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Month: March 2024

NWAS Promotes the Use of NHS 111 online During the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend

As Easter approaches, North West Ambulance Service is highlighting the benefit of using NHS 111 online to help with non-urgent health concerns.

Traditionally, Bank Holiday weekends are a busy time for health advisors in the NHS 111 call centres in the North West, as the public has less access to GPs and pharmacies. This can lead to patients waiting longer than usual to speak to a health advisor over the phone. NHS 111 online can supply a wide range of health advice and information without the wait.

It can help with:

  • how to find general health information and advice
  • where to get help for your symptoms if you’re not sure what to do
  • where to get an emergency supply of your prescribed medicine
  • how to get a repeat prescription
  • how to get emergency dental appointments

The online service is not suitable for children under 5 years old; for these cases, it is still recommended to dial 111.

Paul Johnston, Senior Service Delivery Manager for NHS 111, said, “37,000 calls were made to the 111 number in the North West over the 2023 Easter Bank Holiday weekend. In comparison, there were 10,000 fewer calls from Friday to Monday the following weekend. We also know that a high proportion of those calls were made by people who ran out of repeat prescription medication. We would encourage the public to check now that they have enough medicines to make it through the weekend and to make sure they collect any repeat medicines that have been ordered or arrange to have them delivered ahead of the bank holiday.”

Dr Paula Cowan, Regional Medical Director for Primary Care at NHS England – North West said: “We are extremely grateful to the dedicated NHS teams working across the North West this coming Easter bank holiday weekend to ensure all those who need care receive it. The NHS is always there for anyone who needs it. NHS 111 online should be the first port of call for anyone who needs urgent medical advice, as it is quickly and easily accessible. It helps direct people to the right service quickly and provides medical advice. It’s just one of the ways that we are trying to get people to the right service, first time, while keeping urgent and emergency services free for the most seriously ill and injured patients. Urgent and emergency care services will be open over the bank holiday, and in the event of a life or limb threatening emergency, people should call 999.

“Some GP practices and pharmacies will have limited opening hours over the Easter bank holiday, and many will be closed from Friday 29th March to Monday 1st April. Some pharmacies will continue to be open over the Easter bank holiday and members of the public can seek health advice on a range of illness and health concerns from the pharmacy.

To find your nearest open pharmacy please check online Find a pharmacy – NHS (www.nhs.uk). Think Pharmacy first.

The train seen from above with Morecambe Bay and Grange in the background (Image: Network Rail)

Northern Train Derails Near Grange-Over-Sands

A Northern service from Preston to Barrow derailed on the approach to Grange station early on Friday, March 22nd. Four passengers and four members of staff were safely evacuated from the train.

Network Rail is advising passengers that the route will be closed while the investigation, train recovery and repair work is complete. Initial investigations suggest this could take two weeks.

Around 150m away from the derailment location, a void in the ground has opened. Network Rail is working with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) to determine the cause of the void and the train derailment. Once the RAIB have completed their initial investigation, Network Rail will begin the complex recovery process. This will involve using a specialist Network Rail crane to re-rail and remove the train, carrying out repairs to the ground, installing new ballast (railway stones) and laying new track over the affected area.

Chris Pye from Network Rail said: “On the rare occasions trains leave tracks like this it can cause extensive damage and unfortunately this incident is no exception. The additional problem with the ground conditions means this is an especially complicated recovery process. I understand this will be extremely frustrating for passengers travelling between Lancaster and Barrow-in-Furness. Across the rail industry we’re working hard to keep people on the move through rail replacement buses while we work as fast as we can to restore the railway for passengers and freight.”

The closure will not significantly affect the timetable over the Easter bank holiday due to preplanned work in the area. From Monday 25th March, train services will run between Carlisle and Barrow on the Cumbrian coast line. Bus replacement services will be in operation between Barrow and Lancaster while the recovery of the train and repair work takes place at Grange. They will call at Lancaster, Carnforth, Silverdale, Arnside Grange-over-Sands, Kents Bank, Cark, Ulverston, Dalton, Roose and Barrow -In-Furness.

Disruption is expected to last some time, so customers should make alternative arrangements wherever possible. “We’re sorry for the inconvenience and delay. Customers can always speak to a member of our team at their local station or visit northernrailway.co.uk/service-updates for the latest information.

Image Courtesy of Network Rail

Community Catalysts

Community Catalysts South Lakes

Community Catalysts

Community Catalysts is a social enterprise working across the UK to try to make sure that people who need care and support to live their lives can get help in ways, times and places that suit them, with real choice of attractive local options. We help local people use their energies and talents to deliver sustainable community enterprises that can support other local people, creating jobs and volunteering opportunities.

Community Enterprise Project in the South Lakes

This is a new and exciting project delivered in partnership with Westmorland and Furness Council. The two- year project aims to stimulate the development and growth of community enterprises that provide a wide range of help and support for older and disabled people or similar.

Community Enterprise

People with talents, passion and local knowledge run community enterprises. They all aim to make a difference to the lives of local people. Our project has a focus on enterprises that support older or disabled people who need some care or help to live a good life or similar:

  • have 8 or fewer full-time staff or volunteers
  • are independent of any larger organisation.
  • are set up in many different and creative ways such as: sole trader, partnership, small business, social enterprise, charity or voluntary organisation.

Support from the Community Enterprise Project

Community Catalysts has a huge amount of experience helping local people establish community enterprises. We run a development programme which can:

  • offer you a friendly and supportive point of contact to explore ideas
  • support you to develop your community enterprise
  • give you practical information on regulation, training and opportunities in the health and social care sector
  • direct you to other organisations who can help

What might this mean for me?

Community Catalysts can support people who are currently running a community enterprise that helps older or disabled people who need some care or help to live a good life or similar. We can also help people who are interested in starting a new community enterprise.

We would also like to connect with people, organisations, businesses or groups across the South Lakes area who have an interest in building stronger communities.

Get in touch

Jade Gibson is employed by Community Catalysts to coordinate this project and to run the development programme.

Click here to leave your details on the form and Jade will get back to you:

Contact Jade Gibson on 07435 943933 or at jade.gibson@communitycatalysts.co.uk

CommCats-South-Lakes-A6-FlyerDownload

‘Arnside Parish’ is not the same as ‘Arnside Village’ Website

It has been brought to my attention that some local businesses are being contacted by a website called ‘Arnside Parish’ and were wondering if this is the same as the Arnside Village website where those of you with adverts in the Arnside Directory have listings included as part of your advert.

So, just to clarify, this is nothing to do with the Arnside Village website where your entry IS included with your advert in the Directory.

It looks like the PARISH.UK Network is a Community Action Initiative by local government – in this case, the South Lakes.

Arnside Children's Playground

Jumble Sale Raises over £600 for Children’s Playground

A big ‘thank you’ to everyone who came along to the Jumble/Vintage Sale at the W.I. & Village Hall recently, to all those who donated items and to Arnside Beach Hut for their ‘pop-up’ cafe!

It was great to see so many people supporting the event and the final total raised on the day was a wonderful £638.40. A great team effort!

Thanks too to all who helped on the day, couldn’t have done it without you. Too many of you to list but you were all brilliant and it is much appreciated. Everyone was so generous with donations there were quite a lot leftover which have been donated to various charity shops to help others. Thank you, Arnside!

To keep in touch with what’s happening with the Playground, follow their Facebook page You can help by supporting fundraising events (there is a Craft Fair coming up in the summer), donating via one of the Collection boxes situated in the Nisa, Arnside House, or Sandpipers Cafe or donate through the crowdfunding page. No matter how small, every little helps. Thank you.