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In this issue, the following topics are covered:
- Asthma-friendly school
- Call ahead if you have measles
- Whooping cough vaccination
- Tackling loneliness
- Become a healthy ageing champion
- 31 Days to Strong and Steady
- Funding secured to improve outdoor gyms
- Visit your pharmacy first for 7 conditions
- Blood pressure at pharmacies
- NHS app
- Sleep and mealtime help for parents
- STI warning to students
- Pension credit
- Marriage allowance
- Have your say for a safer Dudley
- Free support and funding for organisations
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A local primary school in Dudley has been named as the first ‘Asthma Friendly School’ in the Black Country.
Caslon Primary School in Halesowen has been awarded the Asthma Friendly School accreditation in recognition for its work in helping children with asthma stay well.
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If you think you or your child have measles, call your GP surgery or NHS 111 first, before turning up at a healthcare setting. This will help to stop the virus spreading.
Measles is highly infectious, and prevention is key. Two doses of the MMR vaccine provide lifelong protection. Check your child's red book or contact your GP practice to make sure they and you are fully vaccinated. It's never too late to catch up on vaccinations.
Read more about measles and the MMR vaccine.
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The number of pregnant people having the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine has dropped over the last few years.
Whooping cough affects all ages, but for unvaccinated babies and very young children it can cause serious complications.
If you’re pregnant, speak to your midwife – getting vaccinated is quick and easy.
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The government has launched the next phase of the Better Health - Every Mind Matters campaign.
Targeted at 16 – 24-year-olds, it aims to reduce the stigma of loneliness, increase knowledge of where to find support and encourage taking action.
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Do you enjoy talking with others? Do you want to support people to age well in Dudley borough?
Dudley Council is recruiting volunteer Healthy Ageing Champions. In this role volunteers will:
- Raise awareness of healthy ageing initiatives in your community or workplace
- Be a positive role model and promote a better later life
- Feed back information and questions to Dudley Council’s Healthy Ageing Team
- Get involved in activities and encourage others to give things a go
- Get regular information that you can share to support people you know
Find out more by contacting the Healthy Ageing Team on 01384 816437. Or email healthyageing@dudley.gov.uk
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Congratulations to everyone who enjoyed taking part in the 31 Days To Strong and Steady exercise challenge. After 31 days of strength and stability movements you should be feeling the benefits of being more toned and balanced.
For anyone who took part, please don’t forget to fill in the follow-up survey, to let us know how you got on. Plus, you don’t need to stop here, why not keep going, or try one of the previous Let’s Get Moving challenges?
If you haven’t tried the challenge yet, it’s never too late – take a look and give it a try.
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Nearly £52,000 in funding has been secured to spruce up outdoor gyms at nine parks in the borough.
It has come from the government via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
Work will be carried out at Mary Stevens Park in Stourbridge; Huntingtree Park and Hawne Rec in Halesowen and Stevens Park in Quarry Bank.
Equipment will also be upgraded at Netherton Park and The Dell in Brierley Hill; Buffery Park in Kates Hill, and Silver Jubilee Park and Clayton Park in Coseley.
The work will see faulty or worn out parts on machines replaced, along with instructional signage on how to use them.
Work has already started, and is expected to be complete by the end of March.
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People in the Black Country can now visit their local pharmacy for seven common health conditions.
The new service, ‘Pharmacy First’, is part of an expansion of healthcare services that will let pharmacists use more of their skills and give people more choice about their healthcare.
The aim is to make it easier for people to get the help they need and free up millions of GP appointments.
Local pharmacists will now be able to assess and treat patients for a number of minor conditions without the need for a GP appointment or prescription, including:
- sinusitis (adults and children aged 12 years and over)
- sore throat (adults and children aged 5 years and over)
- earache (children and young adults aged 1 to 17 years)
- infected insect bite (adults and children aged 1 year and over)
- impetigo (adults and children aged 1 year and over)
- shingles (adults aged 18 years and over)
- uncomplicated urinary tract infection (women aged 16 to 64 years).
If you have symptoms that suggest you may have one of these conditions, you can walk into a pharmacy and be offered a consultation with the pharmacist. Should the pharmacy team be unable to help, you will be directed to your GP surgery or A&E, as appropriate.
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If you’re eligible, you can get your blood pressure checked at pharmacies for free, and you don’t need to see a GP.
If you are 45 or over, you are advised to check your blood pressure at least every five years.
Find a pharmacy that offers free blood pressure checks near you.
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The NHS App is a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services and information on your smartphone or tablet.
Whether viewing your GP health record, ordering repeat prescriptions, or nominating your preferred pharmacy – the NHS App makes it easier to use NHS services and get information.
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Would you like your child to sleep in their own bed? Not call out? Sleep longer? Does your child have nightmares? If so, Dudley family hub network is running workshops for you.
Parents of children aged one to 11-years-old can attend a workshop face-to-face or via Microsoft Teams.
Email to book a place at parenting@dudley.gov.uk
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The UK Health Security Agency is urging students to use a condom with any new or casual partners, and to get tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) regularly.
There are a very high number of STIs reported at the moment, and young people aged 15 to 24 years remain the most likely to be diagnosed with STIs. Gonorrhoea cases are particularly high, increasing more than 50% compared to 2021.
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Did you know that up to 800,000 families entitled to Pension Credit have not claimed it?
It only takes a few minutes to make sure you’re getting all you’re entitled to.
Plus, anyone who applies for Pension Credit before the deadline of 5 March 2024 could qualify for an extra £299 Cost of Living boost.
Find out more about Pension Credit, eligibility and how to claim.
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Some couples can save up to £252 a year on their tax bill by claiming Marriage Allowance.
To benefit from Marriage Allowance, the following circumstances must apply:
- the couple are married or in a civil partnership
- one person does not pay Income Tax because any income they have is below their tax-free Personal Allowance (usually £12,570)
- their partner pays Income Tax at the basic rate
Find out more and apply for Marriage Allowance on GOV.UK and use the free online calculator to find out how much tax you could save.
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Safe & sound, Dudley’s community safety partnership, which incorporates the borough’s local police and crime board, is asking local people what should be done to help make the borough a safer place.
People who live, visit and work in the borough will be able to say what they think the big community safety issues are, by completing a survey or booking a place at a public event which is taking place on Tuesday 19 March 2024, from 6pm at Stourbridge Town Hall. Places are limited so booking is essential.
Complete the survey or book a place at the event.
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Free support is being offered to boost early-stage social economy organisations in the West Midlands.
The West Midlands Social Economy Growth Programme has been designed by Enterprise Nation and Birmingham Enterprise Community. It aims to help small social economy businesses, including co-operatives, community-owned businesses, charity trading arms and similar organisations that support disadvantaged people or address social or environmental issues.
The programme offers nine months of free training, and a £2,000 grant.
The deadline for applications is Friday 22 March.
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