Health & Wellbeing

Face coverings have been reintroduced in hospital settings following a continued rise in Covid-19 cases in Wolverhampton.

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust is asking that patients and visitors wear a mask, if they can, in all areas of New Cross Hospital, West Park Hospital and Cannock Hospital from Monday 11 July.

With temperatures expected to soar in parts of the UK over the weekend and into next week, Alzheimer’s Society is providing advice to help the 84,090 people estimated to be living with dementia across the West Midlands stay safe and hydrated during the hot spell.

With temperatures triggering a level three heat-health alert in some parts of the UK, the charity is raising the importance of making sure people with dementia are well hydrated and share ways families and carers can help by; leaving glasses or jugs of water within easy reach, sharing a drink with the person, leaving reminders to drink and providing high water content foods.

Birmingham’s head of public health is to be recognised by Birmingham City University for his services to the city during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Dr Justin Varney, Director of Public Health at Birmingham City Council, will be presented with an honorary doctorate – one of the University’s highest accolades. Jo Williams, Chief Executive of The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Bill Kilvington, Patient Safety Lead for the College of Operating Department Practitioners, are also to receive honorary doctorates during the University’s forthcoming graduation ceremonies in July and August.

A new NHS organisation has been formally established today, marking a new direction for health and social care in Birmingham and Solihull. 

NHS Birmingham and Solihull is one of 42 Integrated Care Boards (ICB) just launched, taking on responsibility for planning to meet local health needs, allocating resources to NHS partners, ensuring that services are in place to deliver against ambitions and overseeing delivery of improved outcomes for the 1.3 million population of Birmingham and Solihull. 

The NHS will collapse without “radical and unpopular” changes including reducing the number of hospitals, setting up treatment hubs run by the private sector and transferring power and funding to local councils, a former health minister says today.

Groundbreaking research that could see a targeted prostate cancer screening programme in the UK within the next three to five years has been given a boost by The Bob Willis Fund. 

As awareness about Menopause is rising in the public arena, it has highlighted the question on how the menopause should be treated at work and what employers should be doing to support their employees affected by the menopause. The menopause has become an increasingly discussed topic, with high profile women talking across a variety of media channels about their own experiences.

The City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Adult Services has become a Dementia Friend – and is encouraging all her fellow councillors to do the same.

Dementia Friends are people who have taken part in a short awareness raising session which gives them a greater understanding of the condition so that they are able to offer help and support to someone living with dementia.

A leading hospice that cares for more than 900 families every year is the latest recipient of the ‘Wired for Good’ campaign run by Alloy Wire International (AWI). The UK manufacturer of round, flat and profile wire has donated £7500 to the crucial work of Acorns Children’s Hospice to help it continue to provide respite, short breaks, end of life and emergency care across its three locations in Birmingham, Walsall and Worcester.

A lifesaving charity that provides pre-hospital care to critically ill and injured patients is making a plea to local people to volunteer time to help keep its charity shops open.

A recent report by the Retail Trust, which surveyed over 1,500 retail staff, found that one in five (21 per cent) British retail workers are planning to quit the sector.

Safety campaigners are pushing for competency testing and compulsory helmets for e-scooter riders if the Government lifts the ban on riding privately-owned e-scooters in public spaces.

“Up to three quarters of a million more e-scooters will be on the roads if riding privately-owned e-scooters is legalised in public areas,” said John McQuater, president of APIL, a nationwide not-for-profit campaign group which hosts Injury Prevention Week (27 June -1 July) every summer.

Their training is complete and the time is now!

18 amateur cyclists, led by Patron Geoff Thomas MBE, have begun cycling The Tour 21 in Copenhagen, culminating in an emotional finish in Paris on Sunday 17th July.

The impact of the HeadStart programme in improving the mental and emotional wellbeing of children and young people in Wolverhampton was celebrated on Wednesday 22 June, 2022.

Launched thanks to nearly £10.7m in funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK, HeadStart Wolverhampton used a ‘test and learn’ approach to support young people aged 10 to 16.

The Public Health Department in Statia is increasing surveillance for signs of monkeypox in light of the global spread of the virus, including 155 cases in the United States and 167 in the Netherlands as of the end of the day on Wednesday, 22 June.

There are no reported cases of the virus in Statia or the Caribbean, according to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), although the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports one case in Venezuela.

Leaders from across Adult and Children’s Services have come together welcome newly qualified social workers who have recently joined or who are about to join the City of Wolverhampton Council.

As newly qualified social workers, they will be part of the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) programme which gives social workers extra support during their first stage of their career.

This week is Learning Disability Week (20^th-26^th June) and an education expert has shared five pieces of advice on how to support children if they have learning disabilities.

Interestingly, research conducted by Oxford Home Schooling revealed that while overseeing their children’s learning during lockdown, many parents spotted potential signs of a learning difficulty.