Festive Afternoon at Wortley Beck

There were lots of little stars at Wortley Beck Child Development Centre on Tuesday 17th December, as children and their families joined the doctors and therapists for a festive afternoon. These pre-school children have complex health and developmental needs, and it was such a pleasure to see them enjoying a party in the way many other children regularly do.

The children were supported by the therapists to make delightful hand and foot print calendars, they also had the opportunity for switch accessible play with various toys, courtesy of Switches for Kids from the William Merritt Centre, and a wonderful music therapy session was facilitated by Aby Vulliamy (music therapist).

Funding for the afternoon was generously provided by the Starlight Foundation, which enabled the centre to provide party food and a goody bag for all children to take home. Staff had made one of the rooms into a wonderful twinkly grotto where the children collected their goody bags. Children, parents and CDC staff all had a very special afternoon.

Thanks to Dr Shiela Puri for organising the event, and to receptionist, Christine Mountain, who came in on her day off to support the event.

Blog post written by:
Joanne Sandiford
Section Leader / Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist at Wortley Beck Health Centre

Santa Claus is coming to...Hannah House!

My global role and reputation means I am known by millions of adults and children alike, touching each and every one of their lives...but how many do I actually get to meet?

Throughout the year people of all ages send me letters, emails and tweets to let me know what they would like, and in the course of my duties I am invited into peoples homes from all walks of life across the globe but rarely do I get the opportunity to stop and talk to them.

So, I thought perhaps it is important that I take on board the example of the Department of Health and the Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust Board members and “get back to the floor”. For a second year in a row I was given a great opportunity to meet people who access the services LCH offer and the dedicated staff that provide them.

Being a global icon brings with it challenges, to just turn up at any location may well end in mass hysteria so I was thankful that I was given the chance, by Jo Dodd and the Hannah House team, to meet people at the Hannah House Christmas Party held last Saturday 14th December.

Last year's event was a great success and the increased popularity of the event meant the venue was moved to Blackburn Hall in Rothwell. A bigger venue enabled more people from Hannah House, and those in the community supported by the Hannah House team, to come along and enjoy the party and gave me the opportunity to speak them all.

In a blink of Rudolph’s eye the two hours passed so quickly, a blur of dancers, a magic act and meeting lots of people of all ages. It reaffirmed to me why LCH exists and the part that I play in achieving the organisational vision. A big thank you to my two elfin helpers, Karen Eaton for sorting the right presents and Alex Worlock for keeping a check on the toy stock and global communications!

With only a few days left till my busiest day I need to check my list, plan my route and prep the reindeer!

A Happy Christmas to you and yours!

Ho, Ho, Ho!

Father Christmas

Members Meet... The Demetia Service and Alzheimer's Society

Monday 2nd December saw the trust's second 'Members Meet...' take place at West Yorkshire Playhouse. Su McAlpin, the named nurse for dementia, and Peter Ruickbie from the Alzheimer's Society led the discussion on the very current topic of dementia.

The subject proved to be of huge interest, with 40 members attending the sessions. The session generated a lot of talk and debate between members on how local services can support people suffering with dementia. It is clear to see that the issue resonates with the local community and is a priority on their agenda as much as it is nationwide. The membership team was overwhelmed with the support that members wanted to give towards the cause and will be working with Su to involve members in supporting patients with dementia. If you are interested in becoming a member and getting involved in this project please email lchmembership@nhs.net, you can sign up to be a member here.

To help the Alzheimer’s Society in their fight against dementia, you can also get involved with them in a number of ways, from making a monthly donation, signing up to one of their fundraising events, volunteering in your local area or getting involved in campaigning issues. Please visit www.alzheimers.org.uk and get involved today.

The Alzheimer’s Society’s Leeds Local office details are:

Armley Grange Armley Grange Drive
Leeds
West Yorkshire

LS12 3QH
Tel: 01132 311 727
Email: peter.ruickbie@alzheimers.org.uk

Blog post written by:
Chloe Thompson, Membership Officer

National HIV Testing Week - our work with BHA Leeds Skyline

National HIV Testing Week (NHTW) took place from 22 - 29 November 2013 and CaSH got involved by holding a series of free testing sessions at two of our clinics.

The main aims of the week were to:

• raise further awareness of the importance of HIV testing

• increase the proportion of people who are aware of their HIV status

• reduce the late diagnosis of HIV by increasing and improving access to free confidential and voluntary testing both during NHTW and in the future

The national HIV prevalence rate is increasing, and in 2011 Leeds reached a HIV prevalence rate of 2.14 per 1,000 population which is the highest in the Yorkshire and Humber region. Men who have sex with men (MSM) and people from the Black African community are most risk.

As part of the ‘It starts with me campaign’, we worked in partnership with the Centre for Sexual Health, Yorkshire MESMAC and BHA Leeds Skyline to provide HIV point of care testing at two of our community cash clinics, The Reginald Centre in Chapeltown and Burmantofts Health Centre.

The sessions were well attended and received positive feedback from clients who were pleased to be able to access testing in a community setting.

Along with BHALeeds Skyline, we have been delivering talks on HIV, Contraception and Community Gynaecology on Saturdays to women from the Cameroon, Gambia and other African Communities and also to women from PAFRAS (Positive Action for Refugees and Asylum seekers).

Later this month we will be speaking to women from the Somalian Community about Female Genital Mutilation and women’s health and HIV.

Guest Blogger: Kim Taylor (Team Coordinator, Contraceptive and Sexual Health Service)