Southport, Formby and West Lancashire residents are being invited to a month-long virtual Health and Wellbeing Event in September being held by Macmillan centres and partners across Cheshire, Merseyside and West Lancashire.

Local Health and Wellbeing events switched to an online format in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After great success and feedback the virtual format event is back, with more partners getting involved from across the region to offer a ‘bigger and better’ variety of support sessions for anyone who has been affected by cancer.

Sessions during the month will help prepare people for all stages of their cancer journey, as well as providing support and information for their carers, family and friends. It will bring together a range of service providers from the NHS, social, community and voluntary organisations across Cheshire, Merseyside and West Lancashire, to deliver sessions online each day throughout the month.

The online sessions will include information on topics such as chemotherapy, clinical trials and how to manage conditions like lymphoedema, sessions about exercise, fatigue, relaxation, hair (including wigs), skin care, emotional support, benefits and financial support, and more.

This year Southport and West Lancashire Macmillan Cancer Centres are working in collaboration with Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust and other partners across the regions to deliver the online sessions held on Microsoft Teams. As part of the event the two local Macmillan centres will be holding an online session to talk about the ongoing support services on offer in each area including regular supportive events.

Elaine Deeming, lead cancer nurse at Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust said: “These events are so important, providing health and wellbeing information and advice, and signposting local resources and services.

“We are delighted that the 2021 event is going to be a collaborative event across Cheshire, Merseyside and West Lancashire, which means we are able to deliver more sessions and open the event up to people affected by cancer, their family, carers and friends from anywhere in those areas.”

Tanya Mulvey, manager at the Southport Macmillan Cancer Centre said: “Despite lockdown restrictions being lifted we are aware that there are many people who will continue to be very cautious going forward and the health and safety of our residents is always a priority at our events.

Caroline Flynn, manager at the Macmillan Information and Support Service in West Lancashire, said: “After the success and popularity of last year’s online event, we are bringing the Health and Wellbeing Event back in a virtual format, to enable more people to attend in a safe way. We have resumed our face-to-face service at our centres for those who need this support, with pre-bookable appointments and new infection control measures in place to ensure visitors and staff are protected from COVID-19.”

For a full timetable of the health and wellbeing event sessions in September and further information, visit: https://bit.ly/3zdWgjn

To find out more about support available from the Macmillan Cancer Centre in Southport, funded by NHS Southport and Formby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), call 01704 533024, email sfccg.macmillancic@nhs.net or visit www.southportmacmillancentre.org.uk.

For information on support from the Macmillan Information and Support Service in West Lancashire, funded by NHS West Lancashire CCG, call 01695 402164, or email vcl.macmillanwestlancs@nhs.net.