Healthwatch Blackpool

05/02/2026

🌸Cervical Screening Drop-In Clinics in February🌸

The cervical screening bus is visiting various locations within Blackpool. Cervical screening saves lives. This is your chance to get it done quickly and easily - no appointment needed!

📍 Clinic locations (11.00am–4.00pm):
Monday 9th February - Sainsbury's, 80 Red Bank Road, Bispham, Blackpool FY2 9HH
Wednesday 18th February - At the grange Blackpool 2a Dinmore Avenue, Blackpool FY3 7RW
Wednesday 25th February - Bickerstaffe Plaza, Number One Bickerstaffe Square, Blackpool, FY1 3AH

👉 Find out more: https://www.blackpool.gov.uk/Campaigns/Mobile-cervical-screening-clinics.aspx

Live outside Blackpool? The cervical screening bus is also visiting other locations within Lancashire 👉 Find out more: https://www.cwp.nhs.uk/livingwellservice

29/01/2026

Last year, Healthwatch Blackpool were commissioned by the NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board’s Blackpool Population Health team, working alongside the Lancashire and South Cumbria Cancer Alliance, to explore cancer awareness and the barriers to early diagnosis in Blackpool.

The project focused on understanding local experiences and challenges, helping to inform future work to improve early cancer detection and outcomes for our community.

We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took part through one-to-one conversations, focus groups, and survey responses. Your voices are vital in helping to drive meaningful improvements locally.

We’re extremely pleased to share the full report below:

28/01/2026

There is still time to share your experiences on Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs) before the survey closes this Friday!

Whether you have attended an Urgent Treatment Centre or never used one, your voice matters and we want to hear from everyone! 💬

👉Fill in the survey here: https://forms.office.com/e/U4i9RNLifp
All responses are anonymous. Thank you for supporting this important work!

20/01/2026

FCMS are working to make bowel screening more accessible for people with learning disabilities across Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre 💚

Their free service offers flexible support, easy-read information, phone discussions, and home visits to help people feel confident and informed about bowel screening.

If you’re aged 50-74 with a learning disability, or you support someone who is, get in touch to find out how they can help.

📞 07985 231022
📧 fcms.bowelscreening@nhs.net

20/01/2026

There is still time to share your insight on Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs)!

Healthwatch Blackpool, in partnership with FCMS are exploring how people across the Fylde Coast use and experience UTCs.

We’d love to hear from you, even if you’ve never visited a UTC.

Your feedback will help us understand:
• Awareness of UTCs
• Barriers to accessing care
• Satisfaction and experiences
• Ideas for improving services

👉 Fill in the survey here: https://forms.office.com/e/U4i9RNLifp
All responses are anonymous. Thank you for supporting this important work! 🙏

💬 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐔𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬 (𝐔𝐓𝐂𝐬)!

Healthwatch Blackpool, in partnership with FCMS, are excited to launch our new project exploring how people across the Fylde Coast use and experience UTCs.

We’d love to hear from you, even if you’ve never visited a UTC.

Your feedback will help us understand:

• Awareness of UTCs
• Barriers to accessing care
• Satisfaction and experiences
• Ideas for improving services

👉 Fill in the survey here: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=u2TY94aWU0uEpGJ924WmvWGDy_WYAypPsnqWbRs1LZhUN0RJOUxUQVg3NjJHSzlRVUhETE05T0FMSy4u&route=shorturl

All responses are anonymous. Thank you for supporting this important work! 🙏

20/01/2026

Charlotte and Becky attended the Alcohol Free Women session at Blackpool Sports Centre last week to speak with the ladies about their experiences of Urgent Treatment Centres, as part of our current project in partnership with FCMS. We had some thorough and insightful conversations, and it is always a pleasure to visit the group and spend time chatting with the ladies. Thank you so much for having us. Consent was provided to share the photographs.

Alcohol Free Women have a variety of sessions and the upcoming dates for February include:
2nd February at St Martin and St Hilda Church Hall, FY6 7NU at 18:45-20:15pm
7th February at Fleetwood Health Centre, FY7 6HP at 10:30-11:30am
20th February at Blackpool Sports Centre, FY3 9HQ at 18:45-20:15pm

You don’t need to live in Blackpool to attend. You’re welcome wherever you live. First visit is free and future ones just £6 pay as you go.

16/01/2026

Healthwatch Blackpool will be attending the Community Cafe at The Hub Fleetwood on Tuesday 20th January between 10am and midday.

Healthwatch Blackpool, in partnership with FCMS, are excited to launch our new project exploring how people across the Fylde Coast use and experience Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs). We’d love to hear from you, even if you’ve never visited a UTC.

Grab a brew and come and have a chat with the team about UTCs and share your experiences!

Address: Community Cafe @ The Hub Fleetwood, Bold Street, Fleetwood, FY7 6HL

Healthier Fleetwood

16/01/2026

Found a lump that hasn’t gone away? Most lumps are not cancer, but it is important to get them checked.

15/01/2026

14/01/2026

There is still time to share your insight! 💬

Healthwatch Blackpool are working in partnership with FCMS to hear from people across the Fylde Coast about their experiences of Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs).

Whether you have attended an Urgent Treatment Centre or never used one, your voice matters and we want to hear from everyone!

🗣️ Share your views and help shape Urgent Care Centres locally!
👉Fill in the survey here: https://forms.office.com/e/U4i9RNLifp
All responses are anonymous. Thank you for supporting this important work!

13/01/2026

Check it, don’t chance it — act now on cancer.

If a symptom sticks around, get it checked. Early diagnosis saves lives.

Look out for:

✔️ a new lump or bump
✔️ pain that won’t go
✔️ blood in your poo or wee
✔️ unexplained weight loss

Only 56% of cancers in Lancashire and South Cumbria are found at stages 1–2 (59% nationally). Our ambition is 78% by 2032. We’ll get there together if people seek help sooner.
You’re not wasting anyone’s time. Your GP will want to see you.

Find out more: https://orlo.uk/VOY9v