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Welcome. In this issue, the following topics are covered:
- Women’s health event
- Has hay fever come early?
- Bowel screening
- Quick medical advice from your pharmacy
- Urgent dental appointments
- Men’s health survey
- Help to quit smoking
- NHS talking therapies
- Emergency planning guides
- Physical activity survey – prizes up for grabs
- Free 6-week cookery class
- Support for young people with anxiety
- Safer sleep for babies
- Breastfeeding
- Farm visits
- Pre-school vaccinations
- Measles
- HPV vaccination
- Free courses for parents, grandparents and carers
- Keep up-to-date
- Have your say for a safer borough
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Ladies of Dudley, your health pit stop is arriving right on schedule. This International Women’s Day (Friday 6 March), pop over to the free women’s health event in Dudley town centre.
The Women’s Health Bus will be parked up near the fountains and markets, offering:
- Drop‑in health chats
- Support on menstrual, menopause & reproductive health
- Mini health checks
- Free wellbeing goodies
Whether you’re cruising through midlife, stuck in traffic with hormones, or simply need a tune‑up, friendly experts are ready to help.
Friday 6 March, 10am–4pm, Dudley town centre (near the fountains and markets).
Free to attend. No booking needed. Everyone welcome. Come along—your wellbeing deserves a first‑class service.
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Are you finding yourself sneezing, even though spring has only started?
According to the UK Health Security Agency, studies suggest that some types of pollen and other allergens could be released earlier in the year and for a longer time as the climate warms.
This may mean that some types of pollen could trigger hay fever as early in the year as January or February.
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Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK, with more than 120 people diagnosed every day. But the good news is that when it’s found early, most people survive — and the easiest way to spot it early is through NHS screening.
If you’re aged 50–74 and registered with a GP, you’ll automatically be sent a free NHS FIT bowel screening kit every two years. It’s quick, safe, and only needs one tiny sample you can do at home. The test looks for hidden blood you wouldn’t see yourself — often long before symptoms appear.
If a kit arrives, keep it by the loo and don’t put it off. Encourage friends and family to do theirs too.
Lost your kit or think you missed your invite?
No problem — you can request another for free. Call 0800 707 60 60
A note on shop‑bought kits
Over‑the‑counter bowel test kits only show if there may be blood. They aren’t a substitute for NHS screening.
- If you have no symptoms, use the NHS kit when it arrives.
- If you do have symptoms (at any age), speak to your GP.
For more information, visit the Healthy Dudley website.
It’s free, it’s simple, and it could save your life. If you’re invited — please do the test.
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Feeling under the weather? Some pharmacies in the Dudley borough are opening longer hours this month to support residents.
Get trusted advice without an appointment – and help keep urgent care services available for those who need them most.
Find a pharmacy near you.
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Do you need urgent dental care? Urgent dental appointments are now available. Find out how to get the help you need. Go to nhs.uk/urgentdentalcare
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Do you have views on men’s health, vasectomy services and how men’s health and wellbeing can be better supported across the Black Country?
NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB) has launched a survey to seek the opinions of local men to help the ICB review vasectomy services in the Black Country.
The survey is open until 15 March 2026.
Your insights will help the NHS to see what works well, what could be improved, and how services can better support men’s health and wellbeing.
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It’s National No Smoking Day on Wednesday 11 March.
Quitting smoking isn’t easy, but free support is available to give you the tools to succeed.
Visit Your Health Dudley or ring 01384 732402.
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Feeling overwhelmed? Whether it’s social anxiety, constant worrying, panic attacks, phobias, OCD, or flashbacks from a traumatic event, NHS Talking Therapies can help you get back to living your life.
The service is free, confidential, and offers practical tools and techniques proven to help with common mental health conditions like OCD, social anxiety disorder, PTSD, panic disorder, body dysmorphic disorder and more.
You don’t need to wait for a GP appointment — you can refer yourself directly.
Find out more or self‑refer at: nhs.uk/talk
For more details on mental health support across the Dudley borough, go to the Healthy Dudley website.
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Sometimes things go wrong at home or in our area. Bad weather, a fire or a power cut can happen. But there are simple things we can all do to be ready.
Dudley Council has made two easy guides to help you plan. They include things like:
- a home emergency checklist
- a medication checklist
- a place to write your important contacts
These guides can help you stay calm and know what to do.
You can read them on the Healthy Dudley website.
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Let us know your views on being active. What helps you to move more and what makes it difficult?
Complete the short survey to win one of 10 Amazon, supermarket and energy vouchers.
It only takes a few minutes to complete.
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A free six-week Cook and Eat Well programme is on offer to Dudley residents.
Run by charity Groundwork West Midlands, the classes provide hands-on cooking sessions where you’ll learn how to make simple, affordable, and healthy meals — plus pick up some great nutrition tips along the way.
- Fun, practical cooking sessions (2 hours a week for 6 weeks)
- Easy recipes you can make at home
- Healthy eating advice
- Meet new people and enjoy cooking together
- Locations: Various venues across Dudley
Email or call to sign up:
Tel – 07970 725526
Email – cookandeatwell@groundwork.org.uk
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Are you a parent or carer of a young person who suffers with anxiety? Do you want advice on how you can support them?
Cranston Routes - Dudley offers a free parent/carer drop-in at its Merry Hill location in The Boulevard on Wednesdays between 2.45 to 5pm. You will be offered guidance, a space to ask questions and signposting to further services.
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Are you overwhelmed by baby products on the market? According to baby safety charity The Lullaby Trust, all you need are:
- Cot or Moses basket
- Lightweight bedding
- Firm, flat, waterproof mattress
- Portable sleep space
- Room thermometer.
It can be expensive. Keep it simple, to keep it safe.
Find out more about keeping your baby safe and well on the Healthy Dudley website.
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According to the NHS there is a lot of evidence to show how valuable it is to breastfeed your baby, if you can, especially in the early weeks.
Breastfeeding gives your baby the best start in life both nutritionally and emotionally. Breastfeeding is good for mums too, physically, emotionally and financially.
For some mums it can take time to get the hang of. Lots of mums wonder if their baby is feeding well and getting enough – especially in the first few days. But once you’ve mastered it, you’ll probably find it’s the easiest and most satisfying way to feed your baby. You can also be reassured about the ingredients that your baby is drinking.
If needed, local and national support is available to help you with breastfeeding. Go to the Healthy Dudley website to discover more.
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Planning a farm visit this spring? A few simple steps can help ensure your day out stays fun – and bug-free.
While farm visits are brilliant family entertainment, animals can carry germs that cause illness in people. Sometimes these are serious, especially for young children and pregnant women.
The best advice is to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching animals, fences, or surfaces in animal areas.
For more advice, check out the UK Health Security blog on how to have a fun and healthy farm visit with the family.
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Is your little one starting school soon? Have they had their pre-school vaccinations?
Help protect your child from measles, whooping cough and other serious illnesses.
To check if your child has missed any vaccines, look in their red book, or speak to your GP practice. If your child has missed a vaccination you can also look at information on catch-up clinics on the Vaccination UK website.
Find out more on the Healthy Dudley website.
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Measles is circulating. For signs and symptoms of measles, and for details on how to be protected against the disease with the MMR or MMRV vaccination, go to the Healthy Dudley website.
Next Dudley borough MMR vaccination catch-up clinic
- Saturday 28 March
- Oakfield Community Centre, 245 Brettell Lane, Brierley Hill, DY5 3LT
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9am until 2pm (Open to all children and young people who attend a Dudley school, who may have missed one or both doses of the MMR vaccine)
Drop-ins may be available but are not guaranteed. Appointments can be made by contacting Vaccination UK via telephone 01384 431712 or email dudley@vaccinationuk.co.uk
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The HPV virus can lead to cancers such as cervical, head and neck cancers. The HPV vaccine helps protect against this.
The vaccine, which is just one dose, is offered to boys and girls aged 12 and 13 in year 8. If your child is in year 8, look out for the electronic consent form from school.
If you or your child missed the vaccine at school, you can still get it up to your 25th birthday. Contact your GP practice to book an appointment.
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Want to help your child eat well, move more and grow up healthy? Join a FREE HENRY workshop near you — for families with children aged 0–12, and those expecting a baby.
✅ Boost nutrition
✅ Build healthy habits
✅ Support your child’s wellbeing
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Have your say on community safety in Dudley borough. Come along to safe & sound, Dudley’s community safety partnership’s public event, on Tuesday 17 March from 6.30 – 8.30pm at The Store House, 18 Albion Street, Brierley Hill DY5 3EE and ask the questions that matter to you.
If you can’t attend, you can complete a short survey to share your thoughts.
Find out more, book your place and complete the survey.
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