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In this issue, the following topics are covered: |
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- Cheaper bus travel
- Dudley public health website and social media
- Mobile diabetes test site
- Women's bone health campaign
- Covid-19 vaccine
- Whooping cough vaccine for pregnant women
- Be tick aware
- Travellers - protect your health and wallet
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- Smear test
- Protection against scams
- Food safety
- Free five to thrive session for parents and carers
- Parenting classes
- Childcare support
- How to prevent a stroke
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Patients and visitors to Russells Hall Hospital can get a 25 per cent discount on a Day Saver bus ticket with National Express West Midlands. The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust has set up this offer for travel to hospitals in the Trust.
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www.healthydudley.co.uk is the new address for guidance from Dudley Public Health and Wellbeing.
From recipe ideas, cancer screening and immunisations to healthy pregnancies or ageing well, the website provides insight for all the family.
The website provides information and resources for improving health and wellbeing, covering all life stages from pregnancy and early life to healthy ageing.
Get the latest wellbeing information and join in with campaigns, projects and local activities that promote health and wellbeing. Use free resources to help plan for later life, cook healthy recipes, and tools to manage stress and cope with bereavement.
The website is also a tool to become more active, stop smoking and stay a healthy weight.
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Keep up-to-date on the latest health and wellbeing news by following Healthy Dudley on Facebook and X. |
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If you have, or suspect you may have, symptoms of diabetes—such as high blood pressure—get a blood pressure check and a blood test at the mobile test site in the Black Country. It visits Dudley marketplace on Wednesday 19 June from 9am – 5pm.
No appointment needed.
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Ladies aged 40 to 55, please can you fill in a quick, anonymous, online survey to help Dudley Council shape a campaign to encourage women and anyone who has periods to become stronger and less likely to break a bone?
Approximately one in two women over the age of 50 will break a bone because of osteoporosis (weaker and more fragile bones). We want to change that.
Complete this survey to help make a difference. Thank you.
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If you’re immunosuppressed, or 75 or over, you might be eligible for the spring COVID-19 vaccine. Find out if you're eligible and book here.
Extra pop-up vaccination clinics are taking place in Brierley Hill and Dudley. Visit the Healthy Dudley website for details.
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Cases of whooping cough are continuing to rise. If you are pregnant, it's important to get the whooping cough vaccine to protect your newborn baby, as they are at greatest risk.
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Ticks and the potential risk of Lyme Disease shouldn’t prevent you from enjoying the outdoors, but there are some things you can look out for and do to avoid being bitten.
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1. Use a repellent that prevents ticks
2. Wear long sleeves and long trousers to reduce direct skin exposure
3. Keep to clearly defined paths and avoid brushing against vegetation
4. Regularly check for ticks and immediately brush off any you find
5. When you’re back indoors, check for any ticks on you, your children and pets
If you find a tick, safely remove it as soon as possible.
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Are you going overseas? If so, protect your health and your wallet. Make sure that you have had the required vaccines for that country, such as meningitis, rabies, or measles.
If not, not only could you get very ill, but your health travel insurance may not cover you for expensive treatment.
For advice on travelling abroad, see the Healthy Dudley website and the NHS travel vaccinations page.
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Next week is Cervical Screening Awareness Week. Is your smear test overdue? If so, this is your friendly reminder to book it in to protect yourself and give yourself peace of mind.
If you’ve got questions or need support check out Macmillan Cancer Support.
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Did you know that Dudley Council has a team dedicated to protecting you against scams, or to help you if you have experienced financial loss as a result of a scam?
The Scams Unit is a free service for residents in the borough. It covers different types of scams such as phone calls, text messages, postal scams, online scams and also rogue traders and bogus callers at your door. See the council website for more information.
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The Food Standards Agency is running a Spring Cleaning campaign, to give advice on food safety and hygiene in the home.
The agency has been sharing handy tips. For example, do you know what the difference is between a ‘best before date’ and a ‘use-by date’? Best before means that the food is at its best until that date. It’s still safe to eat it after that, but the taste and quality might not be as good as before. Whereas a use by date is a measure of safety. Never eat food after the use-by date, even if it looks and smells ok.
The campaign also settles the egg debate. Should eggs be stored in the cupboard or the fridge?
The answer is that eggs should be stored in a cool, dry place. Ideally in the fridge as it will keep them at a constant temperature and keep them fresh for longer.
For handy tips on food safety, follow the Food Standards Agency on Facebook.
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Brain development in babies and children relies on good relationships with others, especially parents, carers, or grandparents.
Five to Thrive explains what happens inside us when we connect with our babies and children.
A FREE interactive 'Five to Thrive' session is being held on Thursday 20 June from 9.30am to 2pm at the local hub in Stourbridge.
The session will focus on the five parts of five to thrive - Talk, Play, Relax, Engage and Respond. You can book a place online now.
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Are you expecting a baby? Would you be interested in attending a parent workshop?
Family hub practitioners are hosting two-hour interactive sessions to prepare you for your new baby's arrival.
Contact your local family hub after your 20-week scan to find out more and book a place.
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From September, eligible working parents of children aged nine months old and over will be able to access 15 hours of funded childcare.
You can apply now. Find out more on the Childcare Choices website
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May was Stroke Awareness Month. But do you know what a stroke is or what you can do to help prevent it?
For your brain to function healthily, it needs a constant flow of blood to brain cells. A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or cut off and the brain cells are damaged or die. Maintaining a healthy blood pressure and treating an irregular pulse can prevent a stroke.
If you are over 40 you can get your blood pressure measured by making an appointment at your local participating pharmacy or GP practice. If you have been invited for an NHS Health Check by your GP, this will provide a check up on all risk factors and includes cholesterol and diabetes testing.
If you have already been diagnosed with hypertension (high blood pressure) take control and manage it well. You can check your blood pressure by having your own blood pressure machine.
An irregular pulse can be a sign that you are at considerably increased risk of a stroke. Prevent a stroke by checking your pulse and getting treatment before it happens. Check your pulse.
A good video to watch to help you take your pulse can be found on the Stroke Association You Tube channel.
To prevent a stroke, the advice is the same as for any cardiovascular condition, such as heart attack:
- Stop smoking
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Eat a healthy diet
- Take regular exercise
- Alcohol in moderation
- Make sure health conditions are managed well – especially high blood pressure and diabetes.
For more information on strokes go to the NHS website.
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