Health & Wellbeing

Activated charcoal lovers rejoice, the wellness beverage is now available in an affordable sharing size - no more messing around with expensive, tiny shots of the cleansing ingredient.

Health drinks brand, WOW, has launched the world's first multi-serve bottle of an activated charcoal drink, available from 30th July in selected Co-op stores.

WOW Body Cleanse Drink is a blend of cold-pressed juice and filtered water added to activated charcoal derived from coconut shells. The beverage targets common health concerns faced by many; bloating, over-indulgence and even the common cold. Activated charcoal has been used for centuries to help maintain a healthy digestive tract by removing toxins. When consumed, gas and other impurities in your body are trapped by the charcoal's pores, stopping them from being fully absorbed into the bloodstream. They are then removed naturally from your body.

WOW's activated charcoal is cleanly sourced from coconut shells, not the coal you find on your barbecue. The charcoal becomes activated through a steaming process, creating a densely porous surface. Unlike other similar drinks on the market, WOW Body Cleanse Drink will not burn a hole in your pocket, with the new size available from £3.50

The drink is jet black but the activated charcoal is tasteless. The low calorie drink is available in three flavours, Lemon & Ginger; Raspberry and Lemon & Mint.

The larger bottle will provide three recommended portions (250ml) and once opened must be consumed within two days.

A Chinese contemporary artist, best known for his hyper-realistic paintings and drawings, is to be awarded a top honour from Birmingham City University when he receives an honorary doctorate from the UK institution next week.

Born in 1963 in Sichuan, Leng Jun (冷军) Jun graduated from the Fine Arts Department at the Hankou Branch of Wuhan Normal College in 1984 and currently lives and works in Beijing.

The artist is renowned for the incredible detail in his paintings which can only truly be appreciated up close or with a magnifying glass. In his artwork you can observe the precision of his paintbrush, with the artist capturing the shadow cast by a sweater’s thread on his subject’s skin, for example. He has developed his own method and style based on traditional western techniques, which take the visual expression and realness of oil painting to a whole new level.

Jun’s award will be conferred by the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Philip Plowden on Tuesday 24 July in a graduation ceremony at Symphony Hall, Birmingham, alongside graduands from Birmingham City University’s Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Schools of Art, Fashion and Textiles, Jewellery, and Visual Communication.

On finding out he had been selected for the award, Leng Jun said:

“It is certainly going to be a day to remember! Many thanks to the University, the Vice-Chancellor and all the friends who put in great effort to make this happen.

“In Chinese we have a tradition that calls to never forget a generous act and grasp every opportunity to return the hospitality that you've received. It will be a great honour if I have the chance to contribute to Birmingham City University in the future.”

Jun’s artistry has been described as “paintings that are beyond limits” by scholars, meaning they meet or exceed the expression of oil paint material. His artistic process relies entirely on sketching, rather than photographs, ensuring that every work is vivid and intriguing in its visual effect, capturing the minutest details.

Jun’s work has also been recognised by major art exhibitions in China, having won the Art Award in the 2nd Annual Chinese Oil Painting Exhibition, the Golden Award in the 3rd Annual Chinese Art Exhibition and the Gold Award in the 9th National Art Exhibition.

Leng Jun has served as the Head of Wuhan Academy of Painting, and today holds several important roles within China, including that of Vice Chairman of Wuhan Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Vice Chairman of Hubei Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Vice Chairman of Hubei Artists Association, Chairman of Wuhan Artists Association and Director of China Oil Painting Society.

Elsewhere, he is a researcher in the Oil Paintings department at China National Academy of Painting and is a member of both the Oil Painting Art Committee and China Oil Painting Society.

Leng Jun offered some words of advice to the Birmingham City University graduands he will meet next week:

“I am very honoured to be an alumnus of Birmingham City University! The study of art is not the same as other professions. Confucius said “志于道、居于德、依于仁、游于艺”– “let the will be set on the path of duty. Let every attainment of what is good be firmly grasped. Let perfect virtue be emulated. Let relaxation and enjoyment be found in the arts”). The general idea is that art is the last energy or path to the soul, which is second only to morality and benevolence. It is firmly placed in front of philosophy and science.

“My understanding is that morality, benevolence and art are spiritual aspects, while all other disciplines are learned through human nature. Learning in these disciplines requires a diligent and genius mind, while studying art only requires sincerity and love. Therefore, in a certain sense, learning art is a more convenient passage to the truth. May we work together to make the future of art a prosperous one!”

Marriott International today announced that it is following the Starbucks’ lead and is planning to remove all plastic straws and drink stirrers from all of its 6500 hotels and resorts across 30 brands around the world by 2019.

“We are proud to be among the first large U.S. companies to announce that we’re eliminating plastic straws in our properties worldwide,” said Arne Sorenson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Marriott International.

Once fully implemented in one year, the company could eliminate the use of more than 1 billion plastic straws per year and about a quarter billion stirrers. A single plastic straw – which might be used for about 15 minutes – will never fully decompose.

“Removing plastic straws is one of the simplest ways our guests can contribute to plastic reduction when staying with us – something they are increasingly concerned about and are already doing in their own homes. We are committed to operating responsibly and – with over one million guests staying with us every night – we think this is a powerful step forward to reducing our reliance on plastics,” added Mr. Sorenson.

Marriott’s initiative is the latest change the hospitality company is making to enhance the sustainability of its operations and reduce plastic consumption. Earlier this year, Marriott began replacing small toiletry bottles in the guest bathrooms of about 450 select-service hotels with larger, in-shower dispensers that distribute more product for guests to use, reducing waste. The new toiletry dispensers are expected to be in place at more than 1,500 hotels in North America by the end of this year, which would enable Marriott to eliminate more than 35 million small plastic toiletry bottles annually that typically go to landfills.

These initiatives build on Marriott International’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact. Last year, the company set its most ambitious sustainability and social impact goals ever that call for reducing landfill waste by 45 percent and responsibly sourcing its top 10 product purchase categories by 2025. These goals and other sustainability programs help reduce our environmental footprint and are part of the company’s Serve 360: Doing Good in Every Direction initiative that addresses social, environmental, and economic issues.

Following on from recent NHS 70 celebrations, hospital laboratories across the UK are opening their doors to the public to demonstrate that biomedical science is at the heart of their healthcare.  Through the analysis of blood, tissue and other samples, biomedical science staff produce the data on which doctors, consultants and surgeons plan treatments. Handling over 150 million samples each year, laboratory staff are responsible for 70% of all diagnoses in the NHS and yet their work is largely unknown to the public.

Biomedical Science Day is organised by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS), the professional body for biomedical scientists, laboratory support staff and students. The IBMS encourages biomedical science staff and students on IBMS accredited degree courses to celebrate Biomedical Science Day. It aims to raise the profile of biomedical science and to show that its role is at the heart of patients’ healthcare.

In only its second year, the awareness day has gained significant popularity amongst biomedical laboratory staff across the UK, with the majority of the profession planning to open the doors to their laboratories or organise events. This year 158 hospitals, NHS trusts and universities are taking part, with more events happening in school classrooms and career fairs.

Biomedical scientists typically work behind the scenes in hospital laboratories and are involved in the different stages of a patient’s journey. Whether a blood test, tissue biopsy or swab, any sample taken in hospital or at a GP’s surgery will be analysed by a biomedical scientist.

IBMS President Alison Geddis commented, “Despite many encounters with our work throughout their lifetime, most people are unaware of the important role of biomedical science in their healthcare.

The theme for Biomedical Science Day 2018 is ‘at the heart of healthcare’. It aims to highlight how the role of our members is central to patients’ healthcare as biomedical science produces the data on which doctors, consultants and surgeons base their diagnoses to plan a patient’s treatment.”

Public Health England (PHE) launches new ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ campaign in the West Midlands to highlight blood in pee as a key symptom of bladder and kidney cancers. The campaign will encourage everyone to ‘look before they flush’ and visit their GP without delay if they notice blood in their pee, even if it’s just once.

A new survey reveals that only 19% of adults aged 50 and over (those most at risk of these cancers) in the West Midlands region say they check the colour of their pee every time they go to the toilet.¹ If people don’t look before they flush, they may not notice blood in their pee.

A new short film featuring TV doctor, Dr Dawn Harper, is being released as part of the campaign. The film shows what to look out for as the colour of blood in your pee can vary – from very diluted, to bright red or even dark brown, like the colour of weak black tea. Blood in pee is a symptom in almost two thirds (64%) of all bladder cancers and around a fifth (18%) of kidney cancers.

Dr Lola Abudu, Director of Health and Wellbeing for Public Health England (PHE) in the West Midlands, said: “Blood in pee is a major symptom of both bladder and kidney cancers, so we’re asking people to ‘look before you flush’ the toilet. Even if you notice blood in your pee just the once, you should tell your doctor straight away. The chances are it’s nothing serious, but bladder and kidney cancers are more treatable if they are found early. Other potential symptoms to look out for are pains that don’t go away, either in the tummy or the side below the ribs; weight loss, pain when peeing and cystitis – a urinary tract infection that can recur after treatment. If you have any of these symptoms and they persist, you should definitely visit your doctor, and don’t worry that you’re wasting their time, because going to the GP could save your life.”

Mr Adel Makar, consultant urologist with Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “In the West Midlands, around 2,000 people are diagnosed annually with kidney and bladder cancer, with an average of 880 people in the region losing their lives each year. People over 50 are most at risk from these cancers, but only 19% of people over 50 in the West Midlands check their pee every time they go to the toilet. If you ‘look before you flush’ to check for blood in your pee, and talk to your GP immediately, even if you see blood just the once, then you could catch kidney or bladder cancer in the early stages when it is most treatable.”

Karen Sabin, 53, is a nursing assistant practioner and Kidney Cancer UK Ambassador from Nuneaton, she said: “My kidney cancer was caught early, after I noticed a pain in my side and slightly darkened urine, and visited my GP to discuss my symptoms. I had surgery to remove the kidney and needed no further treatment. It’s so important that everyone knows that blood in pee could be a sign of cancer, and to go and see your doctor as soon as possible, even if you only see it once. If it is cancer, early diagnosis means it’s more treatable.”

Blood might not appear every time, so it is important that people seek medical help even if they notice it just once. Worryingly, around 49% of those surveyed in the West Midlands said they would not seek medical advice if they saw blood in their pee just once,¹ however, 46% of those surveyed said they would wait and see if it happened again, potentially putting off a vital diagnosis.¹

When asked why they would not go to the GP straight away if they noticed blood in their pee, some concerning delays for seeking help were uncovered; 18% in the West Midlands say they would be worried about wasting the GP’s time and 21% would only book an appointment sooner if they had other symptoms.¹

Latest figures show that every year in England around 19,100 people are diagnosed with bladder or kidney cancer and sadly, around 8,000 people die from these diseases. Early diagnosis is critical; 84% of those diagnosed with kidney cancer and 77% of those diagnosed with bladder cancer at the earliest stage (stage 1) will live for at least five years.^4,5,† At a late stage (stage 4), this drops to 10% and 9% respectively.^4,5,

Dr Dawn Harper, TV Doctor and GP, said: “I’m urging people to be vigilant to changes in their body and to check their pee. I hear all too often about people who have delayed seeking medical advice if they have worrying symptoms – like blood in pee – because they are afraid of what the doctor might find or what the treatment might be. If you do notice blood in your pee, it’s probably nothing serious, but it’s always worth checking with a health professional, you won’t be wasting their time. It’s vital that people don’t put off getting help; if it is cancer, early diagnosis saves lives.”

Professor Chris Harrison, National Clinical Director (Cancer), NHS England, said: “The earlier people are diagnosed, the better their chances, which is why it is vital people understand what to look out for and when to visit the GP. This campaign has the important aim of helping raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of bladder and kidney cancer and encouraging people to visit their GP after seeing blood in their pee.”

The ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ ‘Blood in Pee’ campaign runs until 23 September and includes advertising on TV, radio and in washrooms and online. For further information about the signs and symptoms of bladder and kidney cancer, search ‘Be Clear on Cancer’.

With summer upon us and wedding, holiday and festival season in full swing, you need to be looking your best. Whether you’re looking for a whole new look for the sunshine or to simply revitalise your roots, the colour packages at Supercuts could give you the perfect look.

This season Supercuts have done the hard work for you by hand picking four of the hottest hair trends for you to choose from. Simply walk into a salon, choose your package A, B, C or D sit back, relax and leave with a hot new do for summer.

The new collection is inspired by the Wella professional’s SS 18 trend, Nontouring and Blonde Nontouring. This technique adds a natural glow and infuses hair with warmth while blending sharp contrast in shapes and texture. These include Graphic Bronde (A) which introduces flashes of lightened hair laced through darker shades. Focal Bronde (B) which brightens hair with cleverly placed ribbons of light around the hair line. Natural Bronde (C) for those looking to shift gears this summer and emphasise subtle and sophisticated multi tonal shades of brunette. And Boho Blonde (D) designed for longer hair top create lighter tones for a natural glow and modern blonde look

If you’re not a fan of the lighter look don’t worry - the four colour packages on offer at Supercuts are suitable for all shades and colours and the colour experts in salon will be able to advise the best package for you. All of the great value packages also include a bonding treatment, shampoo, cut and blow dry and prices start from £53.00.

However, your hair journey doesn’t end there, after care is crucial to ensure your colour continues to pop for months to come.

Kieron Foyles, Creative Director at Supercuts has given us his top tips on how to maintain healthy hair in the heat.

Keep calm and condition

Once colour is added to your hair it can become drier than usual, so a deep leave-in conditioner should be a staple part of your hair routine at least once a week. Simply apply to damp hair after leave in for 15-20 minutes, rinse out and feel fresh.

Turn down the heat

In the immediate few days and weeks after colouring your hair, try to cut down on the heat you apply, whether this be blow drying, straightening, curling or even washing with extra hot water. If it is unavoidable try to use your hair dryer on a cool setting and keep it at least 15cm away from your hair. But for the summer why not try a beach wave look and let your hair dry naturally to reduce any risk of damage.

Protect against the pool

If you are jetting off on holiday this summer, there are a few things to consider before going for a dip in the pool as chlorine can discolour and weaken your hair. For the serious swimmers out there consider using a swim cap to offer full protection, alternatively using a leave-in conditioner or coconut oil will create a barrier between the water and your hair.

Hold off on washing

The more you wash your hair the more the colour is likely to fade away, so cutting down on your washes is one of the best ways to make your look last longer. Try to limit your washes to 2-3 times a week. As well as helping the colour it will also preserve the natural oils leaving your locks feeling luscious.

Ask instore at your nearest salon for more details on the four colour packages.

Health champions from a local pharmacy visited primary school pupils to help them discover the importance of healthy eating.

Using interactive exercises, staff from Northwood Pharmacy helped Year 1 pupils at Oak Meadow Primary School learn about different food groups, the importance of getting a healthy balance and eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.

Pupils also took part in a healthy shopping exercise at a virtual supermarket and devised their own food group plates.

The visit formed part of the Healthy Living Pharmacy programme which was launched by the City of Wolverhampton Council, Wolverhampton Local Pharmaceutical Committee and Wolverhampton Clinical Commissioning Group last year.

The quality mark is given to pharmacies which proactively engage with the public to tackle health inequalities and improve wellbeing, both within the pharmacy and by reaching out to businesses, schools and community groups in their local area.

Carol Haycock, a member of the Local Pharmaceutical Committee, said: “As a Healthy Living Pharmacy, we believe that every contact counts, and teaching children to look after themselves and respect their bodies at a young age will help them to go on and live well in the future.

“Children are incredibly good at passing on learning so hopefully they will share what they have learned about healthy eating with their families.

“We hope to build on this in the future and work with other schools and community organisations in the local area.”

Oak Meadow Primary School Headteacher Simon Arnold said: “In addition to our continual focus upon developing healthy lifestyles, we plan an annual Health Week which provides us with focused time to look at how we can encourage our children to keep themselves safe and healthy.

"The children have enjoyed visits from a dental therapist, the fire brigade and health champions from Northwood Pharmacy who kindly gave up their time to deliver such meaningful workshops about healthy eating to our Year 1 pupils."

Councillor Lynne Moran, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: “It was great to see this partnership with Oak Meadow Primary School which enabled the children to identify carbohydrates, fruit and vegetables and protein.

“They know that these foods are healthy and conversely, foods with salt and sugar like chocolate and crisps are best taken in small bites. Such important understanding stands them in good stead for their future health and wellbeing.”

The initiative also supports one of the central ambitions set out in the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Vision for Public Health 2030 – to work with partners and support them to maximise the impact of everything they do to transform health outcome for the people of Wolverhampton.

Councillor Hazel Malcolm, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: “We need to create the right environment for our children to grow up to be fit and healthy, and instilling in them at a young age the importance of healthy eating is a great step on the path to good health and wellbeing.”

Two local doctors' surgeries have made simple changes to become more dementia friendly.

Penn Manor Medical Practice and Duncan Street Primary Care Centre in Blakenhall are now officially Dementia Friendly GP Practices after introducing a number of low-cost changes which have made their services more accessible to people living with dementia and their carers.

They include enabling all staff, including those on reception, to become Dementia Friends, improving signage and developing a register of patients who may need reminding of upcoming appointments.

The changes have been made following a review by Wolverhampton Clinical Commissioning Group, a member of the Wolverhampton Dementia Action Alliance, of national research which highlighted some of the challenges patients living with dementia and their carers faced when they visited their doctor, and changes which could help remove these barriers.

Councillor Sandra Samuels OBE, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Adult Services, said: "Penn Manor Medical Practice and the Duncan Street Primary Care Centre are leading the way in our drive to create Dementia Friendly GP Practices in Wolverhampton.

"Penn Manor has quite a few patients living with dementia, and this is an opportunity to work better with them and ensure they and their carers have a good experience when they come to see their GP. We hope that other surgeries will follow in their lead and take some simple steps to become more dementia friendly."

Helen Ryan, Practice Manager, said: "We decided to go for Dementia Friendly GP Practice status because we wanted to make the patient experience much easier for people with signs of dementia, early dementia and later stage dementia.

"We have made some very small changes which are making a big difference to our patients' overall experience, including making information readily available to them and their families and making our signage much more dementia friendly. Our staff have also completed Dementia Friends training so that they better understand the difficulties that patients living with dementia have.

"The changes we have made will all help patients live better with their dementia, prevent them from being housebound and feel more able to come to the GP practice to get the help and support they need."

For more information about the help and support available to people living with dementia in Wolverhampton, please visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/dementia. To become a Dementia Friend, please visit www.dementiafriends.org.uk.

People who are worried about dementia can contact the Alzheimer's Society for information and support either via the National Dementia Helpline on 0300 222 1122 or by visiting www.alzheimers.org.uk.

The City of Wolverhampton was officially granted Dementia Friendly Community status by the Alzheimer's Society in December in recognition of the efforts being made to improve services for people living with dementia, and their families and carers.

The City of Wolverhampton Council coordinates the Wolverhampton Dementia Action Alliance and manages an action plan on behalf of member organisations. For more information about the alliance, please visit https://bit.ly/2Kyv85Y.

PUPILS at Middlesbrough schools are being supported to promote their resilience to help them cope with challenging situations.

HeadStart aims to give all Middlesbrough’s children and young people the necessary support to achieve good emotional health by providing support at an early stage and prevent the onset of these conditions.

It is estimated that three pupils in every classroom will develop a diagnosable emotional or mental health condition.

Schools are therefore being supported to develop a robust and sustainable approach to improve the emotional health of young people aged between five and 16 through:

• Workforce development to upskill school staff to more ably support the emotional well-being of pupils

• Key workers based in each school to provide a range of solution-focused therapy

• Youth engagement through the HeadStarters pathway which supports young people to become emotional health champions

• A self-referral on-line tool available to every pupils to access direct support

• Primary to secondary transition support for all Year 6 and 7 pupils

• Peer friendship groups for more vulnerable pupils

A quality standard - developed in partnership with schools - has been introduced to support schools to audit and evidence their whole school approach to support emotional well-being.

Schools are awarded a quality rating ranging from bronze to gold, with Linthorpe Community School becoming the first in Middlesbrough to achieve the gold standard.

Achieving the gold standard demonstrates the school has embedded emotional resilience throughout school from policy to practice. Achievement of the gold standard follow rigorous inspection and audit.

Linthorpe Community School Headteacher Sarah Lymer said: “The challenges we face in Middlesbrough can have an adverse impact on pupils’ educational achievement, and for many poor emotional health can be a barrier to them achieving their full potential.

“That’s why we are fully committed to embedding the principles and outcomes of HeadStart into everything we do.

“It’s all about doing all we can to support the mental health and emotional wellbeing of pupils and staff at school, as well as engaging positively with parents and carers and the local community.”

The HeadStart programme is funded by Middlesbrough Council and South Tees CCG.

Councillor Jan Brunton Dobson, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Education and Skills, said: “We are committed to giving all our school pupils the best possible start in life, with a firm foundation that will stand them in good stead for the rest of their lives.

“A key element of that is ensuring that they have the emotional intelligence and resilience to deal with whatever life throws at them – and the confidence to seek help when they need it.

“HeadStart is a ground-breaking initiative that has the potential to change lives, and I congratulate Linthorpe Community Primary on becoming the first school in Middlesbrough to achieve its Gold Standard.”

South Tees Director of Public Health Edward Kunonga said: “Emotional resilience in young people is a pre-requisite to good health and wellbeing outcomes, educational attainment and length and quality of life.

“Around half of people with mental health problems experience their symptoms by the age of 14.

“HeadStart provides support for children and young people at an early stage to enable them to cope in difficult circumstances to prevent problems from occurring in the first place.”

This week’s (Tuesday 26^th June)  BBC2’s Horizon documentary Teenagers vs Cancer: A User's Guide,  featured 11 remarkable young people who beautifully illustrated why teenagers and young adults need different, specialist and expert support when they face cancer. Viewers were introduced to bespoke ward facilities, specialist nursing and social worker support tailored to the age group, and funded by charities including Teenage Cancer Trust.

As the only UK charity purely focussed on the treatment, care and support of 13-24 year olds with cancer, we are determined the needs of young people with cancer should not be ignored. Teenage Cancer Trust estimate that we currently only reach about half of the young people diagnosed with cancer in the UK every year with our services, specifically tailored to meet the needs of young people.

Horizon has helped ensure teenagers and young people are heard and for this we are enormously grateful to everyone involved in making the programme happen. However, it is important that those watching last night realise that the job’s far from done. We are calling on the NHS to work in partnership with us, to ensure that every young person diagnosed with cancer in the UK has a Teenage Cancer Trust specialist nurse to provide expert age appropriate care, wherever they choose to be treated.

Kate Collins, Chief Executive at Teenage Cancer Trust

MyBuilder.com, the UK’s leading site for homeowners to find quality tradesmen, has seen a recent surge in families looking to replace their lawns with artificial grass. A new survey carried out by the site has confirmed that more people than ever now dream of ripping out their real lawn in favour of a synthetic substitute.

More than 40% of respondents to the MyBuilder.com poll said that their dream garden would have a low maintenance fake lawn, even though they make up a tiny proportion of all gardens in the UK today. The artificial lawn trend seems to be on the rise, with a huge 87% of people saying they expected fake grass to become an increasingly common sight across British gardens in the future.

With a further 7% of homeowners opting for hard paving for their ideal garden, barely half of those polled showed off their green fingers and said they still wanted a classic grass lawn.

The results come as millions of British people are suffering the effects of hay fever. A combination of factors, including wintry weather such as “the Beast from the East” means that the tree pollen season was delayed and condensed, and has now combined with the traditional grass pollen season in what many weather watchers have dubbed a “pollen bomb”.

High pollen levels are set to last throughout June, and are at their peak across most of England and Wales. It is estimated that one in five people across the UK suffer from hay fever, with allergies to grass pollen being the most common.

Although artificial grass is becoming ever more popular, the majority of those surveyed said that it wasn’t necessarily a convincing replica of the real thing - 76% reckoned they could tell it apart from its natural counterpart, although it wouldn’t put them off using it.

Fake grass is even making an appearance this month as the world’s football stars face off in Russia. Half of the dozen stadiums being used in the tournament feature high tech hybrid pitches, which combine natural grass with a small proportion of synthetic turf.

Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Dom Cunningham, visited Birmingham Children’s Hospital to encourage children and families to ‘Move It’ for charity.

Dom was in the city centre to help Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity launch its latest summer fundraiser ‘Move It’, which encourages supporters, both young and old, to get up and active in order to raise vital funds for the sick kids treated at the hospital.

Whether a danceathon, football tournament or even sponsored walk, supporters can take on a range of activities to raise funds for the Children’s Hospital, which treats over 90,000 children each year.

Sport and exercise is something close to the local gymnast’s heart. He said: “I feel honoured to be here today helping to launch ‘Move It’ with Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity. In a growing digital world, it’s even more important to remember the benefit of exercise and sport. Taking part in ‘Move It’ is a great way to stay fit and healthy as well as raise money for a great cause.

“I’ve met some incredible children at the hospital today. Every one of them has been through incredibly difficult journeys, yet they still get out there to play the sports they love which is so inspiring to see.”

But Dom wasn’t the only gold medallist at the hospital today, as the BCH Transplant Games team, who has won the UK wide games for the past 21 years, also came to support ‘Move It’.

One team member was 15-year-old Hollie Simpson from Coventry. She is celebrating her 10 year post-transplant anniversary this year.  Her dad, Malcolm, who gave Hollie his kidney 10 years ago, added: “We’re so incredibly proud of Hollie and everything she’s achieved. What was a scary time for us all, has now made Hollie into the happy and confident girl she is today.

“Hollie was really excited to meet Dom today and get advice from him. He told her to just enjoy every moment and experience, the medals will come but it’s important to make sure you have lots of fun.

“Last year, she competed in the World Transplant Games in Malaga and won two gold medals in the Long Jump and Ball Throwand this weekend we’re off to Sardinia to compete in the European Transplant Games. Meeting a commonwealth champion today will give her a great boost ahead of the games.”

The BCH Transplant Games team is made up of patients from the hospital that have had one or more organ transplants and this year the games are being held in Birmingham for the first time since 1999.

Miranda Williams, Public Fundraising Manager at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “We were delighted to welcome both Dom and the Transplant Games team to our hospital today and can’t thank them enough for their support for ‘Move It’.

“Supporters taking part in ‘Move It’ can fundraise for any ward or department in the hospital, including the Transplant Games fund where £100 could sponsor an athlete like Hollie for the day – this would include kit, fees and accommodation per day.

“Without our incredible supporters, we wouldn’t be able to go above and beyond for our patients and families to help give them the best possible experience, so we really are incredibly grateful.”

A campaigner for better patient care, a much-loved hospital porter and a former British prime minister made the top 70 in a poll of NHS standout stars.

As part of the NHS 70th Birthday celebrations, the campaign saw patients, staff and public nominating people who have made an exceptional contribution to patient care, services and local communities over the last 70 years.

The campaign, called “Health and Care’s Top 70 Stars” was launched by the NHS Confederation, along with NHS England and NHS Improvement.

Nominations were put to a public vote in May, resulting in the shortlist of 70 winners.

Nominations and voting was open to anyone who worked for the NHS and wider health and care sector over the past 70 years in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, whether still living or since passed. In total, there were 236 nominations received.

The top 70 winners were awarded at the NHS 7Tea party at Confed18, the NHS Confederation’s annual conference, in Manchester.

The first-place winner was Dr Bijay Sinha, who works as a consultant on a ward at Barts Health NHS Trust known for high discharge rates and low readmission rates.

“I feel delighted to be appreciated by patients, and my colleagues,” said Dr Sinha.

“My philosophy at my work is, let your work do the talking, not your mouth. I always credit the patients for my success. All along my career, they have helped me to be a good doctor.

“My multidisciplinary team is the best in the hospital.  I’m lucky to be part of it. If it’s an orchestra, I’m the conductor. I can’t be anything without them. Last but not, least, I’d like to thank my family. Without their support, I would not have achieved this.”

The second-place winner was Dr Sanjeev Nayak, a consultant interventional neuroradiologist at University Hospitals of North Midlands, who introduced and pioneered mechanical thrombectomy for stroke patients in the UK.

“I am delighted to be a winner,” said Dr Nayak.

“It’s a recognition for the service that we have been running for a decade now. It’s a great honour to be recognised for this award, for all the work done by our team. I want to thank my team, and I also want to thank my family for being patient with the time that I’ve spent away from them to make sure this service is successfully implemented.”

The third-place winner was the late Dr Kate Granger, an English geriatrician and campaigner for better patient care. She worked for the Mid-Yorkshire Hospital NHS Trust, and founded the #hellomynameis campaign. Dr Granger died in 2016 from a rare form of incurable cancer.

Chris Pointon, Dr Granger’s husband, received the award on her behalf.

“Kate would be extremely proud of being included in these awards as part of the 70th celebration of the birthday of the NHS,” said Pointon.

“The NHS gave Kate her career but also looked after Kate through her journey with cancer.

“Kate loved the NHS, and everything it was about, from being free at the point of usage, to the whole ethos behind the establishment of the NHS. Despite being terminally ill, she still wanted to make a difference within the NHS.”

Other winners included a doctor with a three-decade career who works with patients with substance misuse problems and a hospital porter loved by staff and patients.

Coming in at number 10 was former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who presided over the greatest expansion of the NHS since its foundation.

Danny Mortimer, deputy chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said:

“As many in Britain believe, the NHS is one of the most remarkable institutions in our country. And our tireless staff – all 1.5 million of them – are what make it so remarkable.

“By recognising members of our NHS workforce, and those on the outside who helped shape the system, we wanted to both celebrate the past and shape the future of health and care.

“The extremely diverse and varied list of winners who have dedicated their careers for a better system of health and care deserve no less than our recognition and honour.”

Ruth May, the executive director of nursing at NHS Improvement, said:

“These awards give us a chance to thank all those who have made the NHS the nation’s most loved institution for the past 70 years.

“Not least the people who make up the 350 different roles in the NHS workforce. They have dedicated their lives to providing compassionate care and treatment to people up and down the country.

“The 70 standout stars deserve our personal gratitude.”

Premium bar and restaurant, The Alchemist are not ones to shy away from supporting great causes and will be doing their bit to raise awareness for men’s mental health this month.

This June The Alchemist are exclusively partnering with CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) charity, in support of its movement against male suicide, the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK.

Famed for theatrical, immersive experiences, The Alchemist has created a limited edition drinks menu including four Woodford Reserve based cocktails which will be available throughout June.

In addition, the Alchemist has pledged to donate £1 to CALM for every Golden Apple sold from the limited edition menu in support of the great cause. The menu includes devilishly delightful concoctions such as the Summer Salad, a savoury but sweet drink as well as the Dark F consisting of Woodford Reserve, blackberry liqueur, apple cider, purple smoke.

There can be a stigma around the topic of mental health, especially in the male community and The Alchemist wants to help change that. Throughout the month The Alchemist will also be posting bios from their male team members, about their experiences and how they combat stress / anxiety. What's more, we have organised some epic events to celebrate & raise awareness.

So what are you waiting for? Get down to your nearest Alchemist to try the new limited edition menu and support a very worthy cause.

New online research from Diabetes UK, to mark the start of Diabetes Week 2018 (11 – 17 June), has revealed that one in three people in the Midlands (33 per cent) would seek advice online first over talking to a GP about a health concern.

The poll, carried out by YouGov on behalf of Diabetes UK, also showed that just one in five (21 per cent) of respondents said they would feel comfortable speaking to an employer about health concerns. While three quarters of people (73 per cent) said they would feel comfortable talking about a friend or loved one’s health condition, only 62 per cent said they’d feel comfortable talking to friends or loved ones about their own health.

The theme for Diabetes Week 2018 is Talk About Diabetes, and Diabetes UK is taking the opportunity to help people with diabetes have honest, open conversations about their condition with healthcare professionals, friends and family.

In light of these findings, Diabetes UK has produced a list of top tips to encourage people with diabetes to have conversations they may have been avoiding having with their healthcare professional team.

Diabetes UK’s top tips for people with diabetes talking to healthcare professionals:

·         Diabetes is complicated and different for everyone. There’s no such thing as a silly question. So don’t be afraid to ask about whatever’s on your mind.

·         It’ll really help if you go to your appointment with some questions in mind. You could write them down or send them to your healthcare team beforehand.

·         This time is for you, so let your healthcare team know what you’d like to talk about from the start.

·         Sometimes you’ll have more to talk about and you might need more time. If you can, book a double appointment so you don’t have to rush.

·         There might be things you feel uncomfortable talking about. But your healthcare team is there to help, so be honest and make the most of their medical expertise.

Peter Shorrick is Regional Head, Midlands and East, at Diabetes UK. He said:

“Talking about diabetes can be hard. But for someone living with the condition, or caring for someone who does, it can mean getting the right treatment, ensuring your rights are protected at work, or making sure your child gets the best care at school. That’s why being able to talk about diabetes, and having people to talk to about the condition, is so important.

“This diabetes week we want to help people live better with diabetes, by giving them tools and tips to start tricky conversations, and get the support they really need.

“Finding information online about diabetes can be tricky, too, and risky if you don’t know where to start. We’d recommend using the Diabetes UK website, or our helpline, if you want to be signposted to expert advice about living with or managing any aspect of diabetes.”

An earlier survey of more than 8,000 people living with or affected by diabetes carried out by Diabetes UK showed that greater support for emotional and psychological health; better access to healthcare professionals who understand diabetes; and more support and understanding at work and school were priorities for those affected by the condition.

To support this, the charity has also developed tips to help healthcare professionals sensitively approach conversations with their patients living with diabetes, as well as to help the public start a conversation with someone they know who has the condition.

Diabetes UK’s Tips for Healthcare Professionals include:

·         Some things are hard to talk about and that’s fine. Just be frank and use clear, simple language. It’ll help both you and your patient feel more relaxed and comfortable.

·         Sometimes there’s a lot to talk about in an appointment, and you might need more time. You could suggest booking a double appointment next time and highlight other ways to get in touch, such as email. Don’t forget about our helpline that’s there to offer support as well.

·         Your patient is more than just a number. By understanding their day-to-day lives you can help them manage their diabetes better. A simple question about their favourite hobby or weekend plans can often build rapport and make a huge difference.

In order to get people talking this Diabetes Week, Diabetes UK is also asking people to share their own tips about having difficult conversations. Get involved and share your tips on the website www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetesweek or on social media using the hashtag #talkaboutdiabetes.

*The survey was conducted by YouGov on behalf of Diabetes UK on 31st May - 1st June 2018. Total sample size was 2072 adults. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).