Public Health England (PHE) in the West Midland is urging people to help the region ‘stay well this winter’ by preventing the spread of flu across the region.

Dr Helen Carter, Deputy Director at Public Health England (PHE) West Midlands, said: “Our data shows that more people are visiting GPs with flu symptoms and we are seeing more people admitted to hospitals with the flu. We are currently seeing a mix of flu types, including the A(H3N2) strain that circulated last winter in the UK and then in Australia. The vaccine is the best defence we have against the spread of flu and it isn’t too late for people to go to their GP or pharmacist and get vaccinated – especially those in risk groups including those aged 65 and over, pregnant women or those with a long-term medical condition.

“Symptoms of flu include sudden onset of fever, cough as well as sore throat, aching muscles and joints. The best advice is to rest, keep warm and drink plenty of water. We also recommend people take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower a high temperature and relieve aches if necessary.

“People suffering with flu-like symptoms should catch coughs or sneezes in tissues and bin them immediately, wash their hands regularly with soap and warm water and frequently clean regularly used surfaces to stop the spread of flu. It is also important to avoid unnecessary contact with other people if you have symptoms of flu, and that includes not just going into your GP surgery or the local A&E department.

“Anyone concerned about their symptoms should stay at home and contact their GP or call NHS 111 to seek further advice. For most healthy people, recovering from flu can take roughly a week. However, for those that are more vulnerable, it can be more severe and it is important to be aware of this.”

People in the West Midlands are being asked to unite with thousands of others across the UK and step closer to a cure for Parkinson’s.

Parkinson’s UK is launching Walk for Parkinson’s 2018 on Thursday 11 January, and the charity is inviting people of all ages and abilities to sign up to a walk near them.

Walks in the West Midlands include Stafford on Sunday 13 May, and Packwood House in Warwickshire on Sunday 9 September.

There are shorter and longer distances to choose from, so whether you’re up for a challenging walk or a gentle stroll, there is something for everyone. Team entries are welcome, so why not sign up with your friends, family and colleagues.

Walking and other types of exercise is particularly important for people with Parkinson’s as research shows that two and half hours of exercise a week can help slow progression of symptoms. Exercise also has a positive impact on wellbeing and mental health.

Sky Sports Presenter and Champion of Walking for Parkinson’s UK Dave Clark was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2011. He is a keen walker himself and is encouraging people to get involved. He said: “We want to make 2018 our biggest year yet for the Walk for Parkinson’s series. I’d like to invite everyone, whatever their level of fitness, to take advantage of the many different types of walks, scenic routes and distances available. Exercise can be really beneficial for people living with Parkinson’s. It is as important to me as my medication in helping me take control and manage my symptoms.

“So please join us at one of our Walk for Parkinson’s in the West Midlands. Every step takes us closer to a cure and our goal of improving the lives of everyone affected by Parkinson’s”.

Last year’s Walk for Parkinson’s series had more than 4,300 people sign up to walk and between them they raised £417,700. In the West Midlands more than 250 walkers got involved and raised nearly £26,000.

All money raised by Walk for Parkinson’s will be used to help find better treatments, and ultimately a cure, as well as providing support and information for the 145,000 people affected by Parkinson’s across the UK.

Do you have an unusual item that has been inherited from friends or family, or a memento that you have had for years and cannot bear to part with?

Self storage company, Space Station is running a competition to find the UK’s most unusual keepsakes.

From lockets to old postcards, keepsakes can be reminder of a special moment, a time in our lives we don’t want to fade or a memory of a loved one we don’t want to forget.

Space Station is looking for members of the public to submit a photo of a keepsake that has a special story attached to it or something that may have sentimental meaning to the owner, as well as the story behind the memento.

The winner will receive a £100 Not on the High Street voucher and a chance for your beloved item to feature in the UK’s most treasured keepsakes roundup.

Vlatka Lake, Marketing Director at Space Station said: “As a self storage company we are used to discovering the strange and wonderful items that people have kept over the years.

“We’re hoping this competition will give people the opportunity to reveal their hidden gems and share some interesting stories with us that would otherwise have gone untold.”

Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice has launched two new Satellite Clinics to ensure more people living across Birmingham and Sandwell have access to crucial hospice care.

The independent hospice has now opened a clinic at Cape Hill Medical Centre in Smethwick and Druids Heath Surgery in South Birmingham, making its services more accessible to individuals and families living with terminal illness.

The Satellite Clinics are part of a new approach to hospice care, aimed at improving accessibility, reach and choice for individuals and their families, loved ones and carers. By opening clinics in well-established medical centres, the Hospice aims to bring care closer to people in their own communities, helping to break down any potential barriers and ensuring more individuals are receiving the critical support they need.

The Hospice now has four Satellite Clinics across the city, with clinics also based in Sparkbrook and Bartley Green which opened in August last year.

Sharon Hudson, community team leader at Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice, said: “Our Satellite Clinics are a really effective way of reaching more individuals who may not be aware of hospice care or want to access care within their own community. After a positive start for our Sparkbrook and Bartley Green clinics, we have seen that offering services in the heart of local communities helps us support more people, ensuring that less miss out on vital end of life care.

“At our Satellite Clinics, we have expert teams of clinical nurse specialists who can provide a wide range of services, including physical, social and psychological advice, symptom management, and family and carer support.”

Tina Swani, chief executive at Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice, said: “Unfortunately, there are too many individuals dying alone, unsupported or with avoidable symptoms, unaware of the difference hospice care could offer them. At Birmingham St Mary’s, our mission is to provide hospice care for all and we are working to create a future where the best experience of living is available to everyone leading up to and at the end of life.

“Our Satellite Clinics are an innovative solution to expand expert services into more local communities, helping us to bring hospice care closer to the people who need it.”

Every day, Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice supports 350 individuals across Birmingham and Sandwell – whether that’s at the Hospice, in people’s homes or in the local community.

The clinic at Cape Hill Medical Centre will be open every Friday, from 9.30am to 1.30pm. The clinic at Druids Heath Surgery will be open every Monday, from 1pm to 3pm. For more information, visit: www.birminghamhospice.org.uk

Sandwell libraries are serving up a feast of activities for anyone who may need a bit of cheering up around Blue Monday, supposedly the most miserable day of the year.

Blue Monday was originally identified in 2005 by academic Cliff Arnall, and is traditionally the third Monday in January.

Sandwell libraries have a programme of events and activities to lift up the spirits and banish the gloom with special events including:

• Laughter yoga sessions at Bleakhouse and Rounds Green libraries
• Zumba sessions at Oakham Library
• Comedy open mic at Thimblemill Library
• Weigh2GO at every library – a free weighing service in your local library to help you keep track of your weight using new Fitbit smart scales
• Funny film screenings including a talk on Norman Wisdom at Great Bridge Library
• Musical variety show at Blackheath Library
• Feel good community drumming sessions at Glebefields and Tipton libraries

There are also collections of mood boosting books on a range of health and wellbeing issues. And don’t forget the importance of reading for pleasure, so come and choose from our latest best-selling titles.

Fear of a potential negative effect on their career is preventing people with hearing loss from disclosing their condition to their employers.

More than half of people living with deafness and hearing loss feel they can’t be open about it in the workplace, according to a new survey by charity Action on Hearing Loss. The new research has been conducted as part of the charity’s Working for Change campaign, which wants to change attitudes to deafness and hearing loss in the workplace.

A third of those who felt they could not be open about their hearing loss said it was due to the fear that they would be treated unfairly at work. A further 61% felt that that others would assume they weren’t competent and 42% saw no point because their workplace wouldn’t be able to help them.

In addition, 84% of respondents have felt stressed and over two-thirds have experienced isolation in the workplace.

Paul Breckell, Chief Executive at Action on Hearing Loss, said: “This new research shows that despite there being 11 million – that’s one in six - people in the UK living with some form of deafness and hearing loss, many of these in employment are struggling unnecessarily. It’s shocking that in 2017, and despite a lot of work by governments and employers to encourage more inclusivity and accessibility, people with deafness and hearing loss feel they can’t be open about it.

“It seems much of the awareness raising has neglected to include invisible disabilities like deafness and hearing loss. The levels of stress and the isolation experienced by people with hearing loss at the workplace are shocking. The numbers are certainly not helped by working cultures where people are worried about talking openly about their condition and the support they might need.

“The prevalence of hearing loss is only going to increase, with 433500 already living in West Midlands (Met County), so it’s therefore essential that employers take note of these findings and create a working environment where people feel both able and welcome to disclose disabilities and sensory impairments.”

Diane Lightfoot, Chief Executive Officer at Business Disability Forum, said: “These findings once again show how important it is for workplaces to make themselves welcoming to everyone, and foster an environment where all employees feel able to progress. There is a very real business prerogative to this, with disability-smart workplaces shown by our own research to have lower rates of employee turnover. Having a more stable and supported workforce could deliver savings running into the billions across different sectors.

“As Action on Hearing Loss’s research suggests, a key first step to take is to dispel any sense of stigma or taboo around disabilities and long-term health conditions, and many of the organisations in the Business Disability Forum community have done this to great effect. Networks where employees with specific conditions can come together to talk and share experiences have brought about real cultural change, including at large multinational companies, with senior champions being open about their conditions and clear that the organisation views disability in a positive light.”

The charity has produced guidance for employers on how to make their workplaces more accessible for people with deafness and hearing loss – from simple deaf awareness tips for staff to providing more detailed information on how the Government’s Access to Work scheme can help enable employees.

Paul continued: “There are a number of things employers can do to support staff with hearing loss and deafness. From basic deaf awareness training for staff and management, the fundamentals of which are common courtesy and being considerate, to taking advantage of Access to Work to cover the cost of amplified phones, there needn’t be barriers for anyone.”