Tai Chi and Qigong classes in the Waveney area

T’ai Chi & Qigong
Classes for Health & Relaxation

Carol Wrigley B.R.C.P has studied in China with Dr Wu Yang, one of the world’s leading teachers of T’ai Chi. She passes on her knowledge to groups throughout East Anglia, guiding hundreds of people each year to improved health and fitness.

• Enhance your strength and balance

• Improve your posture and muscular structure

• Loosens tight muscles and releases tension in the body

Classes in the Community

Mondays
7.00 - 8.30pm Li Style
Waveney Day Centre, Beccles
(Entrance at New Market Place next to Hughes Electrical)
£5 per session

Tuesdays
10.30-12.00 noon 88 Yang style
York Rd Drill Hall, York Rd, Gt Yarmouth
£ 4.00 per session
(supported by Gt Yarmouth Council)

Tuesdays
7.00-8.30pm 88 Yang Style
Stella Maris Hall,
Gordon Rd, Lowestoft
£ 5.00 per session

Thursdays
11.00-12.30 pm Li Style
Oulton Community Centre,
Gorleston Rd, Lowestoft
£ 5.00 per session

Fridays
10.30-12.00 Li style
Conservative Club,
Woodleys Yard, Southwold
£ 5.00 per session

Classes also available at:
Bannatyne Fitness Centre
Nirvana Health Club

For more information call Carol on
01502 724818

www.taijiwithcarolwrigley.co.uk

Active Norfolk events

Events

05.07.2008
Swim Festival - Norwich
The Norwich Swim Festival is for children aged between 7 and 12 who enjoy swimming and would like to see what club swimming could offer them. The festival is run by Norwich Swan Swimming Club and will be a fun introduction to the club environment.

The swimmer will get the chance to improve their technique and swimming skills as well as entering fun races.

Requirements: Swimmers must be able to complete 25m front and back of a recognisable stroke but who do not currently swim for a club.

Places are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis, so please book early to avoid disappointment. The festival costs just £1 which is payable on the day.

Parents are invited to stay during the festival to receive information on the club.

Venue: Riverside Swimming Centre, Norwich

Time: 6 - 8pm

Please click here to book a place


06.07.2008
Water Polo Festival - Norwich
The Water Polo Festival is for young people aged 12 - 16 who would like to have a go at this sport. The festival is aimed at swimmers who are able to complete 25m front and back of a recognisable stroke.

The festival is organised by Norwich Swan Swimming Club.

Places are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis, so please book early to avoid disappointment. A fee of £1 will be payable at the pool on the day.

Venue: Riverside Swimming Centre

Time: 7 - 8pm

Please click here to book a place


06.07.2008
Swim Festival - North Norfolk
The North Norfolk Swim Festival is for children aged between 7 and 12 who enjoy swimming and would like to see what club swimming could offer them. The festival is run by Aylsham Vikings Swimming Club and will be a fun introduction to the club environment.

The swimmer will get the chance to improve their technique and swimming skills as well as entering fun races.

Requirements: Swimmers must be able to complete 25m front and back of a recognisable stroke but who do not currently swim for a club.

Places are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis, so please book early to avoid disappointment. The festival costs just £1 which is payable on the day.

Parents are invited to stay during the festival to receive information on the club.

Venue: Victory Swim and Fitness Centre, North Walsham

Time: 4 - 5pm

Please click here to book a place


12.07.2008
Swim Festival - South Norfolk
The South Norfolk Swim Festival is for children aged between 7 and 12 who enjoy swimming and would like to see what club swimming could offer them. The festival is run by Diss Otters Swimming Club and will be a fun introduction to the club environment.

The swimmer will get the chance to improve their technique and swimming skills as well as entering fun races.

Requirements: Swimmers must be able to complete 25m front and back of a recognisable stroke but who do not currently swim for a club.

Places are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis, so please book early to avoid disappointment. A fee of £1 will be payable at the pool on the day.

Parents are invited to stay during the festival to receive information on the club.

Venue: Diss Swim & Fitness Centre

Time: 6.30 - 7.30pm

Please click here to book a place


13.07.2008
Go Paddling Day
Canoe England East are holding a "Go Paddling Day" open to everyone to have a go at activities including canoe polo, kayak and canoe racing and "come and try" sessions.

Date: Sunday 13th July

Time: 10am - 4pm

Venue: Bridge over the Wensum at Swanton Morley

Come and try sessions cost £5 per person. All profits from the day will be donated to the Norfolk Air Ambulance.



20.07.2008
Disability multi-sports tournament
This is a new opportunity for children with disabilities to join a team at a competitive level. The event will be held at Recreation Sports Centre in Norwich.

Times and activities will be confirmed nearer the event. There is a disability multi sports club in each district in Norfolk and the clubs will come together for this event in July to play some competitive games and have some fun! For more information about this event, please contact Matthew Talbot - 01603 697017 or matthew.talbot@activenorfolk.org


17.10.2008
Active Norfolk Youth Games
Last year's event was very successful with over 400 children within mainstream and special schools taking part. This year there will be two events at the UEA Sportspark in Norwich.

The main event is on the 17th October and the swimming gala is on the 20th October. The Active Norfolk Youth Games has been moved to October to integrate with the schools' Partnership Games. Although still separate events, the vision is to link the two events to involve all our young people in sport, whether as part of a disability or mainstream event. The Partnership Games will be taking place at Sportspark on the 20th October 2008. For more information please contact Matthew Talbot - 01603 697017

Active Norfolk
The Turner Road Centre, Turner Road, Norwich, NR2 4HB
Email: info@activenorfolk.org | Tel: 01603 697011

Nurse of 50 yrs invited to Buckingham Palace

Nurse with 50 years’ service to attend Buckingham Palace garden party

A colleague’s encounter with a bacon-slicer 50 years ago has led to a half-a-century of nursing for Caister-on-Sea grandmother Jean Freeth.

Jean at 67, still working today

Mrs Freeth, who is 67 and still working full-time as a TB specialist health visitor, has been invited to a Buckingham Palace garden party hosted by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh on 8 July – three days after the 60th anniversary of the National Health Service – after her name was put forward by colleagues at Great Yarmouth and Waveney Primary Care Trust.

After leaving school at 15, she worked in a post office and general store for three years and was inspired to enter nursing after escorting a colleague who had cut her finger on a bacon-slicer to a hospital casualty department in her native West Midlands.

Jean in 1962 at the end of her nurses training (she is sitting in the front row, 4th in from the left hand side)

Now based at Northgate Hospital, Great Yarmouth, Mrs Freeth, is believed to be one of the longest-serving nurses in the NHS, having become a student nurse in January 1959.

She will be accompanied to Buckingham Palace by her husband Eric, 71, who she married for a second time in 1990 and who still works full-time as a painter and decorator.

“When I started out in nursing, I wanted to go in to mental health nursing but that would have involved working at Winson Green Prison and my dad wouldn’t let me,” she said.

“I plan to stop working full-time in April next year but will be asking the PCT if I can stay on for a couple of days a week because work has always been such an important part of my life and I don’t want to finish completely.

“I’m still working full-time because I enjoy it absolutely which is what has kept me going all these years. I’ve enjoyed working in lots of different places with lots of different people and when I look back the only aspect of my career I’m not so fond of is the constant reorganisation of the Health Service.

“When I got the invitation through to Buckingham Palace I thought it was a wind-up! My husband’s known about it for ages and has done well to keep it from me.”

Since January 1959, Mrs Freeth has had only five months off, which was when she had her daughter in January 1963. She also worked part-time for three years but that was for 33.5 hours a week – only four hours less than some full-time nurses work today!

During her long career, she has had many different roles in the NHS – including as a hospital staff nurse, district nursing sister and a midwife. She spent three years out of the NHS as an occupational health nurse for a company that made nuts and bolts in Darlaston in the Black Country.

After moving to Great Yarmouth in 1977, Mrs Freeth, who can recall a time when nurses worked 48 hours a week, started to work as a school nurse and then became a general health visitor before moving into her current role. She had previously worked as a TB nurse in Walsall for eight years.

Dr Alistair Lipp, Director of Public Health at Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT, said: “Jean continues to impress us all with her dedication to the treatment of patients with the serious infectious disease of tuberculosis. She is widely regarded as an expert and has the most experience I have ever come across.

“She works with people who are often living in some of life’s most difficult circumstances – in situations in which many other health professionals would prefer to avoid. She truly deserves this recognition of the long service she has provided to our community.”

When she eventually retires – or semi-retires! – she plans to devote more time to hobbies such as dressmaking and playing the piano which she has had little time for while working full-time.

She and her husband – who have worked for more than 100 years between them – are also planning a trip on the Orient Express. Eric is planning to retire when she does. The couple have one daughter and three grandchildren.

Mrs Freeth, who will be 68 in October, is currently training a colleague to take over her role when she does eventually stand down.

www.gywpct.nhs.uk

Bodywise Fitness Centre - Bungay's Gym

BODYWISE FITNESS CENTRE in Bungay is now in its 7th year, and Bodywise can literally be said to be going from strength to strength. In fact over a thousand local people regularly use the gym and membership continues to rise unabated.

With so many advantages to maintaining fitness - not least flexibility; lowering cholesterol! blood pressure/anxiety; improving posture and general life expectancy, it is not surprising that new beginners look for a gym that can offer patient advice and good all round care.

James Paterson is a fully qualified gym instructor and first aider. All new members fill in a medical questionnaire and undertake a short taster session on some of the basic equipment. This allows for an individual training programme to be devised that will cater exclusively for that new member.

Most importantly all members receive permanent on-going supervision to ensure they are achieving the maximum enjoyment and results. Friendly and approachable staff are always on hand seven days a week.

James really takes your fitness seriously, which is particularly encouraging for those members only just starting out, or those with any special needs. In fact the gym is able to cater for many disabled clients, designing a programme specifically for individual needs. Personal attention is paramount.

Fitness awareness, like the Atkins diet, is a very popular phenomenon yet James is a dedicated, long term professional who imparts his thorough expertise by giving customers prolonged fitness that should be the key to a new happy, healthy lifestyle.

Most gym enthusiasts will already know of Bodywise’s excellent variety of equipment. Along with all the customary treadmills; rowers; step machines; Swiss balls and so on, the gym has a notable selection of free weights and resistance machines. New equipment includes cross trainers and seated rowers plus an ab-machine.

The huge, ex-warehouse has been skilfully designed with over 45 variable work stations set in a bright modern environment: fully carpeted and wall mirrored and with tasteful showers and locker rooms. There is even a professional vertical sunbed offering fast tanning at just £1 for three minutes.

James is also a qualified personal fitness trainer and can offer the ultimate one to one session for anyone who has a mission to achieve that peak performance.

Bodywise is of course open to both male and females of any age (over 16). Potential new members are warmly invited to come along and view the facilities. There is easy parking in the extensive car park. From there on it is up to you, with a little professional guidance, to take on the challenge of getting the best out of yourself. It makes perfect sense and perfect bodies too. What more incentive could there be?

Ring James for more details on 01986 896134
or visit the website www.Bodywisegym.co.uk

Exercise is good for you

EXERCISE AND CORONARY RISK
It’s widely recognised that a sedentary inactive lifestyle is harmful to health. In basic terms you will have a lower risk of illness and death if regular moderate exercise is performed.


PERFORMING A BALANCED WELL DEVISED PROGRAM ON REGULAR INTERVALS WILL:

1 Reduce the risk of dying prematurely

2 Reduce the risk of dying prematurely from heart disease

3 Reduces the risk of developing high blood pressure

4 Reduces the risk in developing diabetes

5 Helps reduce blood pressure in those who already have it

6 Reduces the risk in developing colon cancer

7 Reduces feelings of depression and anxiety

8 Helps control weight

9 Helps build and maintain healthy bones and joints

10 Helps older adults become more strong and mobile

11 Promotes psychological well-being


MAJOR RISK FACTORS OF CORONARY RISK ARE:

1 Smoking is the biggest risk factor and you will have 2 or 4 times the risk of non-smokers. Smokers who have a heart attack are more likely to die within 1 hour than non-smokers.

2 High blood pressure causes the heart to enlarge and over time will weaken, regular exercise has been shown to lower diastolic and systolic pressure.

3 High blood cholesterol will increase coronary risk considerably, again a well devised program performed on a regular basis may lead to reductions in cholesterol levels.

4 A sedentary lifestyle is a major factor as is a poor diet.

Courtesy Bodywise Fitness Centre - Bungay

www.Bodywisegym.co.uk

insight issue 66 - NHS Mental Health Trust

NHS Mental Health Trust - insight issue 66

Click image to view or download a pdf file

Email us on foundationtrust@nwmhp.nhs.uk

website: www.nwmhp.nhs.uk

Beccles Helping Hands - A Step Back In Time

Beccles Helping Hands - A Step Back In Time

Diary of Events 2008

HISTORY WALKS

Adults £4.00 Child £2.00
Leave from outside the Bear & Bells Pub at 7.30pm.

Our 2007 "Step Back In Time" walks were extremely successful and we received numerous accolades from the many members of the public who participated in our walks. We have researched new stories and ideas for 2008 and look forward to another successful series of "Step Back In Time" history walks.

The planned dates for 2008 are the following Saturdays:

28th June
26th July

GHOST WALKS

Adults £4.00 Child £2.00
Leave from outside the Bear & Bells Pub at 7.30pm.

The planned dates for 2008 are the following Saturdays:

30th August
27th September
25th October (Halloween)
15th November (To be confirmed)

Further information about the club together with photos illustrating the Walks can be found on our website at www.beccleshelpinghands.co.uk

We Need Your Support!!

Please get in touch to join our e-mailing list and we'll keep you informed of all our events.

You may also support us by joining Beccles Helping Hands (Social Club) - contact us for more details.

Click to email us

You may ring Joan on: 01502 712983

or write to:

Beccles Helping Hands
62 Blyburgate, Beccles, Suffolk NR34 9TQ

St Marys Complementary Health Practice, Bungay

St Mary’s (Complementary Health) Practice

St Mary’s Practice is pleased to let people know that we now have Lisa Jones working at the practice on Thursdays doing Hydrotherm Massaging.

Lisa started her practice in 2002 and is pretty busy so we are particularly glad that she has found the time to work with us.

Hyrodtherm is a delicious and relaxing therapeutic massage during which clients ‘float’ on warm, water filled cushions.

Visit her website for more information at www.lisa-jones.co.uk

And while we are on the subject of new arrivals, we have a new osteopath too.

David Keyte has joined the practice. He also works on Thursdays.

David is a man big into sports, some of which he is qualified to coach, so he is particularly interested in treating sports related problems.

www.stmaryspractice.co.uk

All Hallows Nursing Home and Hospital, Bungay

All Hallows Nursing Home
Part of the community of All Hallows. A registered charity no.230143

*24 hour care

*Respite care
*Rooms with en-suite
*Day care
*Minibus for activities and outings
*Meals freshly prepared & cooked on the premises
*Hairdressing , Chiropody, Library, Armchair exercises
*Open visiting

For further information or for a brochure please contact us.

Adele House, 26 St Johns Road, Bungay, Suffolk NR35 1DL
Tel: 01986 892643 Fax: 01986 893733
map

Email:
admin@allhallowsnursinghome.org.uk

Website:
www.allhallowsnursinghome.org.uk

All Hallows . . . where quality counts
Part of the community of All Hallows. A registered charity no.230143

*In-patient beds providing predominantly palliative and rehabilitation care.

*24 hour nursing care to individuals with a physical or sensory disability.

*Busy Physiotherapy department with highly trained chartered and state registered physiotherapists. Open to everyone including private patients.

*Day Care Centre providing an opportunity to socialise with others, crafts, entertainment and bathing services. Open to everyone including private patients.

For further information or for a brochure please contact us.

Station Road, Ditchingham, Bungay, Suffolk NR35 2QL
Tel: 01986 892728 Fax: 01986 895063
map

Email:
info@all-hallows.org.uk

Website:
www.all-hallows.org.uk

All Hallows Family Garden Party, 21st June

Family Garden Party

Saturday 21st June 2008
at 2.00pm – 4.30pm

In the grounds of
All Hallows Hospital

Jewellery, Cakes, Ice Cream, Toy Stall,
Children’s Activity Corner, Plants, Books,
Grand Draw-Top Prize £100 Wood Turning,
Flower Arranging, Face Painting,
Traditional Fun Stalls and Much More!

Performances by
Bungay Middle School & Liz Lee Dance School

Everyone Welcome

Free Entry

Please note if the weather forecast is bad this event will take place in Ditchingham Village Hall

Organised by the Friends of All Hallows Hospital
Station Road, Ditchingham, Bungay, Suffolk NR35 2QL
map

www.all-hallows.org.uk

Waveney Volunteering News - AGM 14 July 2008

Waveney Volunteering News
To get information about any of our volunteering opportunities please contact one of our offices listed below.

Annual General Meeting
We will be holding our Annual General Meeting at 11.30am on Monday 14th July at the United Reformed Church, London Road North.

This year our guest speaker is Terry Lines, Lowestoft Civic Society, Heritage Workshop Centre who will be giving a presentation on the history of the Beach Village. Everyone is welcome to attend and if anyone is interested in becoming a member of the Management Committee please feel free to contact us (01502 562299) prior to the meeting.

About Volunteering
Volunteers choose to give their time, energy, enthusiasm, and skills to help their local community.

There is a variety of volunteering opportunities in and around the Lowestoft, Beccles, and Bungay areas, and you can volunteer in many different ways — many more than you might imagine. Volunteers can contribute to all aspects of community life from befriending to bookkeeping.

You can choose how much time you want to give and the type of activity. From one-off street collections to weekly, monthly, or annual activities.

If you're not sure what you want to do then we can help you decide, and find an opportunity that's right for you.

For further information about volunteering, the Volunteer Centre or our services, please contact us at either of our offices.

Lowestoft Office
15 Milton Road East
Lowestoft
Suffolk
NR32 1NT
Telephone: 01502 562299 (24 hour answerphone)
Email: lowestoftvb@tiscali.co.uk
Open Monday to Thursday 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, and other times by arrangement.

Beccles Office
Beccles Town Hall
The Walk
Beccles
NR34 9AJ
Telephone: 07504224525
Email: lowestoftvb@tiscali.co.uk
Open Wednesday 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

www.VolunteerCentreLowestoft.org.uk

www.Crossroads.org.uk

Emergency Services Open Day 28 June, Lowestoft

Alerter

All you ever wanted to know about
being a retained FireFighter in Suffolk

Emergency Services Open Day - Saturday 28th June 2008

After too long a gap we are holding an Emergency Services Open Day at Normanshurst Fire Station, Lowestoft.

There'll be plenty to see and do... tons of equipment and fire engines from Suffolk Fire and Rescue including all three of our appliances, the Turntable Ladder and Operational Support Unit from Ipswich and much more.

We also look forward to welcoming our colleagues from Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service with their Urban Search and Rescue team - their kit is well worth the journey to see!

We're also hoping to see Suffolk Police and the East of England Ambulance Service.

There will also be stalls, displays and, of course, Woody Bear to open the whole shebang.

Don't miss this chance to meet your local emergency services!

– IAN CARTER (www.accessiblewebsites.co.uk)

www.alerter.co.uk

Recruitment drive for Exercise Scheme

Recruitment drive for Exercise Referral Scheme

A campaign is under way to make more people aware of an exercise scheme designed to help improve the all round fitness of people with a variety of medical conditions.

The Exercise Referral Scheme, run by Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT, is specially designed for people with a medical condition who would benefit from moderate levels of physical activity. In the ten years which it has been running, over 2,000 people between the ages of 16 and 86 have taken part and benefited from the scheme.

Mark Nussey, exercise referral coordinator for Waveney, said the scheme benefits a wide range of people, including those with bone and joint problems, heart conditions, depression, arthritis, back pain or weight problems.

“With the right kind of exercise, done at the correct intensity, almost every body can benefit and most of those who take part are amazed at the results,” said Mr Nussey. “The more unfit you are, the more exercise referral staff help you as it’s often the small changes that can make the biggest difference to your life.

“The staff on the scheme have a great understanding of people’s lifestyles and how difficult it can be to make the first step to fitness. The instructors have considerable experience to know how best to support anyone taking part and will be sympathetic to their needs helping them to become a healthier, happier person.”

To take part, patients have to be referred onto the scheme. Anyone interested in taking part should speak to their GP, practice nurse, dietitian, physiotherapist or occupational therapist and ask if a lifestyle change may help stop them having to rely on medication for their condition.

“The type of exercise we prescribed is about moderate activities such as gentle cycling and walking, “added Mr Nussey. “Our staff are all highly qualified, and know how to help you get on the move again. This is a really excellent scheme and there is a mass of evidence that shows it really does work.”

The Exercise Referral Scheme started six years ago in Lowestoft and now involves seven centres throughout the area, with facilities in Lowestoft, Beccles and Southwold. In addition to local gyms, patients can also be referred to community-based exercise classes such as tai chi, Pilates, chair-based classes and general fitness classes. These are delivered by self-employed exercise professionals under the banner of the Exercise Referral Scheme.

People who are referred on to the scheme have the chance to sit down and discuss their wishes with their instructor. The instructor will then design an exercise programme tailored to the person’s individual needs.

Those taking part will need to attend a series of sessions and are also encouraged to exercise between sessions and maintain their levels of activity after finishing the programme.

Les Chapman is one of the Exercise Referral Scheme’s success stories.

Case study

One of the Exercise Referral Scheme’s success stories is Les Chapman, who has recently completed a twelve-week physical activity course as part of the Great Yarmouth and Waveney scheme.

Mr Chapman, who is 71, was referred to Spirit Fitness Gym at Lowestoft’s Water Lane leisure centre after suffering lower back pain. His instructor developed a personal exercise programme for him, made up of some resistance training alongside light cardiovascular exercise, such as cycling, rowing and walking.

Now Mr Chapman, who in the past occasionally had to walk with a stick, is feeling more mobile than ever after visiting the gym three times a week for the last eight months.

“The scheme is excellent and I have noticed a huge difference in my all round fitness,” he said. “I wanted to be more mobile and be more like other people, and this has given me much more freedom.

“A few years ago I was told I’d be in a wheelchair by now, but instead I go to the gym three times a week and to bowls twice a week. It has changed my lifestyle completely.”

Mr Chapman has vowed to continue his exercise regime and has become a member of Sprit Fitness Gym to help him maintain his fitness.

For further information: Contact Mark Nussey on 01502 719500.

www.gywpct.nhs.uk

St Gabriel's Centre, All Hallows Convent, Ditchingham, Bungay

St Gabriel's Centre, All Hallows Convent

St Gabriel's aims to provide a place of welcome for Churches, youth groups, schools and other organisations to come together and experience a relaxed and peaceful Christian environment

Conference room seating up to 100 people

Smaller meeting rooms of various sizes

Full-board accommodation

Double. twin, single and family bedrooms

Residential & day groups welcomed

Traditional home cooked food provided

Tennis courts and an open-air swimming pool available in the summer months

Contact the Wardens for details and availability

St Gabriel's Centre, Ditchingham, Bungay, Suffolk, NR35 2DZ

Tel: 01986 892133

saint.gabriels@btinternet.com

a registered charity 230143

Beccles Open Air Pool, Lifeguards wanted!

Beccles Open Air Pool will re-open on
Saturday 24 May 2008

Puddingmoor Beccles

We are looking for 16 people to train to become fully qualified lifeguards.

There will be a FREE, week long course during the May half-term holiday that will lead to a nationally recognized swimming pool life guard qualification.

All we ask for in return is a commitment to being a volunteer lifeguard at Beccles Outdoor Pool during the summer months.

For further details contact Maureen Saunders on 01502 714911

Check our web site for more information about the pool activities:
www.becclesopenairpool.org.uk

Blood Donor Session, Beccles 20 May 2008

Blood Donor Session taking place in

Beccles

on

Tuesday 20th May

at

Great Yarmouth & Waveney PCT HQ,
Board Room, 1 Common Lane North, Beccles

between 10.30-12.30 & 2.00-4.30

Appointment Advisable

please call 0845 7 711 711

Our next will be Tuesday 29th July.

www.blood.co.uk

Revolutionary mobile cleaning unit wins NHS award

Trust’s revolutionary mobile cleaning unit wins regional NHS award

A pioneering mobile unit to disinfect hospital equipment won the 2008 Adopt, Adapt and Improve regional award at this year’s Health and Social Care Awards, run by NHS East of England.

The MeQ unit was developed by John Downes in the estates team and Val Leggett, nurse consultant for infection control at Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and is thought to be the first mobile cleansing unit in the country.

Equipment including beds can be wheeled into the unit, disinfected and thoroughly steam cleaned. Because the unit is mobile, the noisy task of cleaning can be performed away from the wards, preventing disruption to patients. In the current climate of infection control, health professionals have received the mobile unit very well.

Robert Donald, Innovation Manager from Health Enterprise East, said: “This is exactly the kind of brilliant idea that we champion. Innovation in the NHS is very much alive and this unit from the mental health trust is proof of that.”

Val Leggett said of the award: “It is wonderful to be recognised with an award for the work undertaken by myself and John to see the MeQ unit developed. It has proved an extremely successful project, and receives a lot of praise.”

John Downes added: “Other Trusts and organisations will soon be able to buy or rent their own units to build on their infection control measures, and a license agreement has been set up to cover any royalty payments.”

All 13 regional winners will now be put forward for the national NHS awards at Wembley Stadium, London in July.

website: www.nwmhft.nhs.uk

Deaf Awareness Week 5th to 11th May 2008

Deaf Awareness Week 5th – 11th May
Bungay and Waveney Valley Hearing Support Club

There are 9million Deaf and Hard of hearing people in the UK 50% of which are over 60yrs of age. The term Deaf is used in a general way to describe;

Hard of Hearing: mild to severe usually a gradual loss.

Deafened: severe or profound this usually happens after learning speech and can happen gradually or suddenly.

Deafblind: some have sound/vision on a limited scale while some have none at all.

Profoundly: no hearing British Sign Language is their 1st or preferred language.

There are also Cochlea Implants (the cochlea converts sound waves into signals to the brain) and Hearing Dogs for the Deaf (dogs which are taught to alert the Deaf person to sounds-like the door bell for instance).

Under the Disability Discrimination Act all service providers; workplaces, hospitals surgeries banks theatres and education establishments for instance must make provision for the Deaf. These will include an Induction Loop which is picked up by your hearing aid in "T" mode and sometimes an Infrared system which fits into the ear via headphones.

If you suspect a loss of hearing a visit to your GP is recommended they will then if necessary refer you to e