Health and wellbeing – Page 299 – The NEN

Edinburgh Leisure seeks swim teachers

Looking for a new challenge and career? Edinburgh Leisure is on the search for qualified swim teachers to join the biggest sports coaching provider in the city.

Angela McCowan, Aquatics Development Manager at Edinburgh Leisure explained: “As the biggest provider of sports coaching across the city, we’re looking for individuals from all walks of life, with a passion for swimming, who want to join us and enthuse children with a key life skill.

Flexible hours are on offer, at various locations across Edinburgh. Also on offer is one of the best rewards packages in the business, with generous pension, holidays, and free membership to all of Edinburgh Leisure venues.

Interested individuals should apply on the Edinburgh Leisure jobs portal by Sunday, 8 March 2020 and be available to attend an assessment centre on Monday, 16 March 2020.

To find out more about being a swim teacher with Edinburgh Leisure:

https://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/work-with-us/swim-teacher-roles

Coronavirus: Scottish case ‘likely’

Preparations for a coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Scotland have been accelerated, as the virus continues to spread beyond China.

Several European countries have announced their first coronavirus cases. The cases in Austria, Croatia and Switzerland all appear to be linked to the growing outbreak in Italy, where there are now more than 300 cases with eleven deaths.

The first positive virus test has also been recorded in South America, where a Brazilian resident just returned from Italy.

The Scottish rugby team played a Six Nations international match in Italy on Saturday but the corresponding Women’s game was postponed.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon chaired a Scottish Government Resilience meeting (SGoRR) to discuss preparedness in Scotland yesterday.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman, who also attended the meeting, said: “Though the risk to individuals remain low, and all test results have come back negative so far, the Chief Medical Officer has advised that it is highly likely that we will see a positive case in Scotland as coronavirus continues to spread.

“We are expecting an outbreak and are working hard to ensure we have plans in place to contain it as best we can. The NHS and Health Protection Scotland have an established plan to respond to anyone who becomes unwell.

“Scotland is well-prepared for a significant outbreak of coronavirus but there is currently no treatment or vaccine. Therefore, preventing the spread of any outbreak will be vital, and the Scottish Government is working closely with NHS Scotland and Health Protection Scotland to ensure this.

“We have a proven track record of dealing with challenging health issues and have public health and infectious disease experts working intensively on these issues.

“The public also has a vital role to play in helping us contain any outbreak by following the latest health and travel advice, and following basic hygiene precautions, such as washing hands and covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.”

Preparations in Scotland to date include:

the establishment of two testing laboratories in Glasgow and Edinburgh to speed up identification of confirmed cases
Supplying GP surgeries with face masks and ensuring hospitals are fully stocked with personal protective equipment
Updating of public health legislation to make coronavirus a notifiable disease

The latest numbers of test results are published at 2pm each day on the Scottish Government website.

Updates on public health advice for coronavirus can be found on the NHS Inform website, and a free helpline has also been set up for those who do not have symptoms but are looking for general health advice: 0800 028 2816.

For the general public who are planning to travel abroad, guidance can be found on fitfortravel. Where a COVID-19 risk is identified then country pages will be updated.

Anyone who has arrived in the UK from the areas listed below since 19 February is advised to stay indoors and avoid contact with other people, even if they do not have symptoms. Those who have returned from these areas and display or develop symptoms should phone their GP or NHS24 on 111 out of hours:

Iran
specific lockdown areas in Northern Italy as designated by the Government of Italy
special care zones in South Korea as designated by the Government of the Republic of Korea
the Hubei province in China

For South Korea, anyone who visited the two cities at the centre of the outbreak, Daegu and Cheongdo, is advised to self-isolate for 14 days, even if they do not have symptoms.

For Iran, all returning travellers are requested to self-isolate, even if they do not have symptoms.

For northern Italy, all travellers returning from specific lockdown areas identified by the Italian Government are advised to self-isolate, even if they do not have symptoms.

Any other travellers returning from parts of Italy north of Pisa, Florence and Rimini in the past week are asked to monitor their health, and self-isolate if they develop symptoms.

Anyone who has travelled to the UK from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam is also now advised to monitor their health, and self-isolate if they develop symptoms.

Public health advice to reduce the risk of acquiring and spreading respiratory infections by practising good respiratory hygiene, includes:

avoiding direct hand contact with your eyes, nose and mouth
maintaining good hand hygiene – washing hands with soap and water or alcohol hand sanitiser, after coughing or sneezing, after going to the toilet, and prior to eating and drinking
wherever possible avoid direct contact with people that have a respiratory illness and avoid using their personal items such as their mobile phone
when coughing or sneezing cover your nose and mouth with disposable tissues and dispose of them in the nearest waste bin after use

New courses starting at Royston Wardieburn

Free Courses start on Thursday

and also at Royston Wardieburn …

Over 65s – tell us your meningitis story!

LEADING meningitis charity Meningitis Now is after your stories about the disease – if you are over 65-years-old.

As part of a new campaign to better understand the effect of the illness on older people, the charity is keen to hear from anyone in this age group who had meningitis after they turned 65. They also want to hear from the children or even grandchildren of people in this age group if they can tell their stories for them.

It is all part of a new strategy to try and reach as many people in the country as possible who have had the devastating disease and offer ongoing support. While most people usually associate meningitis with babies and students, older adults are also very vulnerable.

According to Meningitis Now CEO Dr Tom Nutt, many people in this age group don’t realise they are at risk from the disease.

“When you have a baby you are told about meningitis and what to look out for, all the signs and symptoms,” he said.

“And then you get the same message when your children leave home for university or college when again they are in an at-risk group.

“But the third group who are more vulnerable to meningitis often don’t even know they are at risk – and that’s older adults.

“We realise that people in this age group are already having to deal with an increasing risk of different illnesses so we are just one of many – which makes it hard to get the message out.

“But meningitis can hit so fast and be so devastating we really believe it is worth older people, as well as their relatives and carers, being aware of the signs and symptoms of the disease and seeking urgent medical advice if concerned.”

As well as wanting older people to be aware about how the disease might affect them, Dr Nutt said Meningitis Now was keen to understand how the charity could best support them.

“We are looking for ways to reach more people who are affected by the disease so that we can offer them our support,” he said.

“As well as talking to them about the after-effects of meningitis we have lots of ways we can help them including with funds for things like therapies and specialist equipment.

“So, if you or anyone you know is in this age group and have had meningitis please get in touch and tell us your story – we would love to hear from you and we would also love to offer you our support.”

To share your meningitis story with Meningitis Now and help improve the charity’s support to older people please visit the website here: https://www.meningitisnow.org/support-us/news-centre/share-your-story/

Case Study

Barbara O’Meara, 75, thought she had caught a cold when she first started to feel ill aged 71 but what happened next was the start of a very scary journey. Her daughter, Lucy O’Meara, from Grimsby, told her story to Meningitis Now:

“We had been away on holiday and my partner and I got engaged. I rang my mother to tell her the news, she sounded very croaky on the phone but said she just had the start of a cold. I told her to rest up, and we exchanged texts. Everything seemed okay.

“Two days later we arrived home and that evening my mother’s friend rang to tell me she had been admitted to intensive care with a suspected stroke. Hospital was 1.5 hours away from our home, so we drove off after receiving the news at about 10pm.

“When we got to intensive care at Pilgrim Hospital in Boston, Lincolnshire, my mum was unresponsive apart from a few coughs and groans. We hadn’t been told it may be meningitis and I spent hours resting my head next to her on her pillow, hugging and talking to her.

“My brother arrived in the early hours from Bristol and the doctors then came to talk to us. They told us it was meningitis and the chances of her surviving were very low. That morning she was intubated and put into a coma. The next day there were no improvements, but she bit through her breathing tube so she had a tracheostomy fitted.

“Doctors tried to wake her but had no success – we were then told the likelihood was she would not survive and at best may be in a vegetative state for the rest of her life. A week and a half went by, and they managed to wake my mum. After two says she started to speak. The first thing she was look at my engagement ring and grin.

“Mum was moved on to a general ward where she suffered with hallucinations at night and was extremely distressed. She had to learn to walk again. Mum has been left completely deaf in one ear, but continues to live independently on her own. She works two days a week in a charity shop and is an inspiration to everyone who knows her.

“Mum has always led a healthy, active lifestyle and even now continues to walk her dog for miles every day. She never expected anything like this to ever happen to her”.

Don’t ditch those resolutions – 7 Days for £7

Over-indulged this half-term? Why not resolve to get summer fit by taking advantage of Edinburgh Leisure’s offering of a 7-day fitness pass for only £7, giving customers all the benefits of their ‘Full Fitness’ membership.

With 14 gyms, 9 swimming pools and over 800+ fitness classes per week, customers can take advantage of all the benefits of Edinburgh Leisure’s ‘Full Fitness membership at the biggest club in town.

Edinburgh Leisure’s gyms feature some of the latest equipment with on-hand instructors who are happy to show customers ‘the ropes’ and how to use the equipment; have a range of swimming pools from five historic ‘baths’ to the famous Olympic-sized Royal Commonwealth Pool, plus a selection of saunas and steam rooms.

Their range of fitness classes have something for everyone, no matter what your fitness level is, including gym, water-based and virtual sessions, meaning you can work out at a time that suits you.

The 7 Days for £7 pass is available to buy online only from Sunday 23^rd February until Saturday 29^th February. Terms and conditions apply.

For further information:

www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/passes/7-days-for-7-pounds

Mobile screen exposure can lead to poor sleep

Mobile phone use at night time is having a negative impact on young people’s sleep and mental wellbeing, according to a new report.

The Glasgow University report, commissioned by the Scottish Government, summarises the findings from a systematic review of the evidence on adolescent mobile device screen time and the impact on sleep.

It found that:

sleep quality is negatively influenced by mobile phone use in general and social media in particular
night time mobile use and problematic social media use were linked to depressed mood through experiences of poor quality sleep
experiencing online bullying is directly linked to shorter sleep as a result of obsessing about distressing thoughts and emotions

Welcoming publication of the report on a visit to a sleep awareness session run by Sleep Scotland at Montessori Arts School in Edinburgh, Mental Health Minister Clare Haughey said: “There are many positive things about technology, screens and social media.

“However in a society where so many young people have access to a mobile device and social media platforms, it is important that we get an accurate picture of the impact that can have on their sense of emotional wellbeing and their ability to get a proper and uninterrupted sleep.

“Of course it’s not just young people who have a phone or tablet by the side of their bed every night but this research shows the potentially negative impact on children and young people.

“This review is a significant piece of work that gives us a much better insight into the connections between screen time, particularly social media use, and disrupted sleep. While the evidence base is still developing, the findings demonstrate why, in February last year, we announced that we would be providing advice, specific to Scotland, on the healthy use of social media and screen time.

“That advice – being co-produced by young people and for young people – will be published in spring and will add to the help and guidance available to help ensure young people can lead heathier lives.”

Sleep Scotland Interim Chief Executive Karen Jenkinson said: “Poor sleep is a huge problem in our society, and excessive screen time is a contributing factor, leading to increased levels of stress, anxiety and depression. It’s time to wake up to the importance of sleep for our health and wellbeing.”

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Mum thanks ambulance service after collapsing at gym

A mum said she owes her life to the Scottish Ambulance Service when she collapsed at the gym after being struck down with an exercise-related medical condition.

Vicky Tallentire, from Corstorphine, became unwell while on a treadmill at a city gym.

She was suffering from a rare disorder in which anaphylaxis occurs after physical activity and was unresponsive after having collapsed. She was rushed to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary by ambulance crew Mark Ferrier and Alex Vesco.

Since the incident, she has been reunited with both on separate occasions.

Vicky, a medical consultant of Acute Receiving at Western General Hospital, said: “It was a Saturday morning and I was at the gym.

“I was on a treadmill when I started to feel really unwell. I went downstairs with my husband Mike, who was with me and I collapsed in quite a confined bathroom area of the gym, with what evolved into an episode of anaphylaxis. I have had one previous episode of anaphylaxis and I sort of recognised some of the symptoms.”

She “very rapidly” started to lose consciousness and added: “My husband, who is a doctor as well, phoned 999. I don’t remember much about the intervening period between the phone call going out and me kind of regaining consciousness in the emergency department in the Royal Infirmary. I do remember a crew arriving and having a sense I was being managed really well.

“My husband, an ICU consultant, thought I was going to [cardiac] arrest. I was in a small toilet area of the gym, making logistical issues even more challenging.”

An ambulance crew was soon dispatched, staffed by Mark and Alex.

Vicky said: “The crew were everything I could have asked for – efficient, effective and kind, all at the same time. I didn’t care much about kind words; I knew I needed adrenaline and fluids and hospital.

“But whenever I was conscious I felt a sense of control by the crew; I heard specific and effective communication, I heard rapid decision-making under pressure and I knew I was in safe hands.

“I have only ever been in an ambulance transferring patients between hospitals, never as a patient myself.

“I know I owe my life to that crew – being at the front line is tough. I know, I live it. But just occasionally you do get to make a real difference to someone’s life.”

Accompanied by her son Wilson, Vicky recently met up with paramedic Alex just before Christmas. She also ran into Mark earlier this month while at work.

Wilson also thanked the crews: “Thank you for having my mum back for Christmas.”

On meeting Vicky again, Alex said: “It was a real unique experience to meet a patient after the event, it’s not something we commonly get to do, and quite often we don’t get to find out how are patients are after we take them into the Emergency Department, so this has been really good to have an informal debrief, and ask each other questions, so it was really nice to meet up.”

Vicky has since made a very full recovery and added: “I really can’t express how grateful I am to both of the crew involved, and also the amazing team at Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh ED. From the bottom of my heart, I am so immensely grateful to everyone involved.”

Over a quarter of people with liver disease say they were diagnosed too late, survey reveals

Over a quarter of people with liver disease in Scotland say they were diagnosed too late, survey reveals

26% of people with liver disease in Scotland said they were diagnosed late, by which time there were very few treatment options and the disease had progressed, a survey carried out by leading liver charity, the British Liver Trust, reveals.

The largest ever UK survey of over 2,000 liver patients also showed that in the region:

· 18% of people said their condition was dismissed as nothing to worry about when they were first seen by a medical professional.

· 15% of patients were very unsatisfied with the medical care they had received.

· Over half of liver disease patients had no signs or symptoms of a liver problem before diagnosis.

The survey also shows that in the UK:

· A third of patients were diagnosed after being tested for another condition

· Tiredness, abdominal pain and itching were the most common symptoms experienced by half of respondents

· More than half felt they were given not enough or no information upon diagnosis

· 22% of patients waited more than six months before being referred to a specialist

Experts are warning that late diagnosis of liver disease is causing a liver disease crisis across the UK, denying many of these people the chance of getting the best possible treatment. Evidence shows the earlier a patient is diagnosed, the greater their chance of survival.

Professor Stephen Ryder, Consultant at Nottingham University NHS Trust said: “We need to be diagnosing people with liver disease at a much earlier stage in primary care. We have equipped GPs with a very poor test for diagnosing liver disease – Liver Function Tests (liver enzymes).

“Repeat testing of liver enzymes just wastes NHS money and does not provide early diagnosis. We now have excellent tests for liver scarring, the process which matters in the liver, and those tests should now be universal in primary care.”

Over 14,000 people will die from liver disease this year – more than 40 people a day. It is the third biggest cause of premature mortality and it’s the only major disease increasing year on year.

Pamela Healy, Chief Executive, British Liver Trust said, “The UK is facing a liver disease crisis. Liver problems often develop silently as patients do not tend to experience symptoms until the disease has progressed. This survey highlights the shocking number of people who are diagnosed late and who do not feel they are receiving the care they need.

“The survey also highlights the need to help people understand how to reduce their risk of liver damage to address the increase in deaths from liver disease. Although the liver is remarkably resilient, if left too late damage is often irreversible.”

The British Liver Trust is the largest UK charity for all adults with liver disease. Their national awareness campaign, Love Your Liver, aims to raise awareness of the risk factors for liver disease and includes a roadshow that stops in locations across the UK offering free liver screening and scanning.

The Love Your Liver campaign focuses on three simple steps to Love Your Liver back to health:

· Drink within recommended limits and have three consecutive days off alcohol every week

· Maintain a healthy weight by eating well and taking more exercise

· Know the risk factors for viral hepatitis and get tested or vaccinated if at risk

To find out if you are at risk visit www.britishlivertrust.org.uk/screener

Forthview kids to GoFitba!

Local school children from Forthview Primary School are to have the opportunity to participate in an exciting 12-week community project delivered by The Scottish Football Partnership Trust and The Spartans Community Football Academy.

GoFitba is a free to access football-based health and wellbeing project for Primary schoolchildren developed by The Scottish Football Partnership Trust and delivered by community football clubs.

The project aims to support the Curriculum for Excellence’s Health and Wellbeing outcomes as set out by The Scottish Government’s Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007.

Through a fun and progressive structure and delivery, the weekly two-hour project offers young children a platform of regular and fun physical activity and an understanding of the importance of leading a balanced and healthy lifestyle through diet and nutrition.

In addition, the project aims to increase the young people’s self-motivation, improve their self-confidence, further develop their social and interpersonal skills and improve their general self-esteem.

The project timetable provides one structured afternoon per week and takes a holistic approach to teach the children the benefits of regular physical activity within a football environment.

Starting this Friday, the youngsters participate in an hour of fun football activity, and during the second hour of each session they take part in an interactive educational journey to explore the benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle through diet and nutrition. Each session ends with the children being served a hot, healthy meal and an opportunity to enjoy some social time with their peers.

Stuart McCaffrey, Chief Operating Officer at The SFP Trust said “The sport of football when used positively can act as a significant tool for personal and community development.

“We are excited to be delivering this project with (name of club) – a club truly at the heart of the community – and to be given the opportunity to positively engage with local school children to encourage them towards a healthy and active lifestyle.”

Douglas Samuel of The Spartans Community Football Academy said, “We are delighted to be working in association with The SFP Trust on this project which will see The Academy welcome 20 local schoolchildren over the next 12 weeks.

“Spartans Community Football Academy is always looking for new ways to engage with the local community and the GoFitba project is a fantastic way to showcase what we can offer to young members of our community at our excellent facilities here at the Academy.

“Participation in sport can bring a lifetime of benefits and we look forward to working with the children from Forthview Primary School to Get Fit, Get Healthy and Have Fun!”

New ‘KIDS’ health website provides a wealth of information

Finding information on how to self-manage children’s health and well-being couldn’t be easier with the development of Kids Independently Developing Skills (KIDS), a new website and social media resource produced by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde which offers a range of support for children and their parents.

This wonderfully rich resource is a single point of reference for parents, teachers, healthcare professionals and young people themselves looking to access an extensive range of information on self-help. It is supported by a dedicated team of occupational therapy staff.

KIDS aims to help children and young people reach their potential and can be accessed at www.nhsggc.org.uk/kids or on Facebook and Twitter @nhsggckids,

The website, which now has an average of 24,577 hits every month and rising, offers a range of support for children: from a video on how to tie shoelaces to activity sheets for parents and nursery staff to support children gain early writing skills.

It also includes information on supporting the development of children’s communication skills as well as advice on how to manage postural care for children and young people with physical disabilities.

Parents can access information on the development of their child from birth to five-years-old. There is information on language skills, learning to sit, roll, crawl and walk, the use of their hands to grasp, hold and draw, learning independence skills, nutrition and emotional development.