Healthwatch Sefton

Healthwatch Sefton Healthwatch Sefton is the independent health and social care champion giving children, young people and adults a powerful voice in shaping services.

Kids grow fast — and school uniforms grow expensive. Our free Swish & Stitch Uniform Swap is a simple, friendly way to p...
03/08/2026

Kids grow fast — and school uniforms grow expensive. Our free Swish & Stitch Uniform Swap is a simple, friendly way to pass on the uniform your children have outgrown and pick up the next size up — all for free.

Bring along clean, good-condition uniform you no longer need, and take home what fits. No money changes hands, nothing goes to waste, and every family leaves with a little less to buy.

Michael Sellars was facing the devastating prospect of missing one of the most important days of his life – his daughter...
27/07/2026

Michael Sellars was facing the devastating prospect of missing one of the most important days of his life – his daughter’s wedding day – after a routine bowel cancer screening led to him discovering he would need surgery just weeks before the big day.

Instead of walking his daughter, Emma, down the aisle at the ceremony in Mallorca, Michael feared he would be stuck at home recovering. But thanks to pioneering robotic surgery at Aintree University Hospital, which is less invasive than traditional methods, he was able to make the three-and-a-half-hour journey only four weeks after his operation.

Unlike conventional techniques, single-port robotic surgery is minimally invasive, with the entire procedure carried out through a single 4cm incision. The robotic system acts as an extension of the surgeon’s hand, enabling a level of precision beyond human capability. Resulting in significantly less pain and a much faster recovery.
For Michael, 68, that meant being declared fit to fly in time to travel abroad and share the special moment he feared he would miss.
The retired father of three and grandfather of two is the first person in the UK to undergo single-port robotic bowel cancer surgery.
Although the prospect of the surgery was daunting, he had complete faith in the team at Aintree.

Michael said: “I was told the operation would take around four hours, with the right side of my bowel being removed, as this was the area where they had found a suspicious growth.
“Considering the seriousness and complexity of the operation, I’m stunned by how well I have recovered. Within just two weeks of being home I was going on fairly long walks with my wife and even thinking about going out for lunch in town with friends.”

This is not the first time the colore**al team at Aintree has achieved a surgical first. Only six months ago, they became the first in Europe to successfully use robotic surgery to operate on early-stage re**al cancer using a transanal da Vinci access port…

Story continued on Healthwatchsefton.co.uk

Young people in Sefton can now book an appointment at a community pharmacy for a vaccination to protect them against men...
22/07/2026

Young people in Sefton can now book an appointment at a community pharmacy for a vaccination to protect them against meningitis B.

There were a number of Meningitis B outbreaks reported this year, including the cluster of cases around Canterbury in Kent. As a result, the NHS has launched a special, limited-time vaccination programme.

The MenB programme is aimed at young people who are at higher risk of getting meningitis B. This includes young people in Sefton who are starting university or residential college this autumn.

Health experts say students living and studying with lots of new people are more likely to come into close contact with meningitis bacteria. Research shows first-year university students are around seven times more likely to develop meningococcal disease than other young people of the same age.

Find out more by visiting Healthwatchsefton.co.uk 🔗

The Bootle South area has been selected to take part in the UK Government’s Pride in Place programme to receive up to £2...
13/07/2026

The Bootle South area has been selected to take part in the UK Government’s Pride in Place programme to receive up to £20million of long term investment over ten years, designed to support community-led change and strengthen local neighbourhoods.

The funding aims to bring the community together to identify local priorities, celebrate community strengths and develop a shared vision for the future of the Bootle South area.

The survey will take around 15 minutes to complete.
The consultation will gather views on a range of topics including community spaces, public spaces, community activities and ideas for future improvements. Community members of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to take part.

Feedback will go directly into developing an investment plan that reflect the needs, aspirations and experiences of those who live, work and spend time in the area.

Take the Survey through the link in our story 🔗

The National Conversation is a UK wide listening exercise, designed to hear directly from people, exploring what matters...
13/07/2026

The National Conversation is a UK wide listening exercise, designed to hear directly from people, exploring what matters most to communities and how we can help shape them together.

You can get involved in a way that works for you. You can complete a short online survey (link in story, visit our website)— it’s open now and runs until the end of August 2026 or join one of our group conversations to share your thoughts and experiences in a relaxed, informal setting.

There’s no preparation needed – we simply want to hear what matters most to you and your experiences of community life.

To book a place on one of the sessions, or to find out more, please get in touch at [email protected].

We really hope you can join us and be part of shaping this important conversation.

Anyone who is interested can request an application form by emailing help@carers.sefton.gov.uk .Applications must be sub...
07/07/2026

Anyone who is interested can request an application form by emailing [email protected] .

Applications must be submitted by Friday 17th July 2026 Interviews will take place online later in the month.

Cheshire and Merseyside communities are being invited to put the kettle on, bake their favourite cakes, and come togethe...
29/06/2026

Cheshire and Merseyside communities are being invited to put the kettle on, bake their favourite cakes, and come together for a double celebration in July for Mersey Cares’ NHS Big Tea 2026. 

This year’s celebration is particularly special, marking 78 years of the NHS as well 25 years of Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and by hosting or attending a Big Tea party, supporters help raise funds for Mersey Cares NHS Charity, enabling it to provide the ‘extras’ beyond NHS funding that can make a real difference in our communities.

Michael Crilly, Mersey Care’s Director of Social Health and Community Inclusion, said: “We’re hoping everyone gets behind this double celebration and helps raise important funds for patients, families and NHS staff across our region.
“The NHS has been the bedrock of all our lives for many years now and we all know someone who has benefitted from the care it provides. The Big Tea gives everyone the opportunity to raise funds and help pay for those little extras beyond the NHS’ scope.”

Find out more in our story 🔗

Using creative activities, discussion and storytelling, we’ll explore real experiences of health and care and imagine wh...
22/06/2026

Using creative activities, discussion and storytelling, we’ll explore real experiences of health and care and imagine what fairer support could look like. Together, participants will co-create ideas that will form part of a touring performance in the autumn, sharing local voices more widely.

The sessions are open to all over 18 years old and no previous creative experience is needed.

Everyone’s contribution is valued – there are no silly questions.

You can come to as many sessions as you’re able, so feel free to come along and try it out.
Help with travel costs is available, and refreshments will be provided.

Liverpool Women’s University Hospital (LWH) has successfully introduced a specialist surgical procedure, designed to sup...
11/06/2026

Liverpool Women’s University Hospital (LWH) has successfully introduced a specialist surgical procedure, designed to support women in reducing the risk of late miscarriage or premature birth in future pregnancies.

The procedure, called a laparoscopic transabdominal cerclage (LAP TAC), is a keyhole surgery where a stitch is placed high around the cervix, through the abdomen, to help keep the cervix closed during pregnancy. It is ideally performed before pregnancy or occasionally in early pregnancy.

The procedure, which is offered to women who are unable to have, or have not benefited from a vaginal cervical stitch, had previously only been available in Manchester and will now be offered locally to patients at LWH, including referrals from other hospitals in the region.

Under the expert guidance of Kenneth Ma, Consultant Gynaecologist at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, the Gynaecology team at LWH undertook their first list of three LAP TAC procedures, all of which were completed successfully.

Marwa Fakhreldin, Consultant in Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine at Liverpool Women’s University Hospital, said: “This is an important milestone for women across our region as being able to offer this important additional option of LAP TAC at Liverpool Women’s means patients can now receive highly specialised care closer to home, supported by our clinical team.

“By placing the stitch higher around the cervix using keyhole surgery, we aim to provide additional support during pregnancy and improve the chances of carrying the baby safely for longer. We are extremely grateful to Mr Ma for his support and mentorship in helping us establish this service safely and successfully for our patients.”

Photo: Second from the left, Marwa Fakhreldin, Consultant in Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine at Liverpool Women’s University Hospital, is joined by three of her colleagues from the LAP TAC team, all wearing surgical scrubs

📣 Let’s Talk Menopause 📅 11th June 2026 ⏰ 6-8pm📍 The Big Onion, Southport
05/06/2026

📣 Let’s Talk Menopause
📅 11th June 2026
⏰ 6-8pm
📍 The Big Onion, Southport

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Burlington House, Crosby Road North, Waterloo
Liverpool
L220LG

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Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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