Health & Wellbeing

A recent survey revealed some of the unusual and potentially dangerous remedies dog owners’ resort to when trying to combat their dog’s bad breath. But did you know brushing your dogs’ teeth with human toothpaste or human dental products can be potentially dangerous? Luckily there are several alternatives to combat smelly doggy breath whilst keeping their teeth and gums healthy.

As animal lovers first and foremost, Lintbells, manufacturers of natural pet supplements have always stressed the importance of maintaining the health and wellbeing of our four-legged best friends. The brand has pulled together some useful tips to help keep your pup’s teeth sparkly clean and healthy all year round!

Start young where possible

Just like with kids, teaching your dog good dental hygiene at a young age is always preferable, however good habits can always be taught to older dogs too. Preventing gum disease should be part of your canine care; ideally brushed daily to maintain a healthy mouth. The earlier you introduce it to your pet pooch the more normal it becomes – if your dog sees it as receiving attention or praise it is easier to make teeth cleaning a habit. If you are unsure of how to clean your pets’ teeth, ask your local vet to demonstrate.

Dental treats

Giving your dogs specially designed dental treats is a great way to help remove plaque, as they are designed and manufactured to mould the tooth as they are eaten. Just be mindful that they are a treat, so always follow the suggested feeding instructions to ensure it is part of a balanced diet and safe for your dog to consume. If you are concerned, it’s always best to consult your vet practice before you give your dog a new food.

Use the right tool

Doggy dental care is a lot easier and more effective if you use the right tools. Most pet owners today prefer the use of finger toothbrushes, but it’s important you get the right one that gives good reach and helps ensure you get to your dog’s teeth. YuCARE Tooth Cleaner is an easy-to-use cleaning tool woven with anti-bacterial silver ions, and contains 12,000 times more fibres than a toothbrush. It gives you complete control and can be easily be cleaned for next use by simply rinsing it under warm water and leaving it to dry.

Support their dental health naturally

It is important never to use human dental products on your dog to combat their “doggy breath” as many of our dental products contain substances not suited for pet consumption – like fluoride and xylitol. When treating stinky breath, it is important to ensure it is not caused by an existing illness or gum disease. Once this has been ruled out by visiting your vet, you can start taking preventative steps using especially designed pet toothpastes to help minimise the build up of tartar which in turn will help keep your canine companions’ breath fresh.

Schoolchildren prefer low sugar chocolate-flavoured milk to the full sugar equivalent – and it is better for them, according to a new study from nutrition experts.

Researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University set out to find a suitable low sugar drink for children to drink in schools after physical activity instead of the alternative high sugar sports drinks.

Milk proved to be an effective post-exercise hydration drink, with chocolate-flavoured milk being even more popular with the 56 schoolchildren, aged four to 10, questioned as part of the study.

Dr Bartosz Buczkowski, Senior Lecturer in Nutrition at Manchester Metropolitan and the lead researcher, said: “Milk and milk products are important for calcium intake, which in turn is important for healthy bones in growing children. Due to sugar and fat content, full sugar flavoured milks are seen as unfavourable.

“We wanted to establish whether chocolate-flavoured milk with reduced sugar content was as acceptable to schoolchildren as chocolate-flavoured milk with standard sugar content. We reduced sugar content by 30%, 40% and even 100% and replaced sweetness lost with another natural sweetener, getting the children to test each one and rate what they thought of the taste and sweetness.”

The findings, published in the Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, revealed unexpected results.

Researchers found that chocolate-flavoured milk with 30% less sugar was even more acceptable to children than the chocolate milk with standard sugar content, with them stating it was the sweetest.

The team believe that the combination of the sugar and sweetener working together resulted in a better tasting product, making it more favourable to the schoolchildren.

Past studies have focused on the benefits of milk and looking specifically at what it can do for athletes post-workout, exploring its rehydrating and restorative factors, as well as the low cost in comparison to sports drinks.

Dr Buczkowski added: “The results of this study are important because children might prefer chocolate milk to plain milk but sugar content in chocolate milk and other drinks can be problematic as consumption of high quantities of sugar is not great for dental health.

“Excessive sugar content is also something to be considered when it comes to children's consumption too, as it can lead to increased body weight but it's not always considered. We don't really see calories in drinks but they all add up.

“Reduction of sugar content in chocolate milk could help to reduce sugar intake whilst allowing children to get the calcium that their bones need.”

People are being encouraged to help women and girls in Wolverhampton who cannot afford sanitary products by supporting a City of Wolverhampton Council collection.

It is estimated that a fifth of UK parents are struggling to afford to buy sanitary protection for their daughters, with over 135,000 girls missing out on school each year because of 'period poverty'.

To help, people are being invited to donate sanitary products – along with other much needed items such as toiletries, nappies, soap and toothpaste – via a collection point at the rear entrance of the Civic Centre in St Peter's Square, Wolverhampton. Non-perishable foodstuffs can also be donated at the collection point.

All donations will be distributed to Wolverhampton families living in poverty via local food banks and voluntary sector organisations.

Councillor Lynne Moran, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: “One in three children in Wolverhampton are living in poverty; this affects their readiness to learn and subsequent educational attainment, with disadvantage accumulating further into adulthood.

“By donating food, toiletries and sanitary products we can try and make sure no child in the city misses school because their families can’t afford to pay for essential items such as sanitary products.”

Councillor Hazel Malcolm, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing added: “Our Public Health team is leading on work to understand the impact of poverty on Wolverhampton families, including the impact and extent of period poverty in our city.

“I would encourage as many residents as possible to help this very worthwhile cause.”

The collection point is available at the Civic Centre during normal opening hours – 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Thursday and 8.30am to 4.30pm on Fridays.

The diabetes team at a West Midlands NHS Trust are celebrating double success at a prestigious national awards ceremony.

Clinicians from Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust were recognised for their initiative in improving the management of patients with both diabetes and dementia (DIADEM) ­­­- winning the Patient Care Pathway, Generic or Specialist Adult category at the Quality in Care Diabetes Awards.

Meanwhile a second initiative from the organisation, which developed the patient-centred collaborative diabetes model (DICE), was commended in the same category.

The winning initiative involved a review of patients with diabetes and dementia and improving the way their medication was managed.

Dr Parijat De, Consultant in Diabetes and Clinical Lead in Diabetes and Endocrinology, said: “We are very proud to have received this award and been highly commended for the DiCE initiative. It reflects the hard work that we have been carrying out within the Trust.”

Judges said of the DIADEM initiative: "It is a great, innovative idea, with good identification of the stakeholders involved. It is sustainable and has strong dissemination. It is fantastic to have a specific team for this group of patients and this lovely project is ahead of its time."

As the world observes Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Health City Cayman Islands is offering breast cancer and other solid tumor cancer patients an opportunity to reduce chemotherapy-induced hair loss through the use of a machine called DigniCap.

According to Health City oncologist Dr. Vineetha Binoy, DigniCap is the first automated scalp-cooling system approved by the FDA to treat chemotherapy-induced hair loss. And while it's being used in all major cancer treatment centers in the United States, this is the first time the machine is being used in the Caribbean region for patients who would otherwise have to cope with the devastating effects of hair loss.

She explained that scalp cooling works by constricting the blood vessels which supply hair follicles and because of this "chemotherapy doesn't reach hair follicles, thereby preventing damage to them."

DigniCap replaces a manual cold cap system that Health City used for about two years courtesy of a donation from the Cayman Islands Breast Cancer Foundation. The new DigniCap, which circulates cool air around the scalp while the patient is seated during chemotherapy, does not have to be changed manually every 25 minutes, thereby improving patient comfort significantly.

In the United States, the cost of Dignicap treatment is estimated to be $300 to $600 a month which amounts to a total cost of $1,500 to $3,000 over the course of treatment. Since health insurance companies do not approve it universally as yet, for most patients this is an out-of-pocket expenditure. However, Health City provides this service to all of its patients free of any cost.

The Health City oncologist noted that a cancer diagnosis is "often the lowest point in anybody's life when they have no control over any aspect of what's happening (regarding) their treatment ... cold capping is a personal choice and the option of preserving their hair and not to have a wig or to go bald essentially gives them a sense of control over what's happening." In addition to boosting the patient's self-esteem, Dr. Binoy said "it has been found to help patients cope with chemotherapy better."

The oncologist cautioned that the benefit of cold capping doesn't extend to all patients or all chemo regimens "but is beneficial only to a select number of patients for certain chemotherapy regimens and cancers. It is not for everybody - it is not a universal solution but is a solution or option for a lot of patients."

Penny Brohn UK, a leading cancer charity, hosted a free event in Walsall for people living with breast cancer. The event, specifically designed to support women with breast cancer from the Asian community in and around Walsall, was the first of its kind to deliver the information in Urdu and Punjabi as well as English.

The Introduction to Living Well Morning took place on 17 October at Manor Hospital and was attended by 13 women living with breast cancer who all go to a support group called Umeedh (Hope) organised by Naheed Razzaq, Outreach Information and Support Officer at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust.

The event addressed cancer’s physical and psychological impact and showed how healthy eating, exercise and relaxation can improve health and wellbeing, before, during and after medical treatment. The group shared their stories about how they try to live well with cancer and spent time learning relaxation and breathing techniques to reduce stress.

Satwar Kaur Randy who attended the event described it as a “brilliant course” and Palo Kaur Mand said “it helped a lot and I learned things I never knew before”.

Naheed Razzaq, Outreach Information and Support Officer at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust said: “Our amazing BME Breast cancer group is called “Umeedh” (Hope). We had an absolutely brilliant morning session. It’s the first time the ladies have had a chance to participate in a “Living Well” course which has been culturally tailored for their needs.”

Sophie Jones, Group Facilitator and Regional Partnership Manager (Midlands) Penny Brohn UK said: “Working together with Group Facilitator, Khadija Bakali translating meant everyone benefited from the practical and emotional support that the Introduction to Living Well course offers. I am thrilled to be able to offer this service and to hear how much it has helped those people living with cancer. The group were very generous and we received over £110 in donations.”

Khadija Bakali, Group Facilitator said: “This was the first time we have ever delivered a Living Well event using multilingual skills. When someone is stressed their first language is the most effective way to communicate and help them make changes and get support. By presenting the event in Urdu and Punjabi the attendees were able to benefit much more from the knowledge they received.”

With over 38 years’ experience, Penny Brohn UK recognises that people with cancer need more than medicine.

Its Bristol Whole Life Approach provides integrated whole person cancer support that works alongside medical treatment to achieve the best health and wellbeing.

The approach explores areas such as diet, exercise, relationships and managing stress, through free residential courses at the National Centre near Bristol and day courses across the country, one-to-one therapies, groups and national helpline.

A glittering ceremony to celebrate the achievements of healthcare staff at a West Midlands NHS Trust, has been hailed a success.

The Star Awards saw 58 nominees from Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust recognised for their hard work over the past year.

The Mayor of Sandwell Councillor Joy Edis was a special guest at the event, which was held at Aston Villa Football Club on Friday (12 October).

Those honoured included Donna Mighty picked up the award for Equality and Diversity Champion. She has been Co-Chair of the Trust’s BME Network which has seen her take a lead role organising the national Here To Stay exhibition, which celebrates the Windrush generation of healthcare workers who helped to shape the NHS.

Donna beamed: “I am overwhelmed to have won the award and want to thank everyone who nominated me. I couldn’t have done this without the support of my colleagues.”

Also recognised wasVolunteer of the Year Janet Dearne, who has devoted 40 years to her role with the League of Friends organisation. She has helped to raise an impressive £500,000 for equipment used at Sandwell, City and Rowley Regis Hospitals, which are run by the Trust.

The coveted Distinguished Service Award went to the recently retired Rev Ann Stevenson, who joined the organisation over 26 years ago and has successfully led the Trusts vital chaplaincy services.

She said: “I am absolutely delighted to win this award and it’s a huge privilege to have worked here for three decades.

“I am proud to be part of the SWBH family and it’s been a joy to have conducted colleagues’ weddings and bless their children. The obvious sad side is conducting funerals for staff and their families.

“I love the family feel of this organisation where people and their lives matter.”

The Employee of the Year gong went to Matron Debi Fretwell, who joined the organisation in 1993 as a staff nurse. She has worked her way up the ladder and was recognised for her work in introducing the way patients are seen through the healthcare system and ensuring they receive the right care in the right place.

During the evening, Louise Thompson, Infant Feeding Coordinator was commended twice for her achievements.

She scooped the Prize for Innovation, for her work around developing the Infant Feeding Service.

And, also was part of the team which won Clinical Team of the Year (children).

Richard Samuda, Chairman of SWBH, said: “It was a very successful event which celebrated the achievements of our wonderful workforce.

“Our Trust has so many dedicated and caring employees who deserve this recognition. They have devoted their time to looking after patients and improving their experience when visiting our hospitals.

“We were also delighted to welcome the Mayor of Sandwell to the ceremony, who presented the Clinical Team of the Year (children) award to the Infant Feeding Team. Councillor Joy Edis has been a consistent champion of the Trust’s services and role in our community.” Richard added: “We want to thank our sponsors, without whom this event would not have been possible. They represent key partners in our services and have been exceptional in their support for celebrating our staff contributions.”

A glittering ceremony to celebrate the achievements of healthcare staff at a West Midlands NHS Trust, has been hailed a success.

The Star Awards saw 58 nominees from Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust recognised for their hard work over the past year.

The Mayor of Sandwell Councillor Joy Edis was a special guest at the event, which was held at Aston Villa Football Club on Friday (12 October).

Those honoured included Donna Mighty picked up the award for Equality and Diversity Champion. She has been Co-Chair of the Trust’s BME Network which has seen her take a lead role organising the national Here To Stay exhibition, which celebrates the Windrush generation of healthcare workers who helped to shape the NHS.

Donna beamed: “I am overwhelmed to have won the award and want to thank everyone who nominated me. I couldn’t have done this without the support of my colleagues.”

Also recognised wasVolunteer of the Year Janet Dearne, who has devoted 40 years to her role with the League of Friends organisation. She has helped to raise an impressive £500,000 for equipment used at Sandwell, City and Rowley Regis Hospitals, which are run by the Trust.

The coveted Distinguished Service Award went to the recently retired Rev Ann Stevenson, who joined the organisation over 26 years ago and has successfully led the Trusts vital chaplaincy services.

She said: “I am absolutely delighted to win this award and it’s a huge privilege to have worked here for three decades.

“I am proud to be part of the SWBH family and it’s been a joy to have conducted colleagues’ weddings and bless their children. The obvious sad side is conducting funerals for staff and their families.

“I love the family feel of this organisation where people and their lives matter.”

The Employee of the Year gong went to Matron Debi Fretwell, who joined the organisation in 1993 as a staff nurse. She has worked her way up the ladder and was recognised for her work in introducing the way patients are seen through the healthcare system and ensuring they receive the right care in the right place.

During the evening, Louise Thompson, Infant Feeding Coordinator was commended twice for her achievements.

She scooped the Prize for Innovation, for her work around developing the Infant Feeding Service.

And, also was part of the team which won Clinical Team of the Year (children).

Richard Samuda, Chairman of SWBH, said: “It was a very successful event which celebrated the achievements of our wonderful workforce.

“Our Trust has so many dedicated and caring employees who deserve this recognition. They have devoted their time to looking after patients and improving their experience when visiting our hospitals.

“We were also delighted to welcome the Mayor of Sandwell to the ceremony, who presented the Clinical Team of the Year (children) award to the Infant Feeding Team. Councillor Joy Edis has been a consistent champion of the Trust’s services and role in our community.” Richard added: “We want to thank our sponsors, without whom this event would not have been possible. They represent key partners in our services and have been exceptional in their support for celebrating our staff contributions.”

People in Wolverhampton are being encouraged to look after their mental health as much as they do their physical health.

Public Health England (PHE) is piloting its new Every Mind Matters campaign in the region - highlighting that while everyone can feel stressed, anxious, low or have trouble sleeping from time to time, there are simple actions we can take to manage them and prevent them from becoming more serious.

It encourages people to visit the Every Mind Matters website at www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters which provides expert advice, practical tips and experiences from real people to help manage these issues.

Each year, around one in four people in Wolverhampton experience a mental health problem, while a new survey of adults across the West Midlands also shows that nearly three quarters of people in the region report experiencing low mood, anxiety, stress and trouble sleeping frequently or occasionally.

Stress is the most common response, with over half 51% of people in the West Midlands experiencing this frequently or occasionally, compared to 49% for sleeplessness, 44% for low mood and 38% for anxiety.

The survey also found that two thirds of adults in the West Midlands say they look after their physical health on a weekly basis, but less than half look after their mental health as regularly.

Councillor Hazel Malcolm, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "These figures highlight the importance of helping people to better understand and take action on their own mental health.

"Having good mental health can help us feel and function better, have more positive relationships with those around us and deal with and manage difficult times now and into the future. Over time, having good mental health may also reduce our risk of physical health problems."

Dr Lola Abudu, Director of Health and Wellbeing with PHE West Midlands, said: “With the pressures of modern life, it’s normal to feel stressed, anxious, low or have trouble sleeping some of the time. But when these become overwhelming or frequent they can manifest into a more serious problem.

"It’s just as important to take action to look after your mental health, as you would your physical health. Our campaign helps you take your mental health into your own hands, so you can protect and improve your own mental health.”

The Every Mind Matters guide also offers support for social anxiety, trauma, obsessions and compulsions or panic attacks and provides information for people wishing to help friends, family and colleagues experiencing mental health problems.

Wolverhampton launches Health and Wellbeing Together next week – bringing together key health and social care leaders to improve outcomes for local people.

They will join forces in a bid reduce health inequalities in the city, improve the health and wellbeing of residents and support the development of better and more joined up health and social care services.

The launch of the new board follows a review of the previous Wolverhampton Health and Wellbeing Board and is designed to strengthen partnership working.

It has been accompanied by the development of a new website to support its work – http://wellbeingwolves.co.uk. It includes information about the Board, links to additional resources and advice about how residents and communities can help improving their own health and wellbeing.

Councillor Roger Lawrence, Leader of the City of Wolverhampton Council and Chair of Health and Wellbeing Together, said: "The launch of Health and Wellbeing Together marks an important step forward for us.

"Health and wellbeing is about more than health and care services. The environments we live in, our lifestyles, the opportunities we have throughout our whole lives, education, family, good jobs and community all have an impact on our health.

"The new board brings together representatives from a wide range of stakeholders across the city who will be able to work together even more closely to tackle the issues that matter most to local people."

The first meeting of Health and Wellbeing Together takes place at the Civic Centre on Wednesday (17 October, 2018) and is open to the public. Items on the agenda include the transformation of Children and Adolescent Mental Health services (CAMHS), suicide prevention and the annual reports of Wolverhampton's safeguarding boards. For more details, please visit http://wellbeingwolves.co.uk.

Meanwhile there is still time for people to have their say on what they think the health and wellbeing priorities for Wolverhampton should be.

Researchers from a West Midlands healthcare Trust have been named as the best in the region – after scooping a prestigious award for their dedication and hard work.

The Research and Development Team, from Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust (SWBH) were given the Best Overall Performance accolade in the Clinical Research Network (CRN) West Midlands awards ceremony held on Thursday (4 October).

Professor Karim Raza, Director of Research and Development (R&D) at the Trust, said: "This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of R&D staff and other researchers at SWBH. The Trust Board has been particularly supportive of R&D  at SWBH recognising the enormous benefits that a vibrant research environment has for the patients we serve and for our staff - we look forward to building on this success and developing further over the next few years"

Zaida Khalil, Research and Governance Manager at the Trust, added: “We were nominated by the CRN senior leadership team and this in itself was an honour. To win the award is a real privilege and it acknowledges the brilliant work that the Research and Development team and our investigators are carrying out at the Trust. This raises our profile not just within the West Midlands but also nationally. We intend to continue with this work and are grateful for the recognition we have received.”

The award is described by the CRN as a special one and a very difficult one to judge, which is there to acknowledge the organisation which has worked most closely with the network in terms of contribution to its overall joint objectives, and engaging with the teams.

The citation said of the Trust: “This organisation has been consistently meeting both their recruitment targets and their activity based funding targets, and is one of the best at keeping its data up-to-date, despite staff changes and shortages. They are very engaged with the network's teams and work well with the study support team in the network to ensure that the studies are set up quickly and efficiently.”

Professor Jeremy Kirk, Clinical Director for the CRN, said: “These awards showcase the commitment of individuals and teams throughout the region to giving people the opportunity to take part in research.  We received many outstanding nominations this year and offer warmest congratulations to all our winners.”

An innovative new service has been launched to help improve the emotional mental health and wellbeing of thousands of children and young people in Wolverhampton.

The BEAM Wolverhampton service, commissioned by the City of Wolverhampton Council, Wolverhampton Clinical Commissioning Group and HeadStart Wolverhampton, will support over 2,000 children and young people every year.

It is being delivered by the Children’s Society, which has developed a number of successful emotional mental health and wellbeing services in the West Midlands in recent years, and will provide a safe space for children and young people aged from birth to 18 – and care leavers and anyone with a disability up to the age of 25 – who may need support with their emotional health and well-being.

BEAM Wolverhampton will be delivered from a number of locations around the city and is aimed at children and young people who are experiencing mild to moderate emotional wellbeing concerns, are engaging in risk-taking or disruptive behaviours, are living with families experiencing difficulties or who might be known to other services.

It provides scheduled sessions with qualified therapists as well as a drop-in service where young people won’t need an appointment to speak to trained staff.

The drop-in service offers a relaxed place where children and young people can enjoy refreshments, play games and talk to professionals about whatever is on their mind, whether that is stress, bullying, self-harm, eating problems, confidence, anxiety, anger or depression.

Sessions take place at The Way Youth Zone, School Street, on Mondays from 11am–3pm and Eastfield Community Centre, Colliery Road, on Wednesdays from 1pm–5pm, and a team of therapists, youth workers and trained volunteers are on hand to provide support.

The structured appointment service enables young people to learn more about a problem they’re facing and about strategies that can help. The sessions are available through a referral by the child’s school, GP or BEAM Wolverhampton or Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services professionals.

Councillor Paul Sweet, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “This innovative new service will help increase the range of provision for children and young people experiencing emotional mental health and wellbeing issues in Wolverhampton, and will ensure they receive appropriate support, whether that be through drop-in sessions or one-to-one therapy.”

Rob Willoughby, the Children’s Society Area Director for the Midlands, said: “BEAM Wolverhampton is one of many services we have developed in the West Midlands. We are really looking forward to working with the City of Wolverhampton Council, Wolverhampton Clinical Commissioning Group and HeadStart Wolverhampton to further support our children and young people.”

Mags Courts, Children’s Commissioning Manager from Wolverhampton Clinical Commissioning Group, added: "BEAM Wolverhampton is an important step forward in providing the much-needed emotional mental health and wellbeing support for Wolverhampton’s children and young people, as part of a range of services available.”

For more information about BEAM Wolverhampton, please visit www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-we-do/helping-children/beam-wolverhampton or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Children and young people aged 10 to 16 can also get help and support to improve their emotional mental health and wellbeing through HeadStart Wolverhampton, part of a £56m programme set up by Big Lottery Fund covering six areas across the country.

A West Midlands healthcare Trust has been recognised for its excellent work in diversity and inclusion in a top awards ceremony.

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust scooped the Nursing Times Workforce award for Best Diversity and Inclusion Practice at a glittering event held on Thursday (4 October).

Stuart Young, Head of Diversity and Inclusion, attended the ceremony. He said: “We are honoured to be recognised for this prestigious award and proud of our workforce.

“This was made possible because of the dedication and commitment of staff across the Trust and the tireless work of our staff networks. We are really excited that our initiative which allows staff to bring their ‘whole self’ to work was recognised. It means that employees can be their true self when they are at their workplace. We know that staff who bring their ‘whole self’ to work, deliver higher quality patient-centred care because they are not having to worry about hiding something.”

Raffaela Goodby, Director of People and Organisation Development added: “I am so proud of all of the colleagues who have worked hard on the culture change that has happened, to mean we are a more inclusive employer. Equality and Diversity isn’t a buzz word or something we should be doing here at our organisation. It is a real ambition of the Trust board to educate colleagues and partners in the challenges our colleagues face because of their ethnicity, disability or sexual orientation and it is our privilege to celebrate the beautiful richness of culture, background and experience across our 7,000-strong workforce.”

The inaugural Nursing Times Workforce Awards was held at the Grange Tower Hotel, in London. It recognises and rewards the excellent work that is being done by employers to support the nursing and midwifery workforce. The recruitment team from Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, were also shortlisted for the Best Recruitment Experience award. The entries were assessed by a range of healthcare workforce experts and independent specialists.

Ask twice, people urged, as new research shows over three quarters of people in the West Midlands would say they are ‘fine’ even if struggling with a mental health problem

New research released by the mental health anti-stigma campaign, Time to Change, reveals that when asked, 80% of people in the West Midlands would tell friends and family we are ‘fine’, even if struggling with a mental health problem^[1].

When asked why, responses suggest we doubt whether people really want to hear the honest answer.

The top concerns in the West Midlands were¹:

• Just because people ask how you are, doesn’t mean they really want to know (60%)
• I don’t want to burden people (53%)
• I’d only talk if I was confident my friend or family member really wanted to listen (40%)

The national survey of over 2,000 people highlights that asking ‘How are you?’ can often prompt no more than a meaningless exchange. To tackle this, Time to Change is urging people to ‘Ask Twice’ if they suspect a friend, family member, or colleague might be struggling with their mental health. The campaign says the simple act of asking again, with interest, shows a genuine willingness to talk and listen.

‘Ask Twice’ is launched as part of Time to Change’s five-year In Your Corner campaign, which encourages us to be more open and supportive of the 1 in 4 people living with a mental health problem in any given year.

While there has been a positive shift^[2] in the way mental health problems are viewed in England, insight shows that in practical terms many people are still unsure of how to be more supportive.

Jo Loughran, Director of Time to Change, said “We all hear it dozens of times a day: ‘How are you?’ ‘Fine thanks, how are you? ’Our research shows that, as a nation, we find it hard to answer honestly. This could mean someone close to you is struggling with their mental health – they might just be waiting for your cue to talk about it. Asking twice is a simple, effective way to show our friends and family members that we are asking for real; that we are ready to listen, whether that’s now or whenever they’re ready.”

Deian, 45, has experienced depression. He said: “I’ve pretended to be fine when I’m not countless times! I’ve had mental health problems on and off my whole life including suicidal thoughts which eventually ended my marriage. It can take a lot to open up about mental health problems.  It makes a big difference knowing that people are asking because they care and want to try and support.

“My friends do ask if I’m ok, but I’d feel more comfortable opening up if they asked me more than once. When I have been able to talk in the past, it really has been life changing. If people are unsure of how to support their friends or family, I’d say just ask how they are, twice if necessary, and find out how they are really feeling.”

Time to Change has compiled some tips on how to support a friend who does open up:

• Take it seriously, don’t judge
• Actively listen – ask open questions, summarise to show you’ve listened and reflect.
• Remember you don’t have to fix it
• A simple “that sounds difficult” can show you care

A mother whose son receives care from Our Health Heroes 2017 winner John Clifford has called for members of the public and those working within the healthcare sector to nominate the people who are making a real difference to the lives of patients across the UK.

Organised by Skills for Health and the National Skills Academy for Health, Our Health Heroes is a national healthcare awards scheme which recognises individuals, teams and employers from within the healthcare sector who are going the extra mile for their patients, colleagues and staff.

Cerianne Kieft, whose son Hari was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 18 months old, says that John Clifford, a physiotherapy technical instructor from Neath Port Talbot Hospital who has been supporting her son since his diagnosis, is a hero in her eyes.

She said: “As parents we want the best [healthcare] for our children and that’s what we get in John. His passion, enthusiasm and willingness to try anything that works for our son is inspirational.

“John looks at the abilities of the child, not just their disabilities, and he’s willing to try anything so that they succeed. He was there when Hari took his first steps and when he learned to jump, and he taught him how to ride a bike.

“John is a very important person in our family because even though Hari was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, often a diagnosis affects the whole family.”

The deadline for nominations has been extended to midnight on Sunday 23^rd September and Cerianne is urging people to celebrate those who are making a real difference in healthcare facilities across the UK.

A West Midlands health care Trust has become the first in the region to offer extra time off to parents whose babies are born prematurely.

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust has pledged to sign up to The Smallest Things ‘Employer with Heart’ Charter ­ - which means that mums and dads will receive full pay until the point that their maternity or paternity leave was due to start.

Current NHS terms and conditions afford new mums whose baby has been born prematurely to split their maternity leave, allowing them to take two weeks leave immediately after childbirth, and the rest following their baby’s discharge from hospital.

One in eight babies are born prematurely and subsequently parents have a reduced time to bond with their baby as maternity or paternity leave starts from the date of birth. Some newborns are kept in hospital for several weeks or more which will mean that parents find themselves having to go back to work without having spent much time at home with their new baby.

Paula Gardner, Chief Nurse, said: “We are pleased to become the first Trust in the West Midlands to offer this commitment to parents.

“Our staff are dedicated to their jobs and work hard to ensure their patients receive high quality care, so we believe that we should return that sentiment by looking after them when they need our help in their personal lives.

“By signing up to this charter, it means that we will be able to help new mums and dads who are facing a difficult and worrying time after experiencing premature labour.”

Catriona Ogilvy, founder and chair of The Smallest Things charity, says "We're delighted that Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust has recognised the unique needs of families of premature babies and is signing up to our Employer with Heart charter.

"Giving birth prematurely and spending time on a neonatal unit for weeks, sometimes months, is terrifying and traumatic for parents. The last thing they should be worrying about is work and whether they can afford to spend time at the incubator or cot of their fragile baby. We know that the journey often doesn't end when a premature baby is allowed to go home either. This extra time will go some way to supporting parents' mental health, the baby's medical needs and ultimately aid a smoother transition back to work when the time comes."​​