Health News January 2010
Specialist support for mums and babies
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An expanded mother and baby unit has been opened at the Homerton Hospital. The new state of the art wing will offer admission to women who experience moderate to severe mental health difficulties during pregnancy, or after giving birth, and who cannot be cared for at home. For the last 10 years the facility only offered four beds, but now the refurbished unit has 10 ensuite bedrooms. Amenities include a room to support mothers with twins; facilities to meet the needs of women with physical disabilities; and a high dependency suite. The unit also now has an enclosed, landscaped garden with a play area so visiting families can have fun, while making sure mothers and babies have fresh air each day. |
Dr Liz McDonald, Consultant Psychiatrist, said: “The perinatal mental health team are very excited about the new unit and the unique facilities and experience it can offer to women and their babies at a difficult time in their lives.
“Supporting women, their infants and families from the earliest time in their lives will reap long-term rewards for families affected by mental illness.”
25 January 2010
Spread the word, not the virus
Residents who fall ill with a winter virus that causes diarrhoea and vomiting are being urged to stay away from Homerton Hospital to protect patients and staff.
Norovirus, or the ‘winter vomiting bug’, which doctors describe as ‘unpleasant but rarely serious’, is spread easily from one person to another and lasts between one and two days.
NHS advice is that people who catch the virus won’t require hospital treatment except in exceptional circumstances, as the illness tends to run its course without medical attention. However, people can remain infectious for up to 48 hours after they stop vomiting.
Good personal hygiene helps prevent the virus spreading, so wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before eating and after going to the toilet.
In a bid to teach Hackney children about how to protect themselves and not spread bugs, the Health Protection Agency is now arming every school with a fun teaching pack about common infections called ‘e-Bug’.
The pack explains about viruses and bacteria, hygiene, vaccines and antibiotics.
More information
Residents worried about Norovirus symptoms should contact their GP.
25 January 2010
Give your health the once-over
Residents aged 40 to 74 who are concerned about their health are being offered free check-ups at local libraries.
Experts will ask simple questions about health, age and family history. Measurements such as height, weight and blood pressure will also be taken.
Each check lasts about half an hour, after which people will be given an assessment of their risk of developing heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and kidney disease in the next 10 years.
Results will be explained and a personal plan developed to help maintain health or reduce risk.
The first roadshow takes place from 2-5pm at Stoke Newington Library on 14 February. More roadshows will take place over the following weeks at Clapton, Shoreditch and Hackney Central libraries.
For more info call the patient advice and liaison service on: 0800 923 0107; or: 020 7683 4453.
25 January 2010
Look after your cervix
As part of European Cervical Cancer Week, NHS City and Hackney is reminding women and girls about the availability of cervical screening – sometimes called a smear test – and vaccination.
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women under 35 years of age. Every year more than 2,800 women will be diagnosed and 1,000 will die from the disease in the UK.
A vaccine is provided through school nurses to girls aged 12-13, in line with recommendations from the Department of Health, and the vaccine is offered to all girls up until the age of 18 through schools, colleges and GP practices.
Women over 25 are routinely invited for screening and GPs can be contacted for additional appointments or advice. For info visit: www.ecca.info
25 January 2010
Street search for quitters
Stop Smoking teams have been combing Hackney streets in search of people keen to quit smoking in 2010.
Residents registering an interest will be booked into one of several stop smoking clinics throughout the borough, which offer support for quitting goals.
The street initiative will be repeated over two weeks in late February.
People who sign up in January for the in-store NHS stop smoking service at the Dalston, Stamford Hill or Hackney Central branches of Boots will be offered free stop smoking medication, such as nicotine replacement therapy. Those who reach the four-week quitting stage will also be rewarded with a £20 gift voucher.
For more info visit: www.cityandhackney.nhs.uk
25 January 2010
Help on hand
A hotline for expectant parents has been shortlisted for an award by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM).
Homerton hospital’s maternity helpline was selected for the ‘development of services addressing inequalities in health’ category at the RCM Midwifery Awards 2010. It was set up two years ago with the aim of improving access to maternity care in Hackney as part of the borough’s Reducing Infant Mortality Programme.
Staffed by experienced midwives, the telephone service puts women and their partners in direct contact with professionals.
Midwife supervisor, Alison Russell, said: “The success of the helpline has exceeded all expectations; in its first 18 months it’s helped over 13,000 callers. Callers who were randomly surveyed at the end of its first year of operation called it ‘absolutely wonderful’ and ‘very reassuring’, recommending it highly to friends and family.”
The awards will be held on 27 January.
11 January 2010
Centre marks Carers Rights Day
Hackney health officials were grilled during a ‘question time’ debate as part of events marking Carers Rights Day.
A lively discussion that included a panel of health care experts as well as Meg Hillier, MP for Shoreditch and South Hackney, took place at the centre on Tyssen Street on 4 December.
The debates touched on subjects such as care in the home, direct payments, respites for parent carers, funding and the issue of child statements – a legal document setting out a child’s special educational needs.
The event was organised by City and Hackney Carers Centre, which provides advice and support for carers. It offers benefit and welfare advice, advocacy, counselling, assessments, trips, events and activities for carers who are looking after someone who is ill or disabled.
11 January 2010
Make room to quit smoking
Giving a room a makeover could be key for those aiming to quit smoking, according to a national anti-smoking adviser.
The NHS Smoking Service has offered a series of tips for those making the New Year’s resolution to stay smoke free – and just in time for January furniture sales.
Melanie Deweymarn, from NHS Smoking Service, said:
“The most helpful thing you can do is keep busy and change your daily routine to counteract your usual smoking triggers. If you always smoke in your lounge, rearrange the furniture so the room looks different.”
Money saved from cigarettes – more than £2,000 per year for a 20-a-day smoker – could be spent on holidays, new hobbies or learning new skills, Melanie added.
“The most important thing is to commit to a date, then identify when and why you smoke so you can establish the extent of your addiction. Keep a ‘smoker’s diary’ for a few days; write down every time you have a cigarette and what you were feeling or doing before you lit up. This will help you to identify your triggers,” she concluded.
For more tips to help quit, call the City and Hackney NHS Stop Smoking Service on: 0800 169 1943 or visit: www.smokefree.nhs.uk
11 January 2010
Healthy living for the winter
A series of cooking and physical activities classes aimed at single parent families from African and Caribbean communities is being launched to promote healthy lifestyles in Hackney.
The Winter Wellness project will provide two five-week courses of joint parent and child sessions, which aim to emphasise the relationship between food, exercise and emotional wellbeing.
A survey by the project found that more than 70 per cent of parents had concerns about their children’s exercise and eating behaviour and were interested in finding solutions to childhood obesity.
According to NHS City and Hackney, which funds the programme, obesity can cause diabetes, heart disease and strokes; it has also been linked with poor emotional wellbeing and depression.
If you are a single parent of African or Caribbean e thnicity and are interested in joining the programme, starting in February, call Winter Wellness Project on: 020 7249 0859.
11 January 2010
Page updated: 15 Jun 2010
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