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

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

Margaret Jones, director of public health at Sefton Council, said: “The good news is there are lots of things you can do to stay well this winter and lots of services and organisations that can support you whether it’s getting your flu and all your COVID-19 vaccines,  help to heat your home, keeping active, meeting people, improving your health and wellbeing, getting advice from a health professional, or choosing which service you need.”

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

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

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

Dr Rob Caudwell, local GP and chair of NHS Southport and Formby CCG, said: “If you do become unwell, the NHS is always here for you when you need it. If you need medical advice and aren’t sure where to go, use NHS 111 online or call 111 for assistance. Remember, your local pharmacists are health experts who can help with all sorts of conditions and treatments and GP practices are open and continuing to provide services, including face to face appointments where these are needed.

”Please use this checklist to help you and those around you have a happy and healthy Christmas.”

The ‘Winter Ready’ Checklist is available at:

• https://www.southportandformbyccg.nhs.uk/winter-health-checklist/
• https://www.southseftonccg.nhs.uk/winter-health-checklist