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Welcome to the March edition. In this issue, the following topics are covered:
- Cancer prevention bus
- Lung cancer screening
- Bowel cancer
- Pupils missing out on HPV vaccine
- New wellbeing walk
- Volunteer opportunities with Park Active
- Too Good To Throw Away – Stourbridge
- Have you checked your pulse?
- Pharmacy first
- Farm visits
- Pick up a cup - free cup for infants
- Baby safer sleeping tips
- Vaccinations for pregnant women
- Protect your nursery and school child
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An NHS-sponsored cancer prevention and information bus will be hitting the road. The wheels will be going round and round until it pulls into Dudley town centre on Monday 7 April.
From 10am to 4pm, the bus will be at the fountain in Dudley High Street. Everyone is invited to chat with health professionals about cancer screening and answering any questions you may have to help you put the brakes on cancer.
The bus will also make a scheduled stop in other locations in the Black Country. Watch out for more information on the NHS Black Country ICB website.
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A lung cancer screening programme is now available in Dudley, to find lung cancer early, sometimes before you have symptoms.
Lung cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer in the UK. There are often no signs or symptoms at an early stage.
Early diagnosis can make lung cancer more treatable and make treatment more successful.
If you're eligible, you'll get a letter or phone call inviting you to an appointment.
You may be invited if all the following apply to you:
- you're registered with a GP surgery in Dudley
- you live in an area where lung health checks are currently offered
- you're aged between 55 and 74
- you're a current or former smoker
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This Bowel Cancer Awareness Month (April), people are urged to recognise the symptoms of bowel cancer.
National Charity Bowel Cancer UK is asking everyone to share the symptoms because when you Pass It On you could help someone else notice when something isn’t right.
Having these symptoms doesn’t always mean you have bowel cancer. But it’s still important to find out what’s causing them.
Learn more about the possible symptoms of the disease.
Alcohol and bowel cancer
Drinking alcohol increases your risk of bowel cancer. About six in 100 bowel cancer cases (6%) in the UK are linked to drinking alcohol.
Find out how risky your drinking is by taking a free confidential test.
You can find information about alcohol guidelines and how alcohol can affect your health on the Healthy Dudley website.
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All 50-74-year-olds in England will now receive a home-testing kit for bowel cancer every two years.
NHS England has been posting the faecal-immunochemical test (Fit) to all 54-74-year-olds since 2021 and anyone older can request one over the phone.
But after trials of local screening programmes for 50-year-olds, the age is now being lowered.
More than 850,000 extra people in England will now be able to return a stool sample to be checked for blood.
Read more.
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The NHS HPV vaccination programme, delivered in schools, has been a massive success. It has dramatically lowered HPV infections and rates of cervical cancer, with the strongest effects seen in those offered vaccination at younger ages.
However, with over a quarter of eligible pupils missing out on this vital life-saving protection each year, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is reminding young people and parents that the HPV vaccination is for both girls and boys.
It protects young adults, men and women, against genital warts and some cancers of the genital areas and anus, as well as some mouth and throat (head and neck) cancers.
Read more.
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Are you free on Mondays? Do you fancy an hour’s stroll, chat and cuppa? If so, the new wellbeing walk from Russells Hall Park, could be perfect for you.
The nature walks, which start on Monday 7 April, begin at 12pm. Meet at Russells Hall Park picnic bench, which is by the car park off Middlepark Road.
Contact Debbie Parkes for more information on 07757 602071.
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Dudley Council is looking for new volunteers to support the popular Park Active initiative.
Park Active is a programme of free weekly volunteer-led exercise sessions, which are delivered in five parks across Dudley borough.
New volunteers are now being invited to join the team, with training expected to take place on Saturday 10 and 17 May.
Read more.
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Dudley Council is asking anyone who has items that are too good to throw away to gift them to a community sharing scheme.
The local authority is holding one of its ‘Too Good to Throw Away’ events at St Michael’s Church Centre in Stourbridge next month.
On Wednesday 9 April, 10am to 3pm, people visiting the Maynard Avenue church will be able to donate unwanted household items that are in good working order.
Items accepted include curtains, bedding, cushions, kitchenware, small electricals, clothes, food and unused toiletries.
Anything collected will be shared between charitable organisations in the borough, including Provision House, which repurposes them for community use.
People are politely reminded that the scheme is not requesting furniture, soft furniture or white goods. People can find out more, and see a full list of wanted items online.
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Have you checked your pulse this month?
Up to 90 per cent of strokes are preventable. One activity that you can do for yourself is to regularly check your pulse to see if it is steady and even.
An irregular rhythm could indicate a major risk factor for a heavy stroke. If you know about it, it can be treated to prevent a stroke from happening.
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For quick health advice, visit your local pharmacist.
If you or your family become unwell, you may not always need to see a doctor or get a prescription. Your local pharmacists are clinically trained experts in medicines, managing minor illnesses and providing health and wellbeing advice.
Pharmacists can help you with common problems such as coughs, colds, aches and pains. They also may offer medication advice and free consultations, perform health checks, and treat minor injuries and ailments.
Some pharmacies offer extended opening hours in the evenings and at weekends, and there is no need to book an appointment – just walk in. Your local pharmacy can help you to get the help you need.
For further information and advice, go to the NHS Black Country ICB website.
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Now spring has sprung and with the Easter holidays on the way, it’s an ideal time to visit a farm.
Dr Rachael Hornigold, Consultant in Health Protection, shows how to prevent any infections when you meet some farmyard friends.
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Dudley Council has provided FREE free-flow cups to all five Family Hubs in the Dudley borough to give to children aged six months to two-years-old.
Through this scheme, the council hopes to reduce tooth decay rates in children across the borough.
A free flow cup, without a valve, helps infants learn to sip, rather than suck liquid, protecting from tooth decay, but also encouraging independence and healthy tooth, jaw, and language development.
Visit any Family Hub in Dudley borough today to get your FREE free-flow cup (while stocks last).
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As the weather heats up, now is an excellent time to consider safer sleeping tips for babies.
- Avoid your baby overheating – try to keep the room temperature between 16 to 20 degrees centigrade
- Lie your baby on their back for every sleep – day and night. Use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress
- The risk of sudden infant death syndrome is 50 times higher for babies when they sleep on a sofa or armchair with an adult
For more tips and information, go to the Healthy Dudley website.
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Getting vaccinated while you’re pregnant helps protect your baby. To find out which vaccinations you need during each stage of pregnancy go to the NHS Black Country ICB website.
You can also find out more about having a healthy pregnancy on the Healthy Dudley website.
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Rates of childhood infections like measles and whooping cough have risen. If your child isn’t vaccinated, they’re not protected.
If your child is going to nursery or school this year, make sure they are school-ready by taking up the offer of the NHS’ free childhood immunisation programme.
If your child has missed a vaccine, it’s never too late to check with your GP if you can catch
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