Winter 2013
ÂŁ2 Free to Members
Here to help Affiliated to the British Heart Foundation and Arrhythmia Alliance - The Heart Rhythm Charity
POOLE HEART SUPPORT GROUP MAGAZINE Poole Community Health Centre Shaftesbury Road, Poole BH15 2NT Telephone: 01202 683363 ext. 133 Telephone manned Mondays and Thursdays: 1:30-3:30pm Web site address: www.poolehsg.org.uk PRESIDENT: Dr. ANDREW MCLEOD V.Ps. Dr CHRISTOPHER BOOS MBBS Dip IMC RCS (Ed) MD FRCP RAMC : Dr. DIANE BRUCE MB Bsc.Hons FRCP : ROBERT PAYNE RGN, RHV, BSc Hons, PG Dip PGCE MAGGIE RICHARDSON : JIM WAINE : GEOFFREY WALKER OBE JP RGN,
PHSG COMMITTEE KEITH MATTHEWS DAVID ANDERSON RITA HOLMES GEORGE LLEWELLYN JAN MESHER JOHN OFFER DEREK POPE ROBIN PRINGLE ROGER RIDOUT GEORGE WILKINSON PAM BAILEY
Chairman Secretary Treasurer Monthly Meets Office Member Database Exercise Coord Purbeck Member BHF Rep.
keith@poolehsg.org.uk david@poolehsg.org.uk rita@poolehsg.org.uk geoll@poolehsg.org.uk jan@poolehsg.org.uk derek@poolehsg.org.uk robin@poolehsg.org.uk roger@poolehsg.org.uk
01202 855001 01202 697376 01202 743960 01202 605455 01202 250108 01202 386674 01202 889070 01202 884250 01929 423079 01202 740374 01202 574944
If you know a member who is ill, please tell us by contacting Mavis Terry, Welfare Support, on 01202 874760
OTHER CONTACTS JOHN DEFTY CYRIL MARTIN DAVID ANDERSON JIM WAINE
Chat Stops Walking Group Website Founder and VP
david@poolehsg.org.uk jim@poolehsg.org.uk
01202 760350 01202 733956 01202 687376 01202 871532
Please send magazine articles and photos to: Editor, 10 Hill View Road, Ferndown, Dorset BH22 9QY or by e-mail to; editor@poolehsg.org.uk Tel. 01202 855001 Magazines are published 1st March, 1st June, 1st September and 1st December. Last date for articles to Editor is 10th day of month before publication.
Chairman’s Letter Christmas is coming, but I’ll try to keep the reindeers and holly motifs down. Frankly, writing this on a wet November afternoon it doesn’t seem appropriate anyway. The observant amongst you will see that we have a picture cover this issue, and although this is the Winter issue, it is not a picture of ice and snow but a nice warm summer shot. It was taken on Poole Quay in August on the evening of the PHSG Treasure hunt that George writes about on page ten. If you have a good shot and you’d like it used as a cover picture, we would be pleased to receive it. Unlike normal camera club rules, it needs to be a vertical one with plenty of plain colour area where the words can be placed. What is happening in this issue is the Menu and Booking form for the Spring Dinner at Bentley’s Restaurant. Always a good occasion, this year we have one of our Vice Presidents, Geoffrey Walker OBE, as our Guest of Honour. Get your booking in to Rita as soon as you can. The usual piece from Geoffrey follows, but in this issue one of our new consultants in Poole introduces himself and we have given Dr Boos a break. Jan Mesher tells us about the Office and the Chat Stop meetings on the centre pages. If you’d like to help out in the office and join the team Jan would be very pleased to hear from you. The duties can be fun, and are not onerous and full training is given. We are grateful for all your contributions. We wish you all a Happy Christmas, not too much pud, and back to exercise as soon as you can.
Keith
“Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.” Eleanor Roosevelt
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Medicine and Cardiology News from Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Dear Friends, I hope this article finds you all well and preparing for the festive season! It is always a very busy time of year for everyone as we rush towards Christmas, very much so for us as we get busier over the winter season within the Trust. Increased admissions and more patients through the emergency department at this time, always tests our abilities to cope and we are all preparing for this. Here at the Hospital I am pleased to announce that the building work on the extension to the cardiology department has begun. This will increase the cardiac department’s facility for diagnostics and give us a seminar room for teaching and additional clinical space. It has been a long time in the planning but we hope that the work will be completed by the spring of 2014. It will be an extension to the original department across the roof above the outpatient department. I will keep you updated on the work and hopefully when completed be able to let you have some pictures and invite some of your representatives to visit and have a look for themselves. In the coronary care unit we have completed a redesign of the waiting and recovery areas for pacemakers and the clinical area for Trans-oesophageal echo. This has made the old area much bigger and easier to manage for the staff in terms of patient observation. It also means that we can undertake the cardioversion service within the department now as well. The next phase will be the re-location of the staff room, store room and the Sisters’ office as well as a dedicated reception area in CCU, so there are lots of improvements underway within the Hospital for cardiology. We have had some issues regarding the re-location of the exercise facilities for cardiac rehabilitation patients, but together with the team and management it is hoped that these have now been resolved satisfactorily. However your representatives and the team will keep a close eye on this. I myself am keeping very busy with the services I run and the challenges facing us all within the NHS at this time, but I really enjoy my work and there is always a solution I find to any issue if you look hard enough for it! I have given a lecture to the RCN in Dorchester on Florence Nightingale and the work of the Florence Nightingale Foundation which offers nurses the opportunity to gain scholarships for travel, research and leadership. I am going to Norwich University on the 20th November to give a lecture on the Medical Investigations
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Unit and its unique concept. One I will be giving in my lecture to your members on the 21st of November so look forward to meeting many of you there. So busy times and interesting ones ahead. Please have a wonderful Christmas and wishing you all a healthy and happy 2014.
Geoffrey Walker OBE JP MA RGN Matron Cardiology and Medicine. Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. “When you have exhausted all the possibilities, remember this – you haven’t” Thomas A. Edison
PHSG Monthly Meetings - Diary Dates All Talks are at Poole Hospital Postgraduate Centre 7:30pm All PHSG talks are free. But not the Dinner! Dec 19th
Jan 16th
Christmas Get Together at Canford. 11am. The Sports Hall has been booked! Details to follow by announcement and E-Newsletter. A Policeman’s Lot was a Happy One. A talk by Alf, ex-policeman and PHSG Member
Feb
No Meeting
Mar 13th
PHSG Annual Dinner at Bentleys Restaurant. Guest Speaker Geoffrey Walker OBE Please see the Menu & Booking Form Enclosed.
Apr 17th
PHSG Annual General Meeting
.
Your chance to hear about the work of the Group and ask any questions you like. Please attend, we’d like to see you all.
We are affiliated to the Arrhythmia Alliance. Their website lists all their affiliated groups. Review what they do on: www.theheartrhythmcharity.org.uk
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Dr Chris Steadman I am one of the new Consultant Cardiologists at Poole Hospital. I started in post in August 2013 having relocated to Poole from Birmingham. I went to Medical School at the University of Bristol and I stayed in Bristol for my general medical training after qualification. During this time I passed my postgraduate medical examinations and became a member of the Royal College of Physicians, London. I decided to specialise in cardiology and moved to Birmingham for my formal Registrar training in the West Midlands. This included posts throughout the West Midlands from Hereford to Stoke and many an hour was spent on the M6 from my home in Birmingham! I spent 4 years of my training at large Cardiac Surgical Centres in the West Midlands with 2 of those years at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, a recognised centre of excellence. I also took two and a half years out of my clinical training programme to undertake clinical research at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester. My principle area of research was looking into mechanisms of exercise limitation in aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aortic valve) before and after valve surgery, particularly using Cardiac MRI. The British Heart Foundation funded my research for 2 years and the National Institute for Health Research for a further 6 months. I was a finalist for the Early Career Award at the international Society of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance and Second Prize Winner at the British Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance in 2011. My main work was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology Cardiovascular Imaging. My thesis from this work culminated in the award of the Doctor of Medicine degree (MD) from the University of Leicester in 2013. My role as a Consultant Cardiologist in Poole includes providing a general cardiology outpatient and inpatient service with a special interest in cardiac imaging. I undertake all aspects of cardiac imaging including transthoracic, stress and transoesophageal echocardiography (ultrasound of the heart). The Cardiology Department at Poole Hospital already has Departmental Accreditation from the British Society of Echocardiography, recognising our
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high standards, and I will help provide this service. I will also be involved with cardiac CT and I perform diagnostic coronary angiography. My particular interest is in cardiac MRI and I have Level 3 Accreditation (the highest level) from the European Society of Cardiology. Along with my new colleague Dr Carpenter, we aim to expand the cardiac MRI service at Poole Hospital to provide the latest diagnostic imaging techniques for the population of Poole and Dorset. I am married with 2 young daughters aged 6 and 4 and we are greatly enjoying living here in Poole and being so close to the fantastic beaches (particularly as in Birmingham we were about as far away as possible!). In my free time as well as spending time with my family I enjoy playing squash and tennis and cycling.
Dr Boos will be back next issue.
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BENTLEYS’ RESTAURANT
POOLE HEART SUPPORT GROUP Spring Dinner Thursday 13 March, 2014 7:00 for 7:30 pm (Selections, to be Pre ordered)
MENU STARTER Cream of Watercress and Potato Soup (v) Smoked Trout, Salmon and Halibut Terrine served with asparagus and pistachio nuts
Chicken Liver Parfait served with walnut bread and kumquat marmalade
~oOo~ MAIN COURSES Pan Fried Duck Breast served on parsnip puree with apple and cranberry sauce
Roasted loin of lamb served with beetroot and black pudding with rich red wine sauce
Grilled Sea Bass Fillet on a bed of rocket and tomato risotto finished with a basil dressing
Baked Lentil, Vegetable and Gruyere loaf (v) served with a spiced tomato compote Main courses are served with Chef’s selection of fresh seasonal vegetables & potatoes
~oOo~ DESSERT Orange and Drambuie Syllabub with ginger shortbread Honey & Raspberry Bread & Butter Pud & creme anglias Fresh Fruit Salad served with vanilla cream Coffee and After Dinner Mints ~oOo~ Coffee & After-Dinner Mints £25.00 per person
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A man and a woman meet at bar one day and are getting along really well. They decide to go back to her house where they engage in passionate love making. Suddenly she startles and says, "Quick, my husband just got home. Hide in the bathroom!" So the man runs into the bathroom. Her husband comes up into the bedroom and looks at her. "Why are you naked?" “Well, I heard you pull up, so I thought I would come up here and get ready for you." "Okay," the man replies, "I'll get ready." He goes into the bathroom before his wife can stop him and sees the naked man standing there clapping his hands. "Who the hell are you?" the man asks "I am from the pest extermination company. Your wife called me in to get rid of the moths you are having problems with." The husband exclaims, "But you are naked!" The man then looks down and jumps back in surprise. "Those little devils!"
“I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.” Harry S. Truman
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PHSG Magazine
Monthly Talks
Organised by George Llewellyn
August - Treasure Hunt The weather was good to us again this year and not a bad turn out. Although I think due to the weather a lot of people were away. Those that turned up seemed to enjoy themselves! However I have now called off the search for the two members I lost. Sorry about that. How was I to know you would go straight to the pub? Next year will probably be a walk around Wimborne!
Secretary David looks happy as very cool looking organiser George briefs Bob.
Sheer Exuberance from winners Jean & Alastair!
“Too much of a good thing is wonderful.� Mae West
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September - Glimpses Once again we invited Rob Curtis to talk to us. From toilets last time to stockings this time … what next? Well it wasn’t that racy. I know David thought the picture top right, which appeared in the reminder, might have given the wrong impression. If it did the surprise was that there were more ladies in the audience than men! Rob walked us through the early history of stockings, from knitted Egyptian ones of 2500 ago. On through the middle ages when long stockings were worn only by the rich and short ones for the poor. Then a gift to Queen Elizabeth I of Italian silk stocking costing 25 shillings, a lot of money in those days. Then on to suspenders and garters, and up to the modern day with the introduction of Rayon and eventually Nylon. Both Nylon and Rayon were rationed during the war, as the materials were required for the war effort. I wonder how the American G.I.s got their currency? Although there was a mention of the erotic aspect, it wasn’t that shocking. Rob is an excellent speaker and I am sure we will invite him back, Many thanks.
George
DEREK HITCHINGS – BUILDER 88 Puddletown Crescent, Canford Heath, Poole, BH17 8AN
Mobile: 07763200452 derekhitchingsbuilder@yahoo.co.uk Carpentry, Plastering, Plumbing, Tiling, Decorating. All general building work. Free estimates given for all sized jobs.
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PHSG Magazine
Membership Matters
by Derek Pope
We continue to receive a few renewals from time to time, they normally trickle in up to the end of the year. Presently there are 649 full members but only 523 have paid for the year 2013/2014. There are a total of 333 partners and I’m pleased to see that the numbers continue to increase. I will soon be printing the labels for this Winter edition of the magazine and it will only be going to paid up members so if someone grumbles to you that they haven’t had their magazine, there are three possibilities: 1. They didn’t tell us about a change of address. 2. They are registered to pick it up at exercise class and they haven’t been. 3. They haven’t paid their renewal for 2013/14. In fact there are another couple of options: 4. I made a mess of entering their data into the database. 5. They paid via a ‘post-it’ note and we can’t decipher their writing. I keep a list of people who didn’t renew; when I delete their details from the database, it tends to come in useful if they decide to re-join or they get around to renewing much later. This year we've actually had one member renew who I deleted back in 2009 which I think is a record! As always, if anyone is interested in specific details of the Derek membership, please feel free to ask.
Please Contact:
01202 620200 565 Blandford Road Poole • Dorset • BH16 5BW
Offering a Wide Range of Automotive Services . . .
FIRST CHOICE
Motor Engineers Ltd PHSG Magazine
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by Eric Bullen
Getting Some Miles In
At last I am back walking, I have been out on four of the last five walks! Before I go any further, I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Spetisbury 24th August: A walk along the old railway, past the restoration of the station and down to the water meadows over the beautiful Crawford Bridge and on to look at the old church at Tarrant Crawford before it is time to return to the car park via the old mill. Garston Wood 14th September: A pretty wood of diverse trees. Not a long walk unless you take a diversion to Deanland village, with views over the Cranborne Chase. Arne 25th September: A very lovely walk with plenty of deer to see, some of them very tame. Also some very handsome antlered stags. Nice views over heatherland and Poole Harbour. Stinsford 5th October: A walk with everything from fields, woods, roads, villages, streams, farmyards, stiles, ups & downs. We also went past the church where Thomas Hardy's heart is buried. That’s it for the summer walks this year but Look out Purbecks next year, I'm back, fingers crossed! A warm welcome to Malcolm and Margaret Garston Down in July who found the group in © Sara Milne 2013 Garston Woods after arriving late, they are keen walkers in their own right and it is always nice to welcome new faces, we hope to see you next year. I must finish on a sad note, all of our condolences must go to Mary on the loss of Mike. An Informal programme of walks are arranged through the winter. contact Cyril for dates on 01202 733956
Eric
For those who are interested in the Walking Group, we walk every 10 days on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 2 to 5 miles. Some of us round off the day’s walk with a Pub lunch – Pleasure after pain! If you require more information or the Walking Book (£3) please contact me on 01202 733956. Cyril, Walks Coordinator.
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A Plethora of Doctors? Recent letter to The Daily Telegraph Has anyone asked why we need more doctors? Between 1960 and 2011 the population rose from approximately 52.4 million to 62.6 million: an increase of approximately 20%. Over the same period, medical school intake rose by more than 70%. Between 1999 and 2010 the number of consultants alone increased from 21,410 to 35,781, an increase of some 65%, and between 1999 and 2009 the number of NHS managers increased by 82%. There have been many reports of increased waiting times and imminent failures of A&E departments, but in view of the actual figures none of the explanations makes much sense. The increase in doctors, consultants and managers far outpaces the increase in the population. Technological advances have made outpatient investigation easier and much faster. If these statistics were transferred to any other organisation the obvious conclusion would be an increase in inefficiency. Would this degree of incompetence be tolerated in any structure other than the NHS? L.S.Illis emeritus consultant neurologist Lymington, Hants They've found an early draft of the script to Alien. Ash: I can't find the milk Ellen! Ripley: In space no one can. Here, use cream.
It's one for the money, Two for the show, Three to get ready, Or four to hear those options again.
Sweat to avoid a stroke
People who take regular, vigorous exercise are one-fifth less likely to suffer strokes than those who rarely do, research has indicated. For the study, some 27,000 Americans aged 45 or above were followed for almost six years, reports The Times.
They all lived in a part of the southeastern US known as the "stroke belt" for its high incidence of cardiovascular disease: stroke mortality rates are 10% higher in these 11 states (which include Alabama, Virginia and Tennessee) than elsewhere in the US. (Within the "stroke belt" is the "stroke buckle" - North Carolina – where mortality is even higher. This region was excluded from the main part of the study.) The team found that people who break into a sweat during exercise four times a week were 20% less likely to suffer a stroke than those who break into a sweat just once a week.
So, see page 17 !
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An old guy visits the barbers for a shave and a haircut, but he tells the barber he can’t get all his whiskers off because his cheeks are wrinkled with age. The barber gets a little wooden ball from a cup on the shelf and tells him to put it inside his cheek to spread out the skin. When he’s finished, the old fella tells the barber that was the cleanest shave he’s had in years. But he wanted to know what would have happened if he had swallowed that little ball. The barber replied “Just bring it back tomorrow like everyone else does . . .” A woman who had been married and divorced was talking to her friend about her failed marriages and what had gone wrong. “My first husband was a psychotherapist. He never wanted to do anything romantic, he just wanted to talk about it. My second husband was a gynaecologist. He just wanted to look. My third husband was a stamp collector.” She stopped and sighed thoughtfully, “I miss him.”
Chinese takeaway: £14 Petrol to pick it up: £2 Getting home and finding that they've forgotten one of your containers: Riceless.
The Pope dies and, naturally, goes to heaven. He's met by the reception committee and, after a whirlwind tour is told that he can enjoy any of the myriad recreations available. He decides that he wants to read all of the ancient original text of the Holy Scriptures, and spends the next eon or so learning the languages. After becoming a linguistics master, he sits down in the library and begins to pore over every version of the Bible, working back from the most recent "Easy Reading" to the original script. All of a sudden there is a scream in the library. The angels come running to him, only to find the Pope huddled in a chair, crying to himself, and muttering, "An 'R'! They left out the 'R'”. God takes him aside, offering comfort and asks him what the problem is. After collecting his wits, the Pope sobs again, "It's the letter 'R'... the word was supposed to be CELEBRATE."
“Nowhere did he reveal his originality so forcefully as in the ideas he borrowed.” Delacroix on Raphael
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PHSG Magazine
Know your Trainers
By Robin Pringle
Noirin Burke, who pronounces her name Noreen, is very much the new trainer on the block. She grew up in Galway in the West of Ireland but some of her childhood was spent abroad living in Africa and the Middle East. When she left school she studied Economics, Finance and French at University before spending 11 years working in finance in New York, Paris and finally in London. Sport and particularly fitness had always been her big passion with a real yearning to set up her own business. She left the world of finance to retrain as a personal fitness instructor. Noirin moved to Poole from London 3 years ago and opened up her own Fitness Studio in Penn Hill at the beginning of this year. Why Poole? She met her own “Danny Boy” at a wedding in Ireland where she was a bridesmaid and Dan hails from Poole. They were married earlier this year in Ireland. Noirin’s interests include long distance running and triathlons. Her biggest sporting achievement to date was completing a half Ironman. She loves her reading and claims to be a sucker for a period drama such as Downton Abbey. We are sponsoring Noirin with her current BACPR Phase IV examinations. She is undertaking a Case Study here at Poole Hospital Rehab Unit. We wish her all the very best for her final examination which she will take in January 2014 in her native Galway. In the meantime she has been helping out by covering our classes for holidays and sickness. She has now taken over the running of our Tuesday evening classes at Lytchett Sports Centre. We welcome her aboard!
Robin
A Canford Class
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PHSG Exercise Venues All sessions last 1 hour Ashdown School Sports
Canford School Sports
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Friday Monday Tuesday Thursday Friday
12:00 09:30 09:30 09:30 09:00 09:00 09:00
10:30 10:30 10:00 10:00 10:00 10:00
Ferndown Sports
Monday 10:30 Wednesday 10:30
Hamworthy Fire Station
Monday
09:30
Hearts on Seats,Broadstone
Thursday
14:00
Images, Lower Parkstone
Wednesday 11:00 Friday 11:00
Lytchett Minster Sports
Tuesday Thursday
18:00 18:30
19:00
Swanage, Burlington Sports
Tuesday
14:30
15:30
Wareham, Purbeck Sports
Monday Thursday
16:00 11:00
11:00
10:30
If you are not exercising with us and would like to start please call Robin Pringle or Roger Ridout. Contact details are on the inside front cover. “We are here on earth to do good for others. What others are for, I don’t know.” W.H.Auden
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A Few Words from Jan Mesher about Chat S
I got hold of Gary Lee this afternoon to ask him if he could possibly do his "Carol Singing" again for our Chat Stop on Tuesday 3rd December at 2 o’clock. Everyone has enjoyed it for the past 2 years. He said yes he would and he will organise all the necessary as usual, including music, microphone word sheets, etc. We will arrange with Pam if we can have tea, coffee, and mince pies for that session and will charge £1 each as before as everyone was happy with that. Also the secondhand books will be there as usual. I am not taking hardbacks any more, but all paperbacks are welcome. Also if anyone has a fold up lightweight sack truck that they no longer want or use maybe they could consider a donation or small charge to PHSG for me to use for the transportation of all the books. I would be very grateful if anyone can help with this. It seems I am somehow now running the Chat Stop! Thanks to John Defty of cours who opens and closes up and gets all the table out in preparation, and Pam who always sorts out the refreshments. If anyone has any othe ideas of "things to do" or would like to help me would be good to hear from you.
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at Stops and Just another Day in the Office
f course he tables s sorts ny other help me it
I have been in the office today and checked with Reception when we can open over Xmas. I have decided to open for the last time before Xmas on Monday 23rd Dec - closed Thursday 26th and Monday 30th Dec - Re-open on Thursday 2nd January. I’d like to wish everyone Happy Xmas from all the Office Helpers, and I’d like to mention if there are any members out there who would like to join our happy little Office team for just a few hours a month after training, I would be delighted to hear from them.
ma t s i r h C y Happ body! y Ever Jan Volunteers wanted to help in our P.H.S.G. Head Office for only 2 hours per month Please Telephone 01202 683363 ext. 133 Manned 1.30 - 3.30pm Mon & Thurs
s
You can always call the Office ! You can always call the office We’re a happy little bunch. On a Monday or a Thursday, We’re there just after lunch. If you need some information, Exercise or walking club, (Cyril says they ramble and then end up at the pub!). We distribute magazines and sign in each new member. We are on the go all the time from January to December Jan Mesher PHSG Office Co-ordinator.
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PHSG Magazine
Step Down Class
By Robin Pringle
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Step Down or Step Up? A nifty way with a tricky move!
PHSG had the initiative of setting up of a Heart Failure Step Down Class, which commenced at the end of January 2012. This is in addition to the 26 Phase IV classes that we currently operate at eight venues in our area as well as providing one Hearts-on-Seats session each week. There are just short of 400 attendees each week at these sessions. We are well looked after by seven qualified trainers and we have another one at present in the midst of studying for her BACPR qualification. We are also lucky in being able to call on two more, Michelle and Denise, to fill the gaps for holidays and sickness. Our friends in the Rehab Department run two Heart Failure classes. The first at Poole Hospital and the second at QE School Sports Centre in Wimborne. Our own Lesley and Jayne assist the nurses with these classes as does Emma with “Phase III in the Community” at Canford. The teams running the Heart Failure classes do a wonderful job and the improvement in the physical health has to be seen to be believed. We have absorbed two or three of the former patients into our existing classes but there were no opportunities for others until a Step Down class was muted. PHSG obtained a grant from the BHF of £1,300 to assist with the setting up of such a class. We started with such high hopes but experienced some problems along the way. The original class commenced at Canford but following a fall off in numbers attending it has now transferred to QE School and follows straight on from the Hospital class on a Tuesday afternoon. We recently had to submit a report to the BHF on progress to date. A Case Study was called for and to give all a view of the importance of this class please read the following observations given by one of our members: Benefits . . . “The benefits are many. For example, from a physical perspective, the exercises have helped build flexibility, balance and stamina. The clearly knowledgeable and dedicated exercise staff create not only well structured exercise sessions but add greater value with information such as diet. Combine this with the empathy and support that other members of PHSG share collectively has helped me to return to work and a normal life” Regarding Step Down project . . . “It is without doubt in my mind following two heart failure events, the project has provided both physical benefits and personal confidence for which I am most grateful” Finally, the Grant has not yet run out but we at PHSG will continue our support for the foreseeable future as long as there is a need.
After three years of marriage, Peter was still questioning his wife about her lurid past. "C'mon, tell me," he asked for the thousandth time, "How many men have you slept with?" "Darling" she protested, "If I told you, you'd throw a fit." Peter promised he wouldn't get angry, and convinced his wife to tell him. "Okay," she said, then started to count on her fingers “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven - then there's you nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen . . .” And, staying with the feminist theme . . .
“If a woman never lets herself go, how will she ever know how far she might have got?” Germaine Greer
“I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realise I should have been more specific.” Lily Tomlin
“Men have had every advantage over us in telling their own story. Education has been theirs in so much higher a degree; the pen has been in their hands.” Jane Austen
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Medical Clinical Care Group
Jim Waine
Practice Development Unit for Cardiology and Medicine - Quality Service Group Meeting PHSG has a voice on this group representing its members. This exciting group, under the very capable Chairmanship of Geoffrey Walker, OBE, Matron Cardiology and Medicine, really gets things done! Positive changes are made to hospital procedures, as a result of patient feedback given to PHSG patient representatives. All PHSG members can feed back information to Poole Hospital in complete confidence about their treatment. So if you want to say anything good or bad about your experience in Poole Cardiac Unit, or its related departments including the ambulance service, please forward your comments. You can contact me by e-mail (preferred), letter, or telephone. All information will be treated in strictest confidence. Looking forward to hearing from you. Jim Waine, Vice President PHSG jim.waine2@btinternet.com or 01202 871532 At the QSG meeting on the 17th September 2013 Geoffrey Walker Matron, Medical Services. OBE chaired the meeting. Merger Update The Chairman informed the group that the next merger update was due on the 28 October 2013. He expressed the view however that it now seems unlikely that the merger would move forward but agreed to keep everyone informed as more information becomes available. The consensus of opinion amongst the group was that it would be preferable for the merger not to proceed. Transport Changes - E-Zec It was reported that the management of hospital transport will change within the Trust on 1 October 2013. Patient transport will now be arranged by Ezek, a private company, from that date. This may mean that patients who had previously received transport may no longer be eligible and that future approval will be carried out by Ezek using a “tick check process”. The group was reassured that all emergency transport would continue to be managed by the Ambulance Service and that vulnerable patients would still be eligible. It was explained that any person who is refused transport will be “signposted” to alternative choices and there would be an appeals procedure. However the group did voice their concerns, in particular about the level of training transport staff would receive and the monitoring of the
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service. The Chairman agreed to obtain additional and further information from E-Zec in preparation for the next meeting. We would like to receive any comments from you about your experience in using this service, both complimentary and/or critical views, which we may be able to bring up at the next meeting. Did you know that the Poole Hospital Trust is now embracing seven day working wholeheartedly and a working group has been brought together to discuss this important subject. Some departments now have six day working in place, and the Chairman promised to keep the group informed of future proposals/developments as the Committee proposals are published. Red Cross Service – Update It was confirmed the Red Cross Early Release Scheme is now fully funded for a further year. The Red Cross will be recruiting new volunteers for the service who would support patients after discharge from hospital for the 72 hour ‘window’ if help was required. (Anyone who would like to volunteer please contact me.) It was also reported that the charity will work with the Trust in relation to future major incidents as they are the premier provider of support during such incidents. Thanks were offered to the group, in particular to Dr Smart who sits as Red Cross President on our group, for bringing this to the attention of the Trust. It was noted this service is now going from strength to strength. All members of the group were delighted that this service has proved so successful. Hospital Letters Has any one had any problems re letters from Hospital to your GP? If you have, could you please let me know in order that they can be raised through our group. “Since our last meeting reported above, the Monopolies and Mergers decision has been announced NOT to allow the merger. No doubt there will be further information forthcoming at our next meeting and we shall keep you informed as discussion continues on the way forward for the future on this important subject”
Jim
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Jim
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Together at the Athabasca Glacier, Canadian Rockies
Meet our Members A Showcase on Members - This issue: Michael & Chris Andrew At school I was able to indulge my passion for sports. I aspired to follow in the footsteps of my older brother who played rugby on the wing for Bath and was a member of the Bath Cricket Club. He got to play against Viv Richards at one time. My plan was foiled by my country's call-up for National Service; besides I was nowhere near as good as he was. Given the choice of service I opted for Navy, Air Force, and Army in that order; so found myself in the Army Educational Corps! Eventually I was commissioned into the Royal Hampshire Regiment and spent a year in Jamaica. Such opportunities were rare and I made the most of it. I resisted the temptation to stay in the army and over five years worked up to become Deputy Manager of Littlewoods flagship store in Glasgow. A family bereavement changed things for me and I had to move so eventually I joined Tesco. At that time founder Jack Cohen was still in charge and turning up to work every day. I had 25 years with that Company when I was able to take early retirement in 1992. During my early years with Tesco I married Chris, a hospital nursing sister, and together we brought up our three children Helen, Paul and Simon in Berkshire then in Cambridge. It was shortly after this that I was diagnosed with a genetic, progressive kidney disease. We had lived in Cambridge for 20 years and played in the squash club regularly. Whilst attending a club committee meeting in 2005 I experienced what I thought was a bad bout of indigestion. This persevered into the night and Chris advised me to go to the doctors next morning. The doctor sent me to hospital and to my surprise they confirmed that I had experienced a heart attack. I had two stents inserted in my right coronary artery, was told that my left circumflex artery was obstructed but that “intervention was unattractive” - I think that meant the consultant wasn't prepared to risk anything! I attended cardiac rehab sessions. Walking my way back to fitness, initially just up the road and back, I then became the regular walking companion to an elderly blind lady, who possessed such acute hearing she would identify birds before I even saw or heard them. We moved here to Wareham before long. In 2009 I had a biopsy for prostrate cancer which was complicated by a severe E-coli infection. A radical prostatectomy followed. In March 2012, after 2 years clear, I went on the transplant register as my kidney function was low. I started dialysis which requires spending 7½ hours every night attached to a machine. Since arriving in Wareham I have attended the PHSG Classes at the Purbeck Community Sports Centre, run by Clare Barratt on Monday and Thursday each week. These sociable gatherings of others who have experienced heart conditions has been an enjoyable way of ensuring regular beneficial exercise. I consider myself to be extremely fortunate, but it goes to show that however well you feel, it is important to have regular check-ups as without them, like me you may get unwelcome surprises!
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By Keith Matthews The Cutting Edge Advances in Medical Technology - Optical Coherence Tomography Eyes may be the windows to the soul but they are also good indicators of disease and they suffer from a variety of conditions too, whether that is cataracts or macular degeneration.
A new diagnosis technique called Optical Coherence Tomography is an imaging technology that is described as the optical equivalent Optical coherence tomography at the two wavelengths of to ultrasound and is now accepted 800nm and 1060nm of a normal retina (top four) and a patient with retinitis pigmentosa. (bottom four) as a clinical standard for B. Považay et. al. “Impact of enhanced resolution, speed and diagnosing and monitoring the penetration on three-dimensional retinal optical coherence treatment of a number of retinal tomography” Opt. Express 17(5), pp. 4134-4150, 2009. diseases. OCT has wide ranging application Take a Deep Breath for skin and other tissue imaging OCT delivers sharp pictures because it is based on light, rather than sound or radio frequency. An optical but the eye provides easy optical access to both the anterior segment beam is directed at the tissue, and a small portion of this light that reflects from sub-surface features is and the retina because of its collected. essentially transparent nature. For Most light is not reflected but scatters off in all this reason retinal imaging has so directions. In conventional imaging, this diffusely far been the first and most scattered light contributes to a background that successful clinical application to obscures an image. However, in OCT, a technique be adopted. called interferometry is used to record the optical path OCT imaging is having one of the length of received light allowing rejection of most of it that scatters multiple times before detection. greatest impacts in the history of Thus OCT can build up clear 3D images of thick ophthalmology.
Keith PHSG Magazine
samples by rejecting the background signal while collecting light directly reflected from surfaces of interest.
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cise is so much e r e x E right ge asier in t he ar! PHSG Clothing
T-Shirts £7.00
Sweat Shirts £13.00
Polo Shirts £11.00
This exclusive range of clothes are available from the PHSG Sizes Small, Medium, Large & Extra Large
For the RETRO nostalgic we still have a small stock of the previous Sky Blue versions (Price on application).
Contact: Sandra Llewellyn at geoll@talktalk.net ,01202 605455 or ask your trainer.
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A Shaggy Dog Story
By Brian Sadgrove
Hi folks! It has been pay-back time for all my years of sailing in the sun! I have had a touch of skin cancer on my ear and I have been walking around with a large dressing on it and have had a lot of fun explaining it to all and sundry. Each time I have answered everyone’s questions I have honed my tall tale until it has become quite elaborate. The current version developed when Anne and I went into Poole recently for a little shopping and we called into our sailing club to pay our subscription and have lunch. I knew that as soon as I walked into the bar that I would be inundated with enquiries and I was well prepared with a straight face. “You will never believe me, it was an absolute trauma. I was taking the neighbour’s Jack Russell for a walk in the park.” I noticed that the whole of the club lounge had gone quiet as some of them strained to hear what I had to say, so I had to speak somewhat louder. “Along comes a fellow with a Rottweiler which growled at Mrs Rimpepper’s little pet. Before I knew what was happening the Jack Russell sank his teeth in the Rottweiler’s back leg who twisted round and grabbed the little fella by the throat.” “I began shouting to the Rottweiler's owner, Get him off!... Get him off!”… “He pulled and pulled on the lead but his dog had four legs and was considerably heavier than its owner. Meanwhile I was down on my hands and knees trying to prise the animal’s jaws open.” I looked round my audience of acquaintances who by that time stared at me with round eyes and open mouths. I gave them time to form mental pictures of the situation before I continued… “I was so unlucky, I had stuck my fingers up the Rottweiler's nose to encourage it to open its mouth but unfortunately did not to have a good enough grip on the animal. It shook free and the next thing that happened was that it sank its teeth in my ear.” Some of the fellows who knew me well sensed that I was telling them a tall tale. However all the ladies. god bless them, were absolutely riveted by my account of the gory incident and hung on my every word so I continued . . . “Fortunately the Rottweiler's owner had the great presence of mind to distract his animal by throwing a handful of dog biscuits back down the path. Thankfully it went off like a greyhound after them, leaving me with a little bit of ear ache and time to grab Mrs Rimpepper’s Jack Russell and jump into my car for safety. I drove to Poole A&E across the bridge which happened to be quite busy at the time. The lady at the
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enquiry desk advised me to join the long queue of patients but quickly changed her mind when I plonked my ear on her desk hygienically wrapped in a blood soaked handkerchief.” “They were awfully good in A&E and stitched my ear back in place in no time. Nevertheless I was so unlucky when I got home to discover that they had put it back upside down. The Jack Russell is also doing quite well but has lost its yap! yap! and the Rottweiler is still limping on three legs.” It was about this time that the ladies in my audience had caught up with my spoof and gave me the impression that GBH was on the cards if I did not make a quick exit. Some of this is true, occasionally in parts. Love and best wishes to you all.
Brian
☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺
The Washington Post's Mensa Invitation once again invited readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supplying a new definition. Here are some of the winners: ☺ Cashtration (n.) The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period of time. ☺ Ignoranus A person who's both stupid and an asshole. Intaxication Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with. Giraffiti Vandalism spray-painted very, very high Sarchasm The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it. Inoculatte To take coffee intravenously when you are running late. Karmageddon It's like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it's like, a serious bummer. Decafalon (n.) The gruelling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you. Glibido All talk and no action. Dopeler Effect The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly. Arachnoleptic Fit (n.) The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web. Caterpallor ( n.) The colour you turn after finding half a worm in the fruit you're eating.
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☺Sad news. The eco-warrior Swampy has died of a heart attack. He had refused a bypass. ☺My daughter's school has a dress code that forbids sleeveless tops. She's so annoyed and says “They couldn't get away with this in USA. It would go against their right to bare arms.” ☺Someone else suggested that was the right to arm bears! ☺I asked my boss "Where do you want this big roll of bubble wrap?" "Just pop it in the corner," he said. It took me three hours! ☺I've told you a billion times STOP EXAGGERATING! ☺Can you tell me all the good things about being Swiss? Er. . . Neutrality? Cuckoo clocks? Good Railway system? Cheese with holes in? Any more? Well, the flag's a big plus. ☺How many pedants does it take to change a lightbulb? You mean REPLACE a lightbulb! And it's called a LAMP. Bulbs are what you put in the garden to get flowers. ☺ How many software engineers does it take to fix a lightbulb? None, its a hardware problem. ☺A Roman walks into a bar, holds up two fingers to the barman and says “Five beers please.” ☺Jean-Paul Sartre is sitting in a French Cafe, revising his draft of Being and Nothingness. He says to the waitress: I’d like a cup of coffee please, with no cream” The waitress replies: “I am sorry Monsieur, but we have no cream, how about with no milk?” ☺Descartes walks into a bar and the barman asks if he wants a beer. I think not . . ." he replies, and vanishes. ☺Apparently, the WW1 poster of Lord Kitchener looks like he is pointing at you from wherever you're standing. I didn't know, until I had a propaganda at it. ☺Another World's Oldest Man has died. This is beginning to look suspicious. ☺I had my medical today and my Doctor said "don't eat anything fatty." I asked "such as bacon or burgers?" "No fatty, don't eat anything!" ☺The inventor of the Doner kebab has died. Shish . . . ☺I bought a Smart TV today. It only lets me watch BBC4 ☺What do you say to a hobbit that throws bread at you? Don't Frodo.. ☺I used to work in Brighton prison in the 1960s. We had all the mod cons. ☺ Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie. ☺Two hats on a hat rack. One said to the other: “You stay here, I’ll go on ahead.” ☺A backward poet writes inverse. ☺In democracy it is your vote that counts. In feudalism it is your count that votes.
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Our friends at ‘Hearts & Minds’, the St Albans Support Group, sent us some very scientific one-liners recently. Here they are with a leavening of some of our own. Congratulations if you get them all, especially the last one, Your editor had to think about that one for a while! ☺A photon checks into a hotel and the porter asks him if he has any luggage. The photon replies: “No, I’m travelling light.” ☺There are 10 types of people in this world. Those that understand binary , and those that don’t. ☺Who led the Jews through a semi permeable membrane? Osmoses ☺When I heard that oxygen and magnesium had hooked up, I was like, OMg ! ☺Last night I dreamed that I was weightless! I was like, 0mg. ☺Did you hear about the man who was cooled to absolute zero? He’s 0K now. ☺Never trust an atom. They make up everything. ☺A student travelling on a train looks up to see Einstein sitting next to him. Excited, he asks: “Excuse me Professor. Does Boston stop at this train?” ☺A computer programmer’s wife calls him at work. “On your way home, can you pick up a loaf of bread. If they have eggs, get a dozen.” The programmer comes home with 12 loaves of bread. ☺I walked into a pub the other day. In the corner was a parrot which kept saying "Pieces of seven. Pieces of seven" I turned to the landlord and said "Isn't he meant to say, "Pieces of eight?" The landlord replied "Yes, but it's a parroty error."
“Talent hits a target no one else can hit. Genius hits a target no one else can see.” Arthur Schopenhauer “I’ve been banned from the swimming pool” Shawn confided to Simon. “Really, why? What did you do?” Simon asked him. “Well it was for taking a pee in the pool.” Shawn admitted shamefacedly. “A bit harsh isn’t it. Everybody pees in the pool sometimes don’t they?” “Well yes, I suppose. But not generally from the top board!” “Be alone - that is the secret of invention; be alone, that is when ideas are born.” Nikola Tesla
“Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers.” Alfred Lord Tennyson
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PHSG Cycling Group Rides Rides are about 15 to 20 miles long, the rides are open to all members of the PHSG as long as your doctor approves. For help, advice, weather check and bike maintenance call Keith Matthews on 01202 855001. We’ll arrange to check out your bike if it needs it. STARTS 10:00am Meet & Destination Sunday 22 Dec Hill View Road - Mince Pie Run Sunday 19 Jan Wimborne Square - Back Loop Sunday 23 Feb Broadstone Leisure - Swanning to Poole Park Sunday 23 Mar Hill View Road - Hurn & Throop In bad weather call before 9:00am to see if the ride is going ahead.
Blandford in October My eyes have been opened by the PHSG cycling fraternity! In three really good ways. Firstly, you are always a little nervous joining a new social group. However, I could not have been more quickly put at ease The picture shows what happens on a PHSG ride. Alan Griffiths gets a puncture and everybody else just stands around laughing! Well, we would help, but Alan is so competent.
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by the group. Secondly, although the distances may sound daunting initially after major heart surgery, the pace is carefully balanced to match our respective capabilities, and there is the obligatory pit stop to catch your breath and to chat away ready for the circuit back. Thirdly, it is a delight to open your eyes as a cyclist and break the shackles of being an impatient motorist in Dorset. The PHSG cycling group have taught me a whole series of short cuts, tram/rail tracks and quiet back roads to get from A to B. Many thanks to Keith and all the other members for being so welcoming. Although I have only been on two Sunday rides - there will be many more to look forward to and I recommend the group to anyone new to the PHSG set-up.
Jonathan Stiby
“When the hedgerow is full, please use the rubbish bin.� An unofficial notice in a lay-by on the North Devon link road 2x4: thick plank; 4x4: 2 of 'em.
Do you have computer problems? We can resolve your problems for you. Are you unsure what you are doing, do you need assistance, a helping hand or training? We can assist with home PC security, internet connection problems, advice and installation of Broadband, PC networks and supply and/or installation of secure wireless networks in your house. We undertake virus, spyware and ad-ware removal and can supply or install security programs to make your PC safe. Is your old PC slow, is it worth upgrading? We provide impartial advice and can perform upgrades or help with any new PC purchase and accessory quotes. We supply new PCs, install, configure your system and can transfer your existing data. Why not give us a call!
Contact Efficiency Solutions Jeff on 01202 855949 or Mobile 07736 275190
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CONSTELLATIONS WORD SEARCH ANDROMEDA; ANTLIA; APUS; AQUARIUS; AQUILA; ARA; ARIES; AURIGA; BOOTES; CAELUM; CANCER; CANESVENATICI; CANISMAJOR; CANISMINOR; CAPRICORNUS; CARINA; CASSIOPEIA; CENTAURUS; CEPHEUS; CETUS; CHAMAELEON; CIRCINUS; COLUMBA; CORVUS; CRATER; CRUX; CYGNUS; DELPHINUS; DORADO; DRACO EQUULEUS; ERIDANUS; FORNAX; GEMINI; GRUS; HERCULES; HOROLOGIUM; HYDRA; HYDRUS; INDUS; LACERTA; LEO; LEOMINOR; LEPUS; LIBRA; LUPUS; LYNX; LYRA; MENSA; MICROSCOPIUM; MONOCEROS; MUSCA; NORMA; OCTANS; OPHIUCHUS; ORION; PAVO; PEGASUS; PERSEUS; PHOENIX; PICTOR; PISCES; PUPPIS; PYXIS; RETICULUM; SAGITTA; SAGITTARIUS; SCORPIUS; SCULPTOR; SCUTUM; SERPENS; SEXTANS; TAURUS; TELESCOPIUM; TRIANGULUM; TUCANA; URSAMAJOR; URSAMINOR; VELA; VIRGO; VOLANS; VULPECULA
V A R O N I M S I N A C I K S U R U A T N E C N M
M I C R O S C O P I U M F U E E R O N I M O E L I
U L C Z C A S S I O P E I A C S I T X I N E O H P
I T O S N E P R E S Q P O A S D H R H S U N G Y C
G N S U N A D I R E R A Q U I L A R A U U X G G S
O A B M U L O C N O R M A M P B N J A H P R C Z R
L S U N I C R I C G C M S N A T C O T C I I G G S
O F R O J A M S I N A C E P A C S U M U C N A S S
R A D E M O R D N A A B S E T O O B F I T I E U U
O S U N R O C I R P A C I I L E E H T H O M T I E
H U R S A M I N O R S T P D X H Z A P P R E Y R L
W R N O E L E A M A H C P O S Y N U B O C G Z A U
H D O S O R E C O N O M U L P E P F W A D Q S U U
T Y I S A S A V A C C G P T V R O T P L U C S Q Q
N H R G L P U U L V A R R S U S U E H P E C A A E
M P O C U E Z V C R R R E I L M N L U P U S T R F
U A X S C O D A R O D N I C V I W A A E N C R E A
L R A U E E V L V O A D X N X C R A T E R H E C C
U B N D P L E A I C C U A N A C U T M X N Z C N Z
G I R N L P U L P Z R R B E Y G I V K T E X A A G
N L O I U C L C K C D I L V O L A N S K D S L C J
A X F S V X N E R Y A U R I G A S U N I H P L E D
Our Word Searches are compiled by Derek Pope
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I S U E S R E P H E M U I P O C S E L E T Q M G Z
R R O J A M A S R U H V E L A R Y L S U S A G E P
T M U L U C I T E R P V S U I R A T T I G A S W W
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“One should never indulge in useless lamentations over an inescapable state of affairs.� Albert Camus
WHAT TO DO IF YOU BECOME UNWELL Medical help and advice is available if you become unwell when your GP surgery is closed. You should: Dial 999 or go to A & E as soon as possible if you are worried about the sudden onset of new symptoms or have suffered a serious Injury or illness. A & E departments are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They are for a critical or life threatening situation, for example chest pain, suspected heart attack, severe breathing difficulties, severe loss of blood, loss of consciousness, deep wounds and suspected broken bones. They are not for minor injuries or health problems, nor an alternative to seeing your GP or for a ‘second opinion’ if you have already seen your GP. You can also call Non Emergency Care on 111 if you are feeling unwell but not facing a life-threatening emergency and you are unsure what to do. Use 111 if you need information about finding a pharmacist, dentist or other service and cannot wait until your GP surgery opens. This service replaces the old Dorset Out of Hours Medical Service. Go to an NHS Walk-In Centre or Minor Injuries Unit with a minor injury or illness. Find the nearest one by calling 111
REMEMBER IF YOU HAVE CHEST PAIN DIAL 999 WITHOUT DELAY
Poole Heart Support Group operates under the umbrella of the British Heart Foundation who rely on voluntary help for fund-raising. If you’d like to help them, please contact: Pam Bailey BHF Rep. 4 Knighton Heath Close. BH11 9PP. 01202 574944 Poole Branch meet once a month at Poole Hospital to plan forthcoming events. Hill View Typesetting 01202 855001 Printed by Top Coat 01202 820959