Our Healthier Manchester

In this edition:

• Help to keep Manchester safe
• Stay healthy at home
• Keeping active during lockdown restrictions
• Supporting residents recovering from COVID
• Are you going digital to reach your GP?
• Sharing your experiences of lock down
• Where to get help

Welcome to the latest edition

In this edition of Our Healthier Manchester, we cover the latest you need to know on COVID-19, Eid and services which are available to you.

If you have any feedback on the information in this bulletin, you can share it by email to communicationsmanchester@nhs.net or call 0161 213 1760.

Staying safe in Manchester

Following last night’s Government announcements, residents of Greater Manchester will not be allowed to meet each other indoors from today, with the situation being reviewed in one weeks’ time.

If you haven’t had a chance to read the full Government guidance, here’s a summary from Manchester City Council’s website:

• You cannot meet people from other households in your home or garden. Household support bubbles are exempt
• You cannot visit someone else’s home or garden, even if they live outside of the affected areas
• You can only go to pubs, bars and restaurants with people you live with or your support bubble.
• Up to two households (or six people from a number of households) may meet outdoors in public space with social distancing (not in gardens).
• Places of worship and other settings with strict COVID secure arrangements remain open.Try not to share a vehicle with those outside of your household unless it is part of a school or work bubble

Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, released a statement in response to the changes to local COVID-19 rules:

"We must not be complacent about the continuing risk of Covid-19.

"Over the last week we have seen a significant increase in Covid-19 cases in nine of the 10 Greater Manchester boroughs. While Manchester actually has the second lowest proportion of cases in Greater Manchester, our cases have also increased in the last seven days. The evidence is that most of this transmission is now taking place in community settings and particularly people's homes.

"It's important that we take these preventative health protection measures - which, however inconvenient are still relatively moderate - now to avoid the need for more severe measures and a Leicester-style lockdown.

"These restrictions will be reviewed weekly and it's impossible to stress that the more people abide by these rules, the quicker they will be lifted.

"While there is still a need for further discussion with government about the detail, it's important that we all pull in the same direction to avoid a resurgence of coronavirus in our area."

You will still be able to access your GP and pharmacy, and you will have a video or telephone conversation and you will only be asked to attend your GP practice if absolutely necessary. This is to keep you and those around you safe.

If you think you have symptoms of COVID such as a new and continuous cough, loss of smell and taste or a high temperature, you and those you live with must follow the guidance and self-isolate. The Test and Trace will be in contact to find out who you have been in contact with as a way to control the spread of the virus.

And finally, Eid Mubarak to all who are celebrating this weekend. For those of you who had plans to meet with family and friends these restrictions will come as a blow, but everyone is being urged to follow the new rules and to protect the ones they love from catching coronavirus.

Further details about what you can and can’t do while celebrating Eid can be found on the council’s website.

Keeping active during COVID restrictions

We all know that some form of physical activity every day can have major health and wellbeing benefits. For adults, doing just 30 minutes a day (or 60 minutes for children) of light chores, walking or running can to help lift our spirits, burn off calories and help fend off diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease or cancer.

During lockdown though, everyone’s daily routine has been affected and we’ve been unable to do the things we most enjoy; such as popping to the gym, attending a yoga session at the local community centre or going for a swim. So as a nation we’ve had to get creative with our ways to keep moving and as a result we’ve seen huge surge in people buying home fitness equipment, bikes and taking part in online sessions with the whole family such as Les Mills and Joe Wicks PE classes.

If you’re stuck now on further ideas and are looking for some new inspiration, then why not take a look at the Sport England website for suggestions. They’ve advice on how to set yourself goals, top apps and outdoor activities to try and much more.

Stay healthy at home 

During the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, you may have had trouble buying things that you normally took for granted. Toilet paper and pasta were in high demand and so too was paracetamol, with shelves remaining empty.

Many of these items including the much sought after paracetamol, are now more widely available in supermarkets and pharmacies, so make sure you‘re stocked up for summer.

When your medicine cabinet is full of the essentials you might need, then you’re one step ahead. Just make sure you check the expiry date on things so you can ensure you’re ready to face hay fever, allergies and whatever else summer throws at you, head on. You’ve got everything you need by reading through the what to keep in your medicine cabinet guide.

Having essential items at home can help to avoid that trip to the pharmacist or call to the GP and many of these items can be purchased for a small cost from your local supermarket for less than the price of a cup of coffee

If you take prescription medication make sure you have enough to last you, and that the use by dates are in check.

Being cancer aware during COVID

Just like everywhere else, GP practices are working slightly differently. People may have and may still be worried about going to see their GP because of coronavirus but, if you’ve noticed any signs or symptoms that you think could be cancer it’s really important to get in touch with your GP practice as soon as possible.

The symptom might not be due to cancer. But if it is, the earlier it's picked up the higher the chance of successful treatment. You won't be wasting your GP's time.

Your first appointment will be over the phone or online, so there will be no need to go into the practice straight away. When you speak to them, they will ask about your symptoms and tell you if you need to go into the surgery to see someone.

It can be difficult to remember everything you want to say especially on the phone. These tips from Cancer Research UK will help you get the most out of your appointment.

For children and young adults, the support and encouragement of family and friends are so important when taking that first step towards getting checked out. It can also be helpful to know that other people your own age are going through similar things. Cancer Awareness for Teens and Twenties (CATS) has produced a series of great short videos which cover issues that young people may be worried about before, during and following a cancer diagnosis. The videos star incredibly brave young people who have all been diagnosed with cancer.

The discussion of symptoms and the Be brave get it checked videos are especially good for those young people who are worried about their symptoms and think they may have cancer. The videos highlight the importance of going to get checked and discuss the signs of symptoms of different types of cancer.

More information about the great work that CATS do is available on their website, if you are a young person worried about cancer then please take a look. If you are worried about a young friend or family member, please share the information with them, it could really make a difference.

Supporting residents recovering from COVID-19

COVID-19 has affected us all in so many ways and left us feeling unsettled.  The world as we once knew it is no longer quite the same and for those that have unfortunately been infected by the disease, it’s been even more overwhelming to take on board.

That’s why Manchester Health and Care Commissioning have set-up a virtual peer support group so people recovering from COVID-19 can talk things through and share their experiences.

The group is held every Wednesday from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm and if you would like to join or know someone who may, all you need to do is email Val Bayliss-Brideaux or text your name to 07702 668 169.

Are you going digital to reach your GP practice?

GP services across the city went digital practically overnight when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the country into lockdown. For some people, this has meant they can order their prescriptions online via their GP practice website, or make a GP appointment online and see a GP as part of a video consultation. We know this is not for everyone and there may be other barriers we need to know about so we can ensure everyone who needs to access their GP practice can do it in a way that suits them.

We would really like to hear your feedback on using your GP practice in Manchester. You can email us your feedback to mhcc.engagement@nhs.net or text 07702 668169.

Sharing your experiences of lock down

Healthwatch Manchester is carrying out a short survey to understand everyone’s experience of the lock down in Manchester.

They  especially need to know about the impact it is having on individuals and communities with protected characteristics, such as BAME, LGBTQ+, long term conditions, learning disabilities etc. 

To take part in this short survey, visit the Healthwatch Manchester website. 

Where to get help

We understand how worrying it can when you can’t access your usual help and support networks – but please be assured that help is at hand.

Manchester City Council has worked with all the health, care and voluntary services across the city to create this helpful directory manchester.gov.uk/coronavirus where you can access information and support.