Health & Wellbeing

Health chiefs have welcomed a new vaccination programme which will protect teenagers in Wolverhampton from meningitis and septicaemia. GPs will be inviting teenagers aged 17 and 18 – born between 1 September 1996 and 31 August 1997 – to come in for their vaccination, which will offer protection against inflammation of the brain and blood poisoning caused by four meningococcal strains.

People from across Birmingham and surrounding areas affected by muscular dystrophy or related neuromuscular conditions will be coming together at the Arden Hotel on the 31^st of October for a meeting of the Birmingham Muscle Group. The Birmingham Muscle Group, organised by Muscular Dystrophy UK, is a support and information group for people and their families with muscle wasting conditions.

Before every summer holiday comes weeks of healthy eating and exercise to ensure that we look our best on the beach – but we really shouldn’t bother, as new research reveals that Brits forget about their pre-holiday diet as soon as they’ve checked in their luggage and consume a host of bloat inducing food and drinks before they’ve even taken off.  

Birmingham’s John Taylor Hospice is inviting local communities to join together for its family-friendly Birthday Walk event. The annual walk marks the hospice’s birthday and organisers are keen for families who have been touched by hospice care to register to take part. Hannah Bryant from Sutton Coldfield, who is a maths tutor, wants to show her support for the hospice that cared for her dad by walking for the second year in a row.

The charity was awarded the Engagement with African Communities accolade in recognition of it’s outstanding work, building relationships with community and faith leaders across the city over ten years. Through the Birmingham African Forum, the charity promoted HIV testing and safe sex with this hard to reach group. It has also worked with community and faith leaders to combat discrimination. 

In America, Friday 4^th September will be officially ‘Lazy Moms Day’ with mums all over the country being encouraged to take it easy and have a day of relaxation.  It’s not a day that’s celebrated in the UK, but with a survey having indicated that women spend nearly double the amount of time on household chores than men, is it time we adopted something similar to highlight the gender housework difference.

People can have their say about proposals relating to a number of adult social care services by completing a short online survey. The City of Wolverhampton Council is currently consulting on a series of proposals, with service users, their families and carers, staff and other stakeholders urged to take part.

A new £120,000 fitness area has opened at Sandwell Valley Country Park in West Bromwich – the largest free outdoor gym in the country. The gym, which is free to use and open every day of the year, was opened Sandwell Mayor Councillor Barbara Price. The 40 items of equipment – backed by the council's public health team and supplied by Wicksteed Leisure Ltd – are aimed at anyone aged 14 and over, from the complete novice right through to the experienced athlete.

Birmingham's health boss has warned Government cuts to public health funding will 'hit the poorest hardest' unless the city's inequalities are taken into account. The Department of Health has set out options to achieve the planned £200m in-year reduction to nationwide public health spending, with an across the board 6.2% cut for all authorities emerging as its preferred proposal.

It may be the school holidays at the moment and we all remember those halcyon days of never ending summers but the new term is closer than you think. The constant reminders are everywhere with displays selling pristine white shirts and pencil cases taking pride of place in the nations supermarkets. For parents across Britain this may be comforting news, as around about now your children will have destroyed almost every part of your once tidy house.

When Wayne Wright needed knee replacement surgery, his wife wanted him to undergo the operation in an American hospital, but Wayne did his research and all signs pointed to searching for a solution overseas, more specifically to Health City Cayman Islands. Because Wayne's company is self-insured, finding an affordable, high quality medical facility was a critical element in the decision-making process.

A pilot scheme to transform health and care services has been so successful, it's being rolled out across Sandwell. Targeting the over 65s, the Sandwell Community Offer has helped more than 1,400 people  in their home or local community since it launched in October last year. The project - which aims to reduce demand on formal heath and care services - brings together voluntary and community organisations to offer a wide range of support.

Young people are playing a leading role in Wolverhampton's fight against obesity. More than 100 pupils from 30 primary schools across the city have been trained up to lead fitness classes within their schools – and are helping classmates develop their health and wellbeing. Partnerships and School Sport Wolverhampton (PASS), which provides sporting opportunities in local schools, has given leadership training to around 150 Year 5 pupils over the last 12 months.

The life of a QE patient who became the first person in the UK to qualify as a nurse following a liver transplant has been detailed in a book written by her dad. The book was launched at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham on Wednesday 5^th August. Sally Painting sadly died in 2005, eight months pregnant and aged 30, after enduring liver disease since she was 7-years-old.