Health News March 2010
£150k for HIV hub
A planned HIV centre at Homerton University Hospital has received a £150,000 boost from a City-based charity.
The hospital’s Chief Executive, Nancy Hallett, thanked the Schroder Foundation, calling the donation ‘a significant boost to our fundraising campaign’. The hospital is working to raise £6million to build a new facility to provide services for local people affected by HIV and their families.
The number of HIV positive patients seen by the hospital has doubled in the past 10 years, and the new centre will enable doctors to address clinical needs, while also providing on-site support to help address their emotional, social and practical needs.
The Schroder Foundation was established in 1944 and makes grants to medical charities, international relief, social welfare, the environment and the arts.
The Schroder family has a long history of philanthropy in East London. Baron Sir John Henry Schroder was Treasurer of the German Hospital in Dalston Road – which merged with the Homerton in 1986 – from 1843 until his death in 1910. Current chairman, Bruno L Schroder, said: “I am delighted my family’s charitable foundation is able to continue our tradition of supporting health services in East London.
“We hope that our support will encourage others to make a contribution towards this very worthy appeal.”
22 March 2010
New birth centre is open
A new midwife-led birth centre has opened for women having their babies at Homerton hospital.
The purpose-built centre aims to provide a home from-home environment, managed by midwives with support from maternity assistants, who provide a wide range of delivery choice for mothers with uncomplicated pregnancies.
It is based alongside the main hospital delivery suite housed in a new £9million extension built at the hospital. The centre boasts four birthing rooms, two with birthing pools, and facilities for partners and relatives to accompany mothers in labour.
The service is available 24-hours a day, 52 weeks a year.
Joan Douglas, Head of Midwifery, said: “Our overarching aim is to provide a top-quality service that values women and offers them a greater range of choice in the way they give birth.
“Women will either book to use the centre as their preference when they first meet their midwife, or they can be assessed when they go into labour and, if appropriate, can have their delivery in the centre.”
22 March 2010
Breast is best
An exhibition from art school students at Linden Children’s Centre, N16, has helped promote the benefits of breastfeeding.
Commissioned by child health charity Best Beginnings, the free show by Central St Martin School of Art students offered an introduction to NHS City & Hackney’s revised breastfeeding policy. Dr Lesley Mountford, Joint Director of Public Health, said the NHS City and Hackney’s aim was to make all women feel confident about breastfeeding both at home and outside. She said: “Breast milk helps to protect babies from infections, diabetes, asthma, eczema and obesity later in life. Women who breastfeed are less likely to develop ovarian and breast cancers and weak bones in later life and are more likely to return to their pre-pregnancy weight.”
Posters of the exhibition are available from: www.bestbeginnings.org.uk; for info on NHS City & Hackney’s breastfeeding policy, email: kate.dantes@chpct.nhs.uk
22 March 2010
Alcohol checks for mums-to-be
An innovative study by Homerton hospital could reveal the full extent of the damaging effects of alcohol on pregnant women.
Over the past year, the hospital has invited expectant mums to try a new service that can help discover if alcohol consumption is putting an unborn child at risk.
It is hoped the tests will act as an indicator for drinking patterns, as well as giving midwives a clearer picture of the health of the mother.
Homerton biochemist, Jean Deenmamode, said: “It is extremely alarming how women may be totally unaware of how dangerous to the foetus alcohol can be in early pregnancy.”
So far more than 200 women have taken advantage of the new service, which will continue for another year. To take part, talk to your midwife or GP.
22 March 2010
Talk about tuberculosis
Events aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of tuberculosis are taking place across the borough as part of World TB Day on 24 March.
NHS City & Hackney – in partnership with the Council and Homerton hospital – has organised all day drop-in advice sessions at Hackney Community College, N1; Ridley Road Market, E8; and Tesco, Morning Lane, E8.
TB is a curable infectious disease, usually affecting the lungs. Its main symptoms include coughing up blood, fever, night sweats, tiredness and weight loss.
If you, or someone you know, has concerns about TB see your GP; call NHS Direct on: 0845 4647; or visit your local NHS walk-in centre.
22 March 2010
£6m centre to 'improve access'
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A new £6million healthcare centre serving up to 70,000 residents is on the way, with a lease signed to build and maintain it. Construction is due to begin this month on the four-storey South East Primary Care Resource Centre, on the old Hackney hospital site in Kenworthy Road, E9. Due to open in spring 2011, it will house dentistry services, space for two GP practices, a physiotherapy gym and bookable consulting space for other community-based services. |
The centre is a joint venture between the private and public sector to improve people’s access to high-quality care close to home. It will be built by East London Lift Co, on land provided by NHS City and Hackney. The news follows the Council’s recent decision to grant planning permission to develop a South West Primary Care Resource Centre on the site of St Leonard’s Hospital, Hoxton.
Both centres are part of a wider strategy called ‘Care Closer to Home’. It aims to offer four one-stop places where residents can access a wide range of services, including an urgent care centre, open 12 hours a day, seven days a week.
Steve Gilvin, Director of Primary Care Commissioning at NHS City and Hackney, said:
“This strategy was developed following research and extensive dialogue with the local public. It’s about bringing care back into the community and improving access to a key range of health services all in oneplace, at extended opening times.”
8 March 2010
Fun day to air views
More than 100 people attended an annual party for children with disabilities at St John-at-Hackney church hall.
The event, on 17 February, was organised by local charity Hackney Family Backup (HFBU).
The day of fun featured a chance to try out music, circus skills, face painting and arts and crafts.
Deborah Walsh, from HFBU, said: “It can be difficult for children with challenging behaviour at general fun days, as they may need one-to-one support.
“But the feedback we received at our annual party showed parents appreciated its accessibility.
Children made friends, as did parents who formed friendships with other parents and foster parents who provide respite care for families.”
HFBU also took the opportunity to consult with parents and children during the event, to discover their views, experiences and preferences when it comes to playing and socialising.
Deborah added: “We found that some parents are still worried about the future of their children.
“What was encouraging was that we found some older children with challenging behaviour would look after and protect some of the younger ones.”
More information
Call: 020 7275 0088; or visit: www.hfbu.org.uk
8 March 2010
Positive leaps
A group of girls have put on an acrobatics show, testing their ideals of body image in the process.
The troupe of 20 girls, aged eight to 12, all live in social housing in Hackney and Islington.
They performed human pyramids and other feats of acrobatics during a performance at the Union Chapel, N1, on 19 February.
Organisers Mimbre, worked with the young people for 10 weeks, discussing the capabilities of the human body, as well as providing acrobatic training. There were also joint sessions with mothers or carers.
Mimbre’s Joint Artistic Director, Lina Johansson, said it was ‘an ideal way to promote positive ideas of body image’.
Dubbed ‘Strong and Flying’, the project was funded by the Big Lottery Fund; ROSA, the UK fund for women and girls; Southern Housing Group; and Activate.
More information
For details of classes for boys and girls, email: info@mimbre.co.uk; or visit: www.mimbre.co.uk
8 March 2010
Page updated: 15 Jun 2010
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