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HEALTH & FITNESS UPDATES AND NEW PRODUCTS FROM THE SECTOR
NURTURING EXPERTISE
Paul (centre) with HSST students Jen (left) and Bonnie
FEEL FIT (AND PLANET-FRIENDLY) A new eco-friendly fitness brand has launched in Bristol with a range of sustainable gym and leisure wear including leggings, tops, and accessories. Feel Fit founder Ellie Crawley is a strength and nutrition coach keen to develop her profile as one of Bristol’s leading health and fitness experts. Wishing to make a difference to people’s health, and the planet’s, too, Ellie Crawley teaches and promotes long-lasting change in terms of health, fitness and nutrition and hopes to extend her ethos and effect similar change to Bristol’s fitness wardrobes. Created with sustainability in mind, Feel Fit items are produced with ECONYL® regenerated nylon fibre made of pre and post-consumer waste. The new signature range features classic pieces designed to make wearers feel good about themselves and their workout, as well as helping to preserve the planet. “We all find fitness at different times in our lives and for different reasons but we believe when you are physically strong it will carry over into every aspect of your life,” says Ellie. “By putting sustainability into every aspect of our lives, every choice, we will get the right results.” • myfeelfit.com Signature bralette, £35; leggings, £65
Invigorate high-waisted cropped running leggings, £55
64 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE
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The fertility clinic in the South West of England with the highest rate of success for IVF is consolidating its position as a regional centre of excellence by investing in the development of the next generation of fertility experts. Five practitioners at the Bristol Centre for Reproductive Medicine (BCRM) are being supported to pursue two different higher qualifications, with two embarking on the Higher Scientific Training Programme (HSST) – which will eventually qualify them for consultant level/leadership roles – and three are participating in the Scientific Training Programme (STP), the qualifying programme for careers as clinical embryologists. “Our entire reason for existence is to help women with fertility issues achieve their dream of having a baby,” said Paul Wilson, BCRM’s scientific director. “We’ve already been instrumental in thousands of births and we aim to help with many more, which means continuing investment in our staff’s expertise is essential.” The clinic is staffed by world-recognised experts in fertility, many of whom are involved in innovative research, including Jen Nisbett, one of the candidates who has just started on the HSST programme. Jen won a top prize at Fertility 2020 – the sector’s annual national conference – with her research into how implanting frozen embryos in patients is more likely to result in a viable pregnancy in certain circumstances than using fresh embryos. Jen and colleague Bonnie Dickinson have both committed to a demanding five-year workplace-based programme that will equip them to become consultants. The programme includes a healthcare leadership and management postgraduate diploma from the University of Manchester, professional exams at the Royal College of Pathologists and large research projects for a Doctorate in Clinical Science. “Nationwide only around 60 scientists have enrolled on the HSST this year, of whom we believe just three are doing the reproductive science programme – and two of them are us,” said Jen. “Both the HSST and the STP represent a huge amount of work for the trainees and for the department, but the clinic has world-class facilities, technology and expertise so it’s the best place to train.” Jen and Bonnie are the first two candidates from BCRM to enrol on the HSST programme, but the clinic has trained a large number of STPs since the programme launch in 2009. Competition for entry to both programmes is fierce, with the most recently published statistics by the National School of Healthcare Science quoting 20 applications for every STP post, and HSST candidates facing the dual challenge of securing funding and undergoing a vigorous recruitment process for a relatively small number of highly coveted places. “These programmes demand real commitment – both on the part of the trainees and those of us who are involved in delivering their training,” Paul concluded. “But these dedicated students help perpetuate BCRM’s position as a centre of excellence, all playing their part in ensuring we continue to deliver the very best fertility treatment for NHS and private patients equally. So everybody benefits: trainees, the clinic, and patients alike.” • fertilitybristol.com
NOVEMBER 2020
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No 194
