|
Hospital Trust team up with
Southport Kidney Fund to host World Kidney Day 2017
SOUTHPORT and Ormskirk Hospital NHS
Trust is celebrating World Kidney Day by hosting an information and awareness
stand, at Southport hospital on Thursday, 9 March 2017, from 10am to 4pm.
The stand is being hosted by Dr Raza and Dr Wong from the Trust's Nephrology
(kidney) department along with the Southport Kidney Fund, who provide assistance
to all patients with kidney failure within Southport. The theme of this year's
stand is kidney disease and obesity.
Ann Glover, Chairperson of Southport Kidney Fund, said:- 'We decided to do
our bit for World Kidney day because kidney failure is life changing for both
the patient and those around them.
Southport Kidney Fund is a charity run by patients and carers for other local
patients, adults and children, who are pre-dialysis, on dialysis or
transplanted. I was on dialysis for nearly seven years whilst waiting for a
transplant. Then 11 years ago my son gave me a kidney for which I can never
repay him. The transplant has freed me from dialysis and prolonged my life but I
still have a lot of health difficulties. Life is never the same after kidney
failure. We need to raise awareness of this life threatening problem."
Dr Hasnain Raza, Consultant Physician and Nephrologist at the Trust, added:-
"Kidney disease is common, affecting over 3 million people in the UK.
However, it can go undetected as people often have no symptoms. People with high
blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, who are overweight or have a family
history of kidney disease and those from certain ethnic groups, have a higher
risk of developing kidney disease. The good news is that depending on the
problem, early detection, changes in lifestyle (such as taking more exercise)
and a healthy diet can often slow down the progression of the disease, delaying
the possible need for dialysis or transplantation."
Crack down as new penalties for mobile phones
and other handheld devices introduced
MERSEYSIDE Police are targeting drivers
using their mobile phones and other handheld devices, as new legislation is
introduced nationally, imposing new penalties.
The new laws mean that from now, the fine for using a mobile device will rise to
£200 and the points penalty will be doubled to 6. This could result in new
drivers losing their licence for committing a single offence.
It has been illegal to use a mobile device, held in the hand,
whilst driving or stopped with the engine on, since December 2003. However, a
significant number of drivers are still using devices behind the wheel, in
Merseyside and nationally. A Merseyside week of action in January saw over 50
arrests for mobile phone offences, and hundreds more drivers were stopped and
given advice. Merseyside Police have now
held another a day of action, that took place on Thursday, 2 March 2017 and more
are now planned.
Chief Inspector Tony Jones, head of Matrix Roads Policing, said:- "We held
a week of action in January 2017 to give fair warning to drivers ahead of this
legislation, as we don't want anyone to find out the hard way, either through
causing an accident, or being caught as part of our increased activity. The new
laws will particularly hit new drivers. A new driver prosecuted for using their
mobile phone will face losing their licence after just 1 offence, which reflects
how seriously we treat all irresponsible and dangerous drivers. Merseyside
Police is committed to reducing the number of people killed or injured on our
roads in 2017 and we are determined to target motorists who flout the law and
recklessly endanger lives. This activity takes place on a daily basis and the
ideal scenario for us is that we start to stop less drivers as the messages hit
home, which we have seen in relation to drink driving. Modern phones have
changed how we communicate and the rise in people using them to:- make calls,
text, access social media, take photos and videos, and even check emails when
they should be 100% focussed on the road is a concern. There is never an excuse,
and drivers should always pull over to a safe place before using their phone.
People who ignore this advice present a massive danger to other road users,
pedestrians and to themselves and their passengers. They are distracted from the
road, their attention and reflexes are impaired, and such behaviour is equal to
drink and drug driving, and the non wearing of seatbelts, for sheer
recklessness. If you know people who use their phones at the wheel, challenge
them, make sure your friends and family do not lose their licence, their job, or
cause a serious accident through their behaviour."
What do you, our readers think? Please let us know by emailing us to:-
News24@southportReporter.com with your views. |
 |
Formby School wins good
diabetes care award
A School in Formby has received a
special award that celebrates Schools which provide great care and support to
children and young people with Type 1 diabetes. Freshfield Primary School has
won Diabetes UK's Good Diabetes Care in School Awards a new recognition scheme
introduced by the charity in September 2015 to raise the profile of Schools
across the UK that are providing good care and support to children and young
people with Type 1 diabetes.
The School was chosen by an assessment panel which included parents and
representatives from Diabetes UK. It has been recognised for the support it
provides to ensure children with Type 1 at their School are fully included in
all School activities and receive the care they deserve. The School were
presented with the award, which is valid for 2 years, at a special assembly,
that took place on 2 February 2017.
It is extremely important that children and young people with diabetes receive
good care in School to help them keep their blood glucose to target levels. In
the short term, high or low blood glucose levels can make a child extremely
unwell, and in the long term, high blood glucose levels can increase risk of
serious complications such as amputation, blindness and stroke later in life.
Supporting children to manage their diabetes well is also key to enabling them
to get the best from their education and School activities.
Head Teacher Mrs Hayley Ward said:- "The Governors, staff, parents and
children are delighted and very proud to receive the Good Diabetes Care in
School award. It is testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff; the
excellent practice care and management they provide; the close partnerships
built with parents and the unyielding commitment the School has to ensure every
child can thrive at Freshfield."
The charity says that the Good Diabetes Care in School Award shows that good
diabetes care in Schools is achievable and presents an opportunity to share best
practice amongst Schools, helping to ensure that all students with diabetes get
the support they need and can therefore achieve their full academic potential.
Recognising that some Schools will have
concerns about how to support students with diabetes, as part of its Type 1
diabetes: Make the Grade Campaign, Diabetes UK has created free resources to
help parents and Schools get the right care in place. Along with this the
charity has launched a Care in Schools Helpline which provides parents of
children and young people with Type 1 diabetes in England, Scotland, Wales and
Northern Ireland with information and support around the care their child is
entitled to receive at School.
Diabetes UK is appealing to School staff, parents and healthcare professionals
to nominate Schools providing good care for the Good Diabetes Care in School
Award. Nominations received after July 2017 will go into the 2018 award cycle,
which will begins in September 2017. Stephen Ryan, Head of the North at Diabetes
UK said:- "Freshfield Primary School has demonstrated that they are
meeting best practice in the support they provide for children and young people
with Type 1 diabetes, which is why they have become a recipient of our Good
Diabetes Care in School Award. We urge all Schools, both here in Formby and
across the country, to follow the School's example as good care in Schools means
that children and young people with diabetes stay healthy and get the best from
their education. The fact that Freshfield Primary School is doing such a
fantastic job of supporting students with Type 1 diabetes shows that good care
is achievable in all Schools." |
