Your Health Your Neighbourhood

Spring 2021

A newsletter providing local help and support to promote self-care and better health. For advertising enquiries, contact [email protected]. The Nightingales team are: Winyates Health Centre, Medi- cal Centre, Crabbs Cross Surgery, The Ridgeway, Hollyoaks Medical Centre & Hollywood Medical Practice.

Redditch’s Covid-19 infection rate is now the third highest in

In the week leading up to 11th March, the rate was 157.2 per 100,000 people. In nearby Bromsgrove, the rate is only at 50.1 per 1000,000 people.

More than 6,000 residents have so far contracted the virus, resulting in 184 deaths.

Help bring the infection rate down: minimize your contact with people and keep a safe distance. Wash your hands and surfaces. Wear a face covering. Get tested and isolate if you have any symptoms. Book in for your vaccination if you are eligible.

You can have rapid testing at your local pharmacy if you are not symptomatic. Approximately 1 in 3 people who have Covid have no symptoms and could be spreading it without realising.

Remember: England is still in a national lockdown. You must stay home, leaving only when permitted by law, and follow the government rules.

Regular lateral flow testing is encouraged for people that need to leave the house to work, shop, care for others, etc. and who display no symptoms of Covid. Lateral flow testing plays a key part in the fight against Covid, as it catches ‘hidden’ cases in people who might then be passing it on.

The following pharmacies currently offer free rapid lateral flow testing for people showing no Covid symptoms:

 Matchborough Pharmacy  Knights Pharmacy, Winyates  Knights Pharmacy,  Knights Pharmacy, Crabbs Cross  Knights Pharmacy, Headless Cross  County Pharmacy  Wythall Pharmacy  Hollywood Pharmacy

These are offered by appointment only. You can book an appointment at your near- est pharmacy by visiting: https://www.1centralhealth.co.uk/worcslft

Digital Library

Did you know li- brary members have free access to eBooks and audiobooks? All you need to do is download the Borrow- Box app to your Android, Apple, or Kindle device.

You also get free access to eMaga- zines. Just download the Libby app. For more information, visit: www.worcestershire.gov.uk/ info/20786/digital_library

If you are not a library member, you can join online by going to: www.worcestershire.gov.uk/ info/20313/join_the_library If you are over 50 or clinically vulnerable, and haven’t yet had your Covid vaccination, then please book online at www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus- vaccination or call 119 to book into your local mass vac- cination site.