Health & Wellbeing

Over-40s are turning to healthier lifestyles with more than half rating themselves as more health conscious than they were in their mid-20s, according to new research¹ by life and pensions giant Prudential.

Nearly one in five (17 per cent) of working over-40s say they are physically fitter than they were in their mid-20s, the nationwide study shows. And the fitness bug even applies to older age groups with 11 per cent of over-65s reckoning they are physically fitter than in their mid-20s.

The nationwide study asked over-40s to rate themselves now compared with their mid-20s and found 53 per cent believe they have a healthier general lifestyle now. However, being happier with their lifestyle than in their mid-20s does not necessarily translate into all aspects of their lives according to the research which asked about career, finances and relationships.

Just 45 per cent of over-40s feel happier about their financial planning for retirement than in their mid-20s while a worried 36 per cent admit to feeling less positive about retirement planning than in their mid-20s. Over-40s are most positive about financial security and relationships now compared with in their mid-20s.

Kirsty Anderson, retirement expert at Prudential, said: “Growing older means changing attitudes and it is striking that more than half of over-40s believe that they are healthier now than in their mid-20s, with nearly one in five claiming to be fitter.

“As they earn more and save more it is good to see they feel more financially secure but it’s worrying that so many are less positive about retirement planning especially as many will be fast approaching retirement.

“Taking control of finances is not as daunting as it seems if people focus on a range of small steps such as saving as much as possible, and if people can adopt healthier lifestyles over-40 they can do the same with their retirement plans.”

The commitment to healthier lifestyles does not always translate into taking exercise – around 30 per cent admit they either rarely if ever exercise for 20 minutes or only do it once a month. However, a committed 22 per cent say they exercise for 20 minutes every day.

New Change4Life campaign encourages parents in the West Midlands region to “Look for 100 calorie snacks, 2 a day max” to cut children’s sugar intake.

Public Health England (PHE) is helping parents in the West Midlands take control of their children’s snacking by launching the first Change4Life campaign promoting healthier snacks. This is because half of children’s sugar intake, currently around 7 sugar cubes a day^[1], comes from unhealthy snacks and sugary drinks^[i], leading to obesity and dental decay.

Recent data show childhood obesity has reached alarming rates, with 24.2% of 4- to 5-year-olds (Reception Year) overweight or obese in the West Midlands region, increasing to 37.1% in 10 to 11-year olds (Year 6).²

Each year children in are consuming almost 400 biscuits; more than 120 cakes, buns and pastries; around 100 portions of sweets; nearly 70 of both chocolate bars and ice creams; washed down with over 150 juice drink pouches and cans of fizzy drink.¹ On average, children are consuming at least 3 unhealthy snacks and sugary drinks a day, with around a third consuming 4 or more.¹ The overall result is that children consume three times more sugar than is recommended. ^[ii]

The new Change4Life campaign encourages parents in West Midlands region to    “Look for 100 calorie snacks, 2 a day max” to help them purchase healthier snacks than the ones they are currently. Parents will be signposted and given special offers on a range of healthier snacks, including fruit and vegetables at selected supermarkets. They can also get money-off vouchers to help them try healthier snack options, including malt loaf, lower sugar fromage frais, and drinks with no added sugar.

Many of the unhealthy snacks children consume regularly are high in sugar and also typically high in calories, for example:

• an ice-cream contains around 175 calories
• a pack of crisps contains around 190 calories
• a chocolate bar contains around 200 calories
• a pastry contains around 270 calories^[iii]

Dr Lola Abudu, PHE West Midlands Director of Health and Wellbeing, said: “Changing our children’s snacking habits can be a real challenge and we want to make it easier for families to find healthier options. By asking parents to Look for 100 calories snacks, two a day max, we’re helping them to give heathier snacks, while giving them less frequently.”

Dr Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at Public Health England, said: “The true extent of children’s snacking habits is greater than the odd biscuit or chocolate bar. Children are having unhealthy snacks throughout the day and parents have told us they’re concerned. To make it easier for busy families, we’ve developed a simple rule of thumb to help them move towards healthier snacking – Look for 100 calories snacks, two a day max.”

PHE’s improved Change4Life ‘Food Scanner’ app also shows parents how many calories, sugar, salt and saturated fat is in their food to help make healthier choices easier. It can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.

With a third of children leaving primary school overweight or obese⁴, tackling obesity requires wider action and is not just limited to individual efforts from parents. PHE is working with the food industry nationally to cut 20% of sugar from the products children consume most by 2020, with work to reduce calories due to start in 2018.

Families can get tips for healthier snacking when Public Health England’s (PHE) Change4Life roadshow comes to the West Midlands in the New Year, as part of a nationwide tour taking in 30 supermarkets and 14 shopping centres. The roadshow will start by visiting Walsall on Monday 8 January, then Dudley on Tuesday 9 January, followed by Sandwell on Wednesday 10 January – with more dates to follow though into February.

The roadshow will encourage parents to “Look for 100 calorie snacks, two a day max” and provide demonstrations of the new Change4Life ‘Food Scanner’ app, which works by scanning barcodes and helping bring food labels to life by highlighting the number of calories, as well as how much sugar, saturated fat and salt is in everyday food and drinks children consume.

During the roadshows families will also be shown how to swap to healthier snack options using front of pack ‘traffic light’ labels. On the day, parents can sign up to Change4Life for additional support and money-off vouchers to help them try healthier snack options, including malt loaf, lower sugar fromage frais, and drinks with no added sugar.

An 80-year-old woman's life took a turn for the better thanks to an intervention by a team of doctors, nurses and physiotherapists at Health City Cayman Islands.

Cayman Islands resident Zoe Bodden was still dealing with the effects of the pulmonary embolism she suffered in August 2016. Struggling with her mobility and relying on an artificial oxygen supply, Bodden felt weak and was not hopeful about her chances for improvement.

Previously an active person who regularly worked out at a local gym and swam in her backyard pool, Bodden had become dependent on external oxygen, confined to a wheelchair, and unable to withstand any physical exertion.

In fact, doctors agreed that left unchecked, her condition would certainly kill her, while also diminishing her quality of life in the time she had left.

Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil, Chief Cardiac Surgeon at Health City, however, was optimistic that she could be saved. He wholeheartedly believed he could successfully help Bodden by performing a pulmonary thrombo endarterectomy (a procedure done during open heart surgery) to correct her chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

"I told her, 'Looking at your face I can tell you you'll be okay, I will do the surgery on you.' After years of experience looking at some patients...there is no scientific basis, but looking at somebody, you know, 'Okay she's going to make it,'" he said.

Winter has definitely arrived, with dark nights and snowy skies sending us scurrying for blankets and hot chocolate. Many of us will turn to our pets for comfort, opting to stay in with our furry friends instead of bracing the bitterness outside, and new research suggests that there are lots of good reasons for doing so.

A recent study, conducted on behalf of online bed specialist Time 4 Sleep, found that nearly half of Brits (43%) feel that their pet has a positive impact on their stress levels.

Sarah Mackie, Writer and area co-ordinator at Pets as Therapy, believes that spending time with pets can really benefit people and help them feel more comfortable during the Winter months.

“It comes as no surprise to pet owners around the country that pets positively affect our mental health. Pets rely upon us to feed and take care of them, providing an innate sense of purpose and giving loyalty and affection in return – an exchange that is well documented will lead to a longer and more fulfilled life.

“Our primal need for the feeling of a safe place is often filled by a pet, whose steady heartbeat and lack of personal space provide the perfect conditions for calm.”

It is perhaps unsurprising then that over a third of Brits (37%) seek the warmth and comfort of their pets’ presence even when in bed, allowing their cat or dog to sleep in bed with them on a night. Women were found to be the most likely to have such snoozy snuggles (42% of women, 30% of men).

Sarah believes that sleeping alongside your pet can be beneficial in the right circumstances.

“Whether sleeping with your pet is a good idea or not is a complex question. A married couple sharing their bed with anything larger than a spaniel is, in my opinion, akin to sharing with a sprawling toddler – all bony bits and wriggling! However, for those people who might otherwise sleep alone, then an animal takes the place of a teddy and, as such, can aid a very restful sleep indeed.”

Such ‘wriggling’ could well account for some people’s reluctance to share their beds, with many pet owners insisting on keeping their sleeping spaces animal-free. More than one in five (21%) of people in the UK stated that they have never allowed their dog or cat to sleep in or on the bed and a further 21% revealed that they are completely against the idea.

It’s possible that these people refused to share their bed because of their pet’s misbehaviour, with the research also revealing some of the naughtiest and most embarrassing things they’ve got up to! The most common acts of mischief were found to be:

·         Eating their owner’s food without permission (32%)

·         Weeing indoors (31%)

·         Humping a guest’s leg (17%)

·         Eating a guest’s food (15%)

·         Eating their own poo (12%)

Jonathan Warren, director at Time 4 Sleep, said: “No matter what pets get up to, it appears Brits will always hold them close to their hearts, even allowing them to sleep in or on their own beds.

 “It’s clear to see that our pets have a positive effect on our mental health so you can understand why so many people are happy to spend their nights alongside their furry companions.”

To read more about the pros and cons of allowing your dog to sleep in your bed, click here: https://www.time4sleep.co.uk/blog/allowing-your-dog-to-sleep-in-bed/

Calls have been made to ban the Coca-Cola truck from Liverpool this Christmas, but the city is welcoming healthier alternative Green Cola.

Green Cola will arrive in Liverpool on Monday December 4th with samples available in one the world's longest bicycle trailers, which will be festooned with Christmas lights.

Liverpool's Liberal Democrat leader Richard Kemp, who wrote a letter to the managers of Liverpool One shopping district setting out his opposition to the Cola-Cola truck visit, which he labelled a 'cynical event', is pleased to welcome Green Cola to the city.

“I am delighted that Green Cola will be visiting Liverpool,” he says. “Their visit promotes a product that is much healthier than their rivals. They are also a small UK company whose profits are recycled in this country.

“A council's role in public health is not to ban products or to wag fingers, but we need to encourage healthier lifestyles and better eating and drinking habits. We do our best to draw attention to better ways and new products like Green Cola.”

Mirna Juarez, Liberal Democrat for Allerton and Hunts Cross who will be hosting Green Cola during their visit, adds: “I am really happy that Green Cola, a healthier alternative, is coming to Liverpool. We have high obesity levels among adults and children here and I believe sugary drinks are part of the problem.”

Green Cola contains NO sugar, NO calories and unlike other diet colas, NO aspartame, NO preservatives, and NO phosphoric acid. It is sweetened with Stevia and caffeinated with caffeine from green coffee beans. And it tastes great!

The drink is available from Ocado, Amazon, Tesco cafes, artisan food stores and independent cafes.

“There is nothing else on the market like Green Cola and we hope that the people of Liverpool will choose us as their preferred cola,” says Paul Woodward, CEO of Green Room Brands, the Surrey based company that has introduced Green Cola to the UK.

Derbyshire children’s charity Treats has been donated almost £10,000, after a successful fundraising event held by ECA, the leading electrotechnical and engineering services trade body.

A cheque was handed over just days ago by ECA members to Treats, a local charity in operation for 30 years, who rely entirely on donations. During this time they have delivered dream-come-true gifts, gadgets, trips, toys and medical equipment for children in need.

Vicky Ashton, Treats Vice Chair, commented:

“Without the support of organisations such as ECA we would simply not be able to do what we do. We are very grateful for this generous donation and it will make a big difference to a lot of children in Derbyshire.”

The evening fundraiser was recently hosted by ECA at Derbyshire Cricket Club. The event saw a record number of over 200 guests from across the Midlands come together. Attendees, who included electricians, wholesalers and manufacturers, gave generously to the charity.

The event was made possible through the support of the leading manufacturer Schneider Electric and electrical wholesalers Edmundson Electrical and Newey & Eyre.

Mike Ratcliffe, Chair of the ECA Derbyshire & Burton Branch and an event organiser, said:

“We are delighted with the response we had from ECA members and our friends at Schneider, Edmundsons and Newey & Eyre. We raised a huge amount of money for a very worthy charity and had a great time in doing so. Thank you to all those who helped make it possible.”

ECA members looking to get involved in next year’s charity event won’t have long to wait. Preparations have already begun and the date has been confirmed for Saturday 16 June 2018.

The co-owner behind one of Liverpool's most talked about restaurants Izakaya has revealed how the business has spurred on another flourishing company.

After just a few months of the widely acclaimed launch of the Japanese cuisine-inspired venture in Castle Street, highly regarded Liverpool chef and entrepreneur Harry Marquart was approached by North West Academies in Cheshire seeking help to run a school dinners service in the region.

Harry explained: “We'd received a lot of praise around Izakaya's opening and highlighted the emphasis in our menus and marketing on how keen we were to help improve the region's record on health through the Japanese style of eating.

“We were then delighted to be approached to demonstrate our expertise and have the opportunity of making an impact within the education sector.

“We were offered an initial budget to feed pupils a 2 course lunch and through the help of local suppliers wanting the help to back the project, the service has been an unparalleled success. The pupils are now eating locally sourced produce of high quality and all the positive feedback has led to some great referrals for the business.

The office Christmas party is a highly anticipated annual event in the calendar, with workers across the nation using it as a chance to get dressed up and let their hair down with colleagues.

But, what happens when it all goes a little too far, and colleagues are left embarrassed by their antics or too hungover to make it into work the next day?

A new survey of 1,000 UK workers, conducted by the UK’s largest indoor go-karting company TeamSport looked into the best, worst and the simply bizarre excuses UK workers have made when calling in sick the day after the office Christmas party.

Of those who admitted to calling in sick, a staggering 60% admitted it was because they were simply too hungover.  

Interestingly, the reasons for calling in sick were very different for male and female respondents. Women didn’t want to attend work the next day, as they had embarrassed themselves at the party (12% versus 6% of men), or they argued with a colleague (10% versus 6% of men). Whereas, for the men, they felt they needed time to recharge their batteries (23% versus 14% of women) or they didn’t want to face work commitments such as meetings (6% versus 2% of women).

The actual stories used to explain to the boss why they couldn’t come in that day included being stricken down with food poisoning (16%), feeling sick (11%), a sudden case of a stomach bug (5%) and a broken down car (3%).

Other amusing excuses included:

• “I forgot to put the washing machine on, I’ve no clean clothes”
• “I won’t be able to make it to the office this morning, I’ve bruised my brain”
• “Sorry I can’t come in today. I’ve swallowed a spider”
• “I won’t be in the office today; my ears are sore from the music at the party last night”

The report also considered the differences between industries, highlighting the worst culprits for calling in sick. These were:

• Information technology (24%)
• Business, consulting and management (19%)
• Creative arts and design (18%)
• Property and construction (12%)
• Engineering (12%)

It seems that workers in the property and construction industry are the most promiscuous, with nearly one in three (29%) admitting to getting intimate with a colleague at the party, and this being the reason they didn’t want to face work the next day.

With a thriving, 24 hour nightlife, it’s no surprise that workers in the capital were the biggest offenders for calling in sick, (17%), followed by the West Midlands (13%) and the North West (13%).

Dominic Gaynor, managing director of TeamSport Indoor Karting said: “Our research into the best and worst excuses for calling in sick is rather amusing. It’s particularly interesting to take a look at the differences between each industry.  

“It can be difficult to drag yourself out of bed the day after a huge work party, and that’s why we’re encouraging businesses to consider other ways to celebrate Christmas with their employees. Exciting days out such as a day at the go-karting track are not only great team-building exercises, but they’re also really fun. Plus, avoiding a party fuelled by alcohol means there is less opportunity for workers to come up with these bizarre excuses and call in sick.”

A new initiative has been launched to help ensure care home residents in Wolverhampton receive safe and effective support when they need to go to hospital in an emergency.

The "red bag scheme" will see poorly residents given a transfer bag which will be with them from the moment they leave their care home until the time they return from hospital.

The bag includes medication, belongings, standardised paperwork and personal and clinical information about the resident which will assist ambulance and hospital staff and ensure the resident’s admission and journey to and from hospital is as comfortable as possible.

It is based on a successful scheme introduced in the London borough of Sutton to address gaps in the care and support network – both clinical and socially – for poorly residents who needed to go into hospital, including paperwork not being standardised and belongings and medications going missing.

The red bags should help speed up the transfer between home and hospital and cut the time residents have to spend in hospital, with evidence elsewhere suggesting the length of stay could be reduced by up to four days. It could also save nursing staff up to 40 minutes per shift which would otherwise be spent chasing documents, personal items and toiletries.

The red bag scheme was officially launched by the Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Elias Mattu at an event at Linden House attended by representatives from the City of Wolverhampton Council, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Wolverhampton Clinical Commissioning Group, West Midlands Ambulance Service and 11 local care homes who are taking part in a six-month pilot.

Mayor Councillor Mattu said: "The red bag scheme is a great example of partnership working across health and social care which will ensure patient safety and improve their experience if they have to go to hospital.

"We have seen elsewhere the benefits that transfer bags can bring; in many cases, they will help significantly reduce the time people have to spend in hospital, and also free up the time of healthcare professionals by ensuring they have all the information they need about their patients to hand.

“Even simple things like ensuring patients have their own toiletries with them will save nursing staff time and money sourcing these items."

David Laughton CBE, Chief Executive of the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, said: "This initiative will ensure the nursing team has everything they need to care for and treat the patient as soon as they arrive on the ward, reducing the time they have to wait for vital information. It will help to speed up the discharge process and get them back into their own environment as quickly as possible.”

Eleven local care homes are taking part in the six-month pilot, with the bags being rolled out to as many of the City's 76 care homes in due course.

Health experts have predicted that artificial intelligence will replace doctors within the next 10 years.

With the rise of apps and websites ready to diagnose illness and give treatment recommendations within seconds, StemProtect.co.uk the UKs stem cell bank, says that GPs will soon be a thing of the past, and instead we’ll turn to AI to give us all the information we need.

Among the apps already available for phones are those, which can provide information about the right dosage for specific prescription drugs, and diagnose health problems for you. There are even those that give you access to your medical records at any time, and allow you to request repeat prescriptions and have them delivered straight to your door.

Spokesperson Mark Hall for StemProtect.co.uk said: “The way technology is affecting our health is so huge that we could see doctors completely replaced within 10 years. “

“Companies like ours, which bank stem cells to treat an individual’s future health problems, are generally thought of as being the best examples of high tech health solutions. “

“But the truth is that every area of medicine is being affected by new technology, including something as mundane as simply visiting your GP. With the apps and websites that people have access to at the touch of a button, it’s simply a case of diagnosing a set of symptoms, finding out what the treatment will be, and then ordering and repeating the treatment whenever necessary.”

But how will the public feel about the move away from GPs? Sally, 45, from Nottingham, said: “I much prefer to see someone face to face. There are some things that technology is good for, and I’m more than happy for that to carry on, but I’ll personally always want to see a real person when I’m not feeling well. I know lots of older people will feel the same way too.”

Among younger generations, usually known as ‘digital natives’, the mood is very different. Carl, 23, said: “I’m too busy to go to a doctor and I don’t really see the point. Most things that are wrong with you can research online in no time. I really like the idea of using apps and artificial intelligence instead, as long as the information going in is good then I don’t see the difference between getting assessed by an app or getting assessed by a doctor, it’s all the same to me.”

While it might be the case that doctors could in theory be replaced by artificial intelligence very soon, it seems we’re not quite culturally ready for the switch just yet. So while medical apps continue to grow in popularity and usefulness, they’re still more of an addition to GPs rather than a replacement.

What are your thoughts? Would you see a robot Dr? Do you already face time your Dr instead of visiting?

Sublime Samana has introduced the “Mangrove Dew” treatment to its existing menu of spa services offered at the Coconut Whispers Spa. The new addition comes days after being recognized as one of the best spas by Spa & Wellness MexiCaribe, a publication specialized in highlighting the best spas in Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America.

The new detail-oriented, spa mega-treatment is divided into three sections to accomplish the overall goal of spiritual relaxation, stress reduction and the betterment of blood circulation.

First, guests are headed into the Temazcal to allow the heat to open the pores of the entire body. The Temazcal is an ancient, dome-shaped sweat lodge used by various indigenous groups for purification purposes. The philosophy behind the treatment is the return to the womb to be spiritually separated from the outside world and reconnected with the inner self.

Next, guests are covered in a warm mud treatment, which is left on the body to strengthen and revitalize the elasticity of the skin. While waiting for the mud treatment to dry, guests receive a corporal massage focused on the head, hands and soles of the feet. Once the mud treatment dries, guests are rinsed off.

Finally, guests are submerged into an organically prepared coconut milk bath and are left alone to relax. Pre-Hispanic cultures considered these baths revitalizing and necessary to protect the body and soul from negative energies. The coconut milk is rich in vitamins C, E, K, B, and is prepared in-house.

The duration of the treatment is 120 minutes, including additional time allowed for guests to remain in the lounge area. The Mangrove Dew treatment can be booked individually or as a couple for USD$150 per person.

The uniqueness of Coconut Whispers Spa relies on the effective use of every part of the coconut from using the outer shell to create exfoliators to grinding the coconut meat for facials and using the extracted milk for the bath. To complete the full coconut-themed experience of the spa, guests are given a refreshing drink straight from the young coconuts handpicked from the surrounding palm trees.

A new study investigating awareness of mouth cancer in the United Kingdom reveals a startling lack of awareness when it comes to the disease and one of its leading causes, the human papillomavirus (HPV), sparking concern for health experts.

Research carried out by the Oral Health Foundation finds as little as three in 20 (15%) British adults recog.nise HPV, the world’s most common sexually-transmitted infection, to be a cause of mouth cancer.

The report also shows more than two in three (67%) are unaware of oral sex increasing a person's mouth cancer risk by sexually transmitting the HPV virus.

During the next decade, HPV is expected to overtake smoking and excessive alcohol consumption as the leading cause of mouth cancer and with many unable to assess their own level of risk, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, Chief Executive of the Oral Health Foundation, is concerned this may lead to a growing number of mouth cancers being diagnosed too late.

Dr Carter says: “Almost every sexually active person will contract HPV as some point during their life. For most people, HPV is completely harmless and will not result in any symptoms or health problems. More often than not, it will lay dormant and then it will simply be thrown off, before the person even knows they have been infected.

“In some cases, however, HPV can lead to mouth cancer. It is quite alarming that awareness levels between HPV and mouth cancer are so low, especially given the scale of the problem.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that there are more than 600 million cases of HPV infection worldwide.

There are now in excess of 7,500 new cases of mouth cancer in the UK a year, a figure which has increased by more than two-thirds (68%) in the last 20 years.²

“The number of HPV-related mouth cancers has risen sharply over recent years and this presents a number of problems,” adds Dr Carter.

“The key issue is not only do too few people know how HPV is passed on, but also that it could potentially lead to mouth cancer. This is especially dangerous, as by not considering ourselves at risk, it far more likely that we are less proactive when it comes to checking for any usual changes occurring to our mouth.

“Mouth cancer can be difficult to detect early as it often develops inside the mouth and is rarely visible on the outside of the body. This means it is especially easy to overlook the early signs and symptoms of the disease.”

The early warning signs of mouth cancer include mouth ulcer that do not heal within three weeks, red or white patches in the mouth and unusual lumps and swellings.

An early diagnosis of mouth cancer increases a person’s chance of survival from 50% to 90%.

November is Mouth Cancer Action Month and the Oral Health Foundation is encouraging people to be Mouthaware by regularly checking for unusual changes to the mouth, lips, head and neck.

The charity has developed a full guide to mouth cancer self-examination and ask those who discover anything suspicious to contact their dentist or doctor immediately.

HPV also causes cancers of the anus, vulva, vagina and penis, as well as genital warts. British girls have been given the HPV jab since 2008 as part of the cervical vaccination programme.

Next week, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), will make the ruling as to whether or not to extend the vaccination to boys.

Further findings from the charity’s research show almost three in four (73%) support the proposals to vaccinate boys while a previous study revealed 95% of doctors and dentists also back the proposals.⁴

Peter Baker of HPV Action, a collaborative partnership of 48 patient and professional organisations that campaigns for gender neutral HPV vaccination, says: “The current HPV vaccination programme in the UK is immoral and is fundamentally supporting gender inequality.

“It is unfair, unethical and socially irresponsible to have a public health policy that leaves almost half of the population vulnerable. By changing the way HPV vaccinations are delivered in the UK we can save lives.

“Introducing a gender-neutral HPV programme will save thousands of lives every year in Britain. It will also save the under-pressure NHS tens of millions of pounds every year in treating HPV-related diseases.”

Mouth Cancer Action Month runs throughout November and is organised by the Oral Health Foundation and sponsored by Simplyhealth Professionals, with additional support from Dentists’ Provident. The charity campaign is aiming to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms linked to mouth cancer so that more cases can be caught early.

Public Health England is urging all NHS frontline staff to take advantage of free online training to help them deliver effective stop smoking advice.

The latest figures show the burden to the NHS in England from smoking is £2.6billion. There is an urgent need across all parts of the NHS to support people to quit, to improve the health of local populations and to help secure the sustainability of the NHS.

The savings to the NHS for each patient referred to stop smoking services and prescribed nicotine replacement therapy is £13.00 each year for four years.

NHS England is investing almost £600m in Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) schemes, including one which focuses on identifying and supporting people who smoke or who drink alcohol at higher risk levels. Under the scheme, additional funding is being made available to hospitals that help their patients to quit smoking.

PHE is encouraging all healthcare staff to undertake a 30 minute online course, provided by the National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training, based around short film clips providing examples of how very brief advice can be delivered to patients; including key facts, figures and messages.

The evidence on ‘Very Brief Advice’ (VBA) interventions, where healthcare professionals discuss smoking with patients shows that, compared with no advice, the likelihood of quitting is 68% higher if stop smoking medication is offered.

Nigel Smith, Health Improvement Manager for PHE West Midlands said: “Every year smoking costs the NHS in England a staggering £2.6billion and in the West Midlands region alone it causes around 26,570 deaths. And for every death, a further 20 smokers are suffering from a smoking-related disease.

“Smokers respond well to healthcare staff giving advice and as health professionals we have a duty to take every opportunity to help end the needless, preventable misery and suffering smoking causes.

“A truly smokefree NHS isn’t just about banning smoking on hospital grounds, it’s about healthcare staff doing all they can to encourage patients and visitors, as well as colleagues to lead by example, to stop.

“The good news is that the training is easily accessible and effective. We’re seeing record breaking successful quit rates this year. Most smokers want to quit and all healthcare staff should seize the moment and be ready to intervene and have that crucial chat about smoking.”

There has never been a better time for people to quit and for healthcare professionals to discuss quitting with their patients. The ban on attractive branding on packs, together with better and more quitting options including e-cigarettes, stricter controls on smoking in public and supportive campaigns like PHE’s Stoptober, have all contributed to successful quit attempts in the first six months of this year being at a record high, with almost 20% remaining smokefree a year after quitting.

People in the Midlands are being urged to tap into the healthcare expertise available at their local pharmacies, after a new survey revealed that 35% of those in the region incorrectly think the flu jab can give them flu.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) study also shows that while many people are embracing the public health role of pharmacies, some topics are perceived as off-limits.

The results of the survey are being published today (NOV 6), to mark the beginning of Ask Your Pharmacist Week, and reveal that in the Midlands:

• 57% of people understand that pharmacies offer health promoting services like blood pressure checks, flu jabs and help to give up smoking
• 50% understand that they can ask their pharmacist about reducing heart attack or stroke risks, but only 26% think it is OK to ask in a pharmacy about reducing cancer risks
• just 12% of people know that most pharmacies have consultation rooms, where they can talk to the pharmacist without being overheard

Pharmacist, Nitin Sodha, managing director of Knights pharmacies and a NPA board member representing the Midlands, is backing Ask Your Pharmacist week.

He said: “Most people know that pharmacists are experts on medicine, but many don’t know about the other services we can provide.

“We can treat common ailments, give advice on maintaining and improving your health and offer a range of NHS services, without the need for an appointment.

“Come in and talk to us, you might be surprised at the level of expertise on your high street.”

NPA chairman and pharmacist, Ian Strachan, said: “People are starting to understand that pharmacists are highly qualified clinicians.

“The public is getting accustomed to certain 'new' pharmacy services, such as flu vaccinations on the NHS, and they understand that pharmacies have a role in supporting healthier lifestyles.

“Yet they need to be reassured that nothing is off limits in terms of what you can ask your pharmacist about your medicines, your health or your general wellbeing.

“We want people to feel that it’s perfectly acceptable to talk with the pharmacy team about cancer, sexual health and many other topics they might have thought were are out of bounds.”

Hundreds of independent pharmacies will be holding ‘Discover Your Local Pharmacy’ open days in and around AYP Week, using campaign packs supplied by the NPA.

People can find out more about services available at their local pharmacies by visiting discoverpharmacy.co.uk.

Dr Sarj Bahia and Dr Amro Maarouf at Edgbaston Private Medical Practice are raising awareness and showing their support for the global campaign ‘Movember’ by growing their moustaches. The practice is also donating £20 to the important men’s health charity for every health screening booked during the month of November, raising funds for those who need it most. Their donations can be tracked via their JustGiving page, https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/epmp-practice.

The Movember Foundation is the only men’s health charity tackling men’s health on a global scale, year-round. The charity addresses some of the biggest issues faced by men: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention. The vision for the charity is to have an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health, planning to reduce the number of men dying prematurely by 25% before 2030.

Edgbaston Private Medical Practice are urging patients to book in for their health screenings, allowing for the early detection and effective treatment of potential health problems, whilst collectively raising money for such an important cause.

Dr Bahia, Principal GP at Edgbaston Private Medical Practice, comments: “Since opening at Colmore Row we are seeing more and more men concerned with their health, ranging from physical issues to mental health. We’re keen to support anything that can raise awareness of encouraging men to seek help in a confidential environment.”

A new environmentally friendly form of packaging - which puts tomato plants to good use - is on supermarket shelves this week.

Waitrose is experimenting with a new form of non-plastic punnet which uses tomato leaves to help package tomatoes.

The packaging is created in a complex process using the latest technology, that joins together dried tomato leaf and recycled cardboard pulp.

The new style punnets will be used for Waitrose Duchy Organic cherry tomatoes and baby plum tomatoes  in selected branches. If the trial is successful, the non-plastic punnet for these products will be rolled out to further branches in 2018  and could potentially save 3.5 million plastic trays a year.

Nicola Waller, Head of Fresh Produce at Waitrose, said:

''We are determined to reduce our use of plastic across our business.

''This builds on our commitment to ensure that all our own-label packaging is widely recyclable (using the widely recycled logo), reusable or home compostable by 2025.

''Since 2009 we've reduced overall packaging across all products by nearly 50 per cent and are excited about this imaginative way to present our Duchy Organic tomatoes to our customers.''

Other recent Waitrose packaging innovations include the boxes for Waitrose Red Lentil Pasta and Waitrose Green Pea Pasta which are partly made from pulses. This reduces the use of virgin tree pulp by 15 per cent and lowers greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent. The box for Waitrose Duchy Organic eggs is made from a mixture of rye grass and recycled paper, saving 77 tonnes of wood and paper per year and using 60 per cent less water to produce.