Health & Family

The 15 stages of health care Plop the Raindrop

WEall love a bit of Shakespeare and you can’t beat his seven ages of man, from the infant, “mewling and puking in the nurse's arms”, to the eventual oblivion of “sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything”. The beauty of art is that it forces us to confront the reality of what lies ahead, whilst in politics we live in a constant state of denial so as not to frighten the voters.

But the NHS and social care system is facing its biggest challenge ever and if people at every level – from the frontline to Westminster – don’t grow up, get real and collaborate it will sink like a sad soufflé.

First the good news. When the NHS was founded in 1948, half of us died before the age of 65. Now, thanks to the stunning achievements of public health, economic growth, medical science and the health service, the average life expectancy is around 80 years, with more centenarians than ever before.

People are living longer and healthier lives than at any other time in history. And one in three children born today will live to 100.

The other great news is that we have the power in many cases to stay healthy. Some 80% of the things that can be done to prevent and control chronic diseases are down to our behaviour and lifestyle.

The NHS adds only a modest 20% and acts as a safety net for those who are extremely unlucky, very poor or hell bent on a course of selfdestruction. You can dramatically reduce your chance of disease today simply by changing what you do.

One in three born today will a get cancer, one in three will get diabetes and nearly all of us will get heart disease, whether we realise it or not. Obesity appears unstoppable. Liver disease, kidney disease, lung disease, depression and anxiety are all on the increase.

In my own specialty, treating chronic fatigue syndrome in those under 18 years old, referrals have gone through the roof. Sadly, many elderly people are simply lonely, which can be as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Mental illness currently costs the UK over £70 By DrPHIL billion a year and one in three people over 65 HAMMOND will die with dementia. Many people with dementia live for many years, even if they haven't been properly diagnosed and treated. Dementia alone already costs the economy more than cancer and heart disease put together. The NHS and social care system has for years been crucially dependent on unpaid carers and volunteers. The round-the-clock pressures and responsibilities they face are huge. If carers went on strike, the NHS would collapse overnight. Already the NHS is unable to provide safe staffing levels and care around the clock. Your ability to access care and the standard of care you get across the NHS is hugely variable as are the outcomes for just about every disease. Your chances of survival even depend on what day and time of the day you get sick. So yes, we have a problem and we need to get our heads out of the sand to think and plan ahead. I’ve no idea how Shakespeare would have seen it, but I’ve come up with a very pale imitation, the 15 stages of healthcare, conveniently remembered by the phrase HAIRS DISCS DREAD. In the HAIRS stage, the aim is to live well before you get permanently ill. In DISCS, you try to live as well as you can with chronic diseases. In DREAD you try to live as well as you can with disability. You also need to plan a good death at some stage, before it’s too late. Life is about taking sensible risks. We will all get ill and have to self care, self manage and care for others. Most of us end up in shock at our mortality and on loads of drugs. Politicians are slowly learning that the economy matters, but without our health, nothing matters. No one gets out of here alive, not even Matt Hancock. But we all deserve a gentle death.

Healthy Drugs

Disability At Risk Incurable Illnesses Rehabilitation Impairment Shock End of Life Planning Recovery Self Care

Carers At Home, Not Alone Self Management Death, gently I STARTEDthis year on the Isle of Skye, a beautiful, wild place off the coast of Scotland, courtesy of a massive white-tailed eagle.

She wouldn’t notice a tiny water droplet like me balanced on the back of her head. When she dived for fish though I had quite a job hanging on.

They celebrate New Year in style in Scotland – they call it Hogmanay and they drink a lot of scotch. I’ve mentioned before my adventures involving whisky barrels. I avoided those this time. I’ve flown on lots of birds over the years, but the white-tailed eagle is one of the world’s biggest, with a wingspan well over two metres.

What’s interesting is that they were hunted to extinction in your country about a hundred years ago, but have since made a come-back after being reintroduced.

The same happened with red kites, another beautiful bird, which can now be seen over Mendip more often. White-tailed eagles also occasionally drop by on their travels.

Isn’t it wonderful to see how nature can recover with a little help? You can help nature in many ways, in your own gardens.

Let’s hope for more good news in 2023.

MENDIP GRANDAD

Sherri’s settled in

EAR wax removal specialist Sherri Gardener is in a lot of demand after opening her Clear 2 Hear clinic in Midsomer Norton town centre.

Clear 2 Hear specialises in ear wax removal/irrigation. Her clinic, on the first floor of the Holly Court Arcade, welcomed its first clients at the end of October. With level access from the free South Road car park, it’s in an ideal location. It complements her home visiting service to the Mendip and Bath and North East Somerset areas. Sherri (right) in the Clear 2 Hear clinic Sherrie is a fully trained and qualified specialist with more than ten years’ experience in treating ear conditions and is also an NHS registered nurse. She recommends that appointments to the clinic should be made online, but will try to fit in clients suffering acute problems.

Ear specialist, offering a friendly, professional 1-1 service

l Ear wax removal l Clinic and home visits (book online at www.clear2hear.co.uk) Our new clinic is now open in Midsomer Norton and for home visits we cover the Wells, Street, Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet and Cheddar areas as well as Bath and North East Somerset. There’s convenient free parking and level access to our clinic from South Road. Sherri, our clinician, is fully trained with more than ten years of experience. She is also a qualified NHS registered nurse. We are fully insured.

Unit 10, Holly Court Arcade, High Street, Midsomer Norton, BA3 2DB T: 07984 336368 (may take 24hrs to return call) E: sherri@clear2hear.co.uk • W: www.clear2hear.co.uk

COURT HOUSE

AWARD WINNING CARE HOME

e Care Home with a difference. We offer all that you would expect from a high quality, family run Care Home set in a Georgian House in the lovely village of Cheddar, Somerset.

You can live your life to the full and choice is our favourite word. Rooms now available with full en-suite facilities and total personal care is offered. Rated by the CQC as good in all areas e Manager – Chris Dando • 01934 742131 • chriscourthouse@gmail.com Court House Retirement Home, Church Street, Cheddar, Somerset BS27 3RA www.courthouseretirementhome.co.uk

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Kim’s mission –caring for your whole body

THERE are two sides to every story and Kim Richard’s Balance Wellness company at Binegar is no different.

In one building on the Rookery Farm estate sits the Body Balance Clinic where Kim specialises in a range of classes and therapies as well as two massage rooms. Kim is a highly-qualified fitness professional and sports therapist but also takes a keen interest in a person’s overall wellness.

She has developed what she calls a One Woman Clinic for menopause management to promote health and happiness. There are also menopause management group sessions.

Starting in January is Kim’s Lift Lean eight-week fitness and eating plan to help people discover more about how their body works. Kim said: “It’s not a fitness regime but to help people understand more about their bodies and to increase muscle mass, burn fat more efficiently and increase bone density which can help to prevent osteoporosis in later life.” Just across the way is the Balance Gym where the atmosphere is calm and friendly and not in any way competitive. Weights, for example, are limited to 37kg so no-one – male or female – need feel in any way intimidated by bodybuilders.

To that end, Kim has also launched a Confidence Package offering a six-week gym membership with full induction and four 1-1 sessions with a personal trainer. It’s aimed not just at people wanting to stay fit and healthy but for people recovering from illness, such as strokes.

Kim added: “I started Body Balance four years ago in the original building, but it felt more comfortable to separate the gym a year ago to create two individual – but complementary – spaces where people can feel relaxed and at ease.”

A friendly welcome: Kim (right) with fitness instructor Craig Tanner