News

 

WHO ATE ALL THE PIES?

August 2010

Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea are joined by Premier league newcomers Blackpool when it comes to having the healthiest fans in the Premiership, according to an NHS online survey published on 14th August.

An online survey of 25,000 supporters by NHS Choices has revealed that Blackpool are crowned champions with over half of their fans being a healthy weight, while 81% of Wigan fans are non-smokers and 85% of Tottenham Hotspur fans drink within the recommended daily limits.

At the other end of the table, Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers and Fulham have the unhealthiest supporters in the league. Over a third of all Blackburn Rovers fans smoke, Fulham fans drink the most alcohol in the country, and over half of Sunderland supporters are of unhealthy weight.

Lower down the leagues, QPR, Peterborough and Burton Albion fans top their respective tables for being the healthiest supporters, while Hull, Hartlepool and Stockport immediately leave the pitch for being the unhealthiest.

Peter Baker, Men's Health Forum chief executive, said:

"We all like to beat the opposition and this great online game gets us thinking about our habits whilst we do it! There is a serious message from the league table too - many of these clubs are based in areas where too many men die prematurely."

The information is drawn from the 25,000 fans that used an online NHS football fitness tool since June, available at the NHS Choices: World Cup Fitness Fan Fitness Challenge website.

For full article see www.dh.gov.uk/en/MediaCentre/Pressreleases/DH_118623

 

‘SIX PACKS?' - MEN'S HEALTH WEEK RESOURCE PACKS

w/c 14th June 2010

 

For Men's Health Week (week beginning 14th June), local campaign packs are available which include posters and leaflets to produce eye catching displays. The theme 2010 is ‘ Physical Health and Fitness' . The packs contain information on prostate cancer and on staying fit and healthy. They are free of charge to anyone promoting men's health in the district and available from The Library and Health Promotion Resources at Lynfield Mount Hospital , Bradford . To reserve a pack please contact the library on 01274 223900 or at  library.lynfield@bdct.nhs.uk .   Packs can be collected in person from the Library and Health Promotion Resources and will be reserved until 7 th June 2010 or delivered to NHS sites.

 

These packs constitute one of six public health campaigns provided for the public each year. Some of the topics previously covered include; obesity awareness, holiday health, coughs and colds, alcohol, older people's health and smoking cessation.  One of the aims of these campaigns is to help pharmacies become more accessible as a front line service and to offer proactive advice to the public. Bradford & Airedale pharmacy staff can advise on issues relating to the current campaign they display. In addition to pharmacy staff, campaign packs are distributed throughout Bradford and Airedale to a wide range of NHS service providers, e.g. hospital wards, health centres, GP surgeries, and mental health and learning disability support services and also go to libraries, schools, colleges, community support groups, charities and voluntary and community groups.

 

MEN'S HEALTH CIRCUS - BRADFORD

26th May 2010

Manningham Mills Community Centre of Lilycroft Rd, BD9 5BD are organising a men's health awareness event at the centre on Wednesday, 26th May from 12pm to 4pm. The day comprises various stalls and information workshops, and will include the following:

Health MOTs and a free raffle to win food ( for those over 40 years of age), Wii Fit sessions, diabetes health checks and information, oral Health information, mental health awareness including workshops for stress management, stress management in the workplace, anger management counselling, food information from Manningham healthy Living Initiative, Tai-Chi demonstration and a Cancer information stall.

For more information please contact Sonia Fayyaz on 01274 281018 or email sonia@mmcabradford.org.uk

 

THE BRAVE PROJECT - "MANALIVE" BOYS AND MEN'S MENTAL HEALTH FORUM

20th April 2010

Do you worry about problems such as: Male suicide, risky behaviour, gun/knife crime, drugs & alcohol, violence & aggression? These and other subjects will be discussed at a forum hosted by The BRAVE+ Project. This above event will take place Tuesday 20th April 10.00am-12.00PM at the Gateway Centre, Vulcan Street, Off Tong Street, Bradford, BD4 9QY.

The day will focus on support, raising awareness of the emotional/psychological distress of Boys and Men, developing male focussed/strengths based interventions, sharing 'best practice' and networking. There will also be a keynote presentation by Don Donegan of the "Families Need Fathers' charity, detailing some of the issues they deal with plus sharing some personal stories.

For more information email: the braveproject@hotmail.com

 

MEN'S HEALTH - GOING FOR GOLD

March 2010

Keighley car and motorcycle garage Colin Appleyard have invited the local men's health team to their annual Goldwing open day to offer men a health MOT. The open day will be held on Sunday 28 March, from 10am until 4pm, at Colin Appleyard, Worth Way, Keighley. The open day has run since 1991 and is open to all Goldwing owners and members.

The men's health team, from Bradford and Airedale Community Health Services, will be on site throughout the day to carry out the health checks. The team have been offering free health checks to men as part of a district wide capaign for over seven years. As part of the campaign, the team have been stopping men in the street, targeting groups such as taxi drivers, and visiting local businesses to carry out the checks on male workers.

The health check is simple and includes checks on blood pressure, cholesterol and BMI. The team can also offer advice on living a healthy lifestyle including information on alcohol consumption and stopping smoking.

As a result of the health checks, a number of men have been made aware of health problems such as high blood pressure and cholersterol and advised on how to tackle these in order to improve their health.

Merville Pemberton, Men's health community health improvement practitioner said:

"It is vital that we get out into the community and offer these health checks. It means that men who wouldn't usually visit their GP for a check up are having a full health check and, if necessary being signposted to services or given tips on how to improve their health and lifestyle."

For more information on the open day, people can contact Stuart Feeny, or Barry Watson from Colin Appleyard on: 01535 606311

 

MEN URGED TO SIGN UP FOR UK'S ONLY 10K FOR MEN

March 2010

Men's Health Forum Scotland launched the fifth annual MHFS 10k for Men, at the Palace of Art at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow, with Real Radio presenter Mark Martin and MSP Andy Kerr pledging to take part in this year's event.

The event, which is the only men-only 10k in the UK, takes place on Father's Day (June 20, 2010). Participant numbers have been growing year-on-year and this year, organisers hope to attract up to 5000 entrants.

The MHFS is determined to get men thinking about the importance of improving their health for the better and wants to use the event to raise awareness of how simple lifestyle changes like increasing your activity levels by joining a men's jogging group can have a really positive impact on their emotional and physical wellbeing.

Mark Ward, national co-ordinator for the Men's Health Forum Scotland, said: "The Men's Health Forum Scotland wants to encourage as many men from throughout Scotland as possible to take part in the 10k for Men, whether they walk, jog or run".

For additional information visit www.mhfs10kformen.org  

 

MESMAC COUNSELLING SERVICE - NOT JUST FOR MEN!

February 2010

Yorkshire MESMAC fund counselling within Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield and North Yorkshire for any gay or bisexual men or men who have sex with men. They are also highlighting that women can also access their counselling service and it is available for any female partners of men who are attracted to men; Lesbian and bisexual women in the Bradford and Airedale area can also make use of the service. They also provide counselling for young lesbians accessing youth groups run by Yorkshire MESMAC and for minority ethnic lesbians.

Claire Bergman, the counselling organiser for Yorkshire MESMAC, the OUR project and the Brunswick Centre emphasised that MESMAC's counselling services are free at the point of access, fully accessible and confidential.

Claire said, "We have a very committed and highly qualified team of forty freelance counsellors who have all undergone training in issues faced by our client group. For more information or to access the counselling service please call me on counselling@mesmac.co.uk  or call 07771 931 327".

INCREASED AVAILABILITY OF BOWEL CANCER SCREENING KITS

December 2009

Bowel cancer screening kits will soon be offered to more people in Bradford and Airedale.

The local bowel cancer screening centre is set to increase the age group of people who are invited to take part in the screening programme - meaning more people will be able to have regular checks for the disease.

When the programme started in August 2007, people aged from 60 to 69 years were sent a  bowel cancer screening kit. From January, the age group will change so that 60 to 74 years olds who are registered with a GP in Bradford, Airedale and Craven will automatically be invited to take part in the programme. People who are aged over 74 can still request  a free kit over the phone.

The screening centre is based at Bradford Royal Infirmiary and provides clinics both there and at Airedale General Hospital.

The home kit is a simple test designed to detect bowel cancer as early as possible, even when people have no symptoms, so that they are more likely to make a full recovery after treatment. The test is then processed by a regional laboratory and the results returned after two weeks.

This is part of the national NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme, which is being introduced throughout the country.

Dr Linda Juby, clinical director of the Bradford and Airedale Screening Centre said: "I urge everyone who receives a test kit to make sure that they complete and return it - its easy to use and can be completed in the privacy of your own home. The results are processed quickly and you and your GP will both receive a copy."

For more information, people can contact the national bowel cancer screening programme free phone helpline on: 0800 7076060 or go to: www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk

 

NOMADIC MEN's HEALTH IN BRADFORD AND AIREDALE

October 2009

The Health of Men team at Bradford and Airedale Community Health Services has been offering free health checks across the district. As part of their Nomadic Nurses campaign, the team has stopped men in the street, targeting groups such as taxi drivers and visiting businesses to carry out checks.

The tests include checks on blood pressure, cholesterol and body mass index. The team can also offer advice on living a healthy lifestyle. More than 50 checks have been carried out over the last month. The work will continue until the end of December and in the new year the team hope to work with community centres and businesses around Bradford and Keighley.

Merv Pemberton, the men's health adviser for Bradford and Airedale Community Health Services, said: "These health checks are very simple and don't take long to do. It is important we offer these checks to men as they are less likely to visit their GP when they think they may be ill. Our aim is to raise awareness of maintaining good health and to encourage men to seek help and advice".

To find out more contact the Bradford team on (01274) 322169 or the Keighley team on (01535) 338706.

 

No change in health INEQUALITIES from 1900

September 2009

 

The link between poverty and early death is as strong today as it was a century ago, a study shows. Despite major changes in the causes of death since the 1900s, the association between deprivation and mortality remains "firmly entrenched", it found.

Dr Gregory, a senior lecturer at the University of Lancaster, looked at census and mortality data from England and Wales from the 1900s and compared that with data from 2001. His figures highlight the dramatic improvement seen in early deaths over the past one hundred years. In the 1900s, 33% of deaths occurred in the under fives and only 13% occurred over the age of 75 but a century later deaths in the under fives account for less than 1% and 65% of deaths now occur in those over 75.

Poverty

Dr Gregory then compared the mortality rates in areas of high deprivation in the two time periods. Although people's experience of poverty changed over the years - in the 1900s it meant not having the bare necessities for existence but a century later poverty is defined as relative to society as a whole - the association between deprivation and high mortality did not change.

"The extent to which the association remained was surprising," he said. But he said it did not necessarily mean that initiatives to reduce health inequalities had not had an effect. "The unknown factor is what would have happened if we hadn't done anything - could things have got much much worse - and I suspect they could have done."

Professor Alan Maryon-Davis, President of the Faculty of Public Health said to some extent the gap must have got even worse in recent years.

"In the 1900s, it would have been infectious diseases but now it's more about chronic diseases linked to lifestyle. The health threats may have changed, but the gap between the haves and have-nots is still there, and so too is the difference in mortality. This research really drives home the message that the surest way to reduce the health risks of poverty, is to reduce poverty itself."

- Taken from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8249092.stm

 

"Over 40% of men die prematurely" -

Peter baker addressES the Royal Society of Public Health

July 2009

In July Mens Health Forum CEO Peter Baker addressed a packed public meeting of the Royal Society for Public Health about the current state of Men's Health. Some of the statistics were quite startling.

"There is, quite rightly, currently great concern about the deaths of soldiers in Afghanistan. since 2001, about 190 have been killed. These losses are a tragedy, and a men's health health issue in their own right, yet almost some 275 men in England die every day before the age of 75. that's one death every five minutes. Yet this fact excites virtually no media interest, no discussion in parliament, no national debate...

If you look at the data at a ward level, there are some parts of England where male life expectancy is as low as 65. And if you look at particular communities, the situation is even graver. The average life expectancy for gypsy and traveller men is estimated at 48 years. Imagine living in a community, in this country, where you are effectively an old man when you are in your 40s."

The Challenges Ahead

Peter laid out some of the men's health policy challenges we face in the UK. He identified three particular challenges for the Department of Health.

"Primary Care Trusts should also develop outcome-focussed Gender Equality Schemes which contain specific actions to improve men's health. The first round of schemes, published in 2007, were generally wholly inadequate. These schemes need to be reviewed and updated over the next year so a good opportunity exists to put this right.

PCTs must address men's under-use of the range of primary care services, ensure that men are fully part of the new vascular checks programme and take advantage of the World Cup 2010 and the 2012 Olympics to engage more men in physical activity."

To read Peter's full address click on this link:-

www.menshealthforum.org

 

Bradford Man Praises Bowel cancer Screening Test

March 2009

 

A 66 year old man from Bradford has beaten bowel cancer after an NHS home screening kit discovered the disease. Geoff McMahon had an abnormal result from his bowel cancer screening kit and was sent to see a specialist screening practitioner. He had no symptoms and so had no reason to think he had bowel cancer before taking the test. Last December he had keyhole surgery and was given the all clear just two weeks later. As his cancer was found at an early stage and had not spread, after the surgery he required no further treatment.

 

The home kit is part of the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme, which is being introduced throughout the country. It is a simple test designed to detect bowel cancer as early as possible, even when people have no symptoms. The test is processed by a regional laboratory and the results returned within two weeks.

 

Geoff said: “I am very grateful to the screening programme for detecting the cancer so early. ..I couldn't praise the staff highly enough, from the students to the doctors, they were all so kind, considerate and professional…People shouldn't feel reluctant to take the test as it can be done in the privacy of your own home and then simply sent back in the post. It really couldn't be simpler.”

 

Diana Wilkinson, specialist screening practitioner at the Bradford and Airedale Bowel Cancer Screening Centre said: “The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme is automatically sending screening kits to people between the ages of 60 and 69 every two years. People are usually sent results within two weeks. Anyone over the age of 70 can request one by phoning a free helpline.”

 

If anyone would like further information on the bowel cancer screening kits, the free phone helpline is 0800 7076060.