Health & Wellbeing

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.

A University of Wolverhampton graduate has released a record to raise money for Cancer Research UK and the Compton Hospice based in Wolverhampton.

Amy Goodall, 22 from Wolverhampton, who studied for a degree in Musical Theatre in the School of Performing Arts at the University’s Walsall Campus, has made the record as a non-profit project.

Amy used the verse and chorus of a song she had written when she was 15, at the time she lost her grandfather, and started to remake it when she was studying at the University.  Her song ‘Piece of Me’ has been released under her stage name, Amy G.

Amy said:  “My grandad was my musical inspiration and he passed away soon after being diagnosed with lung cancer.  I was left to find my own path in music and, years later, found myself thinking about him, especially as more and more people around me were being diagnosed with cancer.”

Amy used the verse and chorus of a song she had written when she was 15, at the time she lost her grandfather, and started to remake it when she was studying at the University.  Her song ‘Piece of Me’ has been released under her stage name, Amy G.

“I wanted to use my influence in music to create something that will always be relevant to an audience, and be accessible to all audiences. When I lost my grandad to lung cancer this rollercoaster of emotions occurred and this song has been made in his memory. It is also a dedication to those you have lost and to those who are currently battling this journey.”

Sarah Browne, Head of Music and Musical Theatre at the University, said: “I’m really pleased to see Amy is advancing her career and thinking of others who are less fortunate. Amy was a superb student; thoughtful, driven and exceptionally talented. It’s great to see her professional career going from strength to strength and I’m sure her time on the Musical Theatre course will serve her well. We’re really proud of Amy and all that she continues to achieve.”

Anyone wanting to donate to Amy’s cause should follow the link to her giving page.  Listen to, like and share Amy’s song on YouTube.

With the shorter days and darker mornings, it can be difficult for our bodies to adjust to the change of seasons. On the 29^th October, the clocks will go back an hour, as a reminder that we’re now well into autumn.

No matter how much we love our cosy knits and evenings snuggled up with a hot drink, there’s no denying that these shorter days can take their toll on us, both mentally and physically.

Online bed and sleep specialist, Time 4 Sleep, has put together some top tips on how to look after yourself during the colder months, and how to deal with the change in seasons when the clocks go back this autumn.

Make sure you’re getting enough sleep

Take advantage of the dark nights and go to bed a little earlier. Even if you’re just relaxing and reading a book in bed, it’s a great way to unwind and switch off and will ultimately help you get a better night’s sleep. With the nights getting darker earlier, it won’t feel like you’re having an early night either.

Getting a good night’s sleep is vital in allowing you to function properly throughout the day. Lack of sleep can affect your ability to focus on crucial everyday tasks and can impact your productivity at work.

Start the day with a good breakfast and your favourite hot drink

Waking up when it’s still dark is always a challenge but if you can give yourself a little something to look forward to in the mornings, it can make those early alarms that little bit easier.

Whether you’re a coffee or a tea person, the thought of your morning brew is sure to help you get out of your cosy bed. Always make sure that you allow time for a good warm breakfast too; it will set you up for the day and help you to focus while you’re at work.

Adjust your routine

Shorter days can play havoc with your daily routine which, in turn, can affect your sleep pattern and your mood.

Try to adjust your routine accordingly to keep yourself happy and healthy throughout the autumn and winter months. If possible, allow yourself a little more time in the evenings to enjoy relaxing and unwinding before the sun goes down.

Perhaps have your meal a little earlier so you have more time to enjoy the evening, or treat yourself to an extra hour in bed on a Saturday morning so you’re waking up to the sunlight rather than in darkness.

Treat yourself

If there’s one thing we all love about the colder months, it’s the delicious food and drinks. With rich, comforting casseroles, tempting toffee apples and hot mulled wine everywhere you go, make time to treat yourself to your favourite seasonal dishes and snacks. You deserve it!

Embrace the seasons

When the temperature drops, it’s easy to want to cosy up and stay indoors. While nights in front of the TV with a mug of hot chocolate are tempting, it’s also important to get out of the house and enjoy some time outdoors.

Find time to embrace each season. Autumn brings with it so many much-loved traditions; muddy boots, crunchy leaves and pumpkin spiced lattes are not to be missed! Each season is a new adventure and should give you something to look forward to.

Tesco has today underlined its commitment to British agriculture by signing up to the National Farmers' Union Fruit & Veg Pledge – as well as increasing the amount of vegetables in people's diets by supporting The Food Foundation's Peas Please pledge.

Designed to nurture long-lasting relationships between retailers and growers, the Fruit & Veg pledge highlights the importance of treating suppliers fairly, reducing food waste and buying more British fruit and veg when it's in season. Tesco is the first of the Big 4 supermarkets to become a signatory.

The move further cements Tesco's long-term support for British farmers, growers and producers. Significantly, it also builds on a range of steps taken to redefine its relationship with suppliers over the last three years to be named the most improved retailer in the Groceries Code Adjudicator's most recent annual survey. Last year, Tesco was also ranked top in the independently run supplier Advantage survey.

This comes on the same day that Tesco has also committed to support The Food Foundation's Peas Please initiative, focused on making it easier for more people to eat more vegetables. As part of this, Tesco has pledged to prioritise increasing the amount of vegetables when developing recipes and introducing new products, and ensure more vegetable options are included in evening meal deals. In addition, the retailer will continue to work with its supplier partners to develop new products to increase overall consumption of vegetables, as it works to help customers make healthier food choices.

Tesco's Chief Product Officer Jason Tarry said:

“We're proud to celebrate our partnerships with British farmers and growers by signing the NFU's Fruit & Veg Pledge, which highlights both our commitment to British agriculture and healthy products. British farmers and growers produce fantastic quality food and we believe if we invest in them for the long-term, our customers will enjoy better quality, affordable food today and tomorrow.

“Signing The Food Foundation's Peas Please pledge also underlines our commitment to help our customers make healthier choices by making it easier to eat more vegetables, which in turn helps support our British farmers and growers too.”

NFU President Meurig Raymond said:

“It is excellent news that Tesco has signed the NFU's Fruit and Veg pledge. British farmers produce the food which helps to feed the nation and it is positive to see Tesco recognise that fact, committing to values that ensure fairness for the farmer and the supply chain.

“By offering this vital certainty and commitment, Tesco's suppliers of fruit and veg will be in a stronger position to invest in their business, plan for the future, boost productivity and compete in a global marketplace. By signing up to the pledge, Tesco is telling suppliers it has started the journey of delivering ever higher standards of business integrity, which we are very proud of.

“With surveys showing that 90% of the public think farming is important to the UK economy and that 89% think it is important to have a productive farming industry, it is timely for Tesco to publicly show their support for British farmers.”

People who haven't already done so are being reminded to get themselves vaccinated against the flu this winter.

Flu is a highly infectious disease and can lead to serious complications for people who have long-term health conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis, emphysema, diabetes, heart, kidney or liver disease or who have suffered a stroke.

People with these and other long-term health conditions are eligible for a free flu vaccination through their GP or pharmacist.

The over 65s, carers and those in long-stay residential care homes, pregnant women, children aged two and three as well as school children from Reception through to Year 4 are also eligible for the free flu vaccine, with children receiving their vaccination through a quick nasal spray rather than an injection.

People who are not eligible for a free vaccination can still get their vaccination at retailers including some supermarkets and high street pharmacies for a small charge.

Councillor Paul Sweet, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "It is estimated that several million people get flu each winter and it can be very dangerous, with many of us needing hospital treatment.

“The message is clear; if you are eligible for the flu vaccine, please get it now – it’s free because you need it. Even if you are not eligible for the free vaccination, you can still arrange to get it for a small charge.”

Providing flu vaccinations is part of the Stay Well This Winter campaign, a joint initiative from NHS England and Public Health England to help the public ward off common winter illnesses. Please visit www.nhs.uk/staywell for more information.

Tesco is taking the lead by being the first major retailer to offer customers a healthier cola by stocking Green Cola in its 309 in-store cafes.

The cafes are addressing consumers' increasing demand for healthier options as Green Cola is the only cola that contains:

NO sugar NO Aspartame NO Phosphoric Acid NO preservatives NO calories

The drink is sweetened with Stevia, a natural plant extract and caffeinated with green coffee beans, which is why it's called Green Cola.

Green Cola was conceived in 2013. It took two years to perfect the recipe and it has been brought to the UK by Green Room Brands after phenomenal success in Greece.

CEO Paul Woodward says: "We are delighted that Tesco are now stocking Green Cola for all its shoppers to enjoy. There is nothing else like Green Cola on the market. Most low calorie colas contain aspartame, an artificial sweetener that many consumers have growing concerns about. Like many retailers, Tesco realise that consumers are demanding more choice when it comes to their desire to a achieve a healthier lifestyle.”

Green Cola will be sold in 500ml PET bottles in Tesco cafes from November this year.

Green Cola is already a massive hit in Greece, Romania, Germany, Ireland and Hong Kong. It has also recently launched in Spain. In the UK, it is currently stocked by Ocado, Amazon, Tesco cafes and artisan food and select coffee shops.

Fundraisers in Birmingham are being asked to come forward to join a new fundraising group which launched this week to support Alzheimer’s Research UK, the UK’s leading dementia research charity.

The founding members of Alzheimer’s Research UK’s first Birmingham fundraising group have plans well underway for their first events and are looking for new members with a range of skills to join the team to raise vital funds and awareness for dementia research.

Members can get involved in fundraising challenges to raise money for pioneering research, representing Alzheimer’s Research UK at events or spreading the word about the charity within their local community.

Alzheimer’s Research UK regional groups play a crucial part in the fight against dementia, which currently affects over 850,000 people across the UK, including more than 11,000 in Birmingham.

The charity powers world-class studies focusing on prevention, diagnosis and treatments for dementia and has funded 49 research projects in the Midlands, providing grants totalling more than £4.1m.

One member of the new group is Kate Evans, a Business Development Manager for Marketing Birmingham. The Group Leader is aiming to use her events management and marketing skills to raise awareness of the need for research into dementia and the diseases that cause it.

Kate, who lives in Bournville, said: “I began supporting Alzheimer’s Research UK as my grandmother Betty was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease six years ago.

“Nothing can prepare a family for this awful disease – the endless medical appointments, care assessments and residential practicalities, while watching someone you love decline and dealing with changes in their behaviour.

“I am passionate about raising awareness that dementia is not a natural part of getting older – with the right research it can one day be defeated and better treated.

“We have a very talented and experienced committee with a passion for events with a twist. Please follow us on social media and watch this space for upcoming events and ways to get involved.”

Zoe Baggott, Alzheimer’s Research UK Regional Fundraising Officer for the West Midlands, will be on hand to provide advice, materials and assistance when needed.

She said: “Dementia has a huge impact on families and it’s important to us at Alzheimer’s Research UK that communities have the opportunity to come together and get involved with supporting dementia research.

“Regional fundraising groups are the perfect way to do this and are vital in helping us achieve our vision is a world free from the fear, harm and heartbreak of dementia, both through raising funds and awareness of this cruel condition. I look forward to welcoming more new members to the Birmingham group."

University of Wolverhampton staff at Telford Innovation Campus hosted a visit by the Consulate General of India in Birmingham, Dr Aram Puri.

Dr Puri was appointed Consul General of India in Birmingham in February this year. He is a member of the Indian Foreign Service and served at the Indian Mission to the European Union, Belgium and Luxembourg, based at Brussels.

The visit to view the new state-of-the-art £10 million facilities included a tour of the mechanical testing laboratory and the metrology laboratory as well as the University of Wolverhampton Race Team (UWR) workshop where engineering students work on a variety of race cars.

Dr Puri was given an overview of the range of Engineering courses available at the University and tried his hand at motor racing in one of the University’s race simulators.

He said: “It’s a real pleasure to see the Campus and the amazing work which is happening here.  I’m impressed with the extraordinary work being done in the field of Motorsport, Aerospace and 3D Technology – it’s a real hidden jewel.

“We very much welcome initiatives which build on collaborations with India.  Next year, Telford Campus will be outreaching to Indian students and we feel that those kinds of institutional links and also supporting Indian students coming here will be a win-win and they will add a lot of diversity and value to the programmes here.”

Almost £500,000 has been secured by West Midlands Combined Universities to develop a Health and Care Degree Apprenticeship Accelerator Programme – helping to plug healthcare skills gaps across the region.

The consortium, made up of Birmingham City University, Coventry University and the University of Wolverhampton working collaboratively with Black Country Partnerships for Care and Health Futures University Technical College, was awarded £484,000 funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), as part of the government’s Degree Apprenticeship Development Fund.

The funding will be used to develop and deliver a curriculum for a new integrated Care Navigator Degree Apprenticeship Programme with courses planned to start in January 2019, providing skilled staff in the social care, health and voluntary sectors.

The partnership will also scope the range of job roles that would benefit from developing new apprenticeships aligned to Care Navigation and the delivery of Integrated Care.

Care Navigators organise and co-ordinate care pathways across all health and care settings and all stages from childhood to old age. Their primary focus will be supporting service users, carers and their families through complex and interconnecting systems and settings of care.

Wayne Langford, Director of West Midlands Combined Universities, said: “The West Midlands region has a thriving economy but it is no secret that we have a skills shortage in some key areas.

“We believe this funding provides a timely opportunity to develop a suite of Care Navigator roles that will help stimulate a beneficial change in the way social care is delivered in the health and care system.

“Degree Apprenticeships provide us with an ideal method of making sure our workforce is equipped to meet the employment demands of the region, as well as giving students both on-the-job training and a degree level education.

“The Combined Universities working together in a joined up approach with other leading health and social care partners and employers, which takes in the needs of the entire region, give us a much better chance of addressing this skills gap whilst at the same time making a valuable contribution to the propagation of new trailblazer groups to further develop innovative standards.”

Courses will be specifically tailored to meet the needs of the region’s healthcare sector and students will gain hands-on experience in the industry to earn while they learn, and will be equipped with a full degree at the end of their courses.

A further £178,000 from HEFCE has been allocated to Birmingham City University to develop Degree Apprenticeships in Construction and Surveying and Coventry University has been awarded £240,000 for Degree Apprenticeships in Health, Engineering and Construction.

The University of Wolverhampton was awarded £250,000 last year to develop Degree Apprenticeships in Chartered Management, Construction Management, Chartered Surveying, Digital Technology Solutions, Engineering and Health.

A packed audience of over 500 representatives from education, health, local councils and the voluntary sector came together to put the spotlight on mental health at a major HeadStart Wolverhampton conference this week.

Aimed at teachers, health professionals and voluntary sector staff who work with children and young people, it focused on how they can help young people to improve their resilience and wellbeing.

Around a tenth of 15-year-olds have a diagnosable mental health condition, and the conference formed part of a national debate about how to prevent the development of serious, often lifelong, mental health difficulties in young people.

The audience enjoyed a top class line up of presentations, including keynote speeches from Ruby Wax OBE who used her own experiences of depression to break down the stigma associated with mental health, Paul McGee, who applied the lessons of his SUMO (Stop, Understand, Move On) approach to supporting professionals and young people, and mental health ambassador Dr Pooky Knightsmith who shared practical strategies and resources to improve the mental wellbeing of young people.

There were also a fantastic range of workshops hosted by national organisations Young Minds and Time to Change and by experts in their field including Kay Price, Claire Birkenshaw, Ken Corish and Alison Cope.

The conference, at Wolverhampton Racecourse on Tuesday, concluded with a showcase featuring eight community organisations working with or supported by HeadStart Wolverhampton. It included dance, music, drama, personal testimonies, films showcasing their work with young people and presentations on the impact of HeadStart.

Kevin Pace, HeadStart Programme Manager, said: “The HeadStart Wolverhampton Conference was everything we hoped it would be.

"It was fantastic to be able to bring together, in the City of Wolverhampton, such a diverse range of professionals to learn, share and network in support of HeadStart’s aims of breaking down the stigma around mental health in our society.

"I know that the delegates who attended will return to their organisations reinvigorated and ready to apply what they’ve learned to improving the lives of the young people they work with every day.

"The young people who presented, performed, and shared their testimonies during the conference, and during the incredible community showcase that followed it, did themselves, their community organisations and the City of Wolverhampton proud.

"As she left, Ruby Wax told us, 'You have a wonderful programme, now go save the kids!', which is exactly what we aim to do."

Councillor Val Gibson, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “There was a tremendous response to the HeadStart Wolverhampton conference, and I am delighted that so many professionals were able to contribute to the mental health debate, share good practice and develop new ways to support children and young people – indeed, such was demand for tickets that we probably could have filled the Racecourse twice over.

"It was wonderful to hear from such brilliant keynote speakers as Paul McGee, Dr Pooky Knightsmith and of course Ruby Wax OBE, and to take part in the excellent range of workshops, and I would like to pay tribute to the young HeadStart Ambassadors Megan Williams, Hannah Rooney and Cristina Wilde, who compèred the whole event so well.

“We now want the frontline professionals to take the learning and innovative ideas talked about at the conference back into their work with our City's children and young people.”

HeadStart Wolverhampton, funded through The Big Lottery Fund, is a “test and learn” programme designed to improve the resilience and emotional well-being of children and young people aged 10 to 16 by giving them the skills they need to cope with life’s challenges.

Famously something Walt Disney did, having your head frozen when you die is thought to be a way of preserving enough of your personality, intellect and memories to be able to bring you fully back to life at some point in the future when technology is more advanced.

But this service has previously been within the reach of only the very rich, such as Disney, while less affluent people have missed the opportunity to do this when they die.

And now, say StemProtect.co.uk, we are looking at a near future in which the service is available to everyone - for a small cost of course.

Mark Hall spokesperson for StemProtect.co.uk said: “We’re accustomed to making jokes about freezing heads when we die, and of course everyone knows Walt Disney did it - often that’s their only point of reference. But soon we could see this practice becoming commonplace because advances in technology have made it much more affordable.”

“And of course, while we’re not at the point yet where we can bring someone back to life from this procedure, we believe it’s just around the corner.”

StemProtect.co.uk agree that this does raise some weighty ethical questions, however: “We don’t yet know what the emotional impact would be of bringing someone back to life this way even when we are physically able to do it. That’s not a question for science but for us as human beings, and it’s a question we might not be able to answer until the first person is brought back to life after being frozen.”

The service will be offered at a cost of £5000 for 250 years. Which Mr Hall points out “That’s cheaper than some funerals”

Other ways of preserving vital tissue, such as stem cell banking, are now much more commonplace than ever before, and carry far fewer ethical problems. Unlike freezing a head, which is done to bring a dead individual back to life, the work StemProtect.co.uk do is aimed at preserving information about the body which can be used for medical purposes while the person is still alive.

Public surveys show that people are still not completely happy with the idea of having their heads frozen when they die, even if it does become something that’s affordable to them and realistically within their reach.

Johnny 37, from Leeds, said “ Where do I sign up? Freeze me now and bring me back in a few hundred years please, I take it my bar tab will be cancelled?”

Mr Hibbert, from Yorkshire, said “ Anything to get away from the wife”

Stephen, 45, from Bedford, said: “I don’t even like to think about it. Who would want to be, or know, someone who had been brought back after they died and had their head frozen? I can’t imagine it’s a smooth ride, put it that way.”

And Mary, 75, from Oxford, said: “As a Christian, I don’t think it’s right at all. Once you die, you die, and I’m not scared of that. I’d be more scared of coming back afterwards away from peace and back here where there’s not as much peace.”

What are your thoughts?

Official figures published today by Public Health England (PHE) show there has been a significant decline in new diagnoses of HIV in the UK in gay and bisexual men. The statistics highlight the importance of frequent and regular testing to ensure that HIV is both diagnosed and treated much sooner; improving patient outcomes and reducing the spread of HIV.

The decrease in HIV diagnoses in gay and bisexual men represents the most exciting development in the UK HIV epidemic in the last 20 years, when effective treatment became widely available.

Commenting on the figures, Dr Valerie Delpech, Head of HIV surveillance at Public Health England, said: “This is very good news. It is the first time since the beginning of the HIV epidemic in the 1980s that we have observed a decline in new HIV diagnoses among gay and bisexual men and is clear evidence that HIV prevention efforts are working in the United Kingdom.

“Our success in reducing transmission is due to high levels of condom use among gay men, and a sharp rise in the number of men testing for HIV each year, with those at greatest risk testing more frequently. Early diagnosis is also key to making sure that people benefit from HIV treatments so they can live long and healthy lives and are protected from passing on the virus to others.”

With continued investment in testing and diagnosis the decline in HIV infection which has taken place for gay and bisexual men in London can be replicated in other parts of the country and in all those at higher risk of HIV. HIV testing enables diagnosis and the opportunity for treatment which not only means people can live long, healthy lives but also provides reassurance that the virus cannot be passed on.

It is easy to get tested for HIV. Testing is freely available through GP surgeries, local hospitals and sexual health clinics as well as on self-sampling and self-testing (see NHS Choices for further information). As well as getting tested, using a condom with new or casual partners protects against HIV and other STIs.

Many studies show that an unhealthy gut can have a direct, negative effect on the immune system.  This ranges from general lethargy and frequent colds to developing autoimmune disorders.

An autoimmune response is where the immune system sees the own body’s cells as a risk and attacks them or creates an excessive immune response. An underactive response means that it isn’t working at full speed. Either way, it can be difficult to pinpoint the causes.

Simon Bandy, General Manager of the nutritional supplements brand Health Plus which has been family run for more than 25 years says:

“Staying active and eating a balanced diet can help to keep your body in tip top shape.  But something as simple as a tummy bug that goes untreated at the source can increase risk to your immune system.”

Here, Simon talks about the simple steps you can take to restore and maintain a healthy gut.

Bad bacteria, fungi, yeasts and parasites can get into our body and many are encountered in ways we don’t often realise. Here are some of the most common:

Tap water

Parasites from the environment or our food

Food poisoning

Fish from polluted waters

Birth control pills

The best way to regain good gut flora balance and to establish a healthy digestive system (and therefore improved immune system) is simply to consume more good bacteria than bad. Taking a probiotic daily will help populate the levels of friendly bacteria. Our Health Plus Mega Multi Probiotic (£23.45/30 capsules) offers a dairy-free supplement containing 20 billion probiotic bacteria – great if you think your gut is unhealthy or if you have just completed a course of antibiotics.

There are plenty of things that you can include and remove from your diet to help aid a healthy gut and immune system. Avoid foods that are high in yeast and refined sugar as these will encourage the bad bacteria to multiply.

Fermented foods are becoming increasingly popular in the UK and are incredibly rich in beneficial probiotic bacteria, so try to include a few fermented vegetables in your weekly meal plan. Options include sauerkraut (finely cut fermented cabbage, widely available on the high street), kimchi (the Korean spicy version of sauerkraut which is also high in fibre), kefir (a fermented milk drink) and more easily found in the supermarket is live or cultured yoghurt.   Remember to also feed these good bacteria with prebiotics which can be found naturally in fruits and vegetables like artichokes, bananas and onions.

Simon concludes: “As research is showing us, the link between poor gut health and overall health is very strong. Too much bad bacteria can seemingly have an affect not only on our physical health, but also on our emotional wellbeing too. Links have been made to poor mood swings and even autism. Including fermented foods or a good probiotic in your daily life could make a huge change to your overall health and is a simple change to make.”