Health & Wellbeing

Diabetes UK found that 26.03 per cent of people with diabetes in the West Midlands said they weren’t prescribed a sufficient amount of test strips.

This supports more recent findings by the leading charity, that people living with diabetes are being refused an essential piece of kit to monitor blood glucose by the NHS.

A new report, ‘Testing Times’, found 1 in 4 people had either experienced restrictions or were refused test strips on the NHS compared to 1 in 5 people four years ago.

The UK wide survey for Diabetes UK also found more than half (52 per cent) of people experiencing problems getting test strips had Type 1 diabetes. This is of particular concern as NICE recommends all adults with Type 1 diabetes should routinely self-monitor blood glucose levels, testing at least four times a day.

People with diabetes use test strips in blood glucose monitors that help them to be more in control of the condition. If not managed well, diabetes can lead to devastating complications such as amputations, blindness, heart disease and stroke.

The charity is also concerned people with Type 2 say they were advised they did not need to test their blood sugar. Yet they should if their diabetes is treated with insulin and/or medication that can cause hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar).

Diabetes UK is calling for strong action and guidance at a national level across the UK to make sure that everyone with diabetes gets the kit they need to self-manage effectively. People with diabetes should not have to fight for this when they are already managing a condition that requires constant attention.

NICE need to review their guidance on self-monitoring for people with Type 2 diabetes and the NHS must make sure local policies reflect NICE guidance on self-monitoring for people with Type 1 diabetes.

Diabetes UK Midlands regional head Peter Shorrick said: “No one with diabetes should have their test strips restricted. It is a false economy and causes people to face stressful decisions about when to test or not. As well as being vital for people with Type 1 diabetes, anyone with Type 2 diabetes can benefit from testing so should be supported to do so if it is helping them to better manage their condition. We urge people to challenge restrictions and refusals.

“Local policies should allow sufficient choice and flexibility for individual circumstances to be taken into account when prescribing test strips and meters for people with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.”

A Pakistani doctor has earned prestigious award at Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) Congress held in Singapore.

Dr. Tayyab Afghani, a senior doctor of Al Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, was honoured with the esteemed award in recognition of his services in the field of eye care.

APAO is the highest forum of Ophthalmology in the Asia Pacific region that include 66 countries. The awards are given to individuals having contributed significantly in their respective countries.

Dr. Afghani who is Director of Projects and Publications and Head of Oculoplastic Division was awarded with Outstanding Services in Prevention of Blindness Award.

He carries with him extensive experience in dealing with eye tumours and oculoplastic surgery, he has wide experience in Community Ophthalmology and he grabbed Distinguished Services award at APAO Congress held in Sydney in 2011.

“The award is a great honour for Al Shifa Trust and Pakistan; it’s an international recognition of our services” said President of the Trust Lt. Gen. Hamid Javed while congratulating the doctor. “We set high standards of eye care in Pakistan. Its services are not only recognized within the country but also internationally” he added.

Al Shifa Trust is the leading eye care Institution in the country with special focus on human resource development and community-based services. It is running four state-of-the-art eye hospitals at Rawalpindi, Sukkur, Kohat and Muzaffarabad. The Trust has so far treated more than 6.0 Million patients and trained over 200 eye specialist doctors and over 700 allied health professionals.

A major charity partnership dedicated to preventing Type 2 diabetes and heart disease is urging people across the West Midlands to ditch unhealthy takeaways and opt for healthier, homemade ‘fakeaways’ instead.

With one in five UK adults and children reportedly eating a takeaway at least once a week¹, the National Charity Partnership between Diabetes UK, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and Tesco says such regular consumption of foods that are often high in fat, salt and calories could increase people’s risk of serious ill-health.

The National Charity Partnership has developed a range of ‘fakeaway takeaway’ recipes to encourage more people to cook at home from scratch and reduce their risk of Type 2 diabetes and heart and circulatory disease, two potentially life-threatening conditions.

A survey commissioned by the National Charity Partnership shows one in three adults in the West Midlands (33 per cent) prefer to order out rather than cook homemade versions of their favourite takeaways. This is despite nearly seven in ten saying that homemade versions cost less (69 per cent) and more than half saying they taste just as good or better than actual takeaways (52 per cent)².

Alex Davis, Head of Prevention for the National Charity Partnership, said: “Millions of people already live with Type 2 diabetes and heart and circulatory disease and millions more are at risk. We know a healthy diet can reduce people’s risk of developing them, but the serious amount of calories, total and saturated fat, salt and larger portion sizes of many takeaway foods means that even one or two a week can have a serious impact on our diets as a whole.

“More people are living with either Type 2 diabetes or heart disease, which is why we’re urging people to look after their health and give homemade versions of their favourite takeaways a try instead. By making your own recipes from scratch you can ensure you still get tasty food but with much more nutritional value which will help to reduce your risk of developing long-term health problems.” According to the survey, the most popular takeaway in the UK is Chinese food (28 per cent) followed by Indian food (19 per cent) and fish and chips (14 per cent). The partnership’s new recipes have been developed to help people find healthy alternatives.

Research has found that a typical Chinese takeaway, consisting of a portion of vegetable spring rolls and sweet and sour chicken with egg fried rice, provides approximately 2,184 calories³. This accounts for 109 per cent of the recommended daily calories for women and 87 per cent for men in just one meal⁴. Results also found portion sizes to be much larger, often enough to feed two people, as well as high levels of fat and salt throughout³.

Ms. Davis added: “Our results found Chinese cuisine to be the nation’s favourite so why not swap the shop-bought options for our Prawn spring rolls and Sweet and sour chicken. They can be as quick to make too, often as fast as ordering a delivery.”

The National Charity Partnership is also running Make, Move & Munch Clubs in Sandwell to help families learn about healthy eating, have fun and meet other local families. The clubs are specifically designed to provide families with information, skills and support to help them reduce their risk of Type 2 diabetes and heart and circulatory disease.

The Make, Move & Munch Clubs, which are being funded as part of the National Charity Partnership’s Let’s Do This campaign, provide fun, free activities for parents/carers and children, with a tasty meal included every time. Each session has a different activity, which can include trying delicious new recipes through food demonstrations and cooking or having a go at simple ways to get active.

Regular exercise after retirement helps you get out, stay active and make new friends, say Haringey’s health ambassadors, as the council launches its over-65s free fitness campaign.

The Health Ambassadors are the face of the council’s new campaign, which aims to get more older people into the keep-fit habit, with a host of free classes and facilities on offer at each of the borough’s main leisure centres.

Regular gym goer Dot Collins, aged 75 from Hornsey, said: “I think it’s a good thing for when you retire because it gets you out and active. It motivates you to be active really and you meet other people. You can do it at your own pace –  it’s up to you. You don’t have to be competitive.”

John Hadley, aged 72, from Noel Park agrees. He said: “If you come to the gym, even if it's once a week, you can socialise and get to know different people, and you can start to get stronger.”

Haringey’s over 65 health ambassadors attend free gym sessions and fitness classes available at Park Road, Broadwater Farm or Tottenham Green leisure centres, Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.They can choose from various fitness classes like Zumba and Pilates, do a few laps in the swimming pool, or do their own thing in the gym.

Cabinet Member for Finance and Health, Councillor Jason Arthur said:

“We are delighted to have the support of our health ambassadors to champion health and fitness in Haringey – they show how much of a difference regular exercise can make to your physical and emotional wellbeing. With free access to Haringey’s state-of-the-art leisure facilities on offer to all residents aged 65 and over, there’s never been a better time to get active in Haringey.”

Joining the gym is easy, and fully trained staff are always on hand to help. All that is needed to register is ID (e.g. birth certificate, passport, driving license) and a proof of the applicant’s Haringey address (council tax or utility bill or a Freedom Pass).

Qatar Airways welcomed Orbis Flying Eye Hospital to Doha with an official reception at Doha International Airport (DIA) attended by His Excellency Mr. Ajay Sharma, British Ambassador to the State of Qatar, His Excellency Mr. Ashud Ahmed, Bangladeshi Ambassador to the State of Qatar and Executive Director of Qatar Fund for Development Mr. Misfir Hamad Al-Shahwani, alongside other dignitaries and special guests. A welcome speech was delivered by Hamad International Airport Vice President Commercial and Marketing, Mr. Abdulaziz Al Mass.

The aircraft, a medical training facility housed within a MD-10 aircraft, will be on display until 29 March as part of a tour to raise awareness about preventable blindness and its impact on developing countries. The plane, which touched down in London and Ireland over the last few weeks, will offer students, medical professionals and partners a unique experience - the opportunity to explore the ‘hospital with wings’. While in Doha, the Flying Eye Hospital will be promoting Qatar Creating Vision, an eye health initiative that brings together three charities and 19 hospitals with the aim of providing 5.5 million child eye tests and treatments to children in India and Bangladesh before 2020.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said: “Qatar Airways strongly believes in giving back to the global community. When you have the power to contribute towards making a difference, it is your obligation to do so. As an airline that connects communities and people around the world, we are delighted to have supported Orbis since 2012. We are proud to host the Flying Eye Hospital, and its arrival is a great way to draw attention to the work of Qatar Creating Vision. The initiative is highly commendable, helping give visually impaired children the chance to see again by providing them access to much-needed eye care.”

Thermae Bath Spa has announced Wednesday 29th March as the opening date of its innovative new Wellness Suite to its guests. The Wellness Suite replaces the previous steam room pods and comprises of: Two new Roman and Georgian-themed aromatic Steam Rooms, a contemporary Infrared Sauna, an invigorating Ice Chamber, a new Celestial Relaxation Room, and Chromotherapy Showers.

The Ice Chamber offers the most bracing experience in the Suite. A cool fog drifts from the ceiling, enveloping users in an ethereal mist. Flakes of ice tumble into a blue-lit trough in the heart of the room, where brave guests can immerse a hand or rub the ice into their skin. And a stimulating menthol fragrance finishes off the invigorating experience. The dominant colour in this room is blue with mosaics, tiles, porcelain and tumbled glass. Blue LED lights illuminating the ice feature and reflective glass-like panels enhance the light and space. The refurbishment was undertaken by sauna and steam room specialist, Dale Sauna.

Colin Skellett, Chairman of Thermae Bath Spa, said: “The Wellness Suite marks an exciting new chapter for us. Thermae Bath Spa has now been open for over ten years and it was time to reinvest in the facilities. The new Suite really strengthens our offering. It has involved a significant investment – the largest that has been made in a decade in fact. It is extremely important to YTL to invest in the quality of Thermae Bath Spa to keep the experience original, relevant, and interesting – and to entice guests back for more.”

He added, “If it weren't for Bath's natural thermal waters, we wouldn't have this unique spa for local residents and visitors to enjoy today. So it was important to us to infuse our new Wellness Suite with the very essence of the city, to honour the local culture and history. As such, many areas of our new Wellness Suite subtly evoke elements of the city, such as the mosaic of Sulis Minerva in the Roman Steam Room. We acknowledge Bath and North East Somerset's support for this project and it represents our shared ambition to enhance the city and its economy.”

The Infrared Sauna showcases the very best in contemporary sauna design. The largest facility in the Suite, the sauna seats guests in its warm acacia and lime wooden interior. Guests breathe fragrant essences while the warm amber glow from the infrared heaters embraces them. The room is completed by a beautiful fanned wooden sculpture, designed to mimic the contours of Bath's thermal waters.

Appropriately, the two steam rooms take inspiration from the history of Bath. The Georgian Steam Room will be light-filled, decorous and elegant, with a flowing fountain and a bright floral fragrance. The seating area is muted in colour with a soft sheen as befitting a genteel Georgian design. This room is heated to 45 degrees at 100% humidity. The Roman Steam Room in contrast has a bold, muscular design, drawing heavily on local Roman architecture. The predominant material used is natural stone, and all finishes are handcrafted by traditional stone masons. This room features fluted Roman columns and lion heads and an Italian crafted mosaic of the image of Sulis Minerva, courtesy of Heritage Services of Bath and North East Somerset Council.

The intimate, twinkling Celestial Relaxation Room was designed with relaxation in mind. Guests enjoy individual tiled heated loungers as they lie back, breathe in the fresh scent and take in the fibre optic lighting and audio visual display of stars and planets. The lighting and music reference historical links with astrology, notably William Herschel's discovery of the planet Uranus from his home in Bath.

Once guests have indulged in the key thermal and sensory experiences of the Wellness Suite, they can enjoy the refreshing Experience Showers, which include two sets of body jets and Chromotherapy showers.

One family has an extra special reason for picking up their game cards and taking part in Wolverhampton's exciting Beat the Street competition, which got underway today. Because the walking, running and cycle challenge is set to help nine-year-old Myles Broadhurst as he continues his recovery from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

He and his family played Beat the Street when it came to Wolverhampton for the first time last year and, according to mum Ann-Marie, the game has played an important role in helping nine-year-old Myles to regain his strength and confidence.

Mum Ann-Marie said: "Myles was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a cancer of the blood, when he was six and underwent a year of intense treatment at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

“Thankfully he’s now in remission, but the treatment he had left him very weak. At one point, he lost the ability to walk, leaving him wheelchair bound, and it was a long time before he was able to walk even a short distance.

"As well as losing his strength, Myles lost his confidence. However, Beat the Street helped us greatly in motivating Myles to get outside with his younger sister Perdy and to start walking again, strengthening the muscles in his legs and improving his health in the process.

“His treatment is due to come to an end later this year and, although he still has some mobility issues, he is going from strength to strength.”

Ann-Marie, who with husband Mark have raised £1,300 for cancer charity Bloodwise, formerly Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, through their Smiles For Myles appeal, said: "We are very excited that Beat the Street is back again this year. It is a fantastic, fun way to spend quality time together as a family, and both Myles and Perdy are really looking forward to playing it again."

Councillor Paul Sweet, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "It's great to hear the positive impact that Beat the Street has had on people like Myles, and I'm delighted that it has played a part in his ongoing recovery.

"Walking is one of the best forms of exercise you can do; it not only improves your physical health but also has a positive impact on your mental wellbeing, and Beat the Street is a great excuse for anyone, young or old, to get out and about."

Beat the Street, which runs for seven weeks from today, invites people to score points by tapping special sensors called Beat Boxes which can be found on lampposts around the City.

Tapping one of the 191 Beat Boxes at the start of the journey, and others en route or at the end, will calculate the distance that the player has travelled. This is recorded against the card and added to the player’s individual total, their team total and the city’s overall score.

Players can monitor their progress by logging on to the Beat the Street website – https://beatthestreet.me/wolves – with top scorers in the running for a share of £4,000 worth of great prizes, including vouchers and goody bags. Schools and teams will also compete against one another to see who can travel the furthest and win up to £750 of sports and fitness equipment supplied by Decathlon, and if Wolverhampton collectively travels over 200,000 miles – and in doing so beats last year’s total - £1,000 will be given to charity.

National charity Young Epilepsy is appealing to everyone across the UK to back Purple Day on Sunday, 26 March 2017. In doing so, they’re asking the British public to dress in their finest pyjamas during any day of March. Donations for ‘PJs for Purple Day’ will go to Young Epilepsy. The charity acts as a voice for the 112,000 young people in the UK with epilepsy, advocating on their behalf to government to affect positive systematic change.

A new study shows further evidence for the view that spending too much time sitting down is bad for our health and our waistline. Research led by Dr William Tigbe, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick found workers who have a desk-bound job have bigger waists and increased risk of heart disease. It supports advice to sit less and be more active; as much as seven hours a day on your feet, and walking seven miles, may be needed to avoid heart disease.

Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity has announced on International Rare Disease Day it has only £650,000 left to raise in its £3.65 million campaign to build the UK’s first Rare Diseases Centre for children. The Star Appeal, which launched in October 2015, has now hit the £3 million milestone meaning it is one step closer to making the dreams of thousands of young people living with a rare or undiagnosed condition come true.

A driver who lost a leg after sleepwalking to her car and crashing into a tree is set to take on the Morrisons Great Birmingham 10K in April to raise money for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity, to thank the ‘fantastic’ staff at the hospital that saved her.  Kelly Jackson, 28, spent three weeks in a coma at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham following the horrific crash near her home in Hall Green.

Two bereaved mums officially cut the ribbon on a brand-new £1million support centre called Magnolia House – a national first at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Every year, approximately 120 life-changing conversations take place at the hospital between health professionals and the loved ones of young people. To help future families, mums Gayle Routledge, 45, from Stafford and Rachel Ollerenshaw, 46, from Warwick have worked together with the hospital’s dedicated bereavement specialists to make Magnolia House a reality.

Researchers at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham are appealing for members of the local Muslim community to take part in a study on the effects different medications have on people with Type 2 diabetes who fast for Ramadan. During the month of Ramadan Muslims are required to fast from sunrise to sunset which, with the holy month falling in May and June this year, could mean up to 14 and a half hours without eating or drinking.

This April the prestigious Cancer Research UK Boat Races will see two additional boats take to the water. Two teams of celebrities will master the skills required to take on the River Thames in the first ever Cancer Research UK Celebrity Boat Race. The two teams, coached by Sir Steve Redgrave and James Cracknell OBE, are made up of a range of familiar faces including television personalities, presenters, comedians, ex-Olympians and former Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Club rowers.

The Little Princess Trust – a charity which provides free real-hair wigs for boys and girls suffering from hair loss – has teamed up with Shrek's Adventure! London to find a Real-Life Rapunzel! The Hereford-based charity, which has given away nearly 5,000 free real-hair wigs since its inception in 2006 to boys and girls suffering with cancer and other medical conditions, receives thousands of hair donations a year. These donations are used to make some of the real hair wigs given away. Normally, a minimum of 7 inches / 17cm is required.