News
April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, a fantastic annual opportunity to raise awareness of bowel cancer and funds to support our work.
About Bowel Cancer UK
the UK’s leading bowel cancer charity and determined to save lives and improve the quality of life of everyone affected by bowel cancer. They support and fund targeted research, provide expert information and support to patients and their families, educate the public and professionals about the disease and campaign for early diagnosis and access to best treatment and care.
The facts about bowel cancer
Every 15 minutes someone is diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK. It’s more common in the over 50s but it can affect people of all ages. Around 268,000 people living in the UK today have been diagnosed with the disease.
Bowel cancer is the UK’s second biggest cancer killer but it shouldn’t be, as it’s treatable and curable, especially if diagnosed early. Nearly everyone survives bowel cancer if diagnosed at the earliest stage, however this drops significantly as the disease develops.
Being aware of the key symptoms and visiting your GP if things don’t feel right can help increase chances of an early diagnosis, and could save your life.
The symptoms of bowel cancer can include:
Bleeding from your bottom and/or blood in your poo
A persistent and unexplained change in bowel habit
Unexplained weight loss
Extreme tiredness for no obvious reason
A pain or lump in your tummy.
Most people with these symptoms don’t have bowel cancer. Other health problems can cause similar symptoms but if you have one or more of these, or if things just don’t feel right, see your GP.
Dental Access Information
What can your dentist do for you? The NHS provides essential treatments needed to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy and free of pain. Any...
NHS Morecambe Bay CCG participates in Care Quality Commission’s review of ‘do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation’ decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic
17 March 2021 Improved oversight and reform needed as pressures of pandemic shine light on inconsistent and concerning approaches to DNACPR decisions...
Celebrities Join Forces With NHS and Public Health England to Encourage Cancer Checks
Celebrities Join Forces With NHS and Public Health England to Encourage Cancer Checks Sir Andrew Strauss, the ex-England cricket captain who lost his...
Guidance on isolating at home if you have symptoms or have tested positive for Covid-19
If you think that you have Coronavirus symptoms or have tested positive and you are self-isolating at home. Here is some clear advice and guide towards the next steps.
Do you know someone who had a Do Not Attempt to Resuscitate (DNACPR) order put in place during the pandemic
Healthwatch are supporting the Care Quality Commission (CQC) with a survey for people who have had or known someone who had a Do Not Attempt to Resuscitate (DNACPR) order put in place or reviewed during the COVID-19 pandemic, between March 2020 and now. We are sharing a survey on their behalf to...
Cards for Kindness Campaign Approaches
Cards for kindness campaign launches The countdown to Christmas is now on and Lancashire residents are being encouraged to send a card to their local care home to brighten up someone's day. Cards for Kindness, a campaign to tackle loneliness and isolation amongst older people, launches on Tuesday 1...
In the run up and during the festive period, please access mental health online support if you need it
This December is going to feel different as we navigate through COVID19. We know that 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England and this year with the current pandemic, it is more important than ever to look after our mentalhealth. Togetherall is an...
What to do if you have a dental problem during the COVID-19 pandemic
If you have a dental issue during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that you know how to access help when you need it. All dental practices in the North West are now open and have resumed face-to-face care. Due to the requirements around personal protective equipment and infection protection...
It's more important than ever to stay well and healthy this winter advises leading GP
At the start of this year’s annual Self-Care Week (16th to 22nd November), GPs in East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen are advising people to keep medicine cabinets fully stocked this winter. Winter this year, with the added burden of coronavirus (COVID-19) in circulation, could be an...
Pennine CCGs Covid-19 statement on pressures on local NHS services
Dr Mark Dziobon, local GP and Medical Director for the Pennine Lancashire CCGs, said: “ Locally, doctors are very concerned about the rising infection rates in Lancashire and South Cumbria. Covid-19 is a serious disease and there is still no cure or vaccine – sadly this means the number of people...
Local leading cancer GP urges residents to recognise the signs this #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK. Around one in eight women in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime, but if detected early, treatment has a higher rate of success. Breast screening aims to find breast cancers early. It uses an X-ray test called a...
A major drive is launched across Pennine Lancashire to protect the community from flu this winter
A major drive is launched across Pennine Lancashire to protect the community from flu this winter In a major drive to protect the community from flu this winter, NHS Blackburn with Darwen and NHS East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are urging all eligible people to get vaccinated...
Lancashire Resilience Newsletter Issue 16
Featuring information on the new Lancashire COVID-19 Restrictions
World Mental Health Day
In support of World Mental Health Day on 10th October 2020, @BwDTTCHub be delivering free online workshops throughout October! The workshops will explore the impact of mental health stigma and discrimination and look at the ways we can use our own stories to help tackle stigma! The first workshop...
August 2020 Newsletter
Welcome to the August Newsletter. As an independent Community Interest Company, Healthwatch BwD is dedicated to making local residents’ views on the quality of Health and Social Care services heard and responded to. Despite the ongoing challenges presented by the Covid 19 pandemic, HWBwD continues...
Lancashire Fire & Rescue Update
Lancashire Mind offer support to those suffering with their Mental Health and Wellbeing
Lancashire Mind are working specifically in Blackburn and Darwen to help people to better self manage their wellbeing and to improve their quality of life!
Staying Safe in Your Pharmacy
Mental health support for young people over Summer
Whilst the summer can be a time to have fun and enjoy the sun, it’s not an easy time for everyone. Many families have been particularly struggling over the past few months, and the stress of isolation and anxieties around Covid-19 may be affecting your child’s mental health, and exacerbating other...
June 2020 newsletter
Transition Back to School after Covid-19
The Educational Psychology Team and Special Educational Needs Support Service in Blackburn with Darwen have collated a resource pack to help staff, parents, children and young people, should you feel you need it, to help you to support children and young people in preparation for their return and...
Healthwatch Together Coronavirus Survey
Healthwatch Together (Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Cumbria and Lancashire) have been carrying out surveys during the Coronavirus pandemic to understand ecurring themes in our communities’ experience of the Coronavirus pandemic. Please find attached a summary of key themes from version 1 of the...
East Lancashire Hospitals Trust Public Participation Panel
East Lancashire Hospitals Trust are recruiting for two new members on their Public Participation Panel. To find out more about the role of the Panel and how you as a local resident could get involved please click here for more details. The closing date is 17 th July 2020.
NHS North West "Help Us to Help You" Campaign
Here are the latest key messages from NHS North West's Help us to Help You Campaign. General messages If you need medical help, the NHS is still here for you. If you need medical help from your GP practice, contact them either online, by an app or by phone to be assessed. If you need urgent medical...
Looking after your mental health during the Covid-19 Pandemic
Looking after your mental health Infectious disease outbreaks, like the current coronavirus (COVID-19), can be scary and can affect our mental health. While it is important to stay informed, there are also many things we can do to support and manage our wellbeing during such times. The Mental...
Supporting adults with learning disabilities during Covid-19 Pandemic
Please follow this link for useful guidance which aims to help care staff keep people with learning disabilities and autistic people safe, to support them to understand the changes they need to make during the COVID-19 outbreak, and to protect their own wellbeing.
Coronavirus: Share Your Experience
As your local Healthwatch we exist to hear and share your experiences of health and social care services. At this challenging and unprecedented time, we want to hear how the spread of coronavirus has impacted you and your family. Working with our Healthwatch Together colleagues we have put together...
