The Mental Health Family Hour, originally launched in April 2020 to support families in the first lockdown, kicked off again today (21 January) with an episode focusing on young people’s mental health.

As the rollout of the biggest vaccination programme in NHS history continues, patients receiving the Covid-19 vaccine at home are being urged to protect themselves from fraudulent activity and scams.

Thousands of people aged 80 and over are being invited to book a coronavirus vaccination at a new NHS larger scale vaccination centre at Blackburn Cathedral.

This Cervical cancer prevention week (18-24 January 2021), people in Lancashire and South Cumbria are urged to book their cervical screening appointments.

People who are eligible, live near these new vaccination services and who haven’t already been vaccinated by their local GP led vaccination services or hospital hub, will receive letters from the NHS Covid-19 Vaccination Booking Service, telling them how they can book their appointment.

Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are NHS organisations that plan and buy healthcare for their communities. The Joint Committee of Clinical Commissioning Groups (JCCCG) is a meeting of the CCGs in Lancashire and South Cumbria and will be responsible for making decisions about any future proposals referred to it by the CCGs. Decisions will be referred to this committee if they require a Lancashire and South Cumbria approach, but most decisions about healthcare will continue to be taken locally.

The three Directors of Public Health representing Lancashire are strongly advising all faith communities to pause communal prayer and worship during the lockdown period, to reduce the possible spread of the new Covid variant.

The new Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine is being rolled out to General Practice led services in Lancashire and South Cumbria today (07/01/2021), making it easier to protect care home residents and other vulnerable people against Covid-19.

More sites are starting to take delivery of the coronavirus vaccine this week as the rollout continues to more areas of Lancashire and South Cumbria.

Health professionals are urging people across Lancashire and South Cumbria to look after their mental health as we enter the latest national lockdown.

Anyone who is currently booked to have their second Covid-19 vaccination from Tuesday 5 January 2021 onwards will have their appointment postponed and rescheduled in due course, in line with the new regulatory and clinical guidance, typically 12 weeks after their first vaccination.

While we need to celebrate the positive roll out of the Covid-19 vaccination programme, the festive period is still going to be challenging, with significant pressures on NHS services. It is important that we all continue to play our part in following guidelines to reduce the risk of infection.

Health leaders across the Lancashire and South Cumbria are encouraging pregnant women to get their free flu vaccination as soon as possible to protect themselves and their babies.

People with persistent tummy troubles in Lancashire and South Cumbria including diarrhoea, bloating or discomfort in the tummy area, are being urged to get checked for cancer as part of the NHS and Public Health England’s ‘Help Us, Help You’ campaign.

People across Lancashire and South Cumbria who are struggling during the festive season can access a free online mental health service.