Health & Wellbeing

People in Birmingham and Solihull are being encouraged to know their options for getting medical help this bank holiday weekend.

With GP practices being closed on Monday 31 May, it is important to know where people can seek help and advice when they need it.

Dr Will Taylor, Clinical Chair at NHS Birmingham Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “For urgent healthcare needs, patients should think 111 first. Patients can either go online at 111.nhs.uk or call 111; it is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Advisers will be able to direct patients to the most appropriate service, including walk-in or urgent care centres, or can book a timeslot at A&E if necessary.

Dr Taylor added: “A well-stocked medicine cabinet is very useful in helping people to treat common illnesses at home, but if necessary patients can visit a local pharmacy for minor issues or to get over-the-counter medications.”

Some GP practices may be offering a limited number of extended access appointments on 31 May, but these must be booked in advance by calling your practice as normal.

Options during the May bank holiday weekend:

·         Self-care – make sure you have a well-stocked medicine cabinet at home, so you can deal with minor injuries and ailments at home

·         Pharmacy – your local pharmacist can give you quick, confidential advice on lots of common illnesses, as well as over-the-counter medication. Find your nearest pharmacy open on the May bank holiday.

·         NHS 111 – if you’re worried about an urgent medical concern, or not sure which NHS service you need, you can either call 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk online 24 hours a day, seven days a week

·         GP practice extended access appointments – some practices will be offering limited appointments, but these must be booked in advance through your GP practice.

The Pfizer and AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccines are highly effective against the variant identified in India after two doses, a study has found. Two jabs of either vaccine give a similar level of protection against symptomatic disease from the Indian variant as they do for the Kent one.

However, both vaccines were only 33% effective against the Indian variant three weeks after the first dose. This compared with 50% effectiveness against the Kent variant.

Public Health England, which ran the study, said the vaccines are likely to be even more effective at preventing hospital admission and deaths. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the findings made him increasingly confident the final stage of easing restrictions in England could take place on 21 June. The data showed getting both doses of the vaccine was absolutely vital, he added.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said the data was positive but the planned stages for the easing needed to be followed. She said: "We will continue to follow the data... we all have to be conscientious... we are distancing, wearing masks, following all the rules.

“That, of course, will help us to that unlocking on 21 June." Questioned about criticism of the timing of putting India on the travel red list, the home secretary said ministers work with the data... and that information was presented... in the right way for the decisions to be made".

She also defended the controls at UK borders - highlighting the pre-arrival testing requirements and saying that a vigorous system for making sure people arriving from red list countries were quarantining was in place.

The Pfizer vaccine was found to be 88% effective at stopping symptomatic disease from the Indian variant two weeks after the second dose, compared with 93% effectiveness against the Kent variant. The AstraZeneca jab was 60% effective against the Indian variant, compared with 66% against the Kent variant.

A new report released this week by the WHO highlights achievements and gaps in the implementation of the global strategies for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. 

The report outlines the steps needed to eliminate these diseases as a public health threat by 2030.  

In Sandwell, the Council’s Public Health Team collaborates with Sandwell & West Birmingham NHS Trust (SWB NHS Trust) to ensure a range of accessible sexual health services are in place. One of the newest is pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medicine which can reduce the risk of someone contracting HIV. 

PrEP is available for some people who are assessed as being at high risk of HIV infection – for example, those whose partner is HIV positive. It's available as a tablet and can be prescribed within Sandwell’s sexual health clinics. 

Lisa McNally, Director of Public Health for Sandwell, said “Our sexual health services are a vital part of how we keep our population safe and well. Evidence-based services, innovative treatments like PrEP, early diagnosis and good education are vital if we are to play our part in the global ambition to reduce and even eliminate HIV.” 

Group Director of Primary Care, Community & Therapies at SWB NHS Trust, Tammy Davies, added: “We are pleased to be able to offer this treatment free to those who would benefit, following its successful pilot across England. Our sexual health team can answer any queries or concerns, so I would urge anyone who is at risk of developing HIV to contact us to discuss options. 

“This service is part of a wider collaboration between Sandwell Council and the healthcare trust on public health services including everything from sexual health services through to children’s public health nursing and Covid outbreak response.” 

A clinically vulnerable patient has received the millionth COVID vaccination given in Birmingham and Solihull at her GP surgery.

Roshnan Hamakham, 40, was vaccinated at Bath Row Medical Centre on May 20. Speaking about the vaccination, she said: “I feel very happy to have had my second vaccination, and I just want to say thank you very much to the NHS.

“I’ve stayed at home a lot because of COVID, but now I’ve had both jabs, feel much safer and am looking forward to seeing friends and family more.”

Lead GP at the practice, Dr Onyi Okonkwo, said: “This is such an amazing achievement, and is a key milestone in the rollout of the vaccine here in Birmingham; we feel truly privileged to have been able to play a significant part in the programme, which is saving so many lives.

“The vaccine is a safe and key element in managing and controlling the virus. Being vaccinated protects not just you, but those around you, so I would encourage everyone to have their vaccine, when they are invited.”

Paul Jennings, Chief Executive of NHS Birmingham and Solihull CCG and leader of the Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System, added: “I would like to say a massive heart-felt thank you to everyone who has helped us to achieve this incredible milestone, from the vaccinators to the logistics teams, and all our amazing volunteers.

“GP practices and community partnerships have, at short-notice, been able to adapt to meet the needs of communities to ensure that everyone has fair access to the vaccine when they are eligible. It’s also important to recognise the contributions which are being made by our local hospitals and vaccination centres, who have also been working tirelessly over the last few months to deliver the vaccine to our health and social care workers, those most at risk, the clinically vulnerable, carers and the wider adult population.

“The vaccine rollout has been a real triumph for the NHS in Birmingham and Solihull and showcases exactly the kind of thing we can achieve when we work collaboratively, something we’ll be doing even more of over the coming months and years. The work doesn’t stop here; we’re now concentrating on ensuring even more people can be vaccinated, as more age groups become eligible.”

Initiatives across Birmingham and Solihull to encourage uptake include: multi-generational household vaccination; holding clinics out of hours to suit those who celebrated Ramadan; utilising mobile vaccination units to reach diverse and vulnerable communities in places of worship and other community venues; providing vaccines in people’s homes for housebound patients; and providing online discussions and information for communities to ask questions about the vaccine.

Community groups in Central England and the Midlands that help local people look after their hearts can now apply for a regional grant up to £10,000, thanks to national charity Heart Research UK and the Subway brand.

The Heart Research UK and Subway Healthy Heart Grant is available for new and innovative projects that promote healthy hearts and reduce the risk of heart disease in the community. Projects should deliver health initiatives such as cooking skills and healthy eating and should encourage people to get more active and promote positive mental wellbeing.

The £10,000 has been raised locally in Subway stores throughout the region. Previous grantees in the region have included Ecobirmingham, who offer cycling sessions to men over 40.

In response to the pandemic, we have adapted the criteria for our Healthy Heart grants. We will accept applications for projects which can be delivered remotely or with social distancing measures in place. This year we are also accepting applications for the funding of equipment only.

Kate Bratt-Farrar, Chief Executive of Heart Research UK, said: “Through our partnership with Subway, we hope to encourage people all across the country to make healthier choices and give them practical help to do so. This grant is available to ensure everyone can benefit from a healthier, happier and longer life.

“We’re looking for new and innovative projects that really have an impact, especially if they aim to improve the health of at risk or hard to reach communities. We’re really grateful to the many customers and staff at Subway stores who have raised the money to make this possible.” The deadline for applying is June 14.

As pubs re-open, new research has found that one in four adults in the UK are concerned about the impact of lockdown easing on their drinking habits. An independent, representative poll of 2,000 UK adults (18+), commissioned by the drug, alcohol and mental health charity, With You, reveals widespread concern among the UK population, ranging from worries about drinking more, to falling back into old drinking behaviours or shaking off drinking habits developed during lockdown. 

As well as one in four adults having concerns about their own drinking habits, the poll also found that, as restrictions ease, 1 in 10 [5.6 million people] are worried about the drinking behaviour of a partner, friend or family member.

Despite the prevalence of people’s concern, the survey indicates that people remain reluctant to talk about drinking habits and reach out for support. One in four said that, if they had a drinking problem, they would feel embarrassed to ask for support and only a third would feel comfortable starting a conversation with a partner, family member or friend if they had concerns about that person’s drinking. 

To help address this issue and encourage more open, positive conversations about drinking behaviour, With You is today launching a new campaign to help people ‘Find the Right Moment’ to have that initial conversation with a family member, partner or friend they are concerned about and access help before problems escalate. The campaign features a video highlighting some of the challenges around finding the ‘Right Moment’ and signposts viewers to a host of online advice and further avenues for support. 

Speaking about the importance of support from her family in addressing her own drinking, Karen, who has accessed support for her drinking at With You’s service in Wigan over the past year, said: “For a long time I struggled in silence, but the truth is, it’s so hard to address the issue on your own. For me and many others I know, those initial conversations with family and friends are what spurred us on to seek longer-lasting support. They give people the foundation and the confidence to reach out for help, to know you don’t have to do it alone.” 

Jon Murray, Executive Director of Services for England at With You said: “For many, the long awaited easing of lockdown restrictions is an exciting time, allowing people to socialise and reconnect with friends and family. But this research shows that for some, it’s also a time of heightened concern, with many feeling pressure to drink more when socialising, worrying they’ll be unable to reverse drinking habits developed during lockdown or fearing they may fall back into old habits. 

“Alcohol is everywhere in our society, but often people feel ashamed and embarrassed to talk about it, compounding feelings of shame and isolation. I’ve worked in alcohol treatment services for 16 years. Behind most recovery stories is the support of family and friends.

“People are understandably worried about how and when to bring up the issue of a loved one’s drinking, fearing they could make things worse or be met with anger but a non-judgemental conversation can make a big difference and be the first step in someone making positive changes.” The survey also looked at people’s levels of drinking with results indicating that concerns are justified.

Over 8.9 million adults are currently drinking above ‘safe’ levels each week with more than one in seven saying the easing of lockdown restrictions will lead them to drink even more alcohol. With You has a host of advice on how and when to have those initial conversations on its website.

The public is being urged to take part in trials to find out whether a third dose of Covid vaccine could protect against new variants.

All seven vaccines the UK has ordered will be tested on working-age people and over-75s as part of a randomised trial. Data on side-effects and immune responses will be gathered.

The findings will help vaccine advisers decide if re-vaccinating some people in the autumn is necessary.

More than 20 million people have been fully vaccinated - with two doses of a Covid vaccine - since the UK's vaccination programme started, but it's still not clear how long protection lasts. Offering some groups a third dose to boost protection from coronavirus ahead of winter has been suggested - but not confirmed.

The Cov-Boost study, which starts in June, will recruit 3,000 people of all ages who had their first dose in December or January, to test if this is worthwhile.

Professor Saul Faust, chief investigator for the trial, from the University of Southampton, said: "It could be that some age groups may not need a booster and others do," "We are not trying to say one is better than the other.

“The aim is to find out whether there should be a booster campaign and which vaccine to use." He said he was not expecting any vaccines to be detrimental" but some could cause high fevers or very sore arms, for example, which would be useful to know.

The vaccines will be trialled at 18 sites across the UK, and half doses will also be tested including: Southampton, London (University College Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital and Northwick Park Harrow), Leicester, Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Wrexham, Bradford, Oxford, Glasgow, Leeds, Cambridge, Birmingham, Brighton, Stockport, Liverpool and Exeter.

Participants will be asked to keep diaries of any side-effects after a third dose, which could be one of seven different Covid vaccines, and researchers will test participants' immune response after one, three and 12 months. This involves testing their blood for antibodies to coronavirus - high levels are a sign that the body's defences are primed to fight off the virus.

All doses would be from current vaccines, designed to protect against the original form of the virus.

In addition to doses of AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna, some people will be given doses of vaccines from Novavax, Janssen, Valneva and CureVac, which are currently being trialled in large numbers of people, but have not yet been approved by the UK regulator. There will also be a control group, who will be given a dummy vaccine.

Researchers at the University of East Anglia are launching a new project to see whether virtual reality could help with the treatment of chronic pain.

As many as 50 per cent of the UK population are living with chronic pain, and the team will study whether new technology delivered via a VR headset could help ease their symptoms.

One very futuristic aspect to the study is that the team will use a ‘Brain-Computer Interface’ where people will be taught to control elements of the VR game using only the power of their mind.

Dr Jordan Tsigarides from UEA’s Norwich Medical School and a Rheumatology doctor at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, said: “Virtual Reality is an emerging technology where the user gains a completely immersive, interactive and often transformative experience with the use of a head-mounted display.

“VR seems to flood the brain with a multitude of audiovisual signals, engaging the senses and diverting the brain’s attention from processing pain signals.”

“At present, there is evidence that VR can significantly decrease people’s acute pain. What we are looking to find out is whether this kind of technology can be used to help people suffering chronic pain as well.”

The team is working alongside industry partner, Orbital Innovations, and has created an innovative new VR program for patients with chronic pain conditions, including Fibromyalgia Syndrome and chronic pain following a Total Knee Replacement. It will be tested on patients recruited from the NNUH and Addenbrookes in partnership with Rheumatology, Orthopaedics and Pain Management departments.

Dr Tsigarides said: “The virtual worlds that we have created aim to transport patients to naturalistic, immersive environments whether its travelling down a cool snowy river or planting crops in a luscious warm forest. Through VR, we aim to engage patients through challenging and interactive games, with the objective of understanding more about how this technology can reboot the brain’s pain networks.

“We are working with neuroscientists at the UEA to look at the brain waves of people with chronic pain. This has the potential to allow us to see how this technology is working, as well as learn more about the brain function of people with these conditions.

"Moving things with your mind sounds like something straight from a sci-fi movie but with today’s technology, ‘Brain-Computer Interfaces’ are being used more and more in health research. We believe that this exciting new innovation when coupled with an immersive VR experience will ‘power up’ the pain relief seen with VR alone.

“Given that just under 28 million adults in the UK suffer from chronic pain, and that we are in the midst of an opioid epidemic, this treatment could be an important future intervention.”

Peter Brady, CEO of Orbital Innovations, said: “Orbital Innovations has been working towards the development of a virtual reality technology, which will offer a way of mitigating the effects of chronic pain. This innovative project collaboration with UEA, will be breaking new ground in fully exploring the exciting opportunities this technology will offer patients in the future.”

The project has been funded by the British Society of Rheumatology, Action Arthritis, and Orbital Innovations.

As further easing of restrictions comes into force, it is encouraging to see a sense of normality returning to our lives in the West Midlands region, but we need to remain cautious.

The continued easing of restrictions is down to the success of the vaccine rollout and the sacrifices made by everyone who has stayed apart from family and friends, worked from home and followed the guidance to stop the virus from spreading. For the first time this year, people are now able to socialise indoors in groups of six or two separate households, with outdoor gatherings of up to 30 people.

This big step also allows for the reopening of indoor hospitality and leisure venues including restaurants, pubs, theatres and cinemas. Indoor and outdoor sporting and business events, and live performances will also begin.

While this will no doubt be welcomed by many, we must not become complacent. COVID-secure measures will be in operation to allow larger events to take place, with capping according to venue type, and attendees having to follow measures set by venues. While individuals must take personal responsibility when meeting up with loved ones.

We know cases of the variant VOC-21APR-02, which was first detected in India, are now increasing in our communities, as well as other mutations too. In our region, surge testing for variants is currently underway in Nuneaton and Redditch; with other parts of the West Midlands encouraging wider testing among residents. The public health message remains the same for COVID-19 and all variants.

We know the best way to stop the spread of this virus is to follow the guidelines – remember Hands, Face, Space and Fresh Air, socialise outdoors, work from home if you can, get vaccinated and take up the offer of regular testing by ordering free test kits to your home. As we all enjoy more freedom, it is important we recognise and respond to the changing nature of variants, which are likely to be part of how we live with COVID-19 for some time.

Everyone has a part to play in controlling COVID-19, from participating in surge testing, to following the rules, and getting their vaccines. Although this variant is proving very transmissible, there is currently no reason to believe the vaccines are any less effective against it, however we continue to monitor this closely.

Getting a vaccine is the most effective way in which you can reduce your chances of becoming infected with COVID-19 and will significantly lower your risk of dying or serious illness. Remember, both doses are vital though in order to achieve maximum protection.

We know people are at much greater risk from transmission indoors, so be cautious and stay outside where it is safer. Consider who you are meeting, are they vulnerable and have either of you had one or two doses of the vaccine?
It is also more important than ever that people come forward for PCR testing and isolate when they have symptoms, no matter how mild, in order to find cases and greatly reduce transmission.
If everyone plays their part by continuing to follow the health advice in their area, we can help to break the chain of transmission and protect our loved ones.

Leading British healthcare company Salutaris People has warned of the potential chaos which could unfold now that the Government has formally lift the ban on ‘illegal travel’. The Tyneside and Cheshire based company warned of passenger chaos and confusion over Covid testing protocols to ‘green-list’ destination countries. 

The company has also blasted Transport Minister Grant Shapps and the Government for its shambolic communication of the traffic light system for travel and its ‘green list’ of 12 designated countries.  It said that the Transport Minister and the Government had failed to communicate testing and vaccination protocols for entry into the 12 designated countries and which were open to receiving passengers from the UK.  It said this was going to leave airline passengers in complete confusion and disarray over which Covid tests they are expected to have for entry into their destination country and whether the country will even accept inbound travel and receive them.

Ross Tomkins MD of Salutaris People said: “The Government communication around the ‘green list’ and traffic light system has only dealt with the quarantine restrictions for re-entry back into the UK.

“It has not communicated clearly and effectively what the entry and testing requirements are into designated countries. This in itself has created utter confusion for the public and airline passengers wanting to book holidays to those destinations.

“Many airline passengers will be thinking they don’t need to be tested - confusing re-entry protocols to the UK - when in actual fact the destination country will have its own entry criteria for testing and vaccination. Some passengers may also confuse the existing NHS testing as a secure test result to be Fit to Fly. Many of the countries on the list are not accepting airline passengers into their country at the moment."

With the announcement of the 12-country ‘green-list’ there has been a huge surge of flight bookings with airlines in anticipation of the travel restriction and ban being lifted today. Extra flights have been put on by airlines and regional airports including Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Leeds Bradford to Portugal, despite the fact that passengers from the UK are not permitted entry into Portugal at the moment.

Ben Paglia MD of AKEA Life the clinical testing partner to Salutaris People said: “The reality is that whilst you can book a flight and fly to a country when you get there you won’t be let in. Many of the airlines have passengers booked onto flights for Portugal, but when you arrive you won’t be allowed entry into the destination country due to complex rules on entry and stringent restrictions on testing and vaccination. At the moment Portugal is closed to UK passengers in accordance with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office guidance. There is the very real danger that passengers could fly to Portugal and not be allowed to disembark from the plane and be returned to their home destination.

“We also expect to see a lot of passengers who will be frantically rushing to get last minute rapid PCR tests before flying - to the few countries that will accept airline passengers – and when they also realise the destination country test requirements. There are also going to be a lot of very disappointed passengers furious not only with the escalating costs, but with the lack of clear communication to destination countries from Grant Shapps and the Government.”  

Salutaris People is the clinical lead partner in one of the UK’s first rapid PCR test facilities at a UK airport. The healthcare company is working in partnership with the Test Assurance Group (TAG) and Liverpool John Lennon Airport to offer rapid on-site PCR tests.  The express testing suite - which has its own on-site laboratory at the airport - provides clients with a rapid PCR test and certificate in 1-3 hours under Fit to Fly. It also provides other testing services including Test to Release and is expected to announce shortly that it will also be able to offer 2-day and 8-day testing. It is one of the only airports in the UK able to do this, compared to the normal 48-hour turnaround for PCR tests.

Ross Tomkins MD of Salutaris People added: “Whilst Australia is on the list issued by the Government, the reality is that Australia has locked its doors until 2022 for tourists. The same can be said of Israel and many other countries who are not allowing airline passengers from the UK. In real terms we have had an announcement of 12 countries we can return from and a traffic light system, but no clear guidance on which countries will accept airline passengers and what their entry requirements are. It would have been far more sensible and logical  for the Transport Minister and the Government to have announced which countries will accept airline passengers and what the entry requirements to those countries are in respect of test types and vaccination.” 

Ben Paglia MD of AKEA Life also added. “There is also a great deal of complexity to the traffic light system. This is where many of the major airlines will come unstuck. Tui for example have announced their green and amber packages and associated low budget costs including PCR home testing kits to a big fanfare last week. But you simply cannot properly set the parameters of any ‘green’ or ‘amber’ travel package until you know what the destination country parameters and protocols are and have been set.  They also have the issue of potential disruption to the postal PCR test kits being sent out as both laboratories and the postal service struggle to cope with demand.

“These protocols will also change on a regular basis as new variants of the disease emerge which will impact each country and travel restrictions. The South Africa, Brazil and Indian variants have all surfaced in the UK posing a serious threat to a third wave. Despite lockdown easing and the success of the vaccination programme the virus is still very much with us in our communities.  

“We have had a number of AKEA Life and Salutaris People clients booking holidays for countries that were on the Government ‘green list’ but have since realised that the country in question is not accepting passengers and have had to re book their holidays.”

As the majority of airlines are pushing towards postal delivery of self-administered PCR test kits Salutaris People also warned that there could be more Covid testing chaos with delays on postal test kits. The stark warning comes as the pent-up demand for air travel continues and there are genuine concerns of a repeat of last December’s postal test chaos. There were huge delays in the delivery of home-based PCR test kits by the postal service, which all of the airlines are now relying on.  The delays left airline passengers with test results being delivered late, ‘Unclear” test results - meaning passengers had to take secondary testing - tests going missing and, in some cases, passengers missing flights all together. 

The healthcare company is on the UK Government’s approved list of Covid-19 test providers. Salutaris People will have 5 clinics operating by the end of this month, including Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Wilmslow in Cheshire, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Stockton-On-Tees and Sunderland. These sites will provide Covid-19 testing for all airline passengers in the Northeast who want to fly from Newcastle International Airport and Teesside International Airport. Both the Liverpool and Wilmslow sites will provide Covid-19 testing for airline passengers wishing to fly from Manchester Airport and Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

Akea Life, the clinical partner to Salutaris People, is a CQC-registered, 5-star private GP medical business, providing the UK’s first fully private concierge medical service of private doctors, healthcare professionals and nurses. The practice also retains a Covid-19 Consultant Virologist to advise on all matters related to Covid-19. The company also contains a Consultant Virologist - Dr Brendan Payne who is an honorary consultant physician in infectious diseases at the Royal Victoria Infirmary - Newcastle Upon Tyne.  Dr Payne holds CCTs in both infectious diseases and virology and works jointly across both departments at the Newcastle Hospitals.

Salutaris People, in conjunction with its healthcare and clinical partners Akea Life, Therapy Direct and Normedica, are also offering a unique Covid-19 Concierge Service to clients by bringing private Covid PCR testing to their location. A trained healthcare professional will come to a private residence, hotel or location and administer PCR tests. The tests are then couriered back to the mobile laboratory facilities, providing express PCR results within 1-3 hours. The company also plans to offer this service across the UK in other key locations and airports. 

 

An Alzheimer's Society investigation has revealed a 27% rise in people with dementia being rushed into hospital due to inadequate social care.

The findings, released to mark Dementia Action Week (17-23 May), show that even before the pandemic tens of thousands were admitted because poor care left them unprotected from infections, falls and dehydration. This news comes just under a week after the Queen’s Speech frustratingly made only a brief mention of the Prime Minister’s promise nearly two years ago to deliver a clear plan for social care reform, a devastating blow for people living with dementia, worst hit by coronavirus.

The investigation, involving Freedom of Information requests to NHS Trusts, found a 27% rise between 2015 to 2019 of people with dementia sped to hospitals with avoidable emergencies. And in 2019, nearly two thirds (65%) of all emergency admissions of people with dementia were for avoidable illnesses and injuries caused by failures in care.

During Dementia Action Week, Alzheimer’s Society is releasing a hard-hitting TV ad Cure the Care System - YouTube which is calling on the government to ‘cure the care system’. Supported by billboard advertising, the heart-wrenching advert exposes the stark reality of being a dementia carer without adequate support.

In a supporting survey of unpaid dementia carers, almost half (48%) reported that they had performed tasks they felt unqualified to carry out because of a lack of support, and as a result, they reported that three-quarters (72%) of people with dementia having medical issues at home. And in an Alzheimer’s Society UK-wide survey by YouGov, it was revealed that for people in the West Midlands, social care ranks second behind the NHS and ahead of policing, schools and housing, as a priority for government funding.

Accessing good quality care in the future is also a huge concern for many. In the West Midlands 66% of people said it was something they worried about. There are 850,000 people in the UK living with dementia, including. The national figure is set to reach two million by 2051.

Alzheimer’s Society’s investigation found three in 10 people with dementia had experienced avoidable falls (29%), one in six missed medication (16%), one in five hurt themselves in the house (22%) and one in nine (11%) were rushed to hospital in an avoidable emergency. And, as recently reported, this devastating lack of support means many family carers are at breaking point, with 95% admitting it impacts their physical or mental health, 69% reporting feeling constantly exhausted, 64% feeling anxious and 49% feeling depressed.

While an increase in the number of people with dementia has contributed in part to the rise in avoidable admissions, much of the increase is thought to be due to cuts in spending on adult social care piling pressure on A&E and ambulance services. With interruptions to routine health and care services, and isolation enforced by lockdown, people with dementia have seen massive health deterioration over the pandemic, and with spending cuts biting, the charity warns it expects hospital admissions to increase sharply, costing the NHS millions, unless drastic action is taken to improve dementia care.

In the last month alone, Alzheimer’s Society has heard shocking reports of people with dementia losing the ability to walk, getting pneumonia, and being rushed to hospital with kidney damage from dehydration. All avoidable with quality dementia care.

During Dementia Action Week, Alzheimer’s Society is urging the government to rebuild the broken social care system, so that people with dementia get high quality, accessible social care, free at the point of use, like the NHS - because dementia isn’t curable yet, but the care system is: visit alzheimers.org.uk/DAW to join #CureTheCareSystem campaign.  

Janice Le Tellier, Alzheimer’s Society’s Area Manager for Midlands Central, said: “Lockdown has left people with dementia in the West Midlands cut off from vital support and care. Interrupted routines, loneliness and isolation have contributed to rapid symptom progression, meaning there’s now more people than ever fighting for scarce dementia care.

“Without urgent action, avoidable hospital admissions will skyrocket, costing the NHS millions. With no drugs to cure or slow down the condition, it’s social care that people with dementia rely on every day.

“But lack of time and dementia-specific training among the overworked and underpaid care workforce means people with dementia aren’t getting the support they need, either in their homes or in residential care, leading to emergency admissions and more pressure on the NHS. Decades of chronic underfunding and neglect have led to a care system that’s inadequate and deeply unfair – the pandemic has exposed these failings like never before.

“People with dementia have been worst hit, accounting for over a quarter of all deaths and many more rapidly deteriorating from lockdown’s knock-on effects; family carers are exhausted. This cannot be the kind of society that we expect today and that we want to grow old in - never again must people affected by dementia face such devastation.

“The legacy of this terrible year must be a reformed social care system, which is free at the point of use and put on an equal footing with the NHS. We need a system that gives every person with dementia the support they deserve and so desperately need.” To support Dementia Action Week (17-23 May 2021) visit alzheimers.org.uk/DAW and join #CureTheCareSystem campaign. 

Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, has visited a Black Country manufacturer to see some of the measures it has put in place to support the mental health and wellbeing of their employees. The visit was part of national Mental Health Awareness Week and highlighted some of the programmes being delivered by the West Midlands Combined Authority to support mental health.

He visited family-run Howells Patent Glazing of Cradley Heath which takes part in the Thrive at Work initiative - a workplace wellbeing programme established by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to help businesses, across the West and East Midlands to support their employees. By promoting health and wellbeing, the scheme benefits employees and the business by boosting productivity and demonstrating that the company is a considerate employer.  

Howells, which manufactures rooflights and canopies for domestic and commercial clients, signed up to the programme in 2018 and put in place action plans to support their employee’s mental health and wellbeing. Despite being based on an industrial estate behind Cradley Heath station, the firm has provided access to their staff to two nature trails, where workers can go and switch off from the stresses of everyday life.

One of the trails runs along Mousesweet Brook, close to Saltwell Nature Reserve, home to a wide variety of wildlife, including green and greater spotted woodpeckers. The visit was also appropriate given this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week  (May 10-16) focus on how nature can boost mental and physical health, and reduce feelings of isolation.

Thrive at Work is just one of a number of programmes being delivered by the WMCA to support mental health. Another programme, Thrive into Work, helps unemployed people with mental and physical health conditions get into work, and then supports them once they’ve found employment. Trialled initially in Birmingham and the Black Country, Thrive into Work will soon be expanding into other areas of the West Midlands through £3m of funding from central government.

With 25% of people accessing the service coming from the 18-24-year-old age group, which represents only 10% of the regional population, young people are disproportionately accessing the Thrive Into Work service. Also, 70% of the programme’s participants are suffering from anxiety or depression – conditions that have doubled across the region during the Covid pandemic, according to the WMCA’s Health of the Region Report (November 2020).

The new findings emphasise that the focus on mental health is more important now than ever before and continues to be a key priority for the Mayor and the new Mental Health Commission which will look further into young people’s mental health. Following his visit, the Mayor said: “It is vital we recognise the importance and benefits of good mental health not only for the individual that may be affected, but also for our wider economic recovery.

“I made mental health a clear priority in my election manifesto and I intend to continue to deliver on those promises. Positive mental health is good for the individual and good for the economy – no one should be left behind.

“Howells has clearly demonstrated how it puts the interests of its employees front and centre, in turn creating a workforce that I’m sure is more committed, happy and healthy. And what an inspired idea to reach out to nature to provide its team with that space to break away from their everyday pressures.

“But it’s equally important we focus on those who may be experiencing barriers in actually getting into work. Our Thrive into Work programme provides that crucial support to help them over the threshold into the workplace, and then supports them once they are employed.

“To hear that the largest group to access this support is among 18-24-year olds is of concern because our young people are our future, so it’s important that the Thrive Into Work team is there to support them.”

Welcoming the Mayor’s visits and comments, Tracey Jackson Howells business development manager commented: “We would like to thank the Mayor for taking the time to visit us and for taking an interest in our work and wellbeing programme. 

“We were one of the first to engage with the Mayor’s Mentor initiative which has certainly been a catalyst for change and progress. Two of our management team, myself included, have since become professionally trained coaches and mentors.  This has given us the confidence to change perception, job craft and improve the mental health of our staff; invaluable resources for any SME.”

Thrive Into Work operates by creating support teams which include primary and community health teams, jobs support and health services. Employment specialists based in GP surgeries and other health and community settings across the region provide intensive guidance to help individuals find and apply for jobs and prepare for interviews.

Paul Maubach, chief executive officer for the Black Country and West Birmingham NHS CCGs said: “Lack of employment is one of the main predictors of a person’s healthy life expectancy and so it is key that we work together across all sectors to secure employment opportunities for local people. We know that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will be far reaching and programmes like Thrive are essential for us to support people with their employment to improve their overall wellbeing.”

Councillor Izzi Seccombe WMCA portfolio lead for health and wellbeing and leader of Warwickshire County Council, said: “Looking after our mental health is so important and being out of work can be detrimental to an individual’s wellbeing as well as affecting them financially. The success of Thrive Into Work comes from bringing people together from primary and community health teams, jobs support and health services, and specialists who provide intensive help to the individuals who need it most.

“There’s a lot we can do as a Combined Authority, but even more we can achieve with our partners, including local businesses who I would urge to look into our mental health programmes: Thrive At Work, for the wellbeing of all their existing employees, and Thrive Into Work, so they can uncover exceptional new talent for their future workforce.”

After closing in December with the announcement of tier 4 restrictions, staff volunteers and swimmers are ecstatic that Moseley Road Baths is finally open again

While the doors were closed to the public for over four months, there was still lots going on behind the scenes. Moseley Road Baths staff and volunteers were busy carrying our repairs, cleaning the building, and completing training to prepare for opening. The work that was done includes:

·         Reheating the pool from a low of 6 degrees centigrade up to the usual 28 degrees (the perfect temperature for families and disabled swimmers).

·         Installing a new dosing controller funded through Veolia Environment which enables better monitoring of the levels of disinfectant, pH and temperature in the pool. Veolia also funded lagging of steam pipes and boilers which will improve energy efficiency.

·         Repairs to major leaks to the pipework in the basement and plant room, carried out by the building owners, Birmingham City Council. This means less water loss and reduced bills, the ability to control the temperature and levels of pH and disinfectant in the pool more easily.

·         Training: Moseley Road Baths have run fitness training and competency assessments for their current lifeguards and have also trained five newly qualified female volunteer lifeguards.

·         Planning for the opening of a Swim School: This was delayed three times due to Covid and staff are excited to finally be running swimming lessons for children with the launch of a crash courses in May half-term.

·         Lots of cleaning by both staff and volunteers: in total hundreds of hours of staff and volunteer time went in to getting the pool ready to reopen!

Since Moseley Road Bath’s doors opened again on May 4, swimmers have been very excited to be back in the building. One said, "I feel as if my world has come alive again," and another said that they loved being back and that they “felt a bit emotional being sat by Pool 2 again."

Staff and volunteers are also happy to be back on site, building on all the hard work that has been done since Moseley Road Baths CIO took over running the Baths in 2018. Viv Harrison, General Manager said: "I'm so happy to see our pool being used by our local community once more and very grateful to all of our staff and volunteers for the time and commitment they've shown to help us get our beautiful building ready to open again." Another member of staff Sadim Garvey said "being back on site at Moseley Road Baths is such a joy, this building has so much to give and I'm eager to pick up from where we left off."

At this exciting time, they are also looking for someone to become the new chair of the board of trustees at, a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference to our remarkable heritage community enterprise. The current chair, Karen Leach, has been in that role with great enthusiasm since the earliest discussions of a community takeover, but feels that now is the time for the venture to benefit from fresh leadership.

This past year has been a difficult one for everyone, with people’s mental health affected due to varying factors, whether that’s a change in working and home environment or due to ongoing national restrictions impacting our daily lives. Now the world is opening back up again, we can spend overdue time with our loved ones, catching up on missed lockdown moments and having human interaction that we’ve desperately missed.

However, as our social lives begin to fill up again after months of zero plans, it can become overwhelming at times and may cause episodes of anxiety, but just remember – you’re not alone.

In support of Mental Health Awareness Week (May 10-16), fashion brand ISAWITFIRST has teamed up with global youth charity, Ditch the Label to create The Gratitude Planner range to inspire people to write down their daily affirmations, with 100% of profits going towards the vital work the charity carries out.

This collection of planners consists of a Happiness Planner, Gratitude Planner, and a Reflections Planner, which encourage people to let go of some anxiety and write down exactly how they feel and what they are thankful for.

Looking after your mental wellbeing is extremely important, not just throughout the pandemic, but the aftermath as well. Taking time to reflect on yourself and what truly makes you happy, should be a top priority.

Liam Hackett, Global CEO of Ditch the Label said: "I am delighted that ISAWITFIRST are supporting Ditch the Label with such a fantastic product to promote positive mental health and wellbeing. The funds raised from the campaign will help fund our crucial work in supporting young people through the difficult challenges that they face during Mental Health Awareness Week and beyond.”

Leanne Holmes, Brand Director at ISAWITFIRST said: “As a brand that aims to be accessible to all, we wanted to ensure that not only do our customers look good on the outside, but more importantly they feel good on the inside too. That’s why in support of Ditch the Label and Mental Health Awareness Week, we’ll be donating all profits from the collection to help this amazing global youth charity. We hope this planner range offers some level of comfort to our customers, as the weeks/months become much busier with restrictions easing.”

The number of people waiting more than four months for heart procedures and operations in the West Midlands is now 89% higher than before the pandemic, a new British Heart Foundation (BHF) briefing has revealed.

Latest figures reveal that 5,737 people in the region were waiting 18 weeks or more for heart-related treatments in February 2021, compared to 3,035 people in February 2020.

It comes as hundreds of people have now been waiting over a year for heart operations and procedures. In February 2021, 372 people in the West Midlands had been waiting in-excess of 12-months - compared to none in February 2020.

The BHF says the devastating disruption to heart disease care caused by the pandemic could put lives at risk for years to come.

The warning comes as the BHF predicts that official figures due this autumn will show a rise in the UK’s heart and circulatory disease death rate for 2020. This sparks fears that decades of progress could reverse in the coming years.

The rise is due to 5,800 more deaths than would be expected (excess deaths) from conditions including heart attack and stroke in England during the first year of the pandemic, despite the NHS working harder than ever.

The charity says this spike in deaths is just the “tip of the iceberg”. Missed opportunities to prevent and diagnose heart and circulatory diseases, an unprecedented backlog of people waiting for care, and a cliff-edge fall in research funding could amount to a loss of progress for a generation and lives cut short from treatable heart conditions.

The briefing - The Tip of the Iceberg – reveals that the pandemic has caused disruption to every aspect of cardiac care.

·         Around 131,000 fewer (28%) heart procedures and operations were performed in England during the first year of the pandemic and there has been a 180-fold increase in the number of people waiting more than a year for heart procedures, including surgery

·         GP referrals to specialist heart doctors in England fell by nearly a third (29%) in 2020

·         There were nearly a third fewer (29%) ultrasound heart scans (echocardiograms) to diagnose or monitor people’s conditions in the first year of the pandemic

The charity says that this disruption is contributing to “a cardiovascular ticking timebomb for the future”.

At the same time, the fall in research funding will likely delay life saving treatments reaching patients, says the BHF. The charity, which funds more than half of UK non-commercial cardiovascular research, has cut its annual budget for new research from over £100m to £50m in the last year, with similar cuts seen across the medical research charity sector.

With Covid-19 cases declining, the BHF says the Government must act to meet the Prime Minister’s promise to “beat the backlog” and “build back better”. This must include a commitment to substantial and ongoing funding to support the exhausted NHS and help it tackle the vast backlog of people awaiting care. Alongside this must come investment in the medical research charity sector to ensure the pace of breakthroughs for patients doesn’t stall, and a financial boost for public health services to help prevent people developing heart and circulatory conditions.

Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation and Consultant Cardiologist, said: "Despite the tireless efforts of NHS staff, the pandemic has caused untold heartbreak, with thousands of extra heart disease and stroke deaths and significant delays to cardiovascular care.

“However, what we have seen so far is only the tip of the iceberg. No part of the system providing care for people with heart and circulatory diseases has been left undamaged - from life-saving prevention, detection, treatment, and recovery, to crucial research that could unlock future breakthroughs and cures.

“We face a cardiovascular ticking timebomb for the future that could start to reverse six decades of progress in reducing death rates from heart disease and stroke. Averting this disaster will require clear plans that help the NHS to recover, bolster public health, and revive the hard-hit medical research charity sector. Getting this right could protect thousands of lives from heart and circulatory diseases for years to come.”

The briefing also points to widening health inequalities, an overstretched NHS, and heightened levels of anxiety among people with heart disease. In the last year, the BHF has seen a 38 per cent rise in calls and emails to its Heart Helpline, with a significant proportion from people struggling to access care. 

Association for the Cannabinoid Industry (ACI) and Centre for Medicinal Cannabis (CMC) today launch their report Green Shoots - Sowing The Seeds Of The New UK Cannabis Industry with a new assessment of the size of the UK consumer cannabidiol (CBD) market.

The sector is now estimated to generate £690 million in annual sales for 2021. This figure surpasses predictions made in the seminal market sizing study undertaken by the CMC in 2019 which estimated the market would be worth £526 million in 2021.

The report concludes that the UK now has the most evolved regulatory framework in the world for CBD, and other consumer cannabis extracts, citing recent interventions by the Foods Standards Agency - to regulate products as dietary supplements, and by the Home Office - to consider what are safe and tolerable levels of THC contained in products. However, the report calls for more government intervention and investment to ensure that the UK optimises what it describes as ‘Britain’s quiet cannabis revolution’.

The report claims that, due to domestic restrictions on hemp cultivation and processing in the UK, the bulk of the profits for this industry are going overseas. This is because UK farmers must destroy the parts of the hemp crop which lucrative CBD is extracted from.

The report argues that the market represents a key growth sector for the UK and it is time for the government to adopt a proactive strategy to seize opportunities in the cannabinoids sector.

The report makes 20 recommendations drawing on a submission recently made to a new governmental Taskforce on Innovation, Growth and Regulatory Reform, established by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in February, to stimulate post-COVID economic growth.

The report authors call for:

·         A dedicated agency to licence and oversee the industry

·         A new centre of excellence to fund, synthesise and promulgate the best new clinical evidence to boost the UK’s nascent medicinal cannabis market

·         Urgent reform of licensing policy to steer and harness the emerging scientific evidence across the whole spectrum: from agri-science and plant genetics, to novel synthetics, new therapies and clinical trials.

Steve Moore, Co-Founder and Strategic Counsel to the CMC and ACI said: “With new government support the accidental consumer cannabis revolution that has allowed CBD to become available on every high street in the UK could become permanent, nurturing hundreds of new businesses, thousands of jobs and billions of pounds in exports. It’s hard to imagine there many more industries that could benefit almost immediately from the proposals set out in our report.”

Co-Founder of the CMC and ACI, Paul Birch added: “The size of this cannabinoid sector is now impossible to ignore. Today’s report reveals that sales of CBD products up to the year end of April 2021 are valued at £690m, almost a third higher than our last projection in 2019. Almost without notice and certainly by accident rather than design, the UK has improbably become the world’s second largest consumer cannabinoids market.”