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Mayor backs Time
to Change
MAYOR of Liverpool Joe
Anderson has committed the City Council to helping end the stigma
and discrimination against people with experience of mental health
problems.
As part of the City's commitment to improving mental health and
wellbeing, Liverpool City Council and Liverpool Clinical
Commissioning Group (CCG), which is responsible for planning and
buying hospital and community health services, have pledged their
support to the national Time to Change Campaign to reduce stigma and
discrimination faced by people with mental health problems.
Time to Change is a programme run by charities Mind and Rethink
Mental Illness, which aims to promote a better understanding of
mental health problems while offering support and welfare advice to
their staff.
A special Time to Change Network has been set up to co-ordinate and
promote activities across the City that aim to take the taboo out of
talking about mental health. It will include a series of workplace
and community awareness and training events which will run later
this year.
Mayor Anderson said:- "Mental health difficulties can affect
anyone, with 1 in 4 of us experiencing a diagnosable condition every
year. I know from my time as a social worker not just the
difficulties it can cause but also the stigma attached to it.
As one of the City's biggest employers, and the one which is now
also responsible for Public Health, it is vital we do all we can to
tackle the prejudice, discrimination and exclusion that exists.
We are committed to leading the way in promoting ways to improve our
wellbeing, challenge stigma and support those who are experiencing
mental health problems".
Liverpool CCG, which is responsible for planning and buying hospital
and community health services for the people of Liverpool, is
supporting the move and has signed up to the pledge.
Dr Nadim Fazlani, Chair of Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG),
said:- "We all have a responsibility to help change society's
perceptions about mental illness, not least because it is such a
widespread issue. As well as affecting those already diagnosed with
a mental health problem, fear of stigma can be a major barrier to
people seeking the help they need. We're proud to sign the Time to
Change pledge, which sits alongside the wider work we are doing to
develop and improve mental health services for the people of
Liverpool."
For information on local support services, activities and tips on
improving your mental wellbeing visit:-
wellbeingliverpool.co.uk or call the Healthwatch
Liverpool Information team on:- 0300 77 77 007.
Liverpool is joining a wide movement of organisations that have
signed up to the Time to Change Pledge, including the FA, the
Premier League, Universities, BT, Eon, NHS Trusts, Primary Care
Trusts, local authorities, Transport for London, Citizen's Advice,
and police forces.
Sue Baker, director of Time to Change, said:- "It is fantastic
that more and more organisations are showing their support in
tackling the stigma experienced by people with mental health
problems. Employees and their staff can all play a part in helping
to stamp out stigma and companies like Liverpool City Council are taking a
lead.
Many leading companies have found that making a strategic commitment
to the mental wellbeing of their workforce not only has benefits for
their staff but also benefits their bottom-line, improving
productivity and staff retention.
With one in four people experiencing mental illness it's time for
businesses to work on their approach and start creating more
mentally healthy workplaces."
Time to Change is England's biggest anti-stigma programme led by
Mind and Rethink Mental Illness and funded by the Department of
Health and Comic Relief. Set up to create a positive shift in public
attitudes towards mental health problems, it promotes better
understanding to combat discrimination towards people who experience
mental health problems. |
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New mobile
chemotherapy unit launches in Southport
1 year anniversary of
initial pilot sees cancer treatment from The Clatterbridge Cancer
Centre brought closer to even more homes. The Clatterbridge
Cancer Centre, one of the largest networked cancer centres in the
UK, has extended the pilot scheme of its state-of-the-art mobile
chemotherapy unit, launching a new site in Southport.
The official opening of the Southport unit coincides with the one
year anniversary of the scheme. Since its initial launch in Chester
in January 2013, the scheme has enjoyed huge success, with 99% of
patients treated to date finding the service comfortable, reliable
and convenient*.
The mobile unit will be based outside Tesco in Kew, Southport, 3
days a week for a period of 3 to 6 months. If successful, it could
become a permanent feature in the town, bringing cancer care even
closer to patients' homes and ensuring even more patients have
access to this method of treatment
The unit will hold 6 chemotherapy treatment bays, as well as a
reception and pharmacy area where nurses can prepare chemotherapy
for patients. Patients who are currently treated at The
Clatterbridge Cancer Centre's networked clinic at Southport Hospital
will have access to the mobile unit.
These pioneering mobile units form part of the Clatterbridge in the
Community programme, a chemotherapy service which offers specialist
treatment away from a hospital setting. This enables some patients
to have access to the care they require in a more convenient
location; from a networked clinic to, in some cases, their own home.
The mobile unit at Southport will provide a high quality of care and
create additional capaCity; offering a more bespoke service for
local people. It is hoped that the unit will further improve
patients' experience as consultants will be able to spend more time
with patients.
Kim Barrow, head of chemotherapy at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre
and project manager for the mobile unit commented:- "It isn't
possible for some patients to travel to our main site on the Wirral;
even their nearest clinic can be a struggle for some people. The
mobile units have been something we've been working towards for a
long time, in order to ensure that all of our patients have access
to our world class services at their own convenience. Southport and
Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust is working closely with us and is fully
supportive of the opportunity of increasing access for patients to
high quality cancer care. A full evaluation of the scheme will take
place before a decision is made about a permanent location for the
mobile unit, ensuring that the service is best placed to reach the
heart of the local community."
The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre was among the first centres in the
UK to use multiple drug chemotherapy to treat cancers and
chemotherapy is one of its fastest growing areas of expertise. The
Centre operates a comprehensive network of world-class chemotherapy
facilities, and delivers nearly 39,000 treatments to patients each
year, from both its Wirral based site and a series of networked
clinics across Merseyside and Cheshire.
* Patient experience questionnaire conducted in November 2013.
EU Commission
backs Davies plan for stronger greener economy
SOUTHPORT Euro-MP Chris
Davies has welcomed a European Commission proposal to tackle
climate change. The Commission's proposals match ideas that
Davies put forward to Climate Change Commissioner Connie Hedegaard
in December and will let the UK government decide how it meets the
greenhouse gas reduction target.
The report also moves forward the 'Clean Coal' Carbon Capture
and Storage (CCS) technology that Davies has championed.
Just last week Liberal Democrat Davies secured a large majority in
the European Parliament in favour of investment in the green
technology.
Davies said:- "The Commission's plans will ensure that we
achieve our goal of emissions reduction while keeping prices down
for hard pressed consumers. It's right that Europe has a
target to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 40% by 2030, but that
should not be at the expense of spiralling energy costs. This
proposal strikes the right balance. Europe, and the UK in
particular, has the potential to lead the world in the development
of CCS technology and green innovation means green jobs. I
will continue to work with energy and industrial companies to make
sure that this technology's potential is realised and secure a
stronger, greener economy in the North West to 2030 and beyond."
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