Health News
Think Feet First
Come and take part in Hackney's organised walks.
Why walk?
- Meet new people
- Lift your mood
- Enjoy your local parks and area
- Cheaper than transport
- It's free! Get fit and stay healthy by walking.
Remember - Think Feet First.
Free, fun and fit. Everyone is welcome - every week.
Think Feet First is the NHS Go London campaign from 23 March - 5 April to promote walking to Londoners.
Hackney Council's 'Walking Together' programme and HILT's 'Get Up & Go' health walks* are the Walking Ambassadors to help promote the campaign.
| Day | Time | Location |
| Tuesday | 11 - 12 noon | Hackney Downs, Park Rangers Office |
| Tuesday | 1 - 2pm | Clissold Park, Café in the Park |
| Wednesday | 12 noon - 1pm | London Fields, The Learning Trust |
| Thursday | 11 - 12 noon | Hackney Downs, Park Rangers Office |
| Thursday | 12.30 - 1pm | Clissold Park, Café in the Park |
| Friday* | 11 - 12.30pm | Springfield Park, Café in the Park |
| Saturday | 11.30 - 12.30pm | Shoreditch Park, Britannia Leisure Centre |
| Sunday* | 11 - 12.30pm | Lea River, The Princess of Wales pub, Lea Bridge Rd |
*These walks are run by HILT, a Hackney based organisation supporting adults with learning disabilities.
Get up and Go walking group hold walks in and around Hackney and are designed by and for adults with learning disabilities. These walks present a fun way to follow the route on your health walk. Follow the guide and tick off the different places of interest in Hackney you will discover along your way. Everyone is welcome. For more information, please visit www.hilt.org.uk.
Walking Together: Hackney Council organises the rest of these walks every week in Hackney's parks. For more information, please visit the Walking Together page.
Go London is an NHS London programme to increase participation in physical activity and improve the health of Londoners on the run up to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London.
Competition
Bring your camera and enter your favourite picture to win some great fitness and walking goodie bags.
More information
For more information and to confirm the walks are taking place contact:
Surbjit Mahey, tel: 07981 498150 or email: surbjit.mahey@hackney.gov.uk
Rosie Lee, tel: 07904 685 777 or email: rosie@hilt.org.uk
Walk to Work Week
Monday 27 April - Fri 1 May 09
 |
We hope the event provides organisations, businesses and employees with plenty of opportunities to take part and get involved. Walk to Work Week is all about raising awareness of the benefits of walking and encouraging the nation to fit more of it into their everyday lives. |
Find out more about how to get involved: Contact Louisa Clarke on 020 8356 8189 email: louisa.clarke@hackney.gov.uk
All clear for hospital
Homerton hospital has been given the all clear after an inspection raised concerns about infection control practices.
Despite having a good record on protecting patients from MRSA and Clostridium difficile, the two most rampant superbugs, the Healthcare Commission issued an improvement notice, fearing Homerton's systems were not sound enough to prevent a potentially serious hygiene lapse.
The move came after a two day spot check by inspectors last November which found dirty bed pans and commodes marked ready for use. They also felt not enough had been done to improve low attendance for mandatory infection control training.
The hospital moved swiftly to tackle the issues raised by the Commission however, and the improvement notice was lifted last month.
Pauline Brown, the hospital's Chief Nurse, said:
"In our plan of action, we set ourselves a target of gaining an all clear by the end of February, and we are pleased to have achieved that aim, thanks to hard work by staff throughout the organisation."
Inspectors visited the hospital last month to check if all of the actions they asked for had been taken.
The Commission said it was satisfied Homerton had reviewed its processes for decontamination of reusable equipment; improved monitoring and reporting of hygiene issues; provided additional training for staff; and reviewed its hygiene audit programme.
The Chief Nurse added:
"We will not be complacent and will ensure that we maintain the highest standards of cleanliness for our patients. Homerton hospital is a clean hospital with some of the best figures for the control of MRSA and C.diff in London thanks to the continued efforts of our staff. We are determined to continue to be the best."
Leading the field
A new centre for excellence in mental health nursing is set to be created in East London.
City University and East London NHS Foundation Trust have joined forces to establish the new training and research centre.
The Institute of Mental Health Nursing will aim to lead the field internationally. Jonathan Warren, the Trust's Head of Nursing, said: "This is exciting news. The institute brings together the clinical and managerial expertise of Trust staff with City University's academic and research staff. We will be able to ensure the nurses of the future are in the best position to gain the skills and knowledge they need to work in innovative ways to meet the needs of the community."
The Trust provides mental health care services for Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Newham and the City of London. It is hoped the partnership with the university will be a starting point for collaborations with service users, their carers and families, as well as statutory and voluntary organisations.
The Institute will use the existing education resources and funding, with nurse training taking place at St Barts and the Royal London.
A formal launch of the Institute is due to take place later in the year.
More information
To find out about a career in nursing, call: 020 7040 5720, or visit: www.city.ac.uk
On your marks
Running shoes at the ready! The fourth annual Homerton Hospital Fun Run is being held at Hackney Marshes on Saturday 16 May.
The whole family can join in by choosing either the 3km or 10km course. Children under 16, pushchairs and dogs are all welcome on the 3k run.
Entry fees start at £3 with a minimum suggested sponsorship of just £5. All money raised will go to the Homerton Hospital Charitable Fund. You must register to book a place. Visit: www.homertonhope.org.funrun
Breathe easy
A new support group for residents with lung conditions has been set up by the CHPCT in partnership with the British Lung Foundation.
Breathe Easy Hackney meets once a month and is open to anyone living with a lung condition, their friends, families and carers.
As well as talks from guest speakers and information on treatment, the meetings give sufferers the opportunity to share their experiences with each other.
People who have had long-term breathing difficulties can also speak to their GP about the CHPCT's Community Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programme. Run by a specialist physiotherapist it helps patients who are diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder to exercise safely.
Breathe Easy Hackney meets on the first Wednesday of the month, 2-4pm at Sharp End, 11Richmond Road E8.
More information
Call Amy Douglas on: 020 7688 5557; or visit: www.lunguk.org
The road to good health
Over 450 people visited a health fair held in the borough as part of a public consultation on the treatment of strokes and major traumas.
Residents are being asked by Healthcare for London to give their views on plans for major new stroke centres and trauma networks in the capital.
The fair, hosted by the City & Hackney Primary Care Trust (CHPCT), took place at Tesco, Morning Lane, on 28 February, and was supported by staff from London Ambulance Service, Homerton hospital and the Hackney Stroke Project.
As well as finding out more about the plans, visitors were also able to have their blood pressure checked and help themselves to healthy fruit snacks as part of a drive to raise awareness about the risk of strokes.
Under Healthcare for London's proposals, all residents in the capital will be no more than 30 minutes ambulance journey from a hyper-acute stroke unit, and within 45 minutes of a major trauma centre.
More information
To get involved visit: www.healthcareforlondon.nhs.uk or call free on: 0808 238 5481.
Help break down taboos
African Caribbean men in Hackney are being invited to help spread the word about their increased risk of developing prostate cancer.
Men from this group are three times more likely to develop the condition than their white counterparts and to reflect this, The Prostate Cancer Charity's specialist project manager, Sarah Toule is developing a community champions programme.
She said: "We want to reach out and address the needs of African Caribbean communities and make sure that all men and their partners are aware of their increased risk."
The Older and Wiser project needs African Caribbean men who have experienced prostate cancer to step forward and give talks to others.
The project launch this month coincides with the first ever Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, which will see thousands of people across the UK joining forces to raise the profile of the disease which kills one man every hour.
Playwright, poet and novelist Benjamin Zephaniah, who wrote De Botty Business, a play that premiered at the Hackney Empire especially for the charity, said: "In the African Caribbean community, prostate cancer remains an unspoken disease - surrounded by myths and taboo. What matters to me is helping to dispel those myths and fears to allow more men to take control of their health."
More information
Call: 020 8222 7149 or email: sarah.toule@prostate-cancer.org.uk.
Reward outstanding care
Residents are being asked to nominate a member of NHS staff in the borough who have provided outstanding service.
The CHPCT Patient's Choice Awards give patients and their families the opportunity to recognise the hard work and commitment of staff. The winners will be announced at a red carpet ceremony at Hackney Empire on 27 April and patients who put forward nominees will also be invited to attend. To vote, visit: www.chpct.nhs.uk.
A good day for quitters
People are being urged to mark National No Smoking Day on 11 March by kicking the habit once and for all.
Each year, nearly 1million people quit on No Smoking Day and this year a smokefree bus will be out and about in Hackney, offering smokers the chance to get practical advice and support on giving up.
The bus will be stopping at various locations across the borough between 5 and 17 March.
To find out more call: 0800 169 1943 or email: smokers-clinic@qmul.ac.uk.
Page updated: 6 Aug 2010
.