General signposting

NHS 111

Get medical help

111 online can help if you have a medical problem and you're not sure what to do.

Care at the Chemist 

Did you know that you can get free, fast and expert health advice at any pharmacy in Sefton?

Our Care at the Chemist scheme is the quickest and easiest way to get advice and treatment from a health professional for a wide range of everyday illnesses and ailments – without even setting foot in your doctor’s surgery.

So, if you have a common or minor health problem, Care at the Chemist is for you. You don’t need an appointment and you’ll find a chemist close to home, with many open early until late.

Medicines are free for anyone who does not pay for their prescriptions – all you need is proof of exemption. Those who do pay will be charged the current prescription charge. If the medicine costs less to buy over the counter than the prescription charge, you will pay the lower rate. 

For more information, simply pop into one of the pharmacies who are signed up to the scheme and ask about joining Care at the Chemist.

Kirkby Walk in Centre

St Chad's Drive
Kirkby
Knowsley
L32 8RE

Walk-in centres in Knowsley will only offer telephone triage services.

Patients will be able to contact their local walk-in centre to be triaged over the phone by an experienced walk-in centre clinician.

If you need to be seen at the walk-in centre, you will be allocated an appointment.

If you are displaying coronavirus symptoms you will be advised to self-isolate and directed to the NHS 111 service.

The Knowsley walk-in centre telephone triage lines will operate seven days a week, from 10am to 6pm.

 

Domestic violence

The symptoms of domestic abuse include: physical abuse, coercive control, verbal abuse, financial abuse, sexual abuse, emotional or psychological abuse. If you recognise that you are a perpetrator of abuse, you may find help here: https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/domestic-violence-you-dishing-it-out

If you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community, you can find help and resources from Stonewall if you’re suffering from domestic abuse. https://www.stonewall.org.uk/domestic-violence-and-abuse-resources-lgbt-people

Men can suffer from domestic abuse too. If you’re in an abusive relationship, ManKind have some advice and a helpline for support: https://www.mankind.org.uk/help-for-victims/types-of-domestic-abuse/

Refuge have a domestic abuse helpline, including a British Sign Language service for those who are suffering from domestic abuse. https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk

With people spending more time together than normal, and with unusual circumstances prevailing, more incidents of domestic violence have been reported. If you have been affected by this, you will find help and resources here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56491643

Coercive control

You might have heard of the term ‘coercive control’. It’s where one party in a relationship uses more subtle techniques to gain control. It’s now formally recognised as a form of domestic abuse. https://www.womensaid.org.uk/information-support/what-is-domestic-abuse/coercive-control/

Testicular cancer awareness

Testicular cancer has a very fast onset. If undetected, tumours can double in size in just 10 to 30 days. https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/what-is-testicular-cancer

If you have a lump in your testicles, or feel pain or discomfort in your testicles or scrotum, you should speak to your GP surgery to have this checked. These can be symptoms of benign diseases, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/signs-and-symptoms

Met Office cold weather warnings

From 1st November to 31st March each year, the Met Office runs a system for cold weather alerts to ensure that people are advised in advance if the weather is likely to be adverse. If you’d like to find out more, or wish to sign up for the alerts, you can do so here: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/cold-weather-alert/?tab=coldWeatherAlert&season=normal

Neighbourliness

If you have elderly or vulnerable neighbours, why not keep an eye out to make sure they’re OK. If you notice that curtains are closed during the daytime, or milk bottles are left out, why not knock on the door and check your neighbours are alright. If the weather is very cold, icy or slippery, why not check to see if your neighbours need anything before you pop to the shops. Most of all, if neighbours are elderly or housebound, they may not get a chance to talk to others very often, so a chat and a cuppa might be just what’s needed. https://www.thenationalcareline.org/SafetyAtHome/CheckOnYourNeighbour