Partners engage with residents in Dalton-in-Furness about their health and wellbeing

People living in Dalton-in-Furness had the opportunity to discuss their health and wellbeing needs recently.

The HARRI (Health, Advice, Recovery, Resilience, Information) engagement vehicle visited the area last month which gave residents the opportunity to speak to health, care and community professionals about their needs and find out more about local services in their area.

Professionals offered a wide range of information and signposting on many issues including quitting smoking, diabetes, mental health, sleep difficulties, health and wellbeing courses, support for carers and youth support.

Common feedback on the day included requests for better:

· health, leisure and wellbeing facilities

· open spaces

· outdoor facilities

· a community centre for young adults

· parking

· more flowers

· more bins

· potholes being filled.

Georgina Livingstone, Development Lead for Mid-Furness ICC, said: “The feedback we have received will help inform our work and contribute to projects such as the Dalton Borderlands Place Programme. The programme will see investment in the area boosting the environment that the residents in Dalton are living in which will help to improve their overall health and wellbeing.”

Local GP Dr Alison Johnston said: “It was great to get out in the community again and speak to the local people of Dalton and surrounding areas in the HARRI van about what helps to keep them happy and healthy. It was fantastic to meet up with our partner agencies again too and we look forward to doing more events in the future with them.”

The following partners were involved on the day: Cumbria Police, CancerCare, Furness Carers, Mid-Furness Primary Care Network and Integrated Care Community, Drop Zone, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, Healthier Lancashire and South Cumbria (Mental Health) and University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust.

The event was carried out following the government’s coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance around distancing and wearing masks.

You can watch a video about HARRI visiting people in Dalton-in-Furness at the Bay Health and Care Partners YouTube site here.

HARRI due to visit Ulverston and Kendal

HARRI will visit people in Ulverston today (20 May). The vehicle will be at New Market Street, by the Indoor Market, LA12 7LJ, from 10am to 3pm.

The following advice and support will be on offer around quitting smoking, diabetes, mental health, sleep difficulties, health and wellbeing courses, support for carers, youth support, free health checks and much more.

The Health and wellbeing engagement vehicle will also visit residents in Kendal on Thursday 27 May and will be based at Market Place, Kendal, LA9 4TN, from 11am to 2pm.

Cara Stride, Kendal Integrated Care Community (ICC) Development Lead, said: "We want to hear from you and find out what is important to you in your local area, and how we can work together to make Kendal a happier and healthier place to live. In particular, we want to identify your priorities for health in south Cumbria with the aim of building better integrated services. We’re thrilled to have so many partners working together on this event. Myself and the rest of the Kendal ICC team are looking forward to meeting you and supporting you and your loved ones to get back to normal as safely and healthily as possible.”

Debbie Parkinson, Public Involvement Lead for the Innovation Agency the Academic Health Science Network for the North West Coast, said: “It’s important to ‘#know your numbers’ when it comes to your health and matters of the heart which is exactly what we’ll be offering so people can learn more about themselves and spot when things go wrong and get the help and advice they may need.

“Members of the Innovation Agency’s Patient and Public Involvement group will be in Kendal offering healthy heart advice and carrying out pulse and blood pressure checks, as well as talking to people about their cholesterol levels.”

Visitors will find information on how to stay active, improve their emotional wellbeing, and lasting ways to stay healthy. Both events are open to anyone.

Measures will be in place to ensure both events are COVID safe, please do take note of any signs regarding sanitising hands and wearing of face masks on the day.

What will be on offer at the Kendal event?

The following will be on offer at the Kendal event:

· The Kendal ICC team are doing blood pressure checks and offering simple health advice

· Innovation Agency will be there to provide advice for keeping your heart healthy

· Carer Support South Lakes for advice on how to enhance the lives of unpaid carers

· The Lighthouse Community Mental Health Hub, a mental health peer support charity, will provide some basic advice and signposting for mental health issues

· Social Prescriber Link Workers from Kendal Primary Care Network for practical and emotional support

· Trainee Associate Psychological Practitioner from Kendal Primary Care Network promoting the five ways to wellbeing, signposting to services, offering simple advice and creating an interactive display to engage with the public about their emotional wellbeing

· Health and Wellbeing Coaches from Cumbria County Council to help make positive changes in people's lives

· Active Cumbria encouraging you to be more active and promote the “Move for Health in South Lakeland” initiative

· COVID Recovery Team from University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust to help people recover after COVID

· The Well Community for those experiencing addiction, or have a family member they're concerned about.