Lucy was 12 weeks pregnant when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. In an incredibly rare procedure, Lucy’s surgical team *temporarily removed her womb – with her baby still inside* – so they could treat the ovarian cancer. The surgery was successful – and 3 months later, baby Raffy was born. Inspirational work by NHS staff at Oxford University Hospitals 👏 Proud of our NHS? Forward this story 👉

*76% of the NHS workforce are women* 💙    From the girls they once were, to the women they are today, they’re shaping the future of healthcare.    This International Women’s Day, we’re saying thank you to every woman across the NHS.   Forward this to a woman in healthcare who inspires you 👉

*Social anxiety made these moments feel like Shona’s worst nightmare...*   Meeting new people.    Seeing colleagues.    Family gatherings.    But with the help of NHS Talking Therapies, she now has the tools and techniques to deal with panic when it shows up.     And she’s now encouraging others to reach out for support 💙  ➡️ Find out more, or refer yourself at nhs.uk/talk

*Meningitis can be very serious if not treated quickly.* Symptoms of meningitis develop suddenly and can include: - a high temperature (fever) - being sick - a headache - a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it (but a rash will not always develop) - a stiff neck - a dislike of bright lights - drowsiness or unresponsiveness - seizures (fits) These symptoms can appear in any order. *You do not always get all the symptoms.* Call 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest A&E immediately if you think you or someone you look after could have meningitis or sepsis. Trust your instincts and do not wait for all the symptoms to appear or until a rash develops. *Someone with meningitis or sepsis can get a lot worse very quickly.* Check out the NHS website for more. ➡️ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/meningitis/

When you’re not feeling great… your local pharmacy is a good place to start.   *Pharmacists can offer advice and treatments for lots of common illnesses.*   In some cases, they can also provide medicine (if it’s right for you) for things like:   ➡️ sore throats (age 5+) ➡️ earache (ages 1–17) ➡️ UTIs (women 16–64) ➡️ sinusitis (age 12+) ➡️ shingles (age 18+) …and more.   More info at www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/pharmacies/how-pharmacies-can-help/

*Children are heading back to school this week. But is your child well enough to go in?* 🤒 🤮 🤧 When your child isn't feeling 100%, it can be tricky to know whether they should stay at home or head to school. Our guide covers everything from high temperatures to tummy bugs, conjunctivitis to impetigo. Check it out to help you decide what's best to do. ➡️ https://nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school

👀 Someone’s snoring keeping you up?    Before they’re banished to the sofa, a few simple lifestyle changes might help:  📉 cutting down on alcohol  🚭 stopping smoking  💪 losing weight if you’re overweight  🌙 sleeping on your side instead of your back    Know a loud sleeper? 👉 Forward on.   If lifestyle changes aren’t helping, find out what to do next:  https://nhs.uk/conditions/snoring/

*Today is HPV Awareness Day.* HPV is a common group of viruses, and most people will get it at some point.   The HPV vaccine helps protect against several cancers, including cervical cancer, as well as cancers of the mouth, throat and genitals.  It’s offered to boys and girls in school to help protect them later in life.  The vaccine does not protect against all HPV types, so it’s important to attend your cervical screening appointment, even if you’ve been vaccinated.  Want to learn more about HPV, the vaccine and screening? We’ve got you covered 👉 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/human-papilloma-virus-hpv/

Tomorrow is World Sleep Day, so quick poll: what’s the snoring situation in your house?

*People are 3 times more likely to quit smoking with the right support.* The *free* NHS Quit Smoking App is here to help - find out more and download it. 👉 https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/ If you are already smoke free, forward this on to someone who might need support quitting ⏩