Health & Wellbeing

The first drug to slow the destruction of the brain in Alzheimer's has been heralded as momentous. The research breakthrough ends decades of failure and shows a new era of drugs to treat Alzheimer's - the most common form of dementia - is possible.

Yet the medicine, lecanemab, has only a small effect and its impact on people's daily lives is debated.

More than 10,000 ambulance workers have voted to strike in nine trusts across England and Wales. Paramedics, Emergency Care Assistants, call handlers and other staff are now set to walk out in the following trusts: 

Further catch-up clinics are being held for children who have missed their free flu vaccination in school, with another this weekend.

This year, all children from Reception to Year 9 are eligible for a vaccination, which is safe, effective and delivered via a nasal spray, not a needle.

Hundreds of people have already had their say by completing a short survey about the safety of women and girls living, working in or visiting Wolverhampton – and others are encouraged to do so as soon as they can.

The survey, which is being conducted by West Midlands Police and the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership, asks women and girls how safe they feel when they are out and about, and to share details of issues they may have either witnessed or experienced anywhere in Wolverhampton, along with locations that are of concern to them.

There has been a surge in female plasma donors in Birmingham since the introduction of new ‘female friendly’ donation machines in August, boosting future supplies of a lifesaving medicine.

There are now 402 female donors in Birmingham, making up 29% of the active donor base. Before the new machines were introduced, only about 8% of donors were female, fewer than 100 people.

The University of Wolverhampton is working with partners from the Black Country Integrated Care System (ICS) to improve healthcare for Black African and Caribbean communities.

Nearly 300 social workers came together in-person for the first time since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic for the City of Wolverhampton Council's seventh annual Adults and Children’s Social Worker Conference earlier this week. The event, at Fox’s Lane Conference and Banqueting Centre, featured a range of keynote speeches and workshops, with the aim of celebrating social work practice and further improving services for Wolverhampton’s children, young people, families and adults with care and support needs.

Volunteers and staff at St Giles Hospice will be going above and beyond to help patients, and their families, living with a terminal illness create special memories this festive season.

One person who is familiar with the support St Giles provides over Christmas is Sheila Shaw, whose daughter, Mandy, was cared for during the festive period in 2021. As Sheila’s first Christmas without Mandy approaches, she’s looked back and relived the special memories that they created together with the support from volunteers and staff at St Giles.

Holding on to small moments of joy and positivity is going to be particularly important this winter, with the cost of living and energy crises likely to continue making things difficult for people across the UK.

Psychologists from the British Psychological Society have given their advice and tips for finding the light this winter when things are feeling tough.

A young boy who was recently diagnosed with lifelong leukaemia has been able to return to school thanks to the help of a Tamworth charity.

Lewis Kedwards, aged 12 from Kitts Green, is struggling to walk due to terrible pains in his legs and couldn’t manage the 25-minute walk to school or the trips between lessons during the day.

Healthcare professionals and residents are being urged to make a pledge to become an Antibiotic Guardian – and in doing so help ensure that life-saving medicines can remain effective for longer.

World Antibiotic Awareness Week is underway, highlighting the fact that antibiotics are a precious resource which should only be used when prescribed by a certified health professional.

Olton-born bereavement counsellor Saiqa Phillips, 32, will be jumping on her Peloton bike and riding 100 miles a week for 10 weeks to raise funds to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of the Marie Curie hospice in Solihull.

The Marsh Lane hospice has been providing end-of life-care for patients with terminal illness in its purpose-built building since 2013, relocating from the old Warren Pearl site on Warwick Road.

The Antibiotic Amnesty is underway in Birmingham and Solihull, with local healthcare leaders encouraging everyone throughout the region to return their old or unused antibiotics to their nearest pharmacy. Over 300 local pharmacies in the Midlands are supporting the month-long amnesty, which is taking place throughout November to promote the safe disposal of antibiotics, while raising awareness of how the misuse of antibiotics has contributed to medications becoming less effective against harmful bacteria. 

End of life charity Marie Curie is inviting members of the community to join them at their hospice in Marsh Lane on Sunday 4th December at 4pm for their first Lights to Remember Service since coronavirus restrictions were lifted. This special event offers people who have been affected by terminal illness or bereavement the chance to come together at the hospice, joined by staff and supporters.

A trial screening programme for type 1 diabetes that could transform the way the condition is identified and managed in its earliest stages, opens for recruitment today.

The first programme of its kind in the UK will identify children at high risk of type 1 diabetes, laying the groundwork for the development of any potential UK-wide screening programme.

To mark Diabetes Awareness Month 2022 under the theme “Education to Protect Tomorrow” Diabetes UK Midlands and East have distributed over 6500 packs to 330 Community Pharmacies in NHS Birmingham and Solihull this month. The aim is to improve access to diabetes education for people living with diabetes and healthcare professionals.