OTHER NEWS

Coronavirus Vaccination Scams report:

As of 7 January 2021, Action Fraud had received 57 reports from members of the public who have received text messages claiming to be from the NHS, offering them the opportunity to sign up for coronavirus vaccinations.

The texts ask the recipient to click on a link which takes them to an online form where they are prompted to input personal and financial details. In most cases the online form has looked authentic and very like the real NHS website.

Pauline Smith, Head of Action Fraud, said:

“Remember, the vaccine is only available on the NHS and is free of charge. The NHS will never ask you for details of your bank account or to pay for the vaccine. If you receive an email, text message or phone call purporting to be from the NHS and you are asked to provide financial details, this is a scam.”

How to protect yourself:

In the UK, coronavirus vaccinations will only be available via the National Health Service. You may be contacted by the NHS, your employer, a local GP surgery or pharmacy, to receive your vaccination. The vaccinations are free of charge and you will not be asked for a payment.

Remember, the NHS will never:

ask for your bank account or card details ask for your PIN or banking passwords arrive unannounced at your home to administer the vaccine ask for documentation to prove your identity, such as a passport or utility bills.

If you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent – hang up. If you are suspicious about an email you have received, do not open it – forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk. Forward suspicious text messages to the number 7726, which is free of charge.

If you believe you are the victim of a fraud, please report this to Action Fraud immediately by calling 0300 123 2040, or on line at www.actionfraud.police.uk

I am writing this article about a subject that is close to my heart, one that is often felt to be too delicate a subject to discuss or too personal to talk about. I refer, of course, to prostate cancer.

Being a man, we are sometimes complacent when it comes to our own health, particularly when we are young and carefree or have a young family to provide for. We ignore the odd ache and pain, often putting it down to our busy lifestyle or work related causes.

For many years, prostate cancer was thought of as an ‘old man’s disease’ because, in many cases, men would die of other non-related illnesses, such as heart failure, stroke etc. However, prostate cancer can strike earlier in life than you may imagine. My own experience started more than 20 years ago when I was only 40 and, luckily for me, was found purely by chance … and the insight of a young locum doctor.

I have always had physically demanding jobs and, as a result, often experienced muscle strain and back pain. At that time, I had been suffering badly for a long period of time with an ache in my right hip. Living on painkillers, prescribed in higher doses, came to be the norm. However, the discomfort eventually became so bad that I went back to the doctor, only this time I saw a different GP, a locum in the practice.

After reading through my notes concerning previous visits, he suggested an initial check of my prostate, followed by a blood test to check my PSA level. His concern, I discovered later, was that secondary tumours can sometimes develop in the hip bone.

The PSA indeed showed a raised reading, and over the next few weeks further tests were done including a biopsy, full MRI and bone scan. When the final results came back it was found that I had a very aggressive strain of prostate cancer, which can often be the case in younger patients. This was devastating news. But it had been discovered early and although various treatments were discussed, I opted to undergo an operation known as a Radical Prostatectomy, where the prostate is completely removed. As the cancer was entirely contained within the prostate, I did not have to undergo any further treatment such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy, but simply follow the consultant’s instructions to recover fully from the operation. I had annual checkups for some years afterwards but am delighted to say I remain cancer free.

Remember that I was only 40 years old and had none of the typical symptoms.

Since my treatment, much more research has been carried out and treatment techniques are being developed all the time. There is great attention and fund raising surrounding male cancers; this is one that is still affecting and taking away too many lives, young and old, because often we are too macho, scared, busy, or shy to talk about it with our wives, partners, other men or members of the medical profession.

With the current understandable focus on Covid, it is sometimes easy to push other worries to the back of your mind. Please do seek help if you have any concerns. Further helpful information can be found at https://www.nhs.uk/ conditions/prostate-cancer/

Andy Whitman

A Brief Pageant of English Verse

I won't arise and go now, and go to lnnisfree, I'll sanitize the doorknob and make a cup of tea. I won't go down to the sea again; I won't go out at all, I'll wander lonely as a cloud from the kitchen to the hall. There's a green-eyed yellow monster to the north of Katmandu But I shan't be seeing him just yet and nor, I think, will you. While the dawn comes up like thunder on the road to Mandalay I'll make my bit of supper and eat it off a tray. I shall not speed my bonnie boat across the sea to Skye Or take the rolling English road from

Birmingham to Rye. About the woodland, just right now,

I am not free to go To see the Keep Out posters or the cherry hung with snow, And no, I won't be travelling much, within the realms of gold, Or get me to Milford Haven. All that's been put on hold. Give me your hands, I shan't request, albeit we are friends Nor come within a mile of you, until this trial ends.

Caroline Allen

Picking up is part of the deal

There is an excellent article by Jenny Gibson MRCVS of Kingston Vets, Sherborne, in the Beer Hackett section about the danger caused to livestock of dog poo that is not picked up in fields.

Complaints from several Wriggle Valley villages show this is a common problem. It shouldn’t matter where the dog decides to crouch, its mess should ALWAYS be picked up.

Mown verges are part of someone’s garden; churchyards are public places; footpaths are for the use of everyone. Dog poo is disgusting, never more so than on the sole of your shoe. If you own a dog, picking up after it is part of the deal. If your dog poos, and nobody is watching – you still need to pick it up! Please.

The early days of January brought frost and wintry scenes ...