Health & Wellbeing

The UK register of approved plumbers, WaterSafe, is urging homeowners to stop, find, check and label their internal stop tap and make this job the top of their ‘to-do’ list this winter.

The internal stop tap will shut off the water supply quickly if pipes burst during a sudden freeze or thaw, which can cause thousands of pounds worth of damage to homes and their contents.

Data from the Association of British Insurers shows that during a spell of freezing weather, a claim to repair a burst pipe costs an average of £8,800 – and can often be more.*

Repair costs can be significantly reduced if the stop tap is used to turn off the water as quickly as possible – so knowing where your stop tap is and checking it regularly to make sure it is working is essential.

The internal stop tap, sometimes also known as a stopcock or stop valve, should be turned clockwise to turn off the water supply. Common places to find it include:

• Under the kitchen sink
• Kitchen cupboard
• Downstairs bathroom or toilet
• Garage or utility room
• Cellar
• Under the stairs.

Property owners are responsible for the internal stop tap so if you can’t locate it or it’s not working, contact an approved plumber for help at watersafe.org.uk.

WaterSafe’s timely advice is supporting the Met Office’s ‘WeatherReady’ campaign, which encourages everyone to think about what they can do to prepare for and cope with severe weather.

Head of Civil Contingencies at the Met Office, Will Lang, said: “As we approach winter, it is important to know where you can access expert advice and guidance to help you prepare for the potential impacts of severe weather. Taking a small amount of time to prepare now can make a big difference in keeping family, friends and neighbours, as well as property and businesses safe throughout the months ahead.”

Julie Spinks, director of WaterSafe, said: “This year we are focussing our winter messaging on one critical piece of advice for households which is take the time to locate the internal stop tap, and importantly, to check that it’s working, in case of a plumbing emergency this winter.

“It’s a good idea to label your stop tap once you’ve located it – and to add the number of a WaterSafe approved plumber in case you need it in a hurry, because the consequences of not doing so and potentially facing the misery of flooding do not bear thinking about.”

Pipes in unheated areas should always be protected against winter temperatures with insulating lagging to help prevent them from freezing and bursting in the first instance.

A Sandwell Council employee has won a national award for her working in helping hundreds of people in the borough to lose weight.

Maxine Dixon won the UK Public Health Practitioner Award for Improving Public Health Practice for the council's much-praised Weight2GO programme.

Maxine, who is a weight management project manager in Public Health leads on the Weigh2GO programme which uses a combination of the latest 'smart scale' technology and an online app with good old-fashioned community partnership work.

The programme is run through partners including the voluntary sector, libraries, leisure centres and Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospital which are supported to establish their own bespoke weight management support groups tailored to the needs of the people who use their services.

All of these partners are trained to run the programme effectively and they support their clients with access to the smart scales which allow people to weight themselves independently, receive real-time weight data through their smart phones, and track and monitor their weight through the app.

The programme allows people to be in control of their own weight management plans while harnessing the power of local community groups to offer support.

There are no joining fees, no pricey diet products and no stigma involved in the programme.

Lisa McNally, Sandwell's director of public health, said: "We are proud that our public health employees have won another top award and Maxine has helped so many people on their weight loss journey."

The programme has proven to be popular and Maxine's analysis of the data shows that hundreds of people have engaged with the programme and been successful in achieving  a healthier weight.

Library manager, Jean Fenn, said: Library customers can monitor and access information about their weight and BMI. This is a great weight management tool and it's so easy to use. The scales are used by individuals and groups and are a great addition to our health and well-being resources.

Jenny Wright, health and wellbeing manager for Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospital NHS Trust, said: "The programme has been a huge success with NHS employees and subsequently NHS  staff have encouraged patient groups to participate in the programme through local community groups."

A heartbroken mum who lost her son to deadly meningitis last November has launched a national charity’s Christmas Ribbon Appeal.

Katie Joyce had to take the agonising decision to turn her 4-year-old son Enzo’s life support machine off after scans showed the disease had left the youngster – the happiest and most bubbly boy Katie ever knew – brain dead.

“This will be our second Christmas without Enzo”, she said. “I still ask myself how it could have happened to my family.

“One minute I was at home with my baby thinking he had a simple cold and the next I was being told something no mother should ever hear.”

Katie is supporting charity Meningitis Now’s annual ribbon appeal, which offers everyone the chance to remember their loved ones at Christmas and donate to fight back against the devastating disease. Families affected by meningitis but not bereaved are also invited to support the appeal.

A white ribbon, inscribed with their loved one’s name, is placed on the Tree of Remembrance at Meningitis Now’s annual Christmas concert in Gloucester Cathedral. The family also receives a second white ribbon for their tree at home.

“I know Enzo wouldn’t want me to give up, so we will have presents, we will have a tree and his white ribbon will be on it,” Katie added. “My little boy will always be in my heart.”

Katie added: “After I lost Enzo, Meningitis Now was there for me and my family. They helped us find the strength to carry on.

“In the early days, just having someone there to listen on the end of the line meant so much.

“The ongoing emotional support has been so important to me too.”

Tom Nutt, Meningitis Now’s chief executive, said: “We know that Christmas can be a difficult time as many of us remember those who are no longer with us.

“Meningitis doesn’t respect this special time of year either. Twenty-two families every day throughout the festive period will feel its impact, with some lives being changed forever.

“Please support our Christmas Ribbon Appeal and help us to keep fighting this terrible disease and be there for Katie and other families who need our support, at Christmas-time and throughout the year.”

All donations go towards the charity’s ongoing lifesaving and life-changing work, funding research into vaccines and prevention, raising awareness so people know what to look for and what action to take if they suspect meningitis and rebuilding futures by providing dedicated support to people living with the impact of the disease.

Meningitis Now is working towards a future where no one in the UK loses their life to meningitis and everyone affected gets the support they need.

As part of ‘Occupational Therapy Week 2019’, the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) has launched a new campaign, ‘Small Change, Big Impact’, which celebrates how the small changes occupational therapists make can have a big impact on the people they support.

Occupational Therapy Week 2019 is on now (until November 10) and is a national awareness week run by RCOT to promote the value of occupational therapists and the fantastic work that they do across the UK. Taking the campaign as its theme, this year’s Occupational Therapy Week is showcasing and champion the impact of occupational therapy and RCOT members on the lives of service users and the communities they live in.

Across the UK, RCC members will be reflecting on their practice and sharing their stories on our website about how a small change they implemented made a big difference to someone’s life. They will also be holding events, talks with colleagues, the public or their local community and schools, as well as engaging with local media.

The week is not just for RCOT members. Anyone can join in Occupational Therapy Week 2019 and show their support by using the hash-tag #OTWeek2019 and sharing the ‘Small Change, Big Impact’ campaign stories on social media.

RCOT Chief Executive, Julia Scott said: “Every day across the UK, occupational therapists change lives for the better. Occupational Therapy Week 2019 is a fantastic time to celebrate this. The Royal College knows very well how hard our members work and the extent of the difference they make and we want everyone else to know too. I am encouraging everyone to be loud and proud and get involved in the campaign. Share your support for occupational therapists by using the hash-tag #OTWeek2019 and sharing your Small Change, Big Impact stories.

“Sometimes it’s just a small change that’s needed to make a positive difference to someone’s life. We want to hear from members up and down the country about the changes they’re making and the impact they’re achieving. We are asking occupational therapists to share stories with us at the ‘Occupational Therapy Week 2019’ page on our website.

By collecting as many stories as possible, we can better demonstrate the vital importance of occupational therapy on people’s lives and society.”

Nurses from Vaccination UK have returned to schools in Wolverhampton to give pupils their free nasal spray and help them become Flu Fighters.

All primary aged children, from Reception to Year 6, were eligible for the free vaccination this autumn, which is administered via a quick and painless nasal spray.

The popular Flu Fighters campaign, developed by the city’s Council, Wolverhampton Clinical Commissioning Group and the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, returned this year to encourage local children to have their free vaccination. Free copies of this year's exciting tale, Flu Fighters in The Battle of Planet Bogey, along with information about the vaccine and consent forms, are being distributed to all primary-aged pupils across the city.

Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "Vaccinations were scheduled to continue after the half-term holidays; with parents encouraged to make sure to return their consent forms so that theirr children don't miss out on their free vaccine and the able to become Flu Fighters!"

All children from Reception to Year 6 at infant, junior and primary schools, and all children in special schools, were being offered the nasal spray flu vaccination at their school. The vaccine also being available to children aged two and three, and children aged 11 and over with some long-term health conditions, through local GPs.

As well as the vaccination for children, people with long-term health conditions, the over 65s, carers and care staff, people in long-stay residential care homes and pregnant women are also eligible for a free jab through their GP or pharmacist, while everyone else can get the vaccine from many local pharmacies for a small charge.

A new Commonwealth paper finds “impressive improvements” in women’s access to maternal health, enrolment in primary school and participation in the workforce.

The technical paper was released at the 12^th Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting in Nairobi, Kenya.

Findings suggest that in the Commonwealth, a girl is as likely to attend primary school as a boy is, and in some countries more so. In the parliaments of 13 Commonwealth countries, 30 per cent or more of members are women.

Against this progress, the paper highlights that persistent gender stereotypes and prejudices in policy making, budgeting and service delivery are disrupting progress.

For instance, only one in five Commonwealth parliamentarians is a woman. Of every 10 girls, only seven attend secondary school. Thirty-two countries do not mandate equal pay for work of equal value.

Following the meeting, Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said: “The paper summarises progress in the Commonwealth priorities for gender equality 2017–20, outlines the continuing obstacles and barriers to achieving women and girls’ empowerment and gender equality in the Commonwealth, and shares good practices from member countries which offer ideas and strategies that other countries may learn from and apply across this unique family of nations.

“The paper also reflects our commitment to ensure that women and girls are regarded as equal partners with men and boys in shaping our common future.”

The Commonwealth undertook the paper to assess and inform ministers on the progress made in 53 member countries in four priority areas: women in leadership, women economic empowerment, ending violence against women and girls, and gender and climate change.

Women in leadership

The Commonwealth average for members of parliament who are women stands at 23 per cent which is still short of the global target of 30 per cent.

The Caribbean and Americas had the regional average of 24.51 per cent, which is relatively high compared to all Commonwealth regions.

Rwanda tops the list and is the only country to achieve gender parity in the Commonwealth. Over 55 per cent of seats are occupied by women in both houses of parliament in the country.

Ten Commonwealth countries have achieved the target of 30 per cent or more women ministers, and Canada currently leads with over 50 per cent.

Women economic empowerment

The paper highlights that longstanding gender gaps in enrolment and achievement in education have been narrowed but the ripple effect has not yet translated into women’s equal participation in the labour force.

The pan-Commonwealth average of female labour force participation is over 56 per cent. Rwanda leads with 86 per cent of women participating in the formal labour force.

Twenty countries do not have legislation on sexual harassment in employment while 23 do not have criminal penalties or civil remedies for sexual harassment in employment.

The paper identifies challenges girls still face transitioning from primary to secondary school, which are largely the cost of education, child marriage or labour, and violence. Ending violence against women and girls

Out of all 53 member countries, 47 have laws against domestic violence; 20 have legislation that explicitly criminalises marital rape; 40 have legislation against sexual harassment; and nine have legislation that offers broad protections for LGBT+ people.

Gender and climate change

The paper emphasises women’s vulnerabilities to climate change including the impact of water and energy shortages on women’s reproductive work, the effect on food security due to drought, floods, etc., access to health services and caring for the sick.

Women are more likely than men to hold jobs vulnerable to climate change, at least 80 per cent of “green jobs” around the world are expected to be in the secondary sectors such as constructions, manufacturing and energy production – industries where women are already underrepresented.

In this context, Secretary-General Patricia Scotland referred to the Commonwealth Gender and Climate Change Working Group, which is part of the Common Earth initiative to encourage the implementation of regenerative models for development. The working group assists member countries with devising integrated national roadmaps for women and women-led efforts to mitigate climate change and support women's health and nutrition, education, and involvement in local decision-making.

The paper calls for closer attention and much more investment to address the inequalities between women and men in all areas of social, civic and economic life. It suggests gender equality will only become reality if it is mainstreamed across the political sphere, public and private sectors, and civil society.

Ministers and senior officials welcomed the paper who agreed that the findings will guide evidence based policy making, implementing and evaluation.

An obstetrician gynaecologist has developed an all-natural laundry detergent designed to thoroughly clean women's panties to help reduce yeast infections.

Based in Atlanta, George, in the USA, Dr Tosha Rogers, a graduate of B.S. in Chemistry, formulated the detergent - Clean and Cute Panty Wash - that is made specifically for women's underwear.

The all-natural laundry detergent came about after Rogers heard a lot of concerns about female hygiene with some of her patients having to deal with bacteria and yeast infection. She found out that one of the main reasons for this is poorly cleansed panties. Even though women are cleaning their panties, the available detergent in the market doesn't really remove the build-up of bacteria, yeast, blood, and mould in panties.

Clean and Cute Panty Wash is the first and only detergent that focuses on female hygiene. It is all-natural, non-GMO, sulphur-free, paraben-free, vegan, animal cruelty-free, and perfume free. It only has 3 all-natural ingredients, one of which is the essential oil lemongrass to make it smell great. Unlike standard detergents, Clean and Cute Panty Wash is designed to remove the bacteria (vaginitis), yeast, blood, and mould that develops in panties once left in the hamper.

She said: “Clean and Cute was developed purely by listening to my patients and trying to solve a problem.

“Many women find themselves dealing with bacteria and yeast. I’ve found that sometimes, the odour is not an infection, but poorly cleansed or soiled panties. It’s not that these ladies aren’t cleaning their panties, but that there’s a build-up of bacteria, yeast, blood, and mould in the panties that isn’t being addressed by standard detergents.

I saw a need and the chemist in me got to creating”.

Dr Rogers also said that a lot of vaginal itching, irritation, swelling, and even worsening ingrown hairs usually caused by the allergic reaction to harsh ingredients of standard detergents could be prevented when Clean and Cute will be used.

The 4th edition of Birmingham’s BEDLAM Arts and Mental Health Festival, one of the largest Festivals of its kind in the UK, is well under way

The 12-day Festival, which runs undil Saturday 12 October, has over 25 events in a range of venues across the city to raise awareness of mental health and well-being through the importance of the arts.

The Festival is brought to the city by organisers Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Midlands Arts Centre, Sampad South Asian Arts and new partner, Birmingham-based Geese Theatre Company in consultation with practitioners and those with lived experience of mental health problems.

BEDLAM Arts and Mental Health Festival has welcomed artists from across the UK, as well as home grown talent, who will present an exciting and engaging programme of theatre performances, dance, movement workshops, art installations, wellbeing walks, film screenings, family events, Q&A’s and a special BEDLAM Symposium.

Festival Producer, Sabra Khan said “We’re into our 4th edition in Birmingham and we are very excited to present a diverse and packed programme of events and performances which appeals to all ages and backgrounds. More importantly, we welcome festival-goers to help continue our work to reduce the stigma and encourage debate around mental health”.

Festival-goers can see powerful live performances featuring the world premiere of ‘The Thing’ at Birmingham Repertory Theatre in partnership with Olivier award nominated Les Enfants Terribles; an evening of RnB and Hip Hop from Birmingham’s Red Earth Collective featuring three of the Midlands’ most exciting young R’n’B and Hip-Hop artists Lady Sanity, Call Me Unique and Trademark Blud; Experts By Experience Showcase, an event where people who have experience of accessing mental health services share their journey of recovery and a BEDLAM Showcase featuring four works from a variety of artists and companies performed in just one day.

Opening the festival is London-born Koko Brown opened the Festival bringing her play ‘White’ to Midlands Arts Centre for the first time blending music and spoken word with further highlights to include ‘Rockbottom’ by dancer Stuart Waters, a moving, highly physical and incredibly honest self-portrait of personal struggle with depression and addiction; ‘No Bond So Strong’ a new commission by SAMPAD is a life affirming production about motherhood and holding the family together and, marking World Mental Health Day, Geese Theatre Company present ‘Playing The Game’ featuring a cast of four who take audiences on a journey through a century of maternal incarceration. For art lovers there’s the fascinating ‘State Of The Mind’ guided tour of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery discussing the impact of mental health on art and the way it is received.

Closing the Festival is ‘Chai And Chat: In Conversation With Nafeesa Hamid’. Over a cup of delicious Chai, Nafeesa, a Birmingham-based spoken word poet and playwright, will be discussing mental health in the context of her own experiences. BEDLAM Arts and Mental Health Festival runs until Saturday 12 October 2019.

Maternity staff at a healthcare Trust, in the West Midlands, have launched an appeal for donations of knitted or crocheted baby hats in response to results from ‘Avoiding Term Admissions Into Neonatal’ (ATAIN) units research into the causes of admission in the newly born.

The team have also launched Project Thermo, a joint effort between maternity and neonatal, to support mum and baby to have effective skin-to-skin contact from birth, and for babies to maintain a consistent temperature. The project aims to educate parents on the need to maintain a healthy temperature for their baby.

With records indicating mild hypothermia being the cause of 1-in-5 admissions of babies to Birmingham City Hospital NNU last year, it is hoped that this will result in a significant reduction to admissions, as well as having the benefit of helping mother and baby stay together; something which provides benefits in itself as both mother and baby have a strong physiological and emotional need to be together during the post-birth period, helping to forge the bond between them.

Dr Rabia Zahid of Obstetrics and Gynaecology said: “Our aim is to promote thermo-regulation in the delivery rooms, in the recovery, anti-natal and post-natal rooms, when babies are present as well as around the time of delivery. Babies need a temperature of between 36.5°C and 37.5°C to remain healthy during this period and avoid being susceptible to hyperthermia.”

Writing on the department’s Better Births Facebook page, the team said: “All babies benefit from support to maintain their body temperature in the hours after birth and we are very low on hats that will fit a term new-born. If you would like to help by donating some hats to our maternity unit we would be very grateful. Hats can be knitted or crocheted, in any weight of yarn or colour and to any pattern you prefer.”

As a guide, the average new-born head circumference is between 31 - 36 cm and that any donations or creations would be gratefully received.

Hats should be sent to the Serenity Birth Centre / Labour Ward at City Hospital in Winson Green, in Birmingham.

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.