News

How to stay healthy, safe and well this summer

The school holidays can bring warmer weather, trips away, more time outdoors and a chance to make memories with the kids. But summer can be challenging too. Less time in school and more time ‘playing out’ can make minor injuries more likely and little ones can still pick up bugs. With no school dinners and everyone at home, food bills can go through the roof - whilst others can feel isolated and alone as community activities slow down, and friends and family go away. Summer can be tough!

Get to know where to go and you can find the help and support you need quicker – so more time for summer fun. To find the right service for your needs, go to the ‘Get To Know Where To Go’ page on the NHS Greater Manchester website.

Your local pharmacy can give expert advice on minor illnesses, including over the counter medicines. For some conditions they can now provide prescription medicine, if needed – without a GP appointment. For more information, go to the ‘Think Pharmacy First page on the NHS Greater Manchester website.

If anyone in your family regularly takes prescription medicines, don’t forget to check how much you have at home - especially if you’re going away. It’s easy to lose track when you’re out of your usual routine. Don’t leave it to the last minute - order your repeat prescription seven days before you’re due to run out.

Your summer contact list:

  • Teeth: Greater Manchester Urgent Dental Service – call 0333 332 3800. 8am-10pm every day, including weekends and bank holidays.
  • Eyes: Greater Manchester Urgent Eye Care Service – primaryeyecare.co.uk/find-a-practice. Available all week, including weekends and bank holidays.
  • Mental health: free 24/7 mental health crisis support helpline - 0800 014 9995.

Published on 24th Jul 2024

Group B strep Awareness (July)

This month is Group B Strep Awareness. This year focuses on empowering new and expectant parents to make informed decisions about their and their baby’s care. We want them to be fully aware of what group B Strep is, how to prevent these infections in newborn babies, and their options for testing.

All parents need to be alert for the signs of group B Strep infection in their baby, as early diagnosis and treatment save lives.

Group B strep - NHS (www.nhs.uk)


Published on 11th Jul 2024

Samaritans Awareness (July)

Throughout July, Samaritans will be raising awareness to remind people that they are there 24/7 for anyone who is going through a difficult time or is struggling to cope.

Every 10 seconds a Samaritans volunteer answers a call for help. There’s no typical person who calls Samaritans’ helpline and there’s no typical problem that people talk about. No issue is too big or too small. Their extraordinary listening volunteers offer a safe and non-judgemental space for those who need to talk through whatever it is they are facing.

We are proud to support Samaritans, an incredible cause that is needed now more than ever. To show our support, we will be raising awareness on social media throughout July, as well as marking Samaritans Awareness Day on 24 July.

If you’d like to get involved, you can also help to raise awareness by sharing Samaritans’ messaging on your own social media to let loved ones know that there is free support out there.

Remember, when life is difficult, Samaritans are there to listen day or night. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit www.samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.


Published on 11th Jul 2024

Lung MOTs available in Reddish, Brinnington, Woodley and Bredbury

Smokers and former smokers aged 55-74 years based at doctors’ surgeries in parts of in Reddish, Brinnington, Woodley or Bredbury will be invited for a lung health check later this summer.

The quick, free checks can help find lung cancer at an early stage – before you might have any symptoms - when it is much more treatable and help save lives.

Most visitors to the lung health checks will get reassurance that everything is OK or be referred to get help to stop smoking.

The will checks are available to smokers and former smokers aged 55-75 based at the following GP practices:

  • Reddish Family Practice
  • Heaton Norris Medical Practice
  • Park View Group Practice
  • Alvanley Family Practice
  • Brinnington Surgery
  • Bredbury Medical Centre
  • Vernon Park Surgery

The mobile clinic will be based at: Morrisons, Stockport Road West, Bredbury, Stockport SK6 2BN.


Patients who are invited for a lung health check will firstly talk to specialist nurse where they will answer some health and lifestyle questions which will determine whether they are ‘high’ or ‘low’ risk.

If deemed high risk, they will be offered a low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan of their lungs for further investigation on the same day and be enrolled into the programme.

Dr Monica Saksena Joye, GP Principal, Reddish Family Practices, said: “Lung Health Checks help the NHS to spot any lung cancer symptoms earlier, when it is much more treatable.

“If you’re registered with a doctor mentioned on the list from the Reddish, Brinnington or Bredbury areas, are a smoker or used to smoke, you’ll be sent an invite through the post or via text message.”

Karen McEwan, Clinical Lead for Cancer in Stockport, said: “Please do come along for your appointment. You’ll have a chat with a nurse and fill out a questionnaire to look at your risk. About half of the people who visit may also need a low-dose scan which we will also do on the truck.

“It will most likely offer you some reassurance. But it could save your life!”

The Lung Health checks in Reddish, Brinnington, Woodley or Bredbury are the latest phase of the Greater Manchester Targeted Lung Health Check Programme – a drive to help improve earlier diagnosis of lung cancer and save more lives. The programme is jointly organised by the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. There are plans to expand the programme further in the coming months and years to ensure that all eligible participants are invited.

So far more than 500 patients have been diagnosed with lung cancer as a result of the Lung Health Checks in Greater Manchester, however, almost 80% of these patients were diagnosed at stage 1 or 2 meaning they were more likely to be eligible for curative treatment.

People diagnosed with lung cancer at the earliest stage are nearly 20 times more likely to survive for five years than those whose cancer is caught late.

Patients will be contacted by letter or via text message. 

For more information on the Targeted Lung Health Check programme please visit www.mft.nnhs.uk/lunghealthcheck

If you have received your invitation but missed your appointment, please call 0161 529 0900 to rebook.

If you have concerning symptoms you should speak to your GP who will be able to refer you for tests if needed. You can read about symptoms of lung cancer here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lung-cancer/symptoms/


Published on 2nd Jul 2024