaigns”.

 

Health Minster Maria Caulfield said: 

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“Our phenomenal COVID vaccination programme has saved lives, allowed us to live with COVID, and eased pressure on the health service.

“I want to encourage anyone who hasn’t had their booster jab – whether it’s your first booster or if you’re eligible for an autumn booster – to come forward before Sunday 12 February. It will top up your immunity and keep you and your loved ones protected”.

 

The JCVI will set out further guidance on who will be eligible for COVID vaccines in future phases of the programme, such as any spring campaign as well as next autumn’s, in due course.

The JCVI has advised that over the course of 2023 the primary course offer for healthy 16 to 49-year-olds should be withdrawn in favour of a more targeted approach.

The NHS will continue to operate a smaller scale vaccine offer from mid-February onwards to ensure those eligible for first and second doses can still get their jabs.

The NHS is also prepared to move quickly to roll out a potential spring campaign, as well as another autumn campaign later this year, and will set out operational plans once further guidance is received.

160 people were tested for Hep C over two months, with 11 people testing positive. All 11 have now either started or are waiting to start treatment.

Achieve Recovery Services, part of Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH), have successfully run a series of Hep C test testing events for GM residents who struggle with addiction, making them particularly at risk of Hepatitis C (Hep C) infection.

The events were coordinated by the Greater Manchester Operational Delivery Network (ODN), as part of the NHS England Needs Assessment Project – an initiative to undertake Blood Borne Virus (BBV) testing of people in contact with addictions services across England.

Throughout September and October 2022, Achieve tested GM people known to addiction services for Hep C, alongside Hep B and HIV. This took place at six Hep C testing events at Achieve sites across Bolton, Bury, Salford and Trafford. Testing also took place in seven community pharmacies who dispense opioid substitution treatment (OST), and in five hostels.

160 people were tested in total over the two months, with 11 people testing positive for Hep C.

All 11 people who tested positive have been referred on to hepatitis services, and have either started or are waiting to start treatment.

Alison Hardie, Lead Nurse at Achieve, GMMH said:

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“Hep C is a virus which affects the liver and if left untreated can cause the liver to stop working properly and result in serious liver damage - including liver cancer. It often has no symptoms and can be passed from person to person via exposure to infected blood.

“One of the main ways Hep C is spread is by sharing drug-using paraphernalia such as injecting equipment, crack pipes or notes/straws - meaning people using addictions services have an increased risk of Hep C infection.

“However, when detected, Hep C is easily treatable. Direct Acting Antiviral (DAA) medication is highly effective, and cures the virus completely in more than 95% of cases, with minimal side effects.

“We are delighted with the success of our Hep C testing events. Testing on this scale could not have been possible without collaboration with the fantastic staff at North Manchester General Hospital, Hep C U later and the Hepatitis C Trust, as well as the pharmacists and hostel staff who provided a safe space for testing and assistance with promoting the events.”

 

One service user in Salford, who wishes to remain anonymous, was diagnosed with Hep C after being tested as part of the project. He has now been booked into the Hepatitis Clinic at Achieve, which is facilitated by the Hepatitis team at North Manchester General Hospital. Through the clinic, he will receive treatment in the form of DAA medication for eight to twelve weeks.

He said:

Quote

“If I hadn’t been tested as part of the project I might not have found out I have Hepatitis C.”

Kate Hall, Head of Operations at GMMH said:

Quote

 

“Our participation in the Needs Assessment Project was a great opportunity for large-scale Hep C testing, and we’re delighted with the outcomes achieved in just two months.

“This formed part of Achieve’s wider ongoing Hep C commitment, working closely with local hepatitis services on a shared goal of testing, treating and curing people with Hep C, to improve health outcomes for individuals and reduce the transmission of the virus amongst people who access addictions services.

“To anyone who feels they may be at risk of Hep C infection, it is so important to know that support and treatment is available. Please don’t delay – get tested as soon as you can.’

 

Further information and guidance about Hep C can be found on the Hep C U Later and Hepatitis C Trust websites.

If you feel that you are at risk of Hep C infection, speak with your GP or your local addiction service, who can signpost you to the most appropriate support.

Achieve provide community addiction services in Bolton, Bury, Salford and Trafford. To find out more and to get in touch with Achieve, visit: https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/achieve

The Government response to the Women and Equalities Committee report on menopause and the workplace is a “missed opportunity to protect vast numbers of talented and experienced women from leaving the workforce.”

Published today, the Government’s response rejects five of the Committee’s recommendations outright, including the recommendation to consult on making menopause a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010 and pilot a specific menopause leave policy.

In a letter to Health Minister Maria Caulfield, the Chair of the Committee Caroline Nokes expressed concern that the Government has “ignored the significant evidence base” for equality law reform and called on the Government to review its position. The Committee also highlights the low cost but high impact opportunities for model workplace menopause policies and menopause leave, which the Government has dismissed.

In the letter, the Committee highlighted it was:

Quote

“Extremely disappointing that the Menopause Taskforce has not met since prior to the summer recess, and that the industry roundtable on HRT supplies has been delayed a number of times.”

The Committee’s report, published in July 2022, argued that the overlooked impact of menopause is causing the UK economy to 'haemorrhage talent'. It also argued that the current law does not sufficiently protect women experiencing menopause and does not offer proper redress to those who suffer menopause related discrimination, with evidence that many women have to demonstrate their menopausal symptoms amount to a disability to get redress.

Though the Government said it has accepted, partly accepted or accepted in principle six of the recommendations, it comes under criticism from the Committee for not actually committing to any new work in response to the report.

Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP, said: 

Quote

 

“This belated response to our report is a missed opportunity to protect vast numbers of talented and experienced women from leaving the workforce, and leaves me unconvinced that menopause is a Government priority.

“For too long women have faced stigma, shame and dismissive attitudes when it comes to menopause. The evidence to our inquiry was crystal clear that urgent action was needed across healthcare and work settings to properly address women’s needs, yet Government progress has been glacial and its response complacent.

“Its refusal to even consult on reforming equalities law doesn’t make sense and we urge it to look again.”

 

The NHS has issued a call for anyone eligible for cervical screening to come forward for a potentially life-saving appointment, with nearly a third, around 4.6 million, not taking up their latest test.

The plea from senior NHS medics comes on the back of the health service sending a record number of invites for cervical screening in the last year, as part of its ambition to eradicate the cancer through a combination of vaccination and early identification.

More than five million invites were sent in the last full year (2021/22) – up by over a tenth (10.5%) on pre-pandemic levels.

Screening helps prevent cervical cancer by using a highly effective test to check for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), which is found in over 99% of all cervical cancers and which may cause abnormal cells to develop in the cervix. These abnormal cells can, over time, turn into cancer if left untreated.

Around 2,700 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in England each year, but the NHS screening programme helps save around 5,000 lives each year. 

GP and NHS Interim Medical Director for Primary Care, Dr Kiren Collison said:

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“We have made great progress on our Cervical Screening Programme and the combined effects of the HPV vaccine and the new, more sensitive way of screening for cervical cancer means that we have the opportunity to eliminate cervical cancer altogether.

“Having the potential to completely eradicate a disease that affects thousands of people every year is remarkable, but in order to do this, it is vital that people take up the offer of a test – so if you have received an invitation, or missed your last screening, don’t wait to make an appointment, put your health first and book an appointment with your GP practice or sexual health clinic today – getting checked can save your life.”

 

The plea from senior NHS medics comes as a cervical cancer charity, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, launches its annual Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (23 – 29 Jan 2023) to raise awareness of cervical cancer and drive uptake of the NHS Cervical Screening Programme.

Screening involves taking a small sample of cells from the cervix and looking for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) that could develop into cervical cancer if left untreated.

Eligible people aged between 25 to 64 are invited by letter every 3-5 years depending on their age, or more frequently if HPV or cell changes are detected.

National Clinical Director for Cancer, Professor Peter Johnson, said:

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“Screening is an effective way to prevent cervical cancer developing or to catch it at a very early stage, which is why it is especially important that people attend their screening appointments.

“There are lots of reasons why somebody might not want to come forward – embarrassment, inconvenience, or uncertainty – but please speak to a healthcare professional if you are unsure.

“It’s also important to understand that HPV can remain undetected for many years before later going on to cause abnormal cells which can lead to cancer, so even if you’ve previously had a negative test, it is vital that you attend your next one.”

 

The NHS achieved an increase in cervical screening in 2021/22 with 3.5 million women aged 25-64 being screened, up 9.4% from the previous year (19/20) when 3.2 million were screened.

Having HPV does not mean someone has or will develop cervical cancer; it is a common virus that most people have at some point in their life without knowing it and usually goes away on its own. If cell changes are identified early, cervical cancer can be prevented from developing. 

Minister for Women’s Health Maria Caulfield said:

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“I have seen first hand through working as a nurse in a cancer unit how important it is to detect this cruel disease early and the NHS cervical screening programme is an vital way of detecting risk of and preventing cervical cancers.

“We’re improving the cervical screening process, including opening up 24/7 laboratory screening and expanding the locations options available – so people can get their results faster and their tests easier.

“I encourage those eligible to attend their potentially life-saving screening when invited.”

 

The NHS is also trialling self-screening for cervical cancer at home, with the results of that pilot set to inform whether it should be rolled out nationally.

The NHS also offers the HPV vaccination to all children aged 12 and 13 at school in Year 8, and up to 25 years through GP practices for those who may have missed vaccination in school, to protect against the most common types of HPV. It is still important to attend a cervical screening appointment when invited because the HPV vaccine does not protect against all strains of HPV.

Cervical screening is available by appointment at local GP practices and at some local sexual health services.

All state-funded schools in England currently without a defibrillator to receive one by the end of the academic year.

Deliveries of defibrillators began last week (20 January) to all state-funded schools in England that don’t currently have a life-saving device. 

Last year, the government committed to supplying state-funded schools across England with defibrillators to make sure there is a device in every school.

It follows campaigning from the Oliver King Foundation and its founder Mark King, who has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the need for defibrillators since he tragically lost his son at the age of 12 to cardiac arrest while swimming at school.

The deliveries of the first defibrillators mark the start of a roll out of over 20,000 defibrillators to almost 18,000 state-funded schools by the end of the academic year.

The government is also supporting schools in making defibrillators available to the community, with external heated defibrillator cabinets being provided to primary and special schools in areas where provision is lower.

An internal cabinet is being provided to secondary schools that are receiving two or more defibrillators, so one can be placed at the school’s sports facility, where a cardiac arrest is more likely to happen.

The Oliver King Foundation and other leading charities, including the British Heart Foundation, Resuscitation Council UK and St John Ambulance, have supported the creation of updated guidance which will give schools the tools and knowledge they need to use their new defibrillators.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said:

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Today we’re celebrating a huge milestone as we start deliveries of defibrillators to schools, working towards every school having one by the end of the academic year.

None of this would have come about without the relentless and brave campaigning of Mark King and the Oliver King Foundation, and we are extremely grateful to him and other leading charities for the ongoing support they will doubtless provide schools from lesson plans to staff training.

 

Founder of the Oliver King Foundation Mark King said:

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This is a landmark moment and will be welcomed by pupils, parents and teachers up and down the country.

It is a proud day for us because we’ve campaigned for schools to have access to defibrillators for over a decade. It is a major victory for the Oliver King Foundation.

 

Defibrillators save lives and I have no doubt that lives will now be saved so that families do not have to suffer the heartbreak of unnecessarily losing a child. This is for our Ollie.

This is the largest defibrillator programme in England to date and will ensure that pupils and staff have access to this lifesaving first aid equipment.

The new guidance provides advice for schools on how to make their defibrillator available to the community. The government is also encouraging schools to sign up to The Circuit, the national defibrillator network.

As part of the rollout, awareness videos are being provided to show how simple defibrillators are to use, and schools are being encouraged to share these videos in staff meetings and assemblies.

This follows the announcement last month of a new £1 million fund to increase the number of defibrillators in communities most in need - providing an estimated 1,000 new defibrillators in community spaces across England.

Residents across the city-region are being encouraged to get active this January and commit to doing 10 minutes of walking, cycling or wheeling a day for 10 weeks.

Backed by Active Travel Commissioner, Dame Sarah Storey, the 10 for 10 campaign aims to get people moving over the winter months and kick-start the New Year with some new, health-boosting habits.

Research has shown how getting active for 10 minutes each day can improve people’s mental and physical health and can also help people adopt positive habits in the long-term.

Increasing activity levels each day can be achieved by small, simple changes to people’s daily routine, such as leaving the car at home for shorter journeys and either walking, cycling or wheeling instead.

Experts advise that the easiest way for people get moving is to build these active travel modes into their everyday life and journeys, whether that’s popping to the shops, taking the stairs instead of the lift, or on the school run.

Dame Sarah Storey, Active Travel Commissioner for Greater Manchester, said: 

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“The start of a new year is traditionally the time for taking on ambitious new challenges which don't always last, so to start 2023 we’re taking a different approach.

“The 10 for 10 campaign is a challenging but achievable option the whole family can do together and I hope as many people as possible will sign up and get involved.

“Whether it's getting off the bus a stop early, heading to the local shops on foot instead of the car or taking the children out on their bikes at the weekend, there are so many ways to take part and it could be a different form of activity every day.

“Lots of people tell me they don't feel fit enough to engage with travelling actively on a regular basis - this campaign is designed to help people start off small and build up.

“Active travel is one of the most important solutions we have as a population to tackle issues such as clean air, declining physical and mental health and is central to the Greater Manchester 2040 Transport Strategy."

 

In November, Dame Sarah unveiled a new policy, Refreshing Greater Manchester’s Active Travel Mission, highlighting the benefits of active travel and why it is fundamental to the success of other key agendas for Greater Manchester, including improved health, decarbonisation, educational attainment and the economy. 

Active travel is also a key component in the delivery of a fully-integrated transport system, the Bee Network.  It forms part of Transport for Greater Manchester’s wider ambition for half of all journeys in the city-region to be by public transport or active travel, rather than by car, by 2040.

Research has shown that physical inactivity is responsible for 1 in 6 deaths in the UK with an estimated annual cost of at least £7.4 billion.

Meanwhile, the benefits of cycling, walking and wheeling are already clear with Sustrans estimating that current levels of active travel in Greater Manchester preventing at least 2,600 serious, long-term health conditions. Walking in the city-region is reported to help prevent at least 425 early deaths annually, while cycling helps to prevent more than 50 and saves local NHS services around £4m a year.

Trials into vaccines for cancer and wider diseases will accelerate after the government reached a historic agreement with a leading biopharmaceutical firm to bring revolutionary research to England.

A Memorandum of Understanding will be signed today by Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Steve Barclay and the Germany-based company BioNTech that previously developed a world-leading Covid-19 vaccine with Pfizer.

The agreement means cancer patients will get early access to trials exploring personalised mRNA therapies, like cancer vaccines. No two cancers are the same and mRNA vaccines will contain a genetic blueprint to stimulate the immune system to attack cancer cells.

Access to the trials will be via the Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad which is being developed by NHS England and Genomics England.

The launch pad will help to rapidly identify large numbers of cancer patients who could be eligible for the trials and explore potential vaccines across multiple types of cancer. Trials for innovative treatments could start as early as Autumn 2023.

The partnership will aim to help patients with early and late-stage cancers. If successfully developed, the cancer vaccines could become part of standard care.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Steve Barclay said:

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Once cancer is detected, we need to ensure the best possible treatments are available as soon as possible, including for breast, lung and pancreatic cancer.

BioNTech helped lead the world on a Covid-19 vaccine and they share our commitment to scientific advancement, innovation and cutting-edge scientific technology, making them perfect partners for a deal to work together on cancer vaccines.

This partnership will mean that, from as early as September, our patients will be among the first to participate in trials and tests to provide targeted, personalised and precision treatments using transformative new therapies to both treat the existing cancer and help stop it returning.

This agreement builds on this government’s promise to increase research and development spending to £20 billion per year and demonstrates the UK remains one of the most attractive places in the world for innovative companies to invest in research, trial new treatments and treat patients more effectively

Building on the lessons learnt during the pandemic – including the development of a Covid-19 vaccine – the partnership will enable the government and BioNTech to harness the country’s world-leading expertise in organisations such as the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and Genomics England.

The launch pad will complement the ongoing work of the NHS Genomic Medicine Service which helps patients access the latest testing technologies and ensures they are given more targeted precision treatments for their cancer with transformative approaches and better outcomes.

 

BioNTech’s investment will include setting up a new research and development hub and offices in the UK creating jobs and strengthening the UK’s position as a leader in global life sciences.

As a new year begins and health and fitness are high on the agenda, sports inclusion charity Access Sport is highlighting the launch of free, inclusive cycling sessions for young people living in and around Little Hulton.

Funded by landlord ForHousing, the sessions offer young people in the area an accessible, affordable sporting opportunity. With Little Hulton being in the top 10% of most deprived areas in England, this kind of opportunity is sparse, meaning the annual delivery of the inclusive cycling sessions, which kicked off late last year, is vital work in Greater Manchester.

Providing free-of-charge cycling tuition, bikes and helmets for children and young people, enabling them to participate in cycling and BMX, the collaboration between ForHousing and Access Sport will result in 460 young people in the local area increasing their levels of physical activity. What’s more, it will also connect them with their local green space (Peel Park) and support improvements in their personal development skills, such as confidence and resilience.

Having kicked off late last year, the project will run for 12 months, with every child who takes part gaining new skills such as how to cycle, how to travel more safely to school, and how to look after the equipment.

Access Sport also successfully applied to ForHousing’s Community Fund to run another initiative supporting young people who are not in employment, education, or training. From February, the four-week course will teach the group bike maintenance skills and will be a pilot for future projects. ForHousing’s Community Fund supports a wide range of projects each year via £500 grants for initiatives that benefit the community.

All sessions will take place at the purpose-built pump track in Peel Park, Little Hulton.

Mike Power, Access Sport Programme Leader, said:

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“Every child should learn how to ride a bike, but so many families just can’t afford to buy bikes, especially at the moment. We’ve got all ages and abilities taking part, it’s truly inclusive and great to see. A massive thanks to ForHousing for getting behind this project.”

Martyn Hague, Executive Director of Customer at ForHousing, said:

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“At ForHousing, we’re committed to improving people’s health and wellbeing, and it is great to give young people in the local area the chance to try something new and get active.
“We share Access Sport’s passion to make physical exercise achievable for everyone, so we are delighted to work in partnership with them to make more things possible for more people.”

The inclusive cycling sessions are open to all children and young people and take place every Thursday at 4.30pm. Bikes and helmets are provided for those who don’t have their own.

School sessions are available in four-week blocks for groups of 15 pupils. To find out more about these cycling sessions or make a booking, please email Rob Hawker at Access Sport at rob.hawker@accesssport.org.uk

Over 320,000 people received treatment for cancer over the last year (Nov 2021 – Oct 2022) – the highest year on record, and up by more than 8,000 on the same period pre-pandemic.

More people than ever before also had potentially lifesaving NHS cancer checks, with over 2.8 million people seen – up by almost a fifth on the same period before the pandemic (2.35 million in 2018/19) – with over 10,000 checked every day and around 6% resulting in a cancer diagnosis.

NHS chiefs have said this is “important progress” as more people getting checked and treated could have a significant impact on cancer survival.

Not only did the NHS see and treat more people than ever before for cancer, but recent data also shows 100,000 patients were diagnosed with cancer at stages one or two when it is easier to treat last year (2021-2022) – the highest proportion on record.

The NHS doubled spending on the biggest cancer awareness campaigns in health service history and cancer chiefs continue to encourage people to come forward for checks if invited by the NHS or if they have experienced any worrying symptoms.

Dame Cally Palmer, National Cancer Director for NHS England, said: 

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“NHS staff have been working incredibly hard over the past year to recover from the pandemic and it’s thanks to our campaigning efforts and early diagnosis drives, alongside the courage of people like Dame Deborah James encouraging people to come forward, that we’ve seen and treated record numbers of people.

“This is important progress – we know lives are saved when cancers are caught early and when more people are seen for tests and checks – and as we head into the New Year, the NHS will not take its foot off the pedal when it comes to ensuring people are seen and treated as early as possible.

“I would urge everyone to keep talking to your friends and loved ones to raise awareness, and come forward for checks if you have potential symptoms and concerns – the NHS is here for you.”

 

Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England National Clinical Director for Cancer, said: 

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“We know that the possibility of a cancer diagnosis can be daunting and that many people don’t want to bother anyone with their health concerns, but we would always prefer to see you sooner with a cancer that be treated successfully, than later with one that can’t.

“The NHS is always working to find new ways to catch and treat cancers as early as possible, including high street checks and community lung scanning trucks, which have already diagnosed over a thousand people at an earlier stage.

“Don’t let cancer play on your mind – if you have a sign or symptom that you’re worried about, such as a persistent cough, lumps or bumps, or prolonged discomfort, please come forward – getting checked out could save your life”.

 

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: 

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“In the last year, record numbers received vital cancer treatment – up by over 8,000 on the same period before the pandemic.

“The NHS is also providing more cancer checks than ever before and diagnosing record numbers of cancer at an early stage, as well as investing in campaigns to raise awareness of symptoms and encouraging people to come forward with concerns.”

 

Diagnosing cancers early when they are easier to treat is key to improving outcomes for patients and last year saw significant steps forward for early diagnosis of cancer in the NHS.

All GP teams now have direct access to potentially lifesaving tests for patients – helping to cut waiting times and speeding up a cancer diagnosis for tens of thousands of patients or the all-clear for many more.

This followed the announcement that staff in high street pharmacies will be funded to spot signs of cancer, with training for pharmacists kicking off this month.

The NHS has more than doubled the number of community lung truck sites as part of its drive to catch more cancers at stage one or two. More than 30,000 people are invited every month for a Lung MOT – with over one thousand (1,300) people diagnosed with lung cancer earlier, and more than three quarters (77%) caught at either stage one or two.

People diagnosed with lung cancer at the earliest stage are nearly 20 times more likely to survive for five years than those whose cancer is caught late.

Gordon Darnell, 69, from Croxteth, Merseyside, attended an NHS lung health check in November 2021 despite not feeling ill at all.

He was diagnosed with stage one lung cancer following his appointment and said:

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“I was never ill – not before my diagnosis, not during treatment and not now, and that’s because they picked it up so early. I almost feel like a fraud speaking to people who’ve got cancer or who’ve had cancer because I didn’t experience anything like they did, and that’s all down to going for that lung check.

Gordan had surgery in January and just eight weeks later was able to go on holiday. He wants to encourage others to take up the offer of an NHS lung check if invited. “We’re talking an hour out of your day. If you go and there’s nothing wrong, you haven’t lost anything, but if there is something wrong, you’ve got to deal with it as quickly as possible. I truly believe it has saved my life.”

The NHS ‘Help Us, Help You’ campaign has run in different phases throughout the year to help raise awareness of specific cancer symptoms including lung cancer and abdominal or urological cancers, while also addressing some of the wider barriers to earlier diagnosis by encouraging people to contact their GP practice if something in their body doesn’t feel right and they’re worried it could be cancer.

A brand-new campaign is set to run in February and will aim to encourage people to participate in the NHS national bowel cancer screening programme when sent a home testing kit.

64 year old Alistair Forsyth from Peterborough had a robotic prostatectomy at Addenbrooke’s in July last year, having been diagnosed with stage 1 prostate cancer in the spring following two biopsies.

He opted for surgery and said:

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“Knowing I would be home the next day made a real difference to me when I was weighing up my treatment options. I wanted to be free of cancer and get back to work and my normal life as soon as possible.

“I was in and out of hospital in less than 30 hours, which was great for me and also meant others could use the bed space and have their operation too. I still had to take things slowly to begin with but being in my own home with my own comforts to recover was a blessing, and I had wonderful support from my daughter Catriona who was with me throughout.

“I have since had my three and six months PSA blood tests which show I’m now cancer free and I couldn’t be more grateful to the fantastic team who treated and cared for me and the amazing technology available on the NHS.”

 

Professor Kristian Helin, Chief Executive of The Institute of Cancer Research, London said: 

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“When cancer is caught at an early stage, treatment is often more effective and the chances of successful recovery are much higher. This is why speeding up cancer diagnosis can make an enormous difference to survival rates.

“It is encouraging to see that a record number of people received cancer treatment in the past year and that a high proportion of them were diagnosed at early stages, when the disease is more easily treatable.

“It is vital that people are encouraged to come forward for checks if they have symptoms. At the ICR, we have worked with our hospital partner The Royal Marsden to launch the ‘Man Van’, a mobile health clinic that provides free health checks for men to boost early diagnosis of prostate and other urological cancers.

“This is one example of the ways we can innovate to ensure more cancers are detected early.”

 

Jane Lyons, CEO of Cancer52, a coalition of 110 charities working to support people with rare and less common cancers, said: 

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“It is truly admirable that the cancer teams across England have managed in such challenging circumstances to treat this record number of patients over the past year.  And good to see too that recent data shows that the highest proportion of people on record were diagnosed at an earlier stage; and that there’s been significant investment in awareness raising campaigns for rare and less common cancers like ovarian and bladder.

“We know that there are gaps, variations in treatment and length of time to diagnosis, especially in the rare and less common cancers and that more improvements are needed.

“But it feels particularly important at this time of year to acknowledge the success of the work that is already underway and look to a future where this work continues and outcomes for people with cancer are only getting better.”

 

Adults with respiratory illnesses are being asked to wear masks when they venture out as the NHS is all but crippled partly by a double hit from both Flu and Covid.

The UKHSA is also advising parents to keep children who have a high temperature or fever, off school.

The guidance has been in place for a number of months but ministers are issuing a plea after concerns over the NHS ability to cope as seasonal flu infections and covid cases rise sharply.

Senior doctors within the NHS have called for a national emergency to be announced, stating that a number of hospitals have already declared critical incidents due to the enormity of the pressures placed upon them.

Salford Royal Hospital is among other hospitals within the region that are battling to cope with the influx of sick patients requiring care.

One health worker described how she had not experienced such crisis since the first wave of covid hit our shores back in 2020.

Nationally about one in eight beds in England is now occupied by patients suffering from these infections, which in turn means that an estimated 500+ lives are being lost each week due to shortages.

Meanwhile China has admitted that covid deaths in the country are huge with over 70% of Shanghai's 25million residents infected, sparking fears that a new vaccine resistant variant may surface.

During the festive period, many pharmacies within Salford will be closed for business, however there are some within the city which will be open for a short period on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and during the bank holidays.

We have provided a list below.

Christmas Day

Newbury Place Pharmacy, 55 Rigby Street, Salford M7 4NX, 0161 792 1017, 2pm – 6pm

Gatley Pharmacy, 220 Liverpool Road, Patricroft Eccles M30 0PF, 0161 789 2058, 10am – 2pm

Swinton Late Night Pharmacy, 52 Swinton Hall Road, Swinton M27 4BJ, 0161 727 8442, 9am – 1pm

Boxing Day

Newbury Place Pharmacy, 55 Rigby Street, Salford, M7 4NX, 0161 792 1017, 10am – 1pm

Lloyds Pharmacy, 100 Regent Road, City of Salford, M5 4QU, 0161 834 9659, 10am – 4pm

Boots, Regents Park, Ordsall Lane, City of Salford, M5 3TP, 0161 834 9316, 9am – 5pm

Tuesday 27th December (Bank Holiday)

Newbury Place Pharmacy, 55 Rigby Street , Salford, M7 4NX, 0161 792 1017, 10am – 1pm

Lloydspharmacy, 100 Regent Road, Salford M5 4QU, 0161 834 9659, 10am – 4pm

Boots, Regents Park, Ordsall Lane, Salford, M5 3TP, 0161 834 9316, 9am – 5pm

Boots, Ellesmere Shopping Centre, Bolton Road, Worsley, M28 3ZD, 0161 790 4509, 10am – 4pm

New Years Day

All pharmacies should be reopened.

Tuesday 2nd January (Bank Holiday)

Newbury Place Pharmacy, 55 Rigby Street, Salford, M7 4NX, 0161 792 1017, 10am – 1pm

Lloyds Pharmacy, 100 Regent Road, City of Salford, M5 4QU, 0161 834 9659, 10am – 4pm

Boots, Regents Park, Ordsall Lane, City of Salford, M5 3TP, 0161 834 9316, 11am – 5pm

Boots, 193 Langworthy Road, City of Salford, M5 5pw, 0161 834 9316, 8am – 6pm

A virtual exhibition of artwork created by service users at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH)'s Recovery Pathways has launched.

The Enchantment of the Everyday exhibition, launched this week (05 December 2022), virtually showcases a collection of artworks created during the pandemic (2020 to 2022), by people with lived experience of mental health problems.

It explores the theme of finding beauty, magic, and something new in our everyday lives.

The Recovery Pathways service supports individuals to build futures through art, people and places. It offers a unique and creative range opportunities to build confidence and skills, and enable personal mental health recovery.

Created from a collection of many varied pieces of artwork by service users over several lockdowns, the exhibition has been curated by Simon Jones, Wellbeing Arts Tutor at Recovery Pathways, into one animated piece. 

He said:

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"March 2020 was the start of a very strange, uncertain, and difficult time for many. Our worlds became much smaller, and Recovery Pathways had to close its doors. Life as we knew it looked completely different and we didn't know if it would look the same again. 

"We found alternative ways to connect with people through: setting up online groups; delivering creative packs to doorsteps; and regular phone calls and text messages. And we sought new outlets for inspiration and expression. 

"The aim of Enchantment of the Everyday was to improve mental wellbeing – particularly at this difficult time - by helping people to see their surroundings differently, to find beauty and enchantment in the everyday. It also helped people to learn new skills, and to connect with others at this increased time of isolation for many. 

"The result has been a varied and powerful series of artworks which is as strange as the time and experience of living through the pandemic itself. You will experience such things as the inner thoughts of a cauliflower pot, to the undulating spiral of a snail's shell." 

 

One service user, who would like to remain anonymous, said:

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"Attending the Creative Wellbeing sessions has been a lifeline for me during the pandemic. Connecting with everyone once a week and taking part in the activities has literally been my only connection with the world outside."

Another anonymous service user said:

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"I have really looked forward to the art sessions every week. Even though we were all linking virtually, it's been so therapeutic to have the opportunity to feel part of a creative group."

The virtual Enchantment of the Everyday exhibition can be accessed via the following link: https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/enchantment-of-the-everyday-exhibition.

For enquiries regarding attending a Recovery Academy course, please contact Recovery Pathways via email on referrals.recoverypathways@gmmh.nhs.uk or telephone at 07436 560917. For more information about Recovery Pathways, visit: https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/recovery-pathways.

Salford residents are being urged to do three key things for their health.

The call to make sure children’s immunisations are up to date, make sure people are taking enough physical activity, and asking for help with cost of living worries comes in the annual public health report published today.

The report highlights how Salford City Council’s public health team works with NHS and other agencies to protect people’s health.Dr Muna Abdel Aziz, the Director of Public Health for Salford said:

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“In this year’s annual report, we look at the role of public health in protecting and improving health and supporting health and care delivery.

“Mental health continues to be a priority for everyone who lives, works or visits Salford and especially as we recover from the pandemic and the economic crisis that has followed. Our financial wellbeing is so very important for our health. The report gives examples of pledges and inspiring stories to help stay well and connected.”

 

Councillor John Merry Deputy City Mayor and Lead Member for Adult Services, Health and Wellbeing for Salford City Council, said:

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"Over the past decade we’ve seen a decline in take up of childhood vaccines which increases the risk of serious illness. The disruption of the pandemic made things worse.

“It’s really important that parents check that their children are properly protected and book a slot at their GP practice if not. We are also continuing to see low take up of the Covid-19 vaccines amongst men aged 18 to 50 so I would also urge them to check they are fully protected.

“Salford has over 60 parks and green spaces so there is lots of free space to keep active and there is a wide range of cost of living help available if worries about that are affecting your physical or mental health. Please don’t be afraid to ask.” 

 

The report, which is available online, has links to many useful resources as well as detailing the work of the council’s public health team over the last year.

You can read the full report on the Partners in Salford website.