Health and wellbeing – Page 194 – The NEN

Emergency Care faces continued pressure as Scottish Government publishes workforce strategy

The latest weekly update of Emergency Department activity and waiting time statistics show:

There were 24,920 attendances, the highest since week ending 10 October 2021
70.5% of attendances were seen and resulted in subsequent admission, transfer or discharge within four hours
7,347 patients were delayed by four hours or more, this is the third highest on record
1,825 patients were delayed by eight hours or more
643 patients were delayed by 12 hours or more, this is the second highest on record

Dr John Thomson, Vice President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine Scotland, said: “The data show the stark picture of the health system in Scotland right now and the serious crisis Urgent and Emergency Care is facing.

“There are extremely high numbers of patients being delayed for long periods of time, and we know that these long waits are associated with a high risk of harm or even death.

“This is a critical time. The pandemic is not over. Covid is ever present in the community, with increasing numbers of covid patients in hospital and a high level of covid related staff absences. The workforce is burnt out and overwhelmed, every shift is extremely demanding with staff covering for absent colleagues and managing high numbers of patients, doing their best to keep them safe and minimise harm. The moral injury to our colleagues working in our Emergency Departments cannot be underestimated.

“We welcome The Health and social care: national workforce strategy published last week by the Scottish Government. It is a positive strategy for the next five years. We especially welcome the commitment to grow the NHS workforce by 1,800 WTE staff and increase the number of medical school places by 500.

“However, we are disappointed both not to have been consulted on this strategy and by the limited mentions of Urgent and Emergency Care. We look forward to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care consulting with The Royal College on the meaningful details for Emergency Medicine including staffing and capacity needs.”

Call for increased investment in mental health as child referrals increase by more than 25%

The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC), an alliance of leading providers of children’s services, has called for greatly increased investment in mental health services as the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the young become clearer.

The call comes as new figures published by Public Health Scotland today (15^th March 2022), indicate that at the end of December 2021, 10,021 children and young people had been referred for treatment from specialist child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS).

This includes issues such as anxiety and depression and represents a staggering 27.1 per cent increase from the previous quarter (July to September 2021) when the figure was 7,882.

With already under-resourced and overstretched services facing overwhelming pressure due to increased demand, the SCSC has raised concerns over a potential “lost generation” of vulnerable children and young people whose mental health is being impacted by Covid-19.

Even prior to the pandemic cases of poor mental health were at unprecedented levels and in crisis, and there are a growing number of vulnerable children who cannot access adequate support. The pandemic has exacerbated this, leading to unprecedented demand and backlogs, with services struggling to keep up.

In total, 4, 544 children and young people started treatment at CAMHS over the period October to December 2021. This is an increase of 19.8 per cent from the previous quarter (3,792) and only 70.3 per cent were seen within the Scottish Government’s waiting time target for the NHS of 18 weeks from referral to treatment (met by at least 90 per cent of patients).

This is a fall from the previous quarter when the figure was 78.6 per cent. Eight out of 14 health boards failed to meet this target.

A total of 1,570 children and young people had been waiting over a year for treatment at the end of December 2021.

In addition to increased investment in specialist CAMHS, the SCSC has called for greater workforce planning and a renewed focus on expanded prevention and early intervention services, reducing the need for referral to costly specialist mental health services.

It has also called for greater partnership working between the public, private and third sectors as well as greater awareness of the services on offer, especially those at a community level.

A spokesperson for the SCSC commented: “For some time now, we have raised concerns over a potential lost generation of vulnerable children and young people, whose mental health is being impacted even further by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Too many of our young people are waiting too long for the treatment they need and it is more important than ever that children can access the support required, irrespective of where they live.

“While we welcome the attention that the Scottish Government has given to date on this vital issue, a lack of resources and lack of staff mean it’s becoming an impossible situation to manage. There must be a radical transformation of our mental health services, investing in specialist services and with a focus on preventing such problems arising in the first place and intervening early.

“This is a crisis we can overcome, but as the country comes to terms with the biggest hit to its mental health in generations, it will require a similar energy and commitment to that demonstrated for Covid-19 if we are to achieve this and prevent many young people giving up on their futures.”

Waiting times (with adjustments) for people who started their treatment from October to December 2021, by NHS Board of treatment:

Health board	Total number seen	% seen within 18 weeks
NHS Scotland	4,544	70.3
NHS Ayrshire & Arran	350	93.7
NHS Borders	70	67.1
NHS Dumfries & Galloway	133	47.4
NHS Fife	363	71.9
NHS Forth Valley	111	57.7
NHS Grampian	372	95.2
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Valley	1,561	57.7
NHS Highland	232	75.0
NHS Lanarkshire	239	69.5
NHS Lothian	726	65.2
NHS Tayside	329	93.0
NHS Island Boards	58	100.0

Scottish surgical colleges fund South Sudan’s first-ever paediatric surgeon

Two of Scotland’s most historic and prestigious surgical institutions are collaborating to support the work of leading global healthcare charity Kids Operating Room (KidsOR).

The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow have come together to raise funds to support a first-ever paediatric surgeon in South Sudan.

The Colleges, which boast a combined membership of more than 45,000 from all around the world, have joined forces to raise funding for KidsOR’s scholarship programme in South Sudan, which aims to support the scholarship and training of the country’s first paediatric surgeon and for a period of at least five years.

Each College will be looking to raise £6,500 given that £13,000 supports a trainee surgeon through one year of training.

Michael Stitt, Director of Partnerships at The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, said: “The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Global Surgery Foundation exists in order to help to build sustainable surgical capacity in communities suffering from a chronic shortage of care.

“We are funding our share of the donation through the Global Surgery Foundation and KidsOR is a fantastic example of the very reason we have the initiative in place. It provides vital services to children who might not have otherwise had access to the healthcare they need.

“We are delighted to help fund the first paediatric surgeon in South Sudan and are looking forward to seeing the positive impact it has on children in the area.”

Mrs Alison Lannigan, Chair at HOPE Foundation, said: “The fellows and members of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow and those of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh have contributed successfully for many years to the training and education of surgeons both in the UK and overseas.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity through Kids OR to take this further and collaborate in the funding of the Paediatric Surgical Scholarship Programme in South Sudan. At RCPSG, our members recognise the need to improve surgical care on a global scale and are delighted to award funding from the Hope Foundation to this worthy endeavour.”

Prof George Youngson, CBE trustee of Kids OR said: “Developing surgical services for children in a difficult part of the world, needs careful planning, commitment and resources particularly at a time when health services in our own country are being greatly stretched.

“However, in a characteristically Scottish visionary way, the two surgical colleges in Scotland have come together and looked beyond our own immediate challenges and taken an initiative that will provide treatment for a huge number of children in need of care elsewhere in the world. This support will not just be life changing for some, it will change many lives.”

Whilst the pandemic has a global perspective, so does the lack of access to surgical treatment for children particularly in those parts of the world like South Sedan where external aid is hard to penetrate. This makes the investment in assisting and developing local solutions provided by local surgeons and carers all the more precious.

David Cunningham, CEO of KidsOR, said: “We would like to thank the Royal Colleges for supporting our work in South Sudan. Despite being a country of 11 million – over half of whom are children – South Sudan lacks a single paediatric surgeon.

“The country also lacks the infrastructure with no paediatric Operating Room. This is reflected in the fact the country has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world (58.6 per 1,000 live births) and an alarmingly high under-fives mortality rate (89.8/1,000).”

Mr Cunningham added: “By coming together to fund the paediatric surgeon program, both of Scotland’s ancient Surgical Colleges will symbolise the power of partnership and the global reach of both Colleges, and would be celebrated across the diverse memberships of both institutions.”

Since 2018, the KidsOR Scholarship Program has worked with a number of partners to both fund the scholarships programme and to develop the infrastructure and networks needed to train paediatric surgeons across Africa. The first of the 120 KidOR surgical scholars are just now beginning to graduate.

One such graduate surgeon is Dr Alicia Messenga, who is based at Bugando Medical Centre, in Mwanza, Tanzania – a hospital that provides services to a population of almost 17 million (one third of the total population of the country).

Dr Messenga said: “Successful completion of my studies has benefitted our community as paediatric patients get the specialist care they need. As Bugando Medical Centre is also a university teaching hospital, surgical students get exposure to paediatric surgery now that we have a paediatric surgery unit in the hospital thanks to KidsOR and Smile Train.”

Later this year, KidsOR will begin training South Sudan’s first paediatric surgeons. The two scholars are Dr Betty Arkangalo Yuggu Phillimona (above) and Dr Bidali James Sebit Nzira. The Royal Colleges’ funding will be supporting the training of Dr Betty Arkangalo Yuggu Phillimona.

KidsOR is a charity tackling the global crisis in children’s surgery. You can donate to their lifesaving work by visiting www.kidsor.org.

Scottish research into the experiences of deaf and blind people during the COVID-19 pandemic reveals a deprivation in the sense of touch

Scottish research into the experiences of deaf and blind people during the coronavirus pandemic reveals a deprivation in the sense of touch.
The results of the ‘Touch Post-COVID-19’ project led by the University of Glasgow informs the development of new technology which supports human interaction.
The project was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) within UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) rapid response to COVID-19.

Humans maintain large and complex social networks that are essential for not only our success as a species, but for our mental health and overall happiness. So, when the pandemic struck, an easily overlooked but dangerous aspect of social isolation in our newfound daily lives involved the loss of everyday physical touch.

Over the past two years, up and down the UK, thousands of research and innovation projects have been publicly funded to tackle the pandemic.

The University of Glasgow launched an 18-month project to investigate the impact of touch deprivation on the deafblind community during the pandemic. Named the ‘Touch Post-COVID-19’ project, it aimed to develop strategies and policies for people who rely on their sense of touch to discover the world around them.

The study collected audio-visual data such as interviews and audio diaries from participants to understand their experiences of space, memory, and social interactions.

This understanding helped create a tool for audio and visually impaired people to better navigate their surroundings in the post-pandemic world. The results will be used by researchers to develop new technologies to help facilitate safe and reliable communication and interaction with surroundings.

The work by the team at the University of Glasgow forms part of a £550 million COVID-19 rapid investment programme by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) – the largest public funder of research and development in the UK.

The diversity of UKRI-funded projects is vast – from the world’s first COVID-19 treatments and vaccines to projects that help us understand and mitigate the impact of the pandemic on our economy, environment, education, arts sector and mental health.

This funding builds on decades of public investment and research expertise which have provided the backbone to our national COVID-19 response.

Dr Azadeh Emadi, lecturer in Film and Television at The University pf Glasgow, who was part of the project comments: “The project aims to understand and reveal the relevance of deafblind experiences of touch and touch deprivation during COVID-19 to a larger general population.

“In collaboration with deafblind community, we gathered audio-visual data, in the form of audio diaries and interviews, about their experiences. From gathered data, we have been developing creative works, a policy brief, and a prototype device that enhances situational awareness through haptics technology informed by radar sensors.

“Our research data shows that COVID-19 has increased the intimacy and reliance on the relationship with close partners and guid communicators, but endangered broader access to social and cultural life.

“To rethink touch and address the increasing isolation of deafblind individuals require a new interdisciplinary framework, one that is based on mutual communication and inclusion of the community.”

Boost for Scottish Ambulance Service’s mental health provision

The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) is boosting its mental health resources, with the recruitment of 21 new mental health staff, and the continuation of the successful Mental Health Triage cars in Dundee, Glasgow and Inverness.

The Service has been provided with £1.6 million by the Scottish Government over the last three years as part of their Mental Health Strategy. The funding has supported mental health care initiatives, including establishing and staffing mental health triage cars, and boosting the care and support offered to individuals and communities.

This investment supports the recruitment of 21 new mental health staff, including thirteen mental health paramedics and a manager, four mental health dispatchers and three clinical effectiveness leads. These leads offer support across a range of work streams, with a focus on education, mental health pathways and connecting with key partners.

The funding is also assisting with the continuation of the Service’s Mental Health Triage cars, which provide specialist care to people who are experiencing mental health challenges and have contacted the Scottish Ambulance Service for help.

These Mental Health Triage cars offer an adaptive and approachable way of responding to people experiencing mental health distress, with a joint response from a mental health practitioner and a paramedic, to meet the patient’s immediate needs. There are three mental health cars available for the east, west and the north, and are based in Dundee, Glasgow and Inverness.

The Service has a further range of support services in place for people calling 999 to report mental health distress. SAS has partnered with NHS 24 and Police Scotland as part of the Enhanced Mental Health Pathway to continue the development of a Mental Health Hub which is hosted within NHS 24. Accessible for patients 24 hours a day, the Hub is staffed by psychological wellbeing practitioners, mental health nurse practitioners and mental health senior charge nurses.

In support of the Distress Brief Intervention (DBI) national roll-out, SAS continues to connect people in distress through this initiative, offering a response to people who have called 999.

The Scottish Ambulance Service’s Regional Director for the East region, Kenny Freeburn, said: “This funding continues to support the expansion of our initiatives to help in how we care for people experiencing mental health distress.

“It’s estimated that at least one in four people a year in the UK will experience mental health challenges, and the number of people contacting the emergency services about mental health concerns is also increasing.

“Our clinicians are often the first responders to have contact with a person experiencing mental health distress. Our ambition across all our initiatives is to connect people to the most appropriate care to meet their needs in as timely a manner as possible.”

Mental Wellbeing Minister Kevin Stewart said: “Mental wellbeing is more important than ever right now and I am pleased to see this initiative being established as part of the Scottish Government’s mental health strategy.

“With these three triage cars and over 20 dedicated roles within this service, it means people in need of mental health support will get it quicker and that can only be a good thing.”

Pictured are (from l to r), Minister Kevin Stewart, Iona Crawford, Susan Simpson paramedic team leader, Kenny Freeburn regional director.

No laughing matter – Heather learns to smile again

One moment, Heather McFarlane was watching a Peter Kay routine on TV in bed with her husband. The next, it looked like she was sound asleep. But Heather wasn’t asleep. Her laughs had triggered her cataplexy, a symptom of narcolepsy, which meant that despite appearances, she was wide awake.

Heather, 47, from Jordanhill in Glasgow, explained: “I was laughing and within a split second it looked like I was asleep, but I was lying there and I couldn’t move any muscles. It was horrible. I was still awake and conscious, but I was essentially trapped in my body.”

Heather first noticed things were not right in 2010, while she was on maternity leave with her third child. She was struggling to stay awake. She then noticed that emotions, such as laughter or smiling could trigger an attack. Her face muscles would droop and her legs would give way.

In her job, teaching children with additional needs, she would retreat to the staff toilets where she would end up asleep. People would talk to her and she would struggle to stay awake. She had to give up driving the school bus.

She said: “It was horrendous. When I laughed, I had a kind of shutdown, as if I had rebooted in a split second. Like the power had gone out and come back on again. I had to stop watching funny things on TV and avoiding funny situations with the kids.

“It saw part of me disappear. I even had to learn to function as a different kind of mum to the one that I was.”

Heather sought help from her GP and in 2013, was referred to a specialist team at Glasgow Royal Infirmary for support, where she was finally diagnosed. Such is the rarity of the condition, it can often take 10 or more years for a patient to be diagnosed, during which time, some are dismissed as being lazy or unproductive.

While there’s no cure for the condition, the team worked to find out the best clinical treatment, as well as other support required to help Heather keep her job and live a more ‘normal’ life.

Margaret Docherty, a Nurse Practitioner at the sleep clinic, has been pioneering treatment approaches, with her expertise sought by colleagues right across Europe.

She said: “Narcolepsy can be completely devastating for people’s lives. It’s about finding the right treatment and support for the person, everything from psychological support, to medication and understanding their lives and needs. My driver is how we can improve things for people – that’s what matters.”

The team prescribed Sodium Oxybate, a purified form of GHB, as part of a range of treatments to help Heather stay awake during the day and asleep at night.

“It was a game-changer in lots of different ways,” added Heather. “I’ve been able to get some of my life back.”

Dr Eric Livingston, Respiratory Consultant and Clinical lead at the clinic, said: “When we get the medication right, it can transform lives, allowing people to drive their cars again, or get back to work or university – instead of people thinking they are tired or lazy.

“Some people have been told for 30 years that they are lazy, before they even get a diagnosis, but we can support and get them back to a full life again.”

Dr Livingston paid tribute to his team, not least Margaret. He added: “I deal with the narcolepsy and clinical symptoms, but the service Margaret provides is unique. She can see the big picture about how it impacts on people’s lives.

“She has done amazing work with these patients and, along with our service being a pioneer in providing new medications, it’s really making a positive difference.”

Heather has been supported by her colleagues at Hazelwood School in Glasgow and remains at work – with a beanbag on hand, in case it’s needed for her less frequent attacks. She’s also found ways to smile and laugh again.

She added: “The team have been amazing. It’s not just the condition they are interested in, it’s me as a person – and not just me, but my wider family as they know this impacts all of us.

“It’s hard to live in Glasgow and have to avoid things which are funny – now I don’t have to.”

NHS Lothian pioneers new treatment for patients with cervical cancer

New equipment is helping NHS Lothian to provide “first class treatment” to cervical cancer patients in the South East of Scotland.

Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women under 35 and around eight women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each day in the UK.

The new brachytherapy kit, from Elekta, allows the delivery of a high dose of radiation directly into the tumour and minimises damage to the surrounding healthy tissue.

Brachytherapy is a form of internal radiation therapy which targets the cancer directly.

Dr Mark Zahra, Consultant Clinical Oncologist & Clinical Lead for Radiotherapy at Edinburgh’s Cancer Centre, said: “This kit will help us to continue to provide first class treatment to patients with cervical cancer.

“It gives us more options than our previous brachytherapy equipment as it can treat larger tumours and expand the dose of radiation to the tumour, whilst protecting the normal organs.

“The Elekta kit is used alongside image-guided technology to really tailor treatment to the patient’s anatomy and needs and minimise the long-term health effects of radiotherapy.

“Together we expect these technologies to have a real impact on patients’ cure rates and comfort.”

Edinburgh Cancer Centre has used image-guided brachytherapy for gynaecological cancers for over 10 years and is the first in Scotland to use Elekta technology. The technology will now be routinely used for all eligible patients in the South East of Scotland with gynaecological cancers.

Dr Zahra continued: “Edinburgh Cancer Centre is a leader in innovative treatments and progress such as this could not have been possible without a huge team effort.

“We strive to provide the best possible care we can and share our research and learning to help improve outcomes for patients everywhere.”

Over 99% of cervical cancers are caused by HPV. HPV is very common and four out of five people in Scotland will have it at some point in their lives.

HPV vaccines are offered to all S1 pupils and can prevent around 75% of cervical cancer cases. Alongside the vaccine, it’s vital to attend cervical screenings (smear tests) when invited.

Gordon Macdonald MSP urges Edinburgh smokers to ‘Quit Your Way’

Gordon MacdonaldMSP has backed national No Smoking Day by urging Edinburgh residents to consider giving up smoking to improve both mental and physical health.

The MSP is supporting a campaign led by health charity, ASH Scotland, which is encouraging people to ‘Quit Your Way’ in ways which work best for individual circumstances by seeking advice and support from stop smoking services, community pharmacies or the national Quit Your Way Scotland service run by NHS 24.

Although smoking rates in NHS Lothian health board area dropped to 18 per cent in 2018, more progress is required if the Scottish Government’s ambitious target of reducing the rate to five per cent or less by 2034 is to be met.

Gordon MacdonaldMSP said: “I am pleased to be supporting ASH Scotland’s No Smoking Day campaign and urge my constituents in Edinburgh Pentlands who smoke to reach out to stop smoking services and community pharmacies who provide free support and can help develop a personalised quit plan.

“I encourage people to try quitting again, if a previous attempt did not work. ASH Scotland advises me that some people find giving up cigarettes or tobacco easier than they had thought but, for others, it can take a number of attempts. It is worth giving quitting smoking another go for the benefits to both mental and physical health.”

Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: “We are delighted to have Gordon Macdonald MSP’s support for our No Smoking Day campaign encouraging herconstituents in Edinburgh Pentlands.

“Nicotine is highly addictive but, with the right support to meet individual needs, quitting smoking your way can quickly improve mental health and, within a year of stopping, the risk of coronary heart disease reduces by half compared to someone who smokes.”

Anyone in Lothian who has the goal of giving up smoking can get in touch with Lothian’s Quit Your Way team on Facebook or phone the Quit Your Way Scotland’s national helpline on 0800 848484. More information is also available at www.quityourway.scot.

Strategy sets out plan for Scotland’s health and social care workforce

A new framework to shape Scotland’s health and social care workforce over the next decade places training, wellbeing, job satisfaction and the principles of Fair Work at its heart.

The National Workforce Strategy for Health and Social Care in Scotland, co-produced with COSLA, identifies the five key areas which will support the creation of a sustainable, skilled workforce as the sector rebuilds from the pandemic.

The publication, the first of its kind, stresses the need to plan, attract, train, employ and nurture staff.

Over the next five years, the Strategy commits to increasing the NHS workforce by 1,800 full time posts – these posts are in addition to projected required workforce growth. Later this year the Scottish Government will publish, for the first time, projections of required workforce growth across health and social care, which will be reviewed annually.

Other key actions include:

Investing £11 million over this parliament to establish the Centre for Workforce Supply and fund recruitment campaigns to grow the health and social care workforce
Increasing the number of undergraduate medical school places over the course of this parliament by 500
Supporting up to 1,800 training places through the National Transition Training Fund for those interested in roles in adult social care
Recruiting 800 additional GPs by 2028
Further improving staff wellbeing measures, which have already been supported by record financial investment this year
Increasing frontline health spending by at least 20% over this parliament and increasing adult social care investment by at least by 25%

Health boards, local authorities and health and social care partnerships will play a central role in delivering the Strategy through their three year workforce plans, the first of which will be developed this year.

Health and Social Care Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “Our hardworking and compassionate health and social care staff have been on the frontline of patient care through the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic, and I am incredibly grateful to them all.

“While we have seen continued growth in our NHS and social care workforce over the past decade, we need more than sheer numbers alone as we continue to care for patients and plan for the future.

“This strategy is designed to embed a new long term approach. It commits to understanding the change in demand for services as we recover, rebuild and transform our health service, and how we can achieve a more sustainable, skilled workforce which makes careers in health and social care – at all levels – more attractive.

“The health and social care system continues to undergo rapid change, with exciting opportunities created by new technology, data and analytical services. Working with key partners, this strategy will help ensure that services are delivered by a sustainable, well trained and supported workforce.”

Councillor Stuart Currie, COSLA’s Health and Social Care spokesperson, said: “Scotland’s health and social care workforce has been at the forefront of the pandemic response. Working in extremely challenging environments, they have faced unprecedented pressures and made many individual sacrifices.

“Partners working across health and social care must now adopt a strategic approach to the recovery, growth and transformation of the workforce that supports the wellbeing of workers, a continued shift to prevention and the provision of high quality support and care for citizens.

“The values, outcomes and actions outlined in this Strategy provide a foundation for excellence in planning, attracting, developing and nurturing the Health and Social Care workforce, at national and local levels.”

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Property Expert Mark Coulter “racing” to support MND Charity

Mark Coulter, Founder and Director of Ellisons Property in Edinburgh and East Central Scotland, is running five marathons in five days to raise funds for Doddie Weir’s Motor Neurone Disease charity the MY NAME’5 DODDIE Foundation.

The five marathons challenge will see Mark running a total distance of 131 miles over the five-day period. Mark who is the creator & former CEO of Coulters Property, has since founded Ellisons Property in Edinburgh.

After securing their first clients in the pandemic, Ellisons has grown fast and been awarded a “United Kingdom Property Award” for “Best Property Consultancy for Scotland”.

While setting up a brand-new company might be enough of a challenge for most people, Mark is now running five marathons in five days to raise money for the MY NAME’5 DODDIE Foundation.

The foundation, which raises money for MND sufferers, was set up by former rugby union player Doddie Weir, who went public with his MND diagnosis in June 2017 and has since gone on to raise millions for MND research through the charity.

The MY NAME’5 DODDIE Foundation fundraises for research into the causes of MND and to investigate potential cures. They also provide grants to individuals suffering from MND, to enable them to live as fulfilled a life as possible.

Mark is doing what he can to support the foundation despite his lack of running experience: “Everyone who knows me knows that I am no marathon runner, hell I am not even a runner but that isn’t the point, and this challenge isn’t about me.

“It’s about the horrific disease, MND and the fact that there is no known cure. Hopefully, my small contribution will go some way to changing that and defeating this horrible disease which causes so much pain to individuals and their families!”

Individuals wishing to support Mark in “Doin it for Doddie” and raising money for the MY NAME’5 DODDIE Foundation can donate here.