As the picture says, we are now here for you evenings and weekends. From 1st October Rochdale Health Alliance is working with local Practices in the Pennines, Rochdale, Heywood, and Middleton areas to provide additional routine appointments outside of normal general practice opening hours, and it is now possible for you to access some same-day and pre-bookable routine appointments in the evenings and weekends at selected GP surgeries and these are: • Littleborough Health Centre, Featherstall Rd, Littleborough OL15 8HF • Whitehall Street, 90 Whitehall St, Rochdale OL12 0ND • The Phoenix Centre, Church St, Heywood OL10 1LR • Peterloo Medical Centre, 133 Manchester Old Road, Middleton, M24 4DZ We refer to these appointments as Enhanced Access and are bookable through your own GP surgery. They are available for general routine services such as cervical screening, childhood vaccination clinics and health checks etc. You will be able to see a member of the general practice team including a GP, nurse or other health care professional but it’s worth bearing in mind that as these appointments are outside of the surgery's normal working hours, therefore, means that you may not see your usual GP. Please also remember that these appointments are for routine consultations only and anyone who needs an urgent appointment outside of surgery hours, should continue to get in touch using the NHS 111 service

As we should all know, it is vitally important that your cervical screening tests are kept up to date with your clinic. Recently there have been home testing kits been made available online costing upwards of £50. Please be aware that any results from these kits will not be recognised by the NHS – even if they have returned a positive result and will not be added to your patient records, you will still be required to attend your surgery when your smear is due. If you have cause for concern then make an appointment with the practice nurse at your local clinic, all of whom are female. It’s a relatively quick and painless procedure but if you are nervous then why not bring a friend or relative with you? Your practice nurse will be aware of any medical history and able to answer any questions you may have. If any further intervention is needed when your results return, your GP will be able to action this. Although you may feel home testing is a convenient way of keeping up to date with vital screening, at this moment these results, positive or negative, would not be recognised by the NHS and all you will be doing is wasting £50 and who can afford that these days?

Unfortunately , we have noticed a small but significant rise in the number of measles cases in the region. We’d like to remind all parents and carers of the importance of vaccinating children for MMR. Measles is an infection that spreads very easily and can cause serious problems in some people. Having the MMR vaccine is the best way to prevent it. How to check if you or your child has measles Measles usually starts with cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash a few days later. Some people may also get small spots in their mouth. The first symptoms of measles include: a high temperature a runny or blocked nose sneezing a cough red, sore, watery eyes Further information can be found at Measles – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

This week is Love Your Lungs Week 2022. This week aims to shine the spotlight on lung health. Protecting our lungs has never been more important and this campaign is very much relevant this year as Coronavirus continues to be a threat to everyone, attacking the respiratory systems of those infected. It is estimated that over 10 million people in the UK are affected by lung conditions, and over 6 million people regularly take prescribed lung medication every year. Respiratory diseases are the third biggest cause of death in the UK and as such must be taken extremely seriously. Aside from COVID-19, the most common lung diseases in the UK can be linked to issues with clean air. Air pollution can cause long-term side effects like lung diseases and even death, which is why it is important for us to make a conscious effort to minimise air pollution. For more information, visit https://www.blf.org.uk/

20th - 26th June 2022 This awareness week is championed by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust and raises the profile of cervical screening by sharing tips and experiences for those who find accessing screening appointments difficult. The NHS is very aware that every individual’s circumstances are different when accessing screening services and not everyone finds it straightforward. Therefore, to help anyone who is affected by anxiety or finds it difficult to attend their cervical screening (smear test), information and support about how to plan for your cervical screening appointments can be found here. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cervical-screening-support-for-people-who-find-it-hard-to-attend/cervical-screening-support-for-people-who-feel-anxious-about-attending Cervical screening helps prevent cervical cancer by checking for high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) which causes nearly all cervical cancers. This is a more sensitive and accurate test than the previous method. It means cervical cell abnormalities can be treated. If left untreated, these cells could develop into cancer. So please, don’t be embarrassed or hesitant about making an appointment with your GP.

While we’ve been focused on the pandemic we’ve taken our eyes off other serious conditions. We know early stage cancer diagnoses fell by third in the first lockdown and that shortfall has continued. Macmillan reckons that around 50,000 of us have missed a cancer diagnosis during the pandemic. Prostate cancer diagnoses , for example, were down 29% between 2019 and 2020. That’s not because prostate cancer is getting rarer (it isn’t), but because men weren’t seeing their GPs to begin to get diagnosed. Indeed, male GP visits fell more than female visits. There were good reasons for this fall during lockdown but not now. Meanwhile, NHS Health Checks , which should be offered to most people over 40, were paused during Covid. They should be being restarted (from April 2022). All of this gives us even more reason to keep an eye on our own bodies and minds and give ourselves an MOT. The message to men It’s a simple one: it’s time for your MOT. Take notice of what’s going on in your body and mind. Do the quick and easy DIY Man MOT Get yourself a copy of the CAN DO manual which will also be online soon, a FREE download manual collecting together all the great ideas Men’s Health Champions have had for things we can all do to boost our mental well-being. Dig a bit deeper with our existing Man MOT manuals: Man MOT and Man MOT for the Mind . Get an NHS Health Check Go and see your GP or use NHS 111 if you’re concerned about any symptoms

Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. It also helps people who don’t think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support. About Carers Week The COVID-19 pandemic had a monumental impact on unpaid carers’ lives – not only because of the increased amount of care that many provided but because of the far-reaching effect that providing this level of care has had on unpaid carers. Many people also took on new caring responsibilities for their relatives and friends who are disabled, ill or older and who need support. They need to be recognised for the difficulties they are experiencing, respected for all they are doing, provided with information, and given the support they need to care for safely. So during Carers Week, we are coming together to make caring Visible, Valued and Supported. A carer is anyone who looks after a family member or friend who has a disability, mental or physical illness, addiction, or who needs extra help as they grow older. Caring’s impact on all aspects of life from relationships and health to finances and work can be significant. Whilst many feel that caring is one of the most important things they do, its challenges should not be underestimated. Caring without the right information and support can be tough. It is vitally important that we recognise the contribution carers make to their families and local communities, workplaces and society, and that they get the support they need.

Rochdale nurse, Caroline Lomax , has been given the prestigious title of Queen’s Nurse (QN) by community nursing charity The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI). The title has been awarded to Caroline for her high level of commitment to patient care and nursing practice. Nurses who hold the title of Queen’s Nurse benefit from developmental workshops, bursaries, networking opportunities, and a shared professional identity. Caroline is a General Practice nurse, having spent the majority of her career at her current practice, Castleton Health Centre in Rochdale. During her career, Caroline has instigated a number of successful health promotion projects, including an inspirational project to encourage young adult males aged between 18 and 24, to take ownership of their health and well-being through regular ‘Young Men’s Health Clinics’ – a topic close to Caroline’s heart having two sons in the same age bracket. Caroline has a particular interest in cardiology and was the leading force behind the installation of defibrillators in her son’s local high school. She has mentored various nurse roles at Castleton Health Centre and is also part of a team to support trainee GPs in practice. Caroline recently completed a leadership programme with GP excellence with the NHS England and NHS Improvement CARE (Connected, Authentic, Resilient, Empowered) Leadership and Resilience Programme, and she is currently undertaking a Quality Improvement Project to evolve and improve population health. Caroline said: “I am delighted to receive the accolade of Queen’s Nurse. My patients are at the heart of everything I do and I am passionate about my role as a General Practice nurse where I can get to know my patients and gain a wider understanding of the health needs of the local community. My goal as a Queen’s Nurse is to continue to be an inspiring role model and mentor to future generations of nurses. I am looking forward to being part of a nationwide support network and I believe that the title of Queen’s Nurse will give me the platform to make a difference and further develop the role of community nursing.” Dr Mamman , Senior GP at Castleton Health Centre said: “We are very proud of Caroline, and the dedication and care she shows to our patients, staff and GP partners. Caroline is a much valued and integral part of our team and is a credit to nursing.” Dr Chris Duffy , Chair of NHS HMR CCG added: “On behalf of NHS HMR CCG, I would like to congratulate Caroline on receiving such a prestigious title. We are honoured to have a nurse who is so committed to her career and patients working in one of our Rochdale GP practices.” Dr Crystal Oldman CBE , Chief Executive of the QNI said: “On behalf of the QNI I would like to congratulate Caroline and welcome her as a Queen’s Nurse. Queen’s Nurses serve as leaders and role models in community nursing, delivering high-quality health care across the country. The application and assessment process to become a Queen’s Nurse is rigorous and requires a clear commitment to improving care for patients, their families and carers. We look forward to working with Caroline and all other new Queen’s Nurses who have received the title this year.”

Our BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult) Degree Apprenticeship is designed to support the development of confident, professional nurses, able to deliver and lead adult care within an ever-changing health and social care environment. You can offer structured on-the-job training and a nationally recognised qualification in nursing, helping you attract the best new talent and retain valued staff through career progression. Your apprentices will be able to put their new skills and understanding into practice immediately, benefitting your organisation and the communities you serve without delay. This programme has been fully mapped to the Registered Nurse Degree (NMC 2018) Apprenticeship standard (ST0781) and study at the University will complement learning in your workplace. We’ll work with you to devise individual learning agreements for each of your apprentices, ensuring they fulfil the criteria of the apprenticeship, as well as develop additional skills and knowledge valuable for your organisation. Our passionate and knowledgeable staff will support your apprentices as they learn to care for adults with acute and long-term illnesses, in the hospital and at home, and gain expertise in health promotion and disease prevention. On successful completion of this qualification, your apprentices will possess the knowledge and skills needed to perform as independent, highly competent, compassionate nurses who can be trusted to maintain professional standards and assure the protection of the public. If your employee is a qualified nursing associate or assistant practitioner, then they may be able to join this course at Level 2 (HE5) and top-up their existing foundation degree to achieve the BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult) and complete the degree apprenticeship in two years or less. This well-recognised route for healthcare practitioners recognises and values their prior learning and experience and allows them to take on full nursing responsibilities more quickly.