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Issue:-
Sunday,
10 January 2016
Headlines and
reports on this page = 2 news items. Page - 4.
1,000,000th man screened
for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)s
ON 6 January 2016, it was announced
that the screening programme is celebrating success after 29,000 men, in the
North West, have attended their appointments over 2014 to 2015. Also a
significant screening milestone has been reached, with the 1,000,000th 65
year old man, in England, being screened for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).
This marks a key achievement for the national NHS Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Screening Programme.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm is caused when the main blood vessel in the body
weakens and expands. Most AAAs have no symptoms but, if left untreated,
aneurysms can grow and rupture, which can be fatal. 8 out of every 10 people
with a ruptured AAA die before they reach hospital or fail to survive
emergency surgery.
Since the national programme began in 2009, well over 10,000 aneurysms have
been detected that need monitoring or treatment and more than 2,000 men with
large aneurysms, measuring 5.5cm or wider, have been referred for successful
surgical repairs AAA screening is offered to all men registered with a GP
during the year they turn 65. Men over 65 who have not been screened can
self refer by contacting their local screening programme directly. Contact
details of local programmes are on NHS Choices at:- NHS.UK/AAA
The aim of the screening programme is to reduce the number of deaths from
AAA rupture through early detection, appropriate monitoring and treatment.
74% of eligible men in the North West took up their invitation for AAA
screening, in 2014 to 2015, revealing how the programme is successfully
engaging with the local population.
The screening involves a simple ultrasound scan that looks for a weakness
and enlargement of the aorta, the main blood vessel in the body. The results
are available straight away.
Dr Anne Mackie, Director of Screening at Public Health England, said:- "It's great news that one million men have now been screened for AAA. The
death rate after a rupture is about 80%, as many patients die before they
reach hospital. The programme has been a major public health success story
and has proved to be crucial in detecting and treating large aneurysms,
leading to the prevention of premature deaths in men aged 65 years and over.
Screening has its harms as well as benefits and it is important that all
eligible men make an informed choice when deciding whether or not to be
screened for AAA."
Abdominal aortic aneurysms are most common in men aged 65 and over. You are
also at higher risk if you:-
► are a current or former smoker
► have high blood pressure
► have a close family member (parent or sibling) who has, or has had, an AAA
Did you know?
1. The UK National Screening Committee is independent of, but supported by,
Public Health England.
2. Invitations for AAA screening are sent to all men in England aged 65. Men
over the age of 65 can self refer themselves for a screening appointment
through their GP.
3. Current evidence suggests that as women are less likely to get swellings
of the aorta, offering them abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening at the
age of 65 would do more harm than good. Therefore the UK NSC doesn't
currently recommend routine AAA screening for women. However, a review is
underway to see if the offer should be extended to women in the future.
4. Full data for the AAA screening programme is available
online.
5. NICE guidelines are currently being developed around the management and
diagnosis of AAAs.
6. 1 of PHE's key priorities is to support local screening providers in
meeting national waiting time standards; a maximum of 2 weeks from being
referred to being seen by a vascular specialist, and 8 weeks from being
referred to having an operation.
7. Most men are reassured they have a normal result (no aneurysm) and will
not need to be screened again.
Possible screening results...
► Normal (aorta less than 3cm in diameter) - Man discharged from screening
programme.
► Small aneurysm (3cm to 4.4cm) - Man invited back for screening in 12
months.
► Medium aneurysm (4.5cm to 5.4cm) - Man invited back for screening in 3
months.
► Large aneurysm (5.5cm+) - Man referred to vascular surgeon to discuss
treatment options, usually surgery.
Edge Hill University
alert system to provide much needed support to North West end of life carers
AN Edge Hill University developed
alert system, designed to assess the needs of people caring for terminally
ill loved ones, has featured prominently in the recently published National
Institute for Health Research Better Endings report.
The Carers' Alert Thermometer (CAT) is a simple screening tool, developed
with more than 245 carers and professionals from around the North West, that
aims to provide an alert to potential areas of burden that carers are
experiencing, and trigger interventions where appropriate.
The CAT is a response to a major research study that informed the Better
Endings report, undertaken at Edge Hill University and funded by the NIHR.
The study found that support received by unpaid family carers could be a
significant factor in what happens to terminally ill people, particularly
those with cancer, at the end of their lives.
Professor Barbara Jack, Director of Edge Hill's Evidence based Practice
Research Centre, said the Better Endings report provides important insight
into the issues facing those on the front line of palliative care.
"Prior to commencing the research
project, it had become apparent that an increasing number of cancer
patients, who had elected to die at home, were being admitted to hospital in
their last days of life. While honouring people's final wishes and helping
them die with dignity is common to all carers' motivations, it was
identified that in many cases carer fatigue played a pivotal role in end if
life hospitalisation. The CAT has been designed to help carers and
professionals identify breakdown behaviours and risk areas before they
escalate, helping many more terminally ill people avoid hospitalisations
during their finals days." Professor Jack said.
Better Endings is the 1st such report to bring together evidence on a single
topic from across the NIHR. The review is being launched at an event taking
place at the Kings Fund in London, which will be attended by NHS clinicians,
commissioners, patients and researchers.
The themed review aims to help NHS decision makers by presenting the
findings of 17 NIHR studies in a clear and comprehensive way. It also
highlights 12 pieces of ongoing NIHR funded research that are evaluating new
and existing care initiatives, such as 'hospice at home' and a new data
sharing service to improve continuity of care.
The CAT research team included Dr Katherine Knighting, Dr Mary O 'Brien,
Professor Brenda Roe from
Edge Hill University, Professor Mike
Nolan (University of Heffield), Professor Mari Lloyd Williams (University of
Liverpool), Dr Rob Gandy (Independent Consultant), and Kirsty Pine
(Liverpool CCG).
For more information about the CAT screening tool:- 'Better
Endings' is available to
download on the NIHR Dissemination Centre
website.
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Deceased estates notice - Lilian May
Jackam
Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925, any persons
having a claim against or an interest in the Estate of Lilian
May Jackam (also known as Lillian May) Jackam (Deceased), late
of Birch Abbey Rest Home, 55 Alexandra Road, Southport,
Merseyside, PR9 9HD, UK, who died on 04/10/2018, are required to
send particulars thereof in writing, to the undersigned
Solicitors, on or before 24/05/2019, after which date the Estate
will be distributed having regard only to claims and interests
of which they have had notice. Churches Solicitors, 12 High
Street, Fareham, Hampshire, PO16 7BL, UK. Ref:-
'T553015.'
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