Health & Wellbeing

Hundreds of children in Wolverhampton may not yet be fully immunised against measles, mumps and rubella.

As children prepare to start at primary and infant schools for the first time next month, Public Health England has warned that thousands of children in the West Midlands are not fully up-to-date with the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) pre-school booster.

The figures, released as part of PHE’s Value of Vaccines campaign, show that some four and five-year-olds are starting school at unnecessary risk of serious diseases compared to their classmates, prompting a call for parents to check their child’s Red Book to ensure their children are up-to-date with scheduled immunisations. 

In the UK, dose one of the MMR vaccine is usually given to infants at around 12 months of age. A second dose is given before school, usually at three years and four months of age, to ensure best protection. Two doses of MMR in a lifetime are needed for a person to be considered fully protected. A four-in-one pre-school booster is also usually offered at three years and four months of age and protects against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus and polio.

But Public Health England estimates that around one in 19 five-year-olds may still need to receive their first dose of MMR, while one in seven haven't had their second. In addition, one in eight five-year-olds in England may still need their four-in-one pre-school booster.

Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "It's estimated that over 5% of five-year-olds are starting reception year having not received any MMR vaccine. This leaves them at high risk of measles at a time when outbreaks of the disease are occurring across the country.

"I'd encourage parents to check their child’s Red Book now to make sure there is a record of two MMR doses and the four-in-one booster vaccine. If not, parents should contact their GP practice to arrange any further vaccinations that are needed."

Dr Ashis Banerjee, Screening and Immunisation Lead in Public Health England West Midlands, added: “It’s a real concern that so many young children in our region could be starting school without the full protection that the NHS childhood immunisation programme offers for free. We know that parents want the best protection for their children and so many may be unaware that their child is not up-to-date.

“We’re particularly concerned about children being at greater risk of measles. We’ve seen outbreaks of this disease in the West Midlands in the past two years and we’re continuing to see outbreaks of the disease occurring in communities across the country, many linked to visiting European countries over the summer holidays.

“The vast majority of those affected are not fully immunised and vaccine preventable diseases spread more easily in schools. It’s crucial that children have maximum protection as they begin to mix with other children at the start of their school journey."

To check that your child has received all their vaccines on schedule, visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/nhs-vaccinations-and-when-to-have-them/ and refer to your child’s Red Book. If in any doubt, contact your GP.

Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can be very unpleasant and sometimes lead to serious complications. It’s now uncommon in the UK because of the effective MMR vaccination programme. Although usually a mild illness in children, measles can be more severe in adults.

The initial symptoms of measles develop around 10 days after a person is infected. These can include cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing, and a cough; sore, red eyes that may be sensitive to light; a high temperature (fever), which may reach around 40°C (104°F); a few days later, a red-brown blotchy rash will appear.

This usually starts on the head or upper neck, before spreading outwards to the rest of the body. Symptoms usually resolve in about seven to 10 days but complications include pneumonia, ear infections, inflammation of the brain and even death.

Students from two local Birmingham universities are spending their summer at health and care solutions provider, HealthTrust Europe (HTE), gaining valuable work experience skills to enhance their entry into the workplace.

The six internships are based at HTE’s headquarters in Edgbaston, across a range of business disciplines from financial analytics to Legal to marketing.

HealthTrust Europe is a solutions partner for health and care providers, helping them to source the best value products and services to deliver high quality patient care.

The summer-long internships have been offered to five second year students, and one graduate who have been studying a range of disciplines including Law, Biomedical Engineering and Economics at Aston University and the University of Birmingham.

The students have been allocated roles, in line with their studies, which will help them gain valuable experience and knowledge about the workplace before they enter the world of work. As well as gaining sector specific knowledge and learning to use various specialist business software packages such as Salesforce, the interns are also developing essential “soft” skills such as teamwork, problem solving and communications skills. Amidst a tough graduate labour market, the internships are paid the national living wage and are designed to equip students with the best skills to enter the workplace confident and prepared.

Emma Stewart, HR Business Partner said:

“As part of our commitment to developing employees of the future we have taken on six interns.

“HealthTrust Europe is a trusted partner for the NHS and commercial health and care providers sourcing a wide range of services and products such as pathology reporting, endoscopy, and consultancy and advisory services. To enable us to do this a broad range of skills and expertise are needed, so we have a wide range of interesting and exciting careers.

“Our staff are extremely knowledgeable and have a wealth of experience in many fields that they are keen to share with our interns.”

Marketing intern, Kiran Mehat said:

“Having the opportunity to work in an international organisation like HealthTrust Europe lets me develop my skills in the workplace and give me an idea of the career opportunities that exist.

“HealthTrust Europe really appealed to me as I wanted the opportunity to work for an organisation that is driven by the care and improvement of human life.”

A Virtual Reality Therapy game (iVRT) which could introduce relief for patients suffering from chronic pain and mobility issues has been developed by a team of UK researchers.

Dr Andrew Wilson and colleagues from Birmingham City University built the CRPS app in collaboration with clinical staff at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust for a new way to tackle complex regional pain syndrome and to aid people living with musculoskeletal conditions.

Using a head mounted display and controllers, the team created an immersive and interactive game which mimics the processes used in traditional ‘mirror therapy’ treatment. Within the game, players are consciously and subconsciously encouraged to stretch, move and position the limbs that are affected by their conditions.

Mirror therapy is a medical exercise intervention where a mirror is used to create a reflective illusion that encourages patient’s brain to move their limb more freely. This intervention is often used by occupational therapists and physiotherapists to treat CRPS patients who have experienced a stroke. This treatment has proven to be successful exercises are often deemed routine and mundane by patients, which contributes to decline in the completion of therapy.

Work around the CRPS project, which could have major implications for other patient rehabilitation programmes worldwide when fully realised, was presented at the 12th European Conference on Game Based Learning (ECGBL) in France late last year.

Dr Wilson, who leads Birmingham City University’s contribution to a European research study into how virtual reality games can encourage more physical activity, and how movement science in virtual worlds can be used for both rehabilitation and treatment adherence, explained, “The first part of the CRPS project was to examine the feasibility of being able to create a game which reflects the rehabilitation exercises that the clinical teams use on the ground to reduce pain and improve mobility in specific patients.”

“By making the game enjoyable and playable we hope family members will play too and in doing so encourage the patient to continue with their rehabilitation. Our early research has shown that in healthy volunteers both regular and casual gamers enjoyed the game which is promising in terms of our theory surrounding how we may support treatment adherence by exploiting involvement of family and friends in the therapy processes.”

The CRPS project was realised through collaborative working between City Hospital, Birmingham, and staff at the School of Computing and Digital Technology, and was developed following research around the provision of a 3D virtual reality ophthalmoscopy trainer.

Andrea Quadling, Senior Occupational Therapist at Sandwell Hospital, said “The concept of using virtual reality to treat complex pain conditions is exciting, appealing and shows a lot of potential. This software has the potential to be very helpful in offering additional treatment options for people who suffer with CRPS.”

66% Of British men wear make-up, a study shows. The Average person spends £570 a year on skincare. Men are significantly more likely to have started using skincare products after their mothers recommended it and are almost twice as likely to use certain products because their mums told them to.

To celebrate the launch of its latest skincare innovation, the Crème Prodigieuse Boost range, leading natural skincare brand NUXE Paris commissioned research on the ins and outs of British skincare, with 78% of respondents think it’s important to follow a skincare regime. The results show that men are more polarized in their views than women with 42% compared to 39%.

TV Presenter and DJ Vogue Williams, who is married to TV Personality and Masterchef finalist Spencer Matthews, said: “Spencer is always stealing my skincare stuff. Drives me mad. And he always manages to use up all the best stuff. He won’t wear any make-up himself even when he’s on TV, but I think most men would benefit from using bit of concealer!”

One of the biggest concerns about skin from the respondents is ageing and wrinkles (39%), followed by dryness (38%). Females were more concerned with ageing (47%) compared to only 16% of men. Despite being concerned with ageing, on average women don’t believe you should start using anti-aging products until they’re 30-something.

Ingrid Pernet, Scientific Communication Director at NUXE, comments, “Even if you don’t see any recognisable ‘signs’ of ageing on your skin in your 20s or 30s, everyday skin stresses, such as general fatigue, pollution and UV rays all increase free radicals, leading to a breakdown of collagen and gradually inducing wrinkles overtime. That’s why it is so important to start using a dedicated anti-aging range as soon as possible - at the age of 25 as an absolute maximum. You really need a routine that is rich in anti-oxidant, active ingredients to protect your skin from accelerated ageing.”

32% of all respondents are concerned about having dull or tired skin, and a further third (32%) are concerned with dark spots, dark circles or pigmentation. Skin sensitivity (29%), spots or acne (22%), uneven skin (20%), sun exposure (19%), pollution (18%) and oil build-up (14%) also came up.

Just over half of the respondents (54%) feel that the most commonly bought skincare products was day moisturiser. Popular products following closely behind, consisted of face cleanser (39%), face wash (38%) and night moisturiser (36%), as were micellar water (32%), exfoliating scrubs (28%), SPF or sun cream (28%) and makeup removing wipes (25%).

80% of respondents say moisturising is part of their daily skincare routine. French and British people spend an average of 19 minutes a day on their skincare regimes. Those who don’t value a skincare regime at all spend an average of just three minutes a day taking care of their skin. On average, men spend longer on their skincare routine, be this washing, moisturising, or using skincare products, than the women polled. Male respondents on average report spending 23 minutes on their skincare routine a day, compared to the 17 minutes spent on average by females.

14% of respondents say they change the brands from which they buy skincare products ‘all the time’, because they like trying out new products from different brands. 18% switch brands because they like to try new products. A quarter (25%) say they rarely switch skincare brands, preferring to stay loyal to their chosen brands, and 19% never change brands, saying they prefer to stick with what they know.

Female consumers are far more loyal to skincare brands than male consumers are. 46% of female respondents and 37% of male respondents rarely or never switch the skincare brands they use; men are more likely to ‘stick with what they know’, whereas female respondents are more likely to stay with a particular brand out of loyalty.

When it comes to researching skin products before making purchases, 35% say they spend a few minutes looking online, while 18% say they tend to spend a long time checking reviews to make sure they’re buying the right product. French respondents are more likely to take their time researching before making a purchase (20% versus 16%).

Value for money is the most important feature consumers look for when choosing skincare products and over half (51%) of respondents feel this is the case. 33% like to know it’s healthy and safe for their skin, and 32% want to ensure that a product is animal cruelty-free before buying it. Other key features consumers look for are natural, plant-derived or organic ingredients (30%), the pleasure of use, be this the fragrance or texture (27%), the ingredient list (27%), and good reviews online (26%).

When those who ever wear makeup were asked if they ever sleep with it on, 55% report having done this. This is most common amongst younger makeup wearers, with 68% of makeup wearers under the age of 25 having done this, compared to just 36% of makeup wearers over the age of 65.

57% of respondents who believe that following a skincare regime is “really important” have fallen asleep in their makeup. Men who wear makeup are also more likely to have fallen asleep without properly removing it- 60% of male respondents and 54% of female respondents say they’ve done this. French respondents are also slightly more likely to report this behavior- 58% of respondents in France and 52% of those in the UK have slept with their makeup on.

When those who have slept in their makeup without properly cleansing were asked the reasons why they sometimes do this, the most common responses were simply forgetting to remove it (38%), or laziness (37%). 34% have done this when they’ve accidentally fallen asleep, 22% haven’t removed their makeup before sleeping when they’ve been too drunk, while a further 22% feel that it won’t make too much of a difference, or feel that they don’t have too much to wipe or wash off (22%). 16% have done this only when they’ve run out of makeup remover.

British respondents are significantly more likely than their French counterparts to have forgotten to remove their makeup when drunk (28% versus 17%), or because they’ve felt it won’t make much of a difference (28% versus 16%). French respondents, by contrast, are more likely to sleep in their makeup when they forget to remove it (41% versus 35%), or because they feel that they don’t have much to remove in the first place (23% versus 20%).

Patients are being encouraged to nominate caring staff for a top accolade at a West Midlands healthcare Trust’s annual glittering awards ceremony.

The Star Awards recognises some of the  best healthcare professionals at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, which runs City, Sandwell and Rowley Regis Hospitals, as well as three GP surgeries and Leasowes Intermediate Care Centre.

Patients are able to nominate employees they think have gone that extra mile for the Quality of Care award.

Raffaela Goodby, Director of People and Organisation Development, said: “I’m urging all patients to nominate someone who they think has offered them great quality of care whilst they or their family have been treated at our Trust.

“This could be in the community or at any of our hospital sites. It could be somebody who made you feel welcome and took time to listen to you whilst in our care, to an employee who showed real compassion and care towards you.”

The Trust is a real advocate of rewarding its employees for their fantastic work which is why the award was introduced. It is one of 20 categories, which include Employee of the Year, Digital Leader of the Year and the Prize for Innovation.

The event is fully funded by sponsors.

Raffaela added: “Staff at our Trust work extremely hard every day of the week and this event aims to shine the spotlight on those who truly deserve it.”

Nominations close on Friday, 28 June. The winner will be presented with their award at the ceremony on Friday 11 October at Aston Villa Football Club.

To nominate, visit: https://www.swbh.nhs.uk/star-awards-2019/.

The Dyslexia Show takes place on the 20^th & 21^st March 2020 at the National Exhibition Centre Birmingham (NEC).

This is the UK's first national exhibition specifically in the field of dyslexia. With an estimated 10% of the UK population (around 6.3 million) having some severity of dyslexia, this is one of largest hidden disabilities within the UK today. The Dyslexia Show offers a unique opportunity for all walks of life to come together to discover more information about dyslexia. The show has been conceived as dyslexia is still not understood by the wider population. The show will deliver awareness along with demonstrations and sharing best practice.

The Dyslexia Show is a free exhibition open to all and focuses on education, parents and carers and the workplace with registration open now at: www.dyslexiashow.co.uk.

Taking place at the NEC in Birmingham gives the show a national presence, with the venue’s central location making it accessible to more parents, carers and educational professionals that need support and guidance.

The Dyslexia Show will deliver a wide range of resources and services along with inspirational speakers and Continuing Professional Development.

We are delighted to announce that Dyslexia Box, Claro Software, Scanning Pens, SEN Books and the SEND Group are founding partners for this event.

Arran Smith Dyslexia Show Director and Founder said: “As a severely dyslexic adult working for 15 years within the dyslexia sector, I felt it was time to bring amazing speakers, products and services together in one place.  This will be the first national experience of its kind in the UK, which will ultimately spread awareness of dyslexia and ensure that dyslexics can succeed.  There are exciting times ahead!”

David Gallagher, Senior Business Development Manager at the NEC added: “It is a great pleasure to host the Dyslexia Show at the NEC for its debut.  Our location teamed with great show content, is set to make this the go-to event for those living with and teaching those with dyslexia.  We are proud to support this show and look forward to welcoming both the organisers and visitors in 2020.”

A frustrating journey to the office can harm both productivity and mental health, but which city’s workers have the most stressful commutes?

New research from regulated property buyer Good Move surveyed 2,000 UK workers and has revealed that the people of York and London are the most stressed commuters in the country. Over half (51%) of workers in these cities admit that their commutes harm their mental health.

But they’re not alone, with more than two in five (43%) working Brits feeling that their commute negatively impacts their stress levels. This rises to a staggering 73% among 25-34 year olds.

The top 10 UK cities with the most stressed commuters are:

1) York - 51% = London - 51% 3) Aberdeen - 47% = Glasgow - 47% 5) Birmingham - 45% 6) Nottingham - 44% = Oxford - 44% 8) Cardiff - 42% = Newcastle - 42% = Leeds - 42%

Amy Taylor, an Inclusion Manager from York, said that she wasn’t surprised by the results. “The roads around York are a nightmare, especially when travelling to and from work. The ring road is constantly at a standstill and the city centre streets aren’t even worth trying at rush hour - you barely move.

“You arrive into work already tired and annoyed, which can then set the tone for a stressful day.”

Some commuters, however, have it slightly easier, with the research also revealing the cities with the least stressful journeys to work.

Bristolians are the most relaxed about their commutes, with just 29% feeling any impact on their mental health.

The top 5 UK cities with the least stressed commuters are: 1) Bristol - 29% 2) Coventry - 31% 3) Edinburgh - 36% 4) Sheffield - 37% 5) Belfast - 38%

Ross Counsell, director at Good Move, said: “Daily commutes are harming the mental health of Brits all over the country, but many are still prepared to travel in order to have better jobs and homes.

“While everyone has an idea of their dream home or career, it is so important that people get a healthy work-life balance and don’t sacrifice their mental wellbeing.”

In collaboration with Good Move, Simon Alexander Ong, Life Coach and Business Strategist, has given his top five tips on how to deal with the stress of commuting:

1) If driving, sing along to your favourite tunes! Singing has been proven to lower stress and be a natural antidepressant. 2) Get sufficient sleep. Having little sleep and being low on energy can easily make the commute more stressful. 3) Use the commute time to plan ahead or reflect on your day. Self-reflection can bring a sense of calmness and joy. 4) Unplug from your devices. Integrate walking as part of your journey to/from work, being mindful of and present to your surroundings. 5) If using public transport, close your eyes, focus on your breathing and begin to visualise your day unfolding on your way to work. Reflect on how you will know that it has been a productive day - when we are clear on our priorities, we are more decisive and productive.

The UK’s largest online marketplace for booking hair and beauty treatments, Treatwell, has launched ‘Life Saving Wax’ in partnership with Public Health England’s (PHE) ‘Cervical Screening Saves Lives’ campaign.

Around 2,600 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in England each year and around 690 women die from the disease.[i] It is estimated that if everyone attended screening regularly, 83% of cervical cancer cases could be prevented.[ii] However, attendance at screening is declining year on year; currently one in four (28.6%) women aren’t attending when invited.[iii] This is even higher in the 25 – 34 age group despite them having more abnormalities detected compared to others (38.9% for women aged 25 – 29 and 31.2% for women aged 30 – 34).[iv]

Research amongst younger women indicates there are a number of barriers to attending, including lack of knowledge about the purpose of the test, fear that it might be painful, feeling embarrassed and not being able to find the time.

While the number of women attending the potentially life-saving test year-on-year is decreasing, the number of women engaging in intimate waxing treatments is going up. New research released today from Treatwell has found that nine in 10 (90%)[v] women aged 25 - 34 maintain their pubic hair in some way and approximately 1.2 million women in this age group are heading to beauty salons to do so.[1]

When looking at the relationship between women and beauty therapists, almost half (47%) of those surveyed said they would be comfortable talking about personal topics with them and six in 10 (59%) see beauty therapists as a trusted person to talk to. In addition, three quarters said that they listen to the advice given by beauty therapists (74%) and find they’re sensitive and understanding of their needs (75%).5

‘Life Saving Wax’ aims to leverage the unique dynamic between a beauty therapist and customers visiting salons for intimate waxing treatments by enabling beauty therapists to open up the conversations on the importance of cervical screening. By encouraging women to talk openly about cervical screening, it is hoped that women will feel confident to choose whether to accept their invitation to be screened when invited or, if they’ve missed previous invites, to book an appointment at their GP practice.

A number of Treatwell partner salons in the West Midlands are getting involved in the initiative, placing information throughout their salons and having conversations with their customers to highlight that cervical screening can stop cancer before it starts. Salons will be directing women to where they can find further information, support, tips and advice on how to make screening more comfortable as well as offering information to take away and share with friends and family.

Liz Hambleton, Beauty Director at Treatwell, commented: “We see thousands of women booking intimate waxes everyday through Treatwell, so when we heard that women aren’t attending a potentially life-saving test due to embarrassment, we wanted to see how we could change this. Just by talking about cervical screening with one person, it’s amazing the knock-on effect it can have. It can really change attitudes and behaviours. Our beauticians are not health experts, but they are human, and they speak to women all day everyday about many personal topics. Using this position of trust, they are uniquely placed to be able to empower women on the subject of cervical screening and provide them with the information needed to make an informed choice, in an environment where they are more likely to be engaged. Just one conversation is all it could take to remind or encourage someone to go for their screening when invited. That one conversation could help stop cancer before it starts – it could save a life.”

TV Doctor, Dr Zoe Williams is supporting the campaign and comments: “We know some women feel embarrassed or worried about their cervical screening, and that’s perfectly normal. However please remember, doctors and nurses are trained to be able to make the process as comfortable as it can be. Cervical screening only takes a few minutes, and provided your results are clear you will only have to go once every 3 or 5 years depending on your age. It's a few minutes that could save your life. We need to raise awareness of the importance of cervical screening, so women feel empowered to attend when invited.”

Life Saving Wax is part of Public Health England’s Cervical Screening Saves Lives Campaign which is supported by charities including Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust and The Eve Appeal.

Approximate number of Muslims with diabetes is around 4.6%; it is estimated that there are about 50 million Muslims with diabetes around the world who observe fasting during the month of Ramadan each year. During the fast, Muslims are required to refrain from eating food, drinking, using medications, and smoking from dawn until sunset, with no restrictions on food or fluid intake between sunset and dawn.

Islam exempts people from the duty of fasting if they are sick, or if fasting may affect their health, as fasting for patients with diabetes carries a risk of an assortment of complications, including hypoglycemia, postprandial hyperglycemia, and metabolic complications, associated with dehydration. Nevertheless, a large number of people with diabetes who still choose to fast during Ramadan despite the advice of their doctor, and the permission received from religious authorities thus create medical challenges for themselves and their health-care providers.

It is thus important for patients with diabetes who wish to fast during Ramadan to make the necessary preparations to engage in fasting as safely as possible, said Consultant Endocrinologist, Shifa International Hospital (SIH) Dr. Osama Ishtiaq in a seminar “Roza aur Sehat” organized by Shifa International Hospital to create awareness in diabetic patients intended to observe fasting without harming their blood glucose level.

Dr. Osama said that Fasting is very challenging for people living with diabetes, particularly patients with type 1 diabetes, who are dependent on insulin. Muslims with diabetes who wish to fast must plan diligently for a safe and healthy Ramadan. It is important to individualize each patient’s management plan depending on his or her diet and lifestyle, medications, risk of hypoglycemia, and glycemic control, and to minimize the complications associated with fasting.

Continue taking your diabetes medicine as per advice of your doctor regarding dosage and timings.

“Control your Diabetes for two months prior to Ramadan bringing HbA1c to less than 8 and continue Diabetic diet in Iftaar and Sahur,” Dr. Osama added.

Ms. Zainab Ghayyur, Senior Clinical Dietitian (SIH) advised the patients to monitor their blood glucose regularly during the fast, especially in the early days. Overeating is a greatest risk.

Continue taking your diabetes medicine, regarding dosage and timings talk to your doctor. If you experience hypoglycemic symptoms, it is advisable to break the fast and make up for it after Ramadan.

She said that suhoor meal should contain a balance of whole grain sources of complex carbohydrates as well as some protein from lean sources of meat, fish and poultry, small amounts of heart healthy fats, limit added sugars this will slow the digestion and the feeling of fullness last as long as possible into the day. Also include fresh fruits, vegetables, and yoghurt in your meals. Limit the dates (khajoor) to two or three pieces. Avoid exercise during the day, and take rest when possible to help avoid lowering of blood glucose levels. Limit physical activity during fasting hours and be more active after sunset,” she suggested.

Mr. Azmatullah Quraishi, Head of Religious Affairs (SIH) highlighted the importance of fasting in Islam and its positive and spiritual impacts. He said that there was no excuse for skipping fasting in minor diseases like flu or fever. Those who are ill with no expectation of recovery, and those who are too old and are not able to fast. Some health practices that do not affect fast such as use of injection (except nutritional injection), using asthmatic inhaler and donating blood, vomiting, and pouring medicines into the eyes or ears, he concluded.

With Ramadan about to begin and many preparing to take fast, NHS Birmingham and Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group is encouraging people to make sure they look after their health during the holy month.

This can be done by eating slow-release energy food in place of fried food, and making sure to eat at both suhoor, the morning meal, and iftar, the evening meal.

Those who have long term health conditions, or conditions that require regular medication, are also urged to speak to their doctor before fasting.

Dr Asad Zaman, a GP based at Shah Zaman Surgery, in Birmingham, said: “Your diet in Ramadan is very important.

“As tempting as they are, try to avoid samosas, pakoras and other fried food. Instead, try to eat foods that will release energy slowly, such as basmati rice, wholemeal flour, wheat, oats and lentils.

“If you are diabetic and using insulin, you must consult your doctor or diabetes specialist nurse before deciding on fasting. If you take regular medication, speak to your doctor or pharmacist about changing your regime to suit the needs of Ramadan.”

He added: “My top advice would be keeping to a healthy diet – if your diet is poor, your health can be worse off.”

Ramadan 2019 starts tomorrow - Monday May 6 - and ends on Tuesday June 4.

A West Midlands healthcare Trust is looking for therapists to help cancer patients at an annual pampering event.

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust (SWBH) is appealing for the professionals to take part in their Cancer Wellbeing day.

It will provide a host of therapies, advice and information to hundreds of local people and their carers who are living with cancer.

Sara Connor, Cancer Nurse Specialist, at the Trust, which runs City and Sandwell Hospitals, said: “This is a really great event that aims to offer emotional and practical wellbeing to patients living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis.

“The day gives patients and their carers the opportunity to discover a range of cancer wellbeing services that are locally available, all under one roof.

“The benefit of relaxation and physical therapeutic interventions is effective in promoting positive wellbeing. That’s why the pamper sessions, such as hand and head massages, prove to be so popular.

“Due to the popularity of the event, we are in need of extra help and we hope we can get local pamper therapists on board to make this event successful.”

The event has become a fixture in the calendar of many local people, and was originally set up as a means of providing extra support in addition to the medical treatment provided to cancer patients and their carers.

This year, the team is seeking experienced therapists who are willing to volunteer their time and expertise to provide pamper sessions to patients and carers.

The event will be held at West Bromwich Football Stadium on Saturday July 6 from 9.30 am to 3pm.

Anyone able to offer their services or would like to find out more about the event, can contact Jenny Donovan or Ian Charles on 0121 507 2618.

A West Midlands healthcare trust is celebrating after scooping a prestigious award recognising its anaesthesia and perioperative team.

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust won the Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine Team of the Year at the BMJ Awards for their excellent work in consultant-led perioperative trauma care.

The department worked on improving the outcome of patients who had undergone hip operations but were also suffering from other conditions which may have affected their recovery.

The team started a seven day, consultant-led perioperative trauma care bundle for patients from the start of their care to post-surgery.

Jay Susarla, Clinical Director for Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Management, said: “This is undoubtedly an amazing achievement for the department and the Trust.

“It would not have been possible without the hard work of our Perioperative lead Dr Subash Sivasubramaniam as well as our other colleagues who are part of the trauma and perioperative group, our orthogeretrician Dr Huma Naqvi, theatre staff and staff on Newton 3 ward at Sandwell Hospital. “It feels great to be recognised.”

The event celebrates excellence in the delivery of clinicians and the teams they work with and the standard gets more inspirational with each year.

Professor Ravi Mahajan, President of the Royal College of Anaesthetists said: “Dr Susarla and the team at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust have shown leading work in perioperative trauma care

“Patient-centred work is key in the field of anaesthesia and making sure that the patients are treated from preparing for surgery to recovery can make a huge difference.

“The team at Sandwell and West Birmingham have shown that perioperative medicine and taking a new approach to trauma care can improve outcomes significantly for patients as well as the NHS as a whole.”

As the warm weather slowly makes a return, households in the West Midlands are being urged to ‘spring clean’ their heating system to avoid missing out on potential savings to their fuel bills.

Following a cold start to the year, many homes still have their heating set to cope with freezing conditions. However, by making a few simple adjustments and routine checks, households can reduce their energy usage and potentially enjoy cheaper fuel bills.

In support, OFTEC, which represents the oil heating industry, has produced a ‘spring cleaning’ guide which outlines the key things to look out for:

1. Adjust your heating timers. If you made changes to your timers over winter, it’s a good idea to check the heating still only comes on when you need it to – particularly now the clocks have gone forward. By regularly reviewing and adjusting these settings you can make additional savings.
2. Turn off individual radiators. We often forget about rooms we don’t use on a regular basis so make sure you aren’t wasting money heating them up. You should also check the radiator temperatures in your main rooms if these were set higher during the winter freeze.
3. Make sure you have enough heating oil. Following heavy use over winter, check how much oil you have left in your tank and top up early to avoid any emergency deliveries. We recommend you use an FPS accredited fuel supplier as they follow strict safety guidelines.
4. Check your home insurance covers oil related incidents.Whilst oil tanks have a very strong safety record, it’s important to ensure your home insurance policy covers the cost of any oil spills in the unlikely event of a leak so you don’t get caught out. There may also be requirements to have your chimney regularly swept if you have a wood burner or open fire.
5. Have your boiler serviced. Routine maintenance is an effective way of reducing your energy usage and prolonging the life of your heating system. Contact a GasSafe (for mains gas) or OFTEC (for oil) registered technician who will ensure it is operating correctly and to maximum efficiency. They have also been certified as fully competent and will complete the work to a professional and safe standard.

“It’s easy to forget about making adjustments as temperatures start to return to normal and you might not even notice issues such as your heating coming on whilst you are asleep or out of the house. However, this oversight could be costing you quite a bit of money. We also recommend reviewing your home insurance policy to understand what you are covered for in the unlikely event you have any problems with your heating system.”

Over 30 staff at Worcestershire Royal Hospital will walk over 8 miles across the Malvern Hills on Saturday 25^th May to raise funds for Cure Leukaemia in support of their colleague Dr Salim Shafeek.

Dr Shafeek, the Clinical Director of Haematology and Oncology at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, has recently been diagnosed with myeloma, a form of blood cancer and is receiving treatment at the Centre for Clinical Haematology at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Former patients and colleagues have understandably been shocked to hear this news and have rallied in support of the consultant who has worked at the hospital for 17 years. Over 30 people will take to the Malvern Hills in May to raise funds in what is being called the ‘Rowan Ramble’ named after The Rowan Suite for haematology and oncology at the hospital.

Nurses from the Rowan who have worked alongside Dr Shafeek for many years said: “It was an immense shock to hear of Dr Shafeek’s diagnosis. He has dedicated so much of his life to looking after patients with blood cancer as well as active involvement in research and tireless support for his staff and colleagues. He is facing his treatment with strength and dignity and we admire him enormously.

“That is why we have decided to organise a mass participation walk in the beautiful Malvern Hills to raise funds for Cure Leukaemia, a charity that is driving forward new treatments for blood cancer by funded specialist research nurses to conduct pioneering clinical trials.

“We would be hugely grateful if the public would donate to our fundraising page which can be found here: https://www.justgiving.com/companyteams/rowanramble”

Dr Shafeek was the first consultant to treat former England, Crystal Palace and Wolves footballer Geoff Thomas when he was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) in 2003 and this news has also come as a shock to Geoff: “I might not be here today if it was not for Dr Shafeek who quickly recognised the severity of my illness and referred me to Professor Charlie Craddock CBE in Birmingham. He has helped so many patients over the years and I am sure every single one of them would want to wish him all the very best in his treatment and hopefully a full and swift recovery.

“It is great to see so many people organising a walk to support him, I hope it is a great success and raises many funds for the charity I am very proud to be a Patron of, Cure Leukaemia.”

Steven Shaw, from Malvern, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) almost exactly seven years ago and received his initial treatment from Dr Shafeek and his team. Steve is a keen walker and will be joining the Rowan Ramble in May. He said: “If Dr Shafeek had not recommended me for a clinical trial in 2012 made available thanks to Cure Leukaemia I would not have been able to marry my partner Trish, meet my grandchildren Teddy, Charlie and Abby or escort my daughter down the aisle on her wedding day.

Taking part in this walk is the very least I can do to support the brilliant clinical teams that saved my life and I wish Dr Shafeek the very best for his treatment.”

35-year-old Corporate Solicitor, Jenna Ostrowski from Birmingham, was diagnosed with AML in July 2017 and received her diagnosis from Dr Shafeek. Jenna, now in remission, visited him as soon as she heard the news:

“I was shocked, I couldn’t believe it. Blood cancers are so indiscriminate and can strike anybody and at any time and it is hard to believe that someone who has helped so many people overcome blood cancer can suddenly be in this position themselves. He has all my support and best wishes and I hope the Rowan Ramble is great success in May.”

Dr Shafeek is receiving treatment from Dr Mark Cook and Cure Leukaemia Trustee Dr Guy Pratt at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and is optimistic about his treatment. He said:

“It started with some pain in my back, an innocuous symptom as is often the case with blood cancers, so when I received the diagnosis it was a great shock to me and my family.

After a swift diagnosis at Worcestershire Acute NHS Trust within 48 I was referred to Birmingham and I am receiving excellent treatment at the Centre for Clinical Haematology. I am maintaining a positive mindset, something I have always urged my patients to do!

“It is so touching that my colleagues are doing this walk in support of me and for a fantastic charity in Cure Leukaemia. I know that all funds raised will go towards ensuring more and more patients continue to be connected with treatments for blood cancer that are currently not available to them and I hope the team are able to achieve their target.

“The support from my family, colleagues, friends, former patients and the general public has been overwhelming; and I am immensely grateful.”

A payment of £1.2 million has been received by Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, as a result of a Proceeds of Crime compensation order and collaboration between agencies to tackle fraud.

Substantial payments have also been awarded by the courts to other NHS trusts who fell victim to the same organised crime group: North Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has received £298,219.79 and Tees, Esk & Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust has received £216,584.76.

The original fraud and money laundering investigation, Operation Tarlac, was led by Lincolnshire Police Economic Crime Unit (ECU), closely assisted by the national NHS counter fraud service and its Forensic Computing Unit, all now part of the NHS Counter Fraud Authority. The Forensic Computing Unit’s specialist software allowed over 90,000 documents and files to be analysed rapidly and remotely.

Operation Tarlac revealed that a criminal group defrauded £12 million from various public bodies including a number of NHS bodies, councils and housing associations around the UK. The Guernsey government was also targeted, losing £2.6 million. The fraudsters employed forged letters, emails and faxes to masquerade as a legitimate firm and divert payments to themselves.

The investigation resulted in over 50 years of prison sentences in total. The 14th member of the crime group to be convicted, Bayo Awonorin, was sentenced in January this year to nine years and six months’ imprisonment, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to launder money. He had fled the UK whilst on bail but was tracked down in the US by Lincolnshire Police and extradited.

Another conspirator was sentenced to three-and-a-half-years imprisonment in January 2018, after being detained in Germany on a European Arrest Warrant. Oil and gas executive Walter Wagbatsoma was identified by Lincolnshire Police ECU and extradited to the UK.

The international nature of the case went further: funds were laundered through business accounts in the UK, Dubai, Turkey and Poland and some of those funds were later moved back to the UK.

One of the conspirators, Oluwatoyin Allison, remains wanted. He was convicted in his absence in April 2017 and jailed for seven years.

Operation Tarlac began back in September 2011, with a complaint of fraud from Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. A payment to a building firm of £1.28 million towards a new mental health rehabilitation unit had gone missing. A further 20 linked offences and total losses of £12.6 million suffered by various parties were identified. In sentencing, Judge Philip Head, described it as a “sophisticated and widespread fraud in its conception and execution” with the loss failing on the tax payer.

Sue Frith, Interim CEO of the NHS Counter Fraud Authority, said: “I commend the excellent work by Lincolnshire Police. Close collaboration between the NHSCFA, police forces and other authorities is vital to root out NHS fraud, especially by professional criminals. These recoveries for the NHS, and the original investigation, are good examples of how NHS counter fraud work helps to curb crimes against the taxpayer even beyond the NHS. Our Forensic Computing Unit, intelligence, fraud investigation and financial investigation specialists all played important roles in Operation Tarlac.”

Lincolnshire Police ECU, Det Sgt Mike Billam, said: "Recovering the stolen funds has always been a key objective in this investigation and so I am particularly pleased that LPFT has now received the full value of their loss which I know will be used to benefit our communities. The NHS forensic computing unit provided exceptional and invaluable support to this investigation, managing data and saving costs – an outstanding example of partnership working. The Economic Crime team at Lincolnshire Police have worked relentlessly since the defendants were convicted to recover the value of the frauds from those responsible through the Proceeds of Crime Act. This work is ongoing and it is hoped that further funds will be recovered.”

More than 50 computer devices and 200 mobile phones were seized by police during Tarlac. NHSCFA’s Forensic Computing Unit is equipped with the latest technology, which allows terabytes of data to be forensically imaged and processed rapidly. FCU can provide a secure remote data review service, allowing data to be presented to multiple investigators regardless of their physical location.