Winter 2014
Affiliated to the British Heart Foundation and Arrhythmia Alliance - The Heart Rhythm Charity
ÂŁ2 Free to Members
Here to help Poole Community Health Centre Shaftesbury Road, Poole BH15 2NT Telephone: 01202 683363 ext. 133 Telephone manned Mondays and Thursdays: 1:30-3:30pm www.poolehsg.org.uk
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 www.poolehsg.org.uk PRESIDENT: Dr. ANDREW MCLEOD Vice Presidents: 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, MA, RGN
PHSG COMMITTEE KEITH MATTHEWS Chairman 01202 855001 DAVID ANDERSON Secretary 01202 697376 RITA HOLMES Treasurer 01202 743960 GEORGE LLEWELLYN Social Events 01202 605455 JAN MESHER Office Manager 01202 250108 DEREK POPE Database 01202 889070 ROBIN PRINGLE Exercise Coord 01202 884250 ROGER RIDOUT Purbeck Liaison 01929 423079 GEOFF LAWRENCE Member 01202 888438 JOHN OFFER Member 01202 386674 GEORGE WILKINSON Member 01202 740374 PAM BAILEY BHF Rep. 01202 574944 LESLEY BRADSHAW Co-opted 01202 691339 (Email addresses have been removed as we are receiving SPAM messages)
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
01202 760350 01202 733956 01202 697376 01202 871532
Please send magazine articles and photos to: Editor, 10 Hill View Road, Ferndown, Dorset BH22 9QY or by Tel. 01202 855001 st Magazines are published 1 March, 1st June, 1st September and 1st December. Print Deadlines are 10th February, 10th May, 10th August, 10th November COVER PICTURE: Bembridge Windmill ©2014 Keith Matthews
Chairman’s Letter The committee and I wish you all a Happy Christmas and healthy New Year in 2015. Good Grief, another year over, they don’t half clock over quickly these days! However, if you’d like to strike a New Year Resolution and get a little bit involved with something different, why not think of volunteering to help in our office for a couple of hours now and again? You’ll meet more members and probably make some new friends. It is not complicated; computer skills are not needed,we just deal with the incoming post and log in the new members. Jan’s team trains everybody with the procedures. In this issue you’ll see the booking form for our Annual Dinner at Bentleys. This year our Guest of Honour is to be Dr Roskovec who is Consultant Cardiologist at Royal Bournemouth Hospital. Dr Roskovec is the President of the Bournemouth Heart Club. We expect that he will tell us a little about how they operate, and give us a chance to make closer links between our organisations. He will be joined by Nick Morgan who is Chairman of the Bournemouth Heart Club. This is always a good night with good food, get your booking in early!
Keith
PHSG Meetings - Diary Dates All talks and Chat Stops are at St John’s Church Hall, Broadstone All PHSG talks and Chat Stops are free.
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December 2 Chat Stop at 14:00 Carol Singing with Gary. Goto p. 5 February 3 Chat Stop at 14:00 Talk by Fiona Keene. March 3 Chat Stop at 14:00 Talk by Linda Everett. March 12 Annual Dinner (not free!) Goto p.12 and the booking slip April 7 Chat Stop at 14:00 April 16 AGM at 19:30 PHSG Annual General Meeting May 5 Chat Stop at 14:00 May TBA Meeting at 19:30 Chairman’s Wife’s Super Prize Quiz. Remaining Chatstop Dates in 2015 at 14:00 June 2nd October 6th November 3rd
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Medicine and Cardiology News from Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Dear Friends, As we move into the winter period a lot has been happening here at the Hospital. Perhaps the most significant for me is that under the new re-structure of the clinical areas I now have the emergency department (ED) formally (A&E) as well as Ansty the emergency assessment unit (EAU) ward under my remit as matron. I still have cardiology with general medicine as well as specialist medicine and now with emergency medicine I have the hat trick so to speak! It is a challenge managing such a large and diverse area but I am really enjoying it and the staff have been most welcoming to me, it helps that I know most of them anyway. So the challenges in my new areas are that of the 4 hour ED target, which means 95% of patients coming to the department must be seen and either discharged or moved to a ward area in this time, and in EAU that the flow of patients continues so the system does not clog up. It’s especially difficult as we go into winter with the increased number of attendances to the hospital. I feel a lot of the systems we have in place in medicine will help translate over to the other departments and as a much larger team we can build on our successes together. The team are very enthusiastic and we are now going to include them on matrons ward rounds, and hopefully we will gain new members to our quality service group. The new extension to the cardiac department is fully functioning now and the new facilities are superb. The seminar room is now also operational and so teaching and meetings can be held in the department. The cardiac rehabilitation service are very pleased with their move to the new unit, as they now have an outside window on the world from the office! I was able to give an interview to BBC radio 4 on the medical investigations unit which was broadcast in October and it also appeared on the BBC web page. In September I gave a lecture on clinical services and cost improvement measures to the NHS south west financier’s conference in Bristol. It was well received and allowed me to speak to the senior accountants and directors of finance in the region and discuss how clinical services can lead the way as well as be cost effective. We are also looking at the work being done with Bournemouth University on carer and service user partnerships. This is a service run by the university in which former patients will come and speak to students and on post graduate courses so they can learn from patients’ experience first-hand. It is very interesting and Peter Atkins their coordinator came and spoke to our clinical leads about this. They are also looking for new people to get involved and hopefully we will be able to help. So all in all lots happening and keeping us all busy. The Hospital is moving into winter and we are also opening additional escalation and winter pressure beds to support the
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increased demand, however rather than call it winter pressure we are now calling in seasonal pressure as it happens throughout the year. Have a very Happy Christmas and a safe and healthy New Year, until next time. Geoffrey Walker OBE JP MA RGN Matron Medicine, Cardiology and Specialist Nursing Services Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Carols at Christmas December 2nd This year we will have a section of the Singtogether Singers of Upper Parkstone. They will sing some items on their own and also join in with the communal singing. This year we will have a lady accompanist on piano rather than my recorded stuff of previous years. You will still have to suffer me leading things, but you’ve got to have some pain! The December 2nd Chatstop programme is similar to last year with the singing to start at about ten past two. Teas and Coffees at 2:45 with a restart at 3:15 unto 3:55 and finishing up at 4:00. So please come along and join in our happy event. Word sheets will be provided. Best Wishes to All.
Gary Lee
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Atrial Fibrillation Andrew McLeod MD, FRCP, FESC Atrial Fibrillation, universally called AF by Cardiologists, is one of the commonest abnormalities of heart rhythm. It is caused by disruption of the normal pathways in the atria, the upper chambers of the heart, so that the electrical impulse which drives the heart beat, the pacemaker current, becomes fragmented. Multiple regions in the atria then begin to form little surges of current themselves. This disrupted and fragmented electrical activity then travels towards the centre of the heart and reaches the Atrioventricular node (AV node). The AV node is the linking 'cable' which allows the impulse to reach the main pumping chambers of the heart, the ventricles. The spread of electrical excitation over the membrane surfaces of the individual muscle cells triggers the inrush of calcium ions (charged atoms) into the cell, which is what allows the proteins in the muscle to contract. I hope you are with me so far! The AV node performs a remarkable safety function in that it both slows the electrical impulse, and acts as a 'governor', only allowing a certain number of impulses through to the ventricles. Depending on age, the amount of adrenaline present, and some other factors, the maximum heart rate that can filter through the AV node is around 120 to 180 beats per minute. Even so, the shock of somebody who develops AF on appreciating that their heart rate is suddenly not its regular 75 beats per minute, but an irregular 130 beats per minute, is quite considerable. One thing that we still understand imperfectly is that some patients have a fast rate, in AF, say 130 or more, and some do not, and although irregular, their heart rate may be only 80 or 90. We also don't fully understand why some people are completely unaware that they are in AF. What causes AF? In some it is a general deterioration of the atrial tissue with age, and it's true that the older you are, the more likely you are to have AF. About 10% of people over the age of 80 are in AF and most of them are unaware of it. Without writing a textbook on the subject, the common causes are: high blood pressure, excessive alcohol intake, heart valve disease (particularly the mitral valve), thyrotoxicosis, coronary artery disease (especially If there has been significant damage to the heart in the past, such as a heart attack), and underlying abnormalities of the heart muscle. You may be surprised if I term AF 'benign' heart rhythm disorder. But generally, particularly if the heart rate is controlled by some extra medication (such as a betablocker, digoxin, verapamll), most people are not particularly bothered by it. The main risk of the condition is that in view of the irregular, rather spasmodic, blood flow through the atria, eddies and vortices of flow can lead to stagnant regions of blood flow, particular in the region of the appendage of the left atrium. When this happens, the blood can form a clot, and such a clot can build up and suddenly break free from the atrium, passing into the
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circulation. In view of the large amount of blood which flows to the brain, clots often arrive there first causing stroke. This risk is minimized by taking warfarin. In a few people, aspirin may be an adequate anti-thrombosis drug. The risk of stroke is increased by several factors - being aged 75 or more, high blood pressure, heart failure, diabetes, and previous stroke or TIA. We score one point for any of these factors, and two for the last one. In general, anybody with a score of more than one should take warfarin. If the score is zero or one, then aspirin may be adequate, though It is reasonable to debate it. Finally, there are drugs which suppress or prevent AF. These include sotalol, flecainide, propafenone, and amiodarone (I've listed these in increasing order of side effects!). In a few people, there are keyhole surgery techniques (ablation) which may prevent AF developing. This is applicable to only a minority of people with AF, it has risks (including stroke), and it is still an imperfect treatment, though it is developing and improving with time. Addendum October 2014. Most of the above is still true, but inevitably medical science has moved on. It is now thought that aspirin is inadequate prophylaxis against stroke. So people with AF at a young age and no ‘risk factors’ for stroke are often advised not to take anything. There are new oral anticoagulants available besides warfarin. These are expensive and there is huge commercial pressure to prescribe them. In general, if somebody is well controlled on warfarin, we advise staying on it. If poorly controlled then the NOACs (New Oral AntiCoagulants) can be used and do not require blood testing. Be aware though that there is some data that suggests that even with the NOACs, blood testing to measure blood levels of the drugs has been shown to reduce risk of adverse events such as bleeding, but because of the commercial pressure to market ‘drugs which don’t need blood tests’ there is no such routine testing available. The other therapeutic change in strategy is that it is now very rare to use digoxin (digitalis) to help with control of heart rate, though it may occasionally be indicated. Finally, advances in ablation therapy mean that this treatment is now a relatively safe and viable option for patients with recurrent AF at high rates with troublesome symptoms.
Dr Andrew McLeod President, Poole Heart Support Group
“Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.” J.K. Rowling “Ecstacy was once the most intense pleasure. Then it was Wagner. Then Poulet de Bresse. Now it’s a cancelled meeting.” Reverend Richard Coles. “Cocaine is terrific if you want to hang out with people you don’t know very well and play ping pong all night. It’s bad for almost everything else” Amy Poehler
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Chats & Talks
Organised by George Llewellyn
Clare Barrett - September Chat Stop Have you ever thought of writing a book? It is said that everybody has a book inside them. Well as Clare Barrett told us this one escaped. Clare is one of the PHSG trainers in Wareham and for a some time Clare was concerned that very little useful information was available for heart patients awaiting by-pass operations. So she set about remedying that situation. Clare talked us through the research stage; interviewing PHSG people that had the procedure, the actual writing, and eventually the publication.
During the lively answer and question session I think Clare might have stumbled upon the subject of her next book! How about; Serious Operations, the View from the Carer’s Perspective. A really interesting and informative talk, thank you very much Clare. “Bypass for Life” by Clare Barrett is available on Amazon
Purple Heart
Alun Mummery - October Chat Stop In October Alun Mummery, one of our members from Lytchett came along to give a short talk on his passion for collecting medals. He brought along many examples of the various types of medals in his collection and some of the background stories associated with them. These ranged from Pip, Squeak and Wilfred, the Purple Heart and the Nazi Motherhood medal. These where passed around along with others for us to see and handle first hand. Finally lots of interest and questions. Many thanks Alun.
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PHSG Members at Large Here is a photo of PHSG Members Sonja and Bill Sparrow and their team mates, David and Julie, having just won, for the 3rd time, the Black Tivoli Cat for having the least number of points in the annual Tivoli Quiz in Allenbourne School, Wimborne on Friday,10th October 2014. Great evening! Thank you to all who helped out
Sonja “The palest ink is better than the best memory.� Chinese Proverb
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Women with high cholesterol are more likely to get breast cancer - suggesting that taking statins could help ward off the disease, reports The Times. It's already established that being overweight is a risk factor for the disease, and overweight people are also more likely to have high cholesterol. It's unclear, therefore, what - if any role the cholesterol plays in the development of the disease; clinical trials to test the effect of statins on cancer are still some years off. Even so, scientists described the idea that these cholesterol busting drugs might help prevent the disease as “exciting”, pointing out that statins are cheap, relatively safe and already widely prescribed to those at risk A of heart disease. The Aston University research, based on data couple from from 660,000 women in the UK, found that those with high Barnsley on holiday in cholesterol had a 1.64 times greater chance of developing Spain are making a roast breast cancer. “This was an observational study so dinner in their rented villa we can't conclude that high cholesterol causes but they don't have any gravy. breast cancer, but the strength of the association warrants further The husband says "I'll go and investigation.” said Dr Rahul ask that Cockney couple who Potluri, who led the arrived this morning in the villa research. next door. " 'as thee any Bisto?" he asks the The Collective Cockney chap who answers the Intelligence of Ants door. Individually, ants aren't all that "Pardon Senor, no parlo clever, says Time Magazine. Outside espaniolo I'm afraid" he their nests, they wander around seemingly replies. randomly hoping to run into bits of food. But the process is more organised than it seems. When the ant finds food, it bites off a chunk then carries it back to the nest leaving a trail of pheromones which others can follow. Even then, owing to their large number, the ants reach the food from many different directions - but since the pheromones evaporate quickly, the scent is stronger the shorter the trail, with the result that the most efficient route is used most often. Each time, more pheromones are laid, creating a self-reinforcing effect. Thus the ants end up marching in a long line along the forest floor, a process that saves them time and energy. "While the single ant is certainly not smart , the collective acts in a way that I'm tempted to call intelligent," said study co-author Jugen Kurths of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, "The ants collectively form a highly efficient complex network.”
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SUDOKU by Derek
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7 8 9 6 1 9 4 2 7 6 6 2 5 6 2 4 The Growing Cost of Diabetes In some hospitals, more than one in four beds are taken up by patients with diabetes, reports the Daily Mail. The hospital with the highest proportion of diabetic patients is Bishop Auckland Hospital in County Durham, where 35% of patients currently suffer from the condition. At Hammersmith Hospital in West London, 28% of patients are diabetic as are 25% at West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven, Cumbria. There are 3.6 miIlion Britons with diabetes; 90% of patients have Type II diabetes, which is linked with obesity, poor diet and age. NHS figures also show that one in four diabetic patients fall victim to some kind of "medication error� while in hospital.
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BENTLEYS’ RESTAURANT
POOLE HEART SUPPORT GROUP Spring Dinner Thursday 12 March, 2015 7:00 for 7:30 pm (Selections, to be Pre ordered)
MENU STARTER Tomato & Basil Soup (v) served with a sun blushed cream
Farmhouse Pate served with seasonal leaves, red onion chutney & crostini
Tempura Prawns served with a sweet chilli dressing & crispy leaves
~oOo~ MAIN COURSES Roasted Rack of Best End Lamb served with duchess potatoes & a mint and red current glaze
Grilled Gilthead Bream served on pak choi & black butter sauce
Supreme of Chicken wrapped in prosciutto and stuffed with soft french brie
Roasted Root Vegetable & Red Lentil Casserole (v) served with crusty bread Main courses are served with Chef’s selection of fresh seasonal vegetables & potatoes
~oOo~ DESSERT Raspberry & White Chocolate Eton Mess Cheesecake Fresh Fruit Salad served with vanilla cream Apple & Apricot Crumble with Vanilla Custard ~oOo~ Coffee & After-Dinner Mints £25.00 per person
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You can always call the Office !
Volunteers wanted to help in our P.H.S.G. Office for only 2 hours a month.
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
01202 683363 Ext 133 Manned 1.30 - 3.30pm Mondays & Thursdays
Jan Mesher
Computer skills not needed. PHSG Office Co-ordinator. Full training given Jan Mesher would like to point out that the last day before Xmas that the Office will be open is Monday 22nd December. We will reopen in 2015 on Monday 5th January. Jan and all the committee thank all the Office Helpers for their continuous hard work running the office and would like to wish the Helpers and all Members of PHSG a Very Happy and Healthy Xmas and New Year. Magazine Mailing Days for 2015 Tues Feb 24 Wed May 27 Wed Aug 26 Wed Nov 25 This is when we get together in the office for a couple of hours to mail out this magazine. Its fun and its sociable. Interested in helping? Call Jan on 01202 250108.
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Your PHSG Needs You!
Just a couple of hours a month. Do help out! Call Jan on 01202 250108
as m t s i r h C y p p ! Ha y d o b y Ever Jan PHSG Magazine
Risks leading to death in perspective high blood pressure
war pregnancy & birth medical complications
smoking
murder illicit drug use
high cholesterol
transport accidents
obesity
non-transport accidents infections alcohol physical inactivity low fruit & vegetables
Bad News for Sweeteners ? Sugar gets a bad press these days but . . . Sugar substitutes might affect bacteria in the gut in such a way as to exacerbate metabolic disorders. Eran Elinav’s team at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot have found that mice given water sweetened with saccharin develop glucose intolerance, whereas mice given water sweetened with glucose do not. However, glucose intolerance did not appear in mice that had their gut bacteria killed by antibiotics, while fecal implants from glucose-intolerant mice induced the same intolerance in normal ones. This showed that the saccharin had made the mouse microbiome unhealthy, and the researchers obtained similar results with other artificial sweeteners, sucralose and aspartame. In a small trial, seven healthy fit humans who did not use artificial sweeteners were given the maximum daily allowance of artificial sweeteners for a week. Four out of seven developed glucose intolerance, with a corresponding shift in gut flora. It is interesting that the increase in use of artificial sweeteners coincides with the increase in diabetes and obesity. Perhaps the best advice is to stick with sugar, just eat less! CERN Courier Nov. 2014 - Further Reading: J.Suez et.al. Nature vol. 513 p.290
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PHSG Exercise Venues All sessions last 1 hour Ashdown School Sports
s Canford School Sports
s
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Friday
12:00 09:30 09:30 09:30
Monday Tuesday Thursday Friday
09:00 09:00 09:00 09:00
Ferndown Sports
Monday 10:30 Wednesday 11:00
Hamworthy Fire Station
Monday
“Hearts on Seats”,Broadstone
Thursday
Images, Lower Parkstone
Wednesday 11:00 Friday 11:00
Lytchett Minster Sports
Tuesday Thursday
10:30 10:30 10:00 10:00 10:00 10:00
11:00
10:00 13:30
18:00 18:30
“Step Down” QE Academy Wimborne Tuesday
14:30
Swanage, Burlington Sports Club
Tuesday
14:30
Wareham, Purbeck Sports Club
Monday Thursday
16:00 11:00
19:00
15:30
Our “Hearts on Seats” is designed for the less physically able. The “Step Down” class is designed for members with more complicated heart problems and is conducted by the Poole NHS rehabilitation team in collaboration with Poole Heart Support Group.
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
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By Michèle Carbery
Startling Facts
Startling Facts - the value of travel insurance £4 million. This figure is challenging to picture but is the startling sum that insurers pay on average every WEEK to travel insurance policy holders as a result of medical emergencies, according to a recent report by the Association of British Insurers (ABI). Where does all this money go? According to the report, holiday makers most often need to claim for the expenses of emergency medical care. In the UK, emergency medical care is provided by the National Health Service. However many people are surprised to discover that they may be required to pay for medical care themselves when travelling to other countries. A person visiting the USA who breaks a leg and requires surgery could easily face bills of £20,000 to £50,000. In the case of a heart attack requiring emergency coronary artery bypass surgery, costs could be a shocking £250,000. In addition, repatriation via air ambulance from the US West Coast could cost £80,000 - £100,000. “No one expects to go holiday and have to make a claim on their travel insurance.” Explains Aidan Kerr, Head of Travel Insurance at the ABI. “However, unfortunately for many travellers, having something go wrong can be a very real experience. It can be especially traumatic when you or someone you are travelling with is taken ill or injured.” The ABI encourages travellers to arrange suitable travel cover as soon as they have booked their trip. Finding cover can be challenging if you have a pre-existing medical condition. Whether there is a heart or cardiac problem, stroke, cancer, kidney disease or disability – there is help available to ensure you have the cover you need for your holiday. Able2Travel provides outstanding customer service and will provide a confidential quote for a policy that will cover your specific needs and conditions. With suitable insurance in place, you will be able to concentrate on the fun of planning your trip and enjoy your travels with peace of mind. Call us today for a sensitive and confidential quote on 01892 839 501 or go online to www.able2travel.com Remember to mention Poole Heart Support Group.
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A Big Thank You from Emma
As you all have just seen I have now started my maternity leave and awaiting the arrival of twin girls (they may have been born by the time this is published) I want to say a massive thank you to all the members who have attended my classes over the years and have put up with my sickness and immobility during the last 7 months, and also for the generous gifts you have given for the girls. I have spent most of it buying lots of pink items; it has been great fun. I will hopefully be back at Canford for Tuesday and Friday classes by summer 2015 but I say a sad farewell to my Hamworthy and Ferndown classes; especially to the members at Ferndown; I have been there for nearly 8 years. I hope Michelle and Jennie enjoy teaching the classes as much as I have over the years. Finally a big ‘Thank You’ to all the other trainers for helping with maternity cover particularly Lesley who has been amazing and organised it all. Thank you all again.
Emma x PHSG Magazine
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Membership Matters Every PHSG member should have a membership card which has your membership number. It would be helpful if any member sending changes of details, could please include their membership number as this makes it so much easier to ensure changes are applied to the right details. If you cannot find your membership card, your membership number is also printed on the address label when you receive the quarterly magazine, please take a note of it for future reference. Presently (about the middle of October as I write this) we have 637 full members and 345 partners, with committee, honorary members and a handful of advertisers we have a total of 1049 people in the database. Of these, 470 members have one of our exercise venues noted alongside their membership details and although I don’t keep separate exercise details for partners; this suggests we probably have over half of our membership taking regular exercise. If that is true it is a remarkable achievement for Robin, Lesley and their team of trainers. As we are Poole Heart Support Group, it is interesting to see that the post code area with more members than any other is BH21 (Wimborne). Though as a resident of Merley (which is part of Poole Borough) with a BH21 post code, I guess the Wimborne postal area covers a lot of physical space which has nothing to do with the town but was always served by the sorting office. That’s all for this quarter, if you’d like to see other information in this section, do please let me know.
Derek
The Age Old Health Debate
Now lets see, there must be a problem - our air is unpolluted, our water is pure, we get loads of exercise, everything we eat is freerange, and yet we all die before 30!
Another year has passed and we’re all a little older, Last Summer felt hotter and Winter seems much colder. There was a time not long ago when life was quite a blast, Now I fully understand about “Living in the Past”. We used to go to weddings, football games and lunches, Now we go to funeral homes and after-funeral brunches. We used to have hangovers from parties that were gay, Now we suffer body aches and while the night away. We used to go out dining and couldn’t get our fill, Now we ask for doggie bags, come home and take a pill. We used to often travel to places near and far, Now we get sore bottoms from riding in the car. We used to go to nightclubs and drink a little booze, Now we stay home at night and watch the evening news. That, my friend is how life is, and now my tale is told, Enjoy each day and live it up before you’re too damned old!
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Medical Clinical Care Group
Jim Waine
Proactive Development Unit for Cardiology and Medicine PHSG has a voice in this influential group, representing the views of its members. The Group is held under the capable chairmanship of Geoffrey Walker OBE, Matron of Cardiology and Medicine, and it really gets things done! Positive changes are made to hospital procedures as a result of patient feedback being given to PHSG representatives. All PHSG members can report back on their experiences of their treatment in Poole Hospital in complete confidence. So if you want to say something 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. Looking forward to hearing from you! Jim Waine, Vice President PHSG 01202 871532 Quality Service Group Meeting 22 July 2014 at 11.30am Geoffrey Walker, OBE, Matron Medical Services, chaired the meeting. GW informed the Group that the Trust had experienced unprecedented admission levels. There had been a 10% increase at weekends, which has resulted in demand outstripping capacity and extra beds being opened. They are considering methods of measuring this. However, RBH and other local hospitals are also reporting similar figures. In conclusion, capacity issues continue, but patient care and safety remain of paramount importance. The M.I.U (Medical Investigation Unit) has expanded the services they provide. There is now trials without catheter and hyperemesis gravid arum for patients, (gynecology & maternity), which are all proving successful. GW informed the Group about the sad death of Staff Nurse Rui Li, but noted that staff had coped admirably with this. He thanked the Group for their kind words. The Emergency Department targets have been very important, and again, staff are struggling, due to the rise in admissions, causing an unprecedented demand. A Three Perfect Days exercise was conducted last month, which enabled a good look at discharge improvements. This was very successful. The in-patient beds (previously on C4) have now closed and the discharge lounge has returned. It is busier than ever. Cardiology Update The new cardiology build is now complete and running well but still awaiting new equipment. It is hoped that future meetings will be conducted in the new seminar room located in the new-build. The cardiac rehabilitation team moved on July 23, and therefore the cardiology teams will all be working under one roof. There are new investigation rooms to conduct transoesophageal echoes etc. Seven Day Working: Work will continue with regard to 7 day working.
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OTHER MATTERS Did you know that studies have shown that repetitious ‘mirthful laughter’ causes the body to respond in a way similar to moderate physical exercise? Laughter enhances your mood, decreases stress hormones, enhances immune activity, lowers bad cholesterol and systolic blood pressure, and raises good cholesterol. When I was putting together the exercise program I said we needed good qualified trainers and a comedian, per exercise class and each walking group. You may have seen the article sent out by David Anderson regarding Abdominal Aortic Aneurism screening (AAA). It is estimated that around 1 in 25 men, aged between 65 and 75, in England have an aortic aneurism. This why the NHS invites all men for screening during the year they turn 65, so if you are over 65 and have not been screened, have it done. It’s free, only takes 20 minutes and is possible at your own surgery. I have just been screened and am told that I’m good for the next ten years, but my neighbour was not screened and died at home on his own, having had no warning of any problem. To make an appointment just call, with your NHS number 01722 336262 x2640 or 2539. NHS DORSET CLINICAL COMMISIONING GROUP I attended this meeting in Dorchester in October. We discussed the request to include pulse checks with patients. So did your Doctor check your pulse when you visited last, or when you had your flu jab? Also have you had your flu jab yet? If you have let me know if your pulse was checked!
Jim
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Meet our Members A Showcase on Members - Bill Gifford In 1945 peace was declared and I received by post a large brown envelope, O.H.M.S., my calling up papers! I was drafted into the Royal Air Force and went to Padstow for training. I had numerous postings and to name a few, they were Melton Mowbray, Nottingham and at Staverton near Gloucester. It was quite an experience. After doing my national service I left the R.A.F, and returned to my parents home where I was fortunate to find a good job with the brewery company of Bass & Worthington with the future prospects of becoming a traveller for them. Unfortunately there were company problems at the time and it wasn't to be. I applied to join the Swansea and Cardiff Police but there was a four year waiting list. However one of the Cardiff Police Inspectors suggested that I apply to the London Force and I was accepted and I did my training at Hendon Police College. I passed the course and was posted to Old Street Police Station in the East End of London. This was a very busy station never a dull moment; the criminal fraternity had a hard time and pleaded guilty as they were caught in the process of crime. In my travels around London I met my wife and we married and moved to Wimbledon, which is the outer perimeter of the Metropolitan Police area. Due to the vast ground that had to be covered most of my time was on the police vehicles; Panda cars and Motor bikes and Bicycles were used at my station at New Malden where I eventually transferred. For a short time I took on the job as a Home Beat Officer and for my last two years I finished my career in the force at Kingston and upon retiring, my wife and I moved to Dorset.
Bill
HEART SUPPORT GROUPS REGIONAL EVENT - BRISTOL The British Heart Foundation arranged a conference/workshop for Heart Support Groups for the West of England and South Wales and we all met in Bristol in October for the event. I say all the HSGs but in practice it did not seem to be too well supported which was such a shame as it was so professionally organised and presented. Nevertheless David and I battled the atrocious weather to represent Poole with others from Newquay, Chippenham, Gwent, Salisbury and Bristol (where were the rest?). It was interesting for us to see just how some groups have, or are, evolving. The first four were quite small but mirroring the way in which we have grown. Bristol, with no exercise programme, seemed more like a branch of the BHF with its 260
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Meet our Members A Showcase on Members - Josè (Bill) Planells I am a local lad having lived in Poole and Bournemouth all my life. When young I watched Poole Hospital being built from my house. I went to Henry Harbin, now Poole High School, and found my enjoyment of sport and love of Rugby there. Leaving school in 1968 I became an apprentice mechanic at Stringers in the Triangle at Bournemouth; cycling to work each day. I moved to the Nuffield Estate with the commercial side of the garage two years later. I still work in the motor trade and over the years have worked on cars and commercial vehicles, working in a partnership for the past 23 years. In 1979 I married Dot who I met while ice skating in Bournemouth. We have two children, Claire and David, plus two Grandchildren. On leaving school I carried on playing Rugby at Bournemouth Rugby Club and also played Football some Sundays, but on reaching 35 I retired from playing, finding many other things to occupy me, but none that included the right type of exercise. In 2003, after five days of feeling unwell, I was taken to Poole Hospital, as a result of which I ended up with two stents and a drilled artery, and was also told I was a diabetic. You then listen as all the information is given to you to give you the best chance of a good recovery. Going to rehab, the right food, and to me the bonus being the exercise sessions and cycling on Sundays with John from the exercise group, and subsequently meeting up with Keith and the PHSG cycling group once a month - these have all been a great benefit to me.
Bill
members helping to raise substantial funds albeit for local charities (£25,000 for South West Air Ambulance). It was good to meet up with fellow representatives and we joined in with them for the talks and the workshops covering such topics as Diversity, Influencing Local Services etc. Perhaps the highlight of the day was the talk by Professor Angelini, the BHF’s Professor of Cardiac Surgery, whose subject was From Engineering Dream to Clinical Reality. We heard about his early wish to be a great engineer which somehow got diverted into becoming an internationally respected Cardiac Surgeon. We were treated to a short film showing how he pioneered his engineering background to help enable surgeons throughout the world to operate on the beating heart. His sometimes amusing talk was much appreciated. Robin
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The Cutting Edge Advances in Medical Technology - Lymphatic Imaging A technique based on optical techniques has been developed to diagnose lymphatic disorders. Nearinfrared fluorescence lymphatic imaging (NIRFLI) has been developed at the University of Texas Health Science Centre (UTHealth) at the Houston Medical School in the USA. “We really haven’t had any good way of imaging the lymphatic system and that’s a problem because many of the prevalent diseases that occur today – obesity, autoimmune disorders – are lymphatic conditions,” explained Dr Eva Sevick at UTHealth and author of the work presented at a conference in June 2014. “We are able to acquire images of the lymphatics with high time and spatial resolution depending on the measurement depth.” said Dr John Rasmussen also at UTHealth and co-author of the work. The lymphatic system is a network of vasculature that picks up excess fluid draining from the ateries, veins and returns it to the blood system. The fluid is called lymph – which because it lacks any natural contrast, is difficult to image and doesn’t show up on CT or MRI scans. Cancer survivors can get a condition called lympoedema, in which, after Take a Deep Breath NIRFLI images the lymphatic system by injecting a fluorophore, a trace dose of indocyanide green in this instance, into the skin so that it is taken up by the lymphatics. Fluorescence is excited by using a laser diode and the image is picked up by image intensifiers which detect and mulitply the intensity of the infra-red and is insensitive to ambient lighting. The device can see to 4cm deep and because it works in the infra-red and can filter out ambient light gives it a very high sensitivity. With images being refreshed 5 times a second, live video of lymphatic flow can be studied. The lymphatic imager is expected to be available through 2015 , and unlike MRI, it will be a point-of-care device available immediately to the diagnostician. The technology is being developed commercialy by NIRF Imaging Inc. (A UTHealth start up company).
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By Keith Matthews
NIRFLI montage of right (unaffected) and left (affected) limbs.
lymph nodes are removed or the patient undergoes radiation therapy, an oedema, or build-up of fluid can occur. This affects about 20% of all cancer survivors said Sevick. “The only time we understand there is a lymphatic disorder is when the late stage effects become apparent, such as irresolvable oedema. That’s too late.” she said.
Keith
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PHSG Magazine
Come Walk With PHSG Well, the Summer walks and the walk book are now exhausted, but we are not! We carry on through the Winter with the less formally arranged walks. Here are the dates, and if you wish to join in you should call the named person between 6pm and 9pm the evening before, or 8am to 9am on the day to find the meeting point and destination. The walks start at 10:30am Summer walks start again on Saturday 11th April 2015 at 10:00am To volunteer for vacant walks please contact me on 01202 733956. Cyril, Walks Coordinator.
Wed 3rd Dec Sat 13th Dec
Henry & Heather Ann Ormiston
01202 842707 01202 880662
Wed 7th Jan Sat 17th Jan Wed 28th Jan Sat 8th Feb Wed 18th Feb Sat 28th Feb Wed 11th Mar Sat 21st Mar
David &Sylvia Norman & Dianne Jim & David Awaiting Volunteer John & Barbara Awaiting Volunteer Ray & Helen Mary & Anne
01202 747569 01202 622016 01202 871532 01202 690636 01202 574433 01202 887366
I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked: Allen Ginsberg The best minds of my generation are thinking about how to make people click ads: Jeff Hammerbacher
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Swanage Lions Club Sponsorship
By Roger Ridout
21 August 2014 Every August the Swanage Lions hold their annual Summer Fete on Sandpit Field, a large grassed area adjacent to the Seafront. They select deserving local Charities/Clubs to receive financial support by way of donation from the proceeds of the day's event.
As the Purbeck section of the Poole Heart Support Group has a number of members who are Lions and exercise weekly at the Fitness Centre in the Grand Hotel in Swanage, we were chosen as a deserving case. Every Summer we have a party using a beach hut made available by the Lions, were modest excesses over cost are donated by our members towards their good causes. Eight P.H.S.G. members who are not Lions, volunteered to undertake all day bucket collections with prominent logo labels supplied by George Llewellyn, all wearing their Exercise Polo shirts. They exceeded the "Ton" which was kindly rounded up to ÂŁ125 by the organisers. The presentation of this cheque was made to me at the Burlington Club by Tim Mersey the current Swanage Lions President, with this photograph showing the 'Bucket Collectors' together with Clare Barratt our Fitness Instructor. Roger Ridout. Purbeck Area Exercise Co-ordinator And our thanks go to Tim Mersey and the Swanage Lions for the ÂŁ125 donated to Poole Heart Support Group. - Keith Matthews, Chairman PHSG
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☺ Doctor, Doctor. I I can’t can’t stop stop saying saying everything everything twice twice. OK Mr Smith, I’ll give you a repeat prescription. ☺ If Wanda Ventham had married Howard Hughes and when he died married Henry Kissinger would she be Wanda Hughes-Kissinger now? ☺If Isla St Clair had married Barry White, would she have been the Isla White? If she then divorced, married the lead singer of Roxy Music, then hyphenated the name would she have been the Isla White-Ferry? Why did the American crab cross the road? - To get to the sidewalk This bloke said to me, "I'm going to attack you with the neck of a guitar." I said, "Is that a fret?" I’ve just come back from the holiday of a lifetime. I’m never doing that again! The AGM of the ‘Constipation Support Group’ was deemed a success. All motions were passed comfortably. Before the Iron Age was everything creased? I’ve just seen a man wearing a camouflage jacket. I hope he kept the receipt. The chap who compiled the anagrams for the crossword in our local paper has just died. May he erect a penis. Émile Zola once wrote an open letter complaining about the size of his hot-tub. It was a little J’accuse-y. I went to my allotment last week and found that someone had covered it with with 2 inches of soil. I went again today only to find it covered with another 2 inches of soil. The plot thickens ... I’ve just booked burial plots for me and my wife. I was quite confident before I handed over the money, but now I have grave reservations. Why do Marxists always use tea bags in mugs and never loose leaf in teapots? Because proper tea is theft A duck goes into Department Store and stops at the cosmetics counter. "How much is the dark red lipstick?" it asks the assistant. "That one's £12" replies the assistant. "Lovely," says the duck, "can you just put it on my bill?" Waiting for my food in a Chinese restaurant, a duck comes over and says "Your eyes are like limpid pools of desire". I said to the waiter "No no, I asked for AROMATIC duck". William Shakespeare walks into a bar. The landlord shouts at him - "Oi, get out! You're barred!" Did you like Wyoming? I liked it so much, I made my own wy 'ome!
And finally . . . ☺ I’d tell you a joke about Ebola but you probably won't get it. ☺ Having just returned from a business trip to Africa I can't seem to stop myself from buying raffle tickets. I'm worried I've contracted tombola. ☺ Its a bad time for anyone in East Africa today called Ivy Bowler, especially if they are presenting at Heathrow immigration.
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Harry had sustained massive injuries in his road accident, his survival was a miracle, the medics had done a fantastic job and his surgeon came to see him on his rounds. “You’ve broken just about everything, but in most respects you’ve been very lucky. We’ve patched you up all over and you will make a good recovery, but there is one small important area I have to advise you about.” the surgeon told him. Harry’s face creased with a worried frown. “It’s your, ahem, penis.” said the surgeon, “it is badly damaged, but as its not life threatening we cannot fix it on the NHS, it is a long and delicate cosmetic operation.” “But Doc, it can be fixed?” Harry pleaded. “Yes, I’ve had a word with my colleague and it can be done privately. It is expensive, probably about £5000 but there is a positive side too.” “Really?” “Well the £5000 is for basic reconstruction, you know, just to get it working as it were.” “And . . .” “Apparently, my colleague says that there is the possibility to improve on that and improve maybe on what you had before. Putting it simply, it works out at about £1000 per extra inch.” “Gosh,” said Harry, “lets get on with it then.” “Ah, not so fast Harry. There are some complex psychological issues here. You really need to think about this carefully and discuss it with your wife.” After a week, the surgeon returned. “Good to see you Doc. I’ve discussed it carefully with my wife and we have made a decision.” said Harry. “That’s good, shall I call in my colleague to discuss matters with you?” “Well no Doc. After considered discussion with my wife, its been decided we’re having a new kitchen.”
A pirate goes to the doctor and says to him “Can you have a look at my moles?” After careful examination, the doctor says “Don't worry they're benign” The pirate replies “No. Look again, there be ten.”
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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 21 Dec Hill View Road - Mince Pie Meet Sunday 25 Jan Hill View Road - Gaunts Common & Verwood Sunday 22 Feb Wimborne Square - Lytchett Matravers Sunday 22 Mar Sandbanks Shore Rd - Ferry Oil Run Sunday 19 Apr To be decided. Sunday 24 May To be decided. Sunday 21 Jun Father’s Day Bike Ride - See Below In bad weather call before 9:00am to see if the ride is going ahead.
On 21 June 2015 Rotary International are inviting every Rotary club across the UK and Ireland to organise a Rotary Day, consisting of a sponsored bike ride for members of the public in aid of Prostate Cancer Awareness. They would like to get every Rotary club in the country to organise a Sponsored Cycle ride around the area in which they are based, and at the same time want to arrange for all the coastal based clubs to organise a simultaneous cycle ride to the next club, in a clockwise direction, around the coast of the UK and Ireland, and by the end of the day we will have circumnavigated the whole of the UK and Ireland, with each group doing their section. It is suggested that we make this our PHSG Ride in June as PHSG Committee member Geoff Lawrence is also the Rotary member helping to organise the route which will run from Sandbanks to Corfe Castle.
Keith & Geoff
☺ Out on my bike today, someone threw a bottle of Omega 3 pills at me. Don't worry, I only suffered super fish oil injuries.
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By Jackie Winter I've written a book about forty years riding a tandem with my husband. "Life In Tandem" is essentially a light hearted account of my cycling life but naturally there have been painful times over the course of four decades. Throughout the many good years and a few inevitably difficult ones, the tandem remains a constant thread. In May 2007 I had surgery for bowel cancer. I was very fortunate and didn't need radiotherapy or chemotherapy but I developed a wound infection, which delayed my recovery and I was off the bike for five months. When Allan and I eventually went for a ride in mid October, I was dismayed by my physical weakness. I felt vulnerable in a new and unexpected way and feared I wouldn't be able to cope with even a few short miles. There was no pain, only slight discomfort but my confidence had gone and I was afraid that at the age of 57, I may never regain my previous fitness. It took a while but by the following spring I was almost back to my old self and that summer we went for a cycling holiday in the Yorkshire Dales, with friends who also ride a tandem. Now I never take cycling for granted. I enjoy every ride, whatever the distance or the weather (well, more or less!) and I am so thankful for restored health and energy. "Life In Tandem" contains descriptions of many cycle rides in Dorset, some of them in the 1980s with the Wessex Road Club. There are also accounts of several tandem holidays, spent in the Yorkshire Dales, the Lake District, Scottish Borders and South West Cornwall. Available from Amazon on Kindle (ÂŁ1.99) and in paperback (ÂŁ8.31) Copies can also be purchased from Jackie. thorntandem@btinternet.com Phone 01929 459207
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WINTER WORD SEARCH AUTUMNWEEDANDFEED; CHOPFIREWOOD; CREOSOTE; DAMPPROOFING; EMULSIONPAINT; GATHERKINDLING; GIVEMEABREAK; HANGINGPICTURES; HEDGETRIMMING; INSTALLSHELVES; LEAKINGCISTERN; LEDLAMPS; LIGHTFITTINGS; LOFTINSULATION; MOWERMAINTENANCE; PAINTING; POSITIONINGMIRRORS; REFELTSHEDROOF; REGLAZING; ROSEPRUNING; SCARRIFYING; SWEEPCHIMNEY; TAPWASHERS; TIDYDAMAGEDBRANCHES; TILING; WALLPAPERSTRIPPING; WEEDING
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M R A L R A N T K A E R B A E M E V I G
Exercise is so much in the right g easier ea r ! PHSG Clothing
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T-Shirts £7.00
Polo Shirts £11.00
Sweat Shirts £13.00
This exclusive range of clothes are available from the PHSG Sizes Small, Medium, Large & Extra Large. Round or V-Neck Ts
Contact: Sandra Llewellyn at 01202 605455 (or ask your trainer)
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, Poole Community Health Centre
Shaftesbury Road, Poole BH15 2NT Affiliated to the British Heart Foundation and Arrhythmia Alliance - The Heart Rhythm Charity Hill View Typesetting 01202 855001 Printed by Top Coat 01202 820959