New service launched to support people fighting cancer

CANCER sufferers and their families are being offered extra support through a new service launched by health experts today.

Grimsby Central Library, Macmillan Cancer Support and Cancer Research UK have come together to form a joint partnership which will offer those living with cancer one-on-one drop-in sessions.

ADVICE AND SUPPORT: Lorna Briggs, left, community service librarian and Sue Lewis, Macmillan Cancer information and support manager, pictured at the new Macmillan cancer information point inside the Grimsby Central Library. Picture: Rick Byrne. Buy this photo at www.thisisphoto sales.co.uk/grimsby or by contacting 08444 060910

The scheme will be run on an outreach basis, where patients can seek advice and support from health professionals.

CQC publishes 12 reports from its review of services for people with learning disabilities

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) today publishes a further 12 reports from a targeted programme of 150 unannounced inspections of hospitals and care homes that care for people with learning disabilities.

The programme is looking at whether people experience safe and appropriate care, treatment and support and whether they are protected from abuse. A national report into the findings of the programme will be published in the Spring.

Understanding and Preventing Adverse Effects of Psychological Therapies (AdEPT)

Can you help with this research?

Researchers from the University of Sheffield are carrying out research across England to find out what happens when therapy or counselling makes someone feel worse or ‘goes wrong’ in some way. This will help them to develop some practical ways to prevent therapies from failing.

Switch off sunbeds in 2012

In November 2011 Cancer Research UK launched its R UV UGLY? campaign, an initiative calling on young Britons to face the damage inflicted on their skin by sunbeds.

The campaign targets young people aged 16-18, as well as older people aged 28-44 (e.g. mums and sisters), as research has shown they can often influence young people’s attitudes and behaviour towards using sunbeds.

Cancer Research UK have teamed up with the skin clinic, ‘Sk:n’, to offer people two free skin scans. This will allow young sunbed users and older ‘influencers’ to see the hidden damage lurking beneath the skin’s surface. Check out the R UV UGLY Facebook page for more information and to claim your free skin scans for you and a friend.

Help available for people with mental health problems

DO YOU know a friend, relative or neighbour who is suffering from mental health problems and needs support?
Experts have today urged anybody who is concerned about the behaviour of somebody they know – or needs support themselves – to seek help now.

It comes after the body of reclusive schizophrenic Jacqueline Harrison lay undiscovered at a flat in Hainton Avenue for more than two years after she refused to see family members.

And with research from the Mental Health Foundation showing that one in four people will experience some kind of mental health problems, it is important to know where to seek help.