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Welcome to the January edition. In this issue, the following topics are covered:
- Patient choice
- How do you contact your GP?
- Have your say on Dudley’s pharmacy service
- NHS 111
- Stroke Prevention Day
- Community Urgent Eyecare Service
- Free dance classes for 50+
- Menopause café
- Brockmoor and Pensnett community showcase
- Vaccination and conversation clinics
- Vaccination hubs for pregnant women
- Mental health support
- DrinkCoach challenge
- February cold snap – winter wellbeing
- Healthy ageing champion – volunteer opportunity
- Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
- HIV Testing Week
- Household Support Fund
- Prevent scams
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If your GP refers you to a specialist, they’ll give you choices of where to go based on what's best for you.
It's your patient choice.
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Are you able to contact your GP practice through a phone app, or on your tablet or computer? The NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB) wants to know.
The ICB wants to improve the opportunities for Black Country residents to reach NHS advice and support. To do this, firstly they need to know how people contact the NHS.
Please can you fill in and share this survey, which closes on 31 March.
Thank you.
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Every three years Dudley’s Health and Wellbeing Board reviews local pharmacies in the borough to see what residents need.
The views of local people are important for shaping the borough’s pharmacy services. To take part in the survey go to bit.ly/PNA25.
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If you think you need medical help right now, NHS111 online can tell you what to do next.
Get assessed and directed to the right place for you, like an urgent treatment centre or your local pharmacy.
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High blood pressure is the biggest risk factor for having a stroke. It plays a part in about half of all strokes.
For Stroke Prevention Day (Friday 30 January) and every other day, we're encouraging everyone to check their blood pressure regularly so that you can stop a stroke before it happens.
Contact your GP practice or enquire at your local pharmacy to book an appointment.
For anyone aged 40 and over, every five years you will be invited to attend a health check at your GP where your blood pressure and other health indicators are investigated. If you missed your appointment, contact your GP practice and get a date to suit you.
Find out more about blood pressure on the Healthy Dudley website.
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The Community Urgent Eyecare Service (CUES) provides urgent assessment and treatment for sudden onset eye problems such as flashes, floaters, vision loss or minor eye injuries, for people in the Black Country.
What symptoms can be treated by the Urgent Eyecare Service?
- red or painful eye or eyelids
- recently occurring flashes and floaters
- recent and sudden loss of vision
- foreign body in the eye
If you are registered with a GP practice in the Black Country, book an assessment with the Community Urgent Eyecare Service.
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Are you aged 50 or older and fancy a free and fun exercise class?
Spaces exist at the weekly Lye and Dudley Dance to Health sessions.
The falls-prevention dance programme combines strength and balance exercises with the creativity, expression and energy of dance. No dance experience is needed and seated options are given.
Each class lasts for 90 minutes, which includes 30 minutes for refreshments and social time.
Classes run at the Lye Community Centre from 1.30 – 3.30pm on Mondays. The Dudley sessions take place at St Francis Church on Poplar Crescent from 1.30 – 3.30pm on Thursdays.
Find out more, discover where else Dance To Health classes run and book your place, by calling 07470 799540. Or email dudley@dancetohealth.org
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Anyone who is interested is invited to attend a menopause café on Tuesday 4 February, from 2pm until 3.30pm at Coseley Family Hub.
The Dudley Health and Care Partnership is hosting the session, which will be led by Dr Victoria Hobbs.
It will be an afternoon of relaxed chat, support and discussion around peri-menopause and menopause, over a cup of coffee. The event will include conversations around how it can affect women and what help and support is available for self-care, HRT and other medical treatments.
To find out more or book your space, email dgft.place.comms@nhs.net
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A celebration of everything Brockmoor and Pensnett have to offer will be taking place at St Mark’s C of E Primary School on Wednesday 19 February from 11am to 3pm.
Enjoy free activities. Have a go at digital or inflatable games, pebble painting, giant jenga and free raffles.
Meet local services and groups and find out how to get involved, try new hobbies or interests, enjoy free refreshments and more.
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Come and talk to our friendly team about immunisations at local pop-up clinics. While you’re there you can get your heart health checked too.
The flu vaccine will be available until 31 March. The team will be happy to answer any queries you may have about this and other vaccines. If you’re eligible, and you’d like your vaccine, you can have it straight away.
In addition to having your immunisation queries answered, the following checks are available:
- Blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Cholesterol
- BMI
If you are 40 or over, you may also be able to have your full NHS health check.
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Protect yourself and your newborn baby by getting a flu, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), or whooping cough vaccine at one of the community vaccination clinics.
No appointment is needed, simply pop along to Lye Family Hub on Tuesdays between 10am and 1pm, or Brierley Hill Family Hub on Thursdays between 10am to 3pm.
A new video explains the importance of the RSV vaccine and how it protects babies in their first six months of life.
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There are many ways to access the support you need quickly and in the right place for your circumstances.
Help in a crisis
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Call NHS 111 and press option 2: Mental health professionals are available 24/7 to listen to your concerns, assess your needs, and guide you to appropriate care
- Text 07860 025 281
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Visit a Sanctuary Hub: Access face-to-face emotional support. No referral is needed
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Visit the local suicide prevention website: The reach out website is useful for those thinking about suicide, worried about someone, or if you’ve been affected by suicide.
Find out more on the Healthy Dudley website.
Other support available
If you’re experiencing domestic abuse:
- Call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or contact Black Country Women’s Aid at 0121 552 6448 for confidential help and advice
For children and young people:
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Young people from the Black Country can download the Wysa Wellbeing AI app and use our QR codes for free premium access. Visit: Useful Apps
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Children and family care support information is available on the Dudley Council website
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Childline: Call 0800 1111 or visit Childline
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YoungMinds Parent Helpline: Parents concerned about their child’s mental health can call 0808 802 5544 or visit YoungMinds
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Kooth: Free online counselling and self-help resources for ages 11–25. Visit Kooth
Additional self-help options:
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Samaritans: Call 116 123 (24/7) or visit Samaritans
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Anxiety UK: Call 03444 775 774 (Mon–Fri, 9:30am–5:30pm) or visit Anxiety UK
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Rethink Mental Illness: Call 0300 5000 927 (Mon–Fri, 9:30am–4pm) or visit Rethink
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Take the two-minute DrinkCoach alcohol test to work out how risky your drinking is, stay motivated to make positive long-term changes and find out where you can get support in Dudley.
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Yet another cold snap has been forecast for February. During cold weather, look out for friends and family who might be vulnerable to low temperatures.
For more information on staying connected and being safe and well this winter, visit the Dudley Council website.
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- Would you like to help people age well?
- Do you want to know more about how to have a healthier and better later life?
- Would you like to share that information with others?
Anyone who lives, works, or volunteers in the Dudley borough can become a Dudley Council Healthy Ageing Champion.
We currently have 50 Champions, and we’re looking for more. We meet every six months, with a cup of tea, and connect via email at other times.
To find out more please email healthyageing@dudley.gov.uk
Or phone 01384 816437.
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January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.
Cervical cancer is common in women aged between 30 and 35, but it can happen at any age.
Listen to cervical screening nurse Angelique explain why it's vital to go for your screening appointment when you're invited.
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National HIV Testing Week kicks off on Monday, 10 February. Testing is free, quick, and easy. Plus, you can even do it from home.
For sexual health services in the Dudley borough go to the Healthy Dudley website. Free HIV test kits are also available online at www.freetesting.hiv
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Dudley Council has been awarded £2.6 million from the latest round of the Household Support Fund. This runs until March 2025.
The grant fund application has now closed. But, as in previous rounds, the majority of the money is being distributed through key council services and organisations within the voluntary sector. It is being used to support households facing financial hardship or crisis, helping them afford food, pay utility bills, and cover other essential living or household costs.
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Did you know that you can be protected from rogue traders and scams by Dudley Trading Standards?
The team offers a free service and can offer support over the phone, or conduct home visits. They can also install free call blockers for landlines that are receiving scam calls.
For more information call 01384 818871 or visit the Dudley Council web page.
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