East Midlands Ambulance Service to detail closures

East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) is set to announce which ambulance stations it plans to close as part of a reorganisation of its services.

The organisation wants to replace about 70 current stations in the region with 12 larger "hub stations".

It says the plan will help to improve response times after a series of disappointing figures.

But critics have argued reducing the number of stations could have a detrimental effect on patient care.

COULD YOU HELP RAISE AWARENESS OF CORONARY HEART DISEASE AND DIABETES?

 

The Care Plus Group Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) collaborative has been actively working in North East Lincolnshire to raise awareness of risk factors relating to coronary heart disease.

The collaborative particularly focus on trying to encourage people who have not already had blood pressure checks to have them by offering them in community settings.  Hypertension (high blood pressure) puts a strain on the heart and can lead to coronary heart disease.

So far this year, the team have tested almost 300 people and 30% of these have had a high blood pressure reading.  Heart disease often does not display any symptoms, but with early detection, individuals have been successfully and easily treated.

Martin Wakefield, Collaborative Project Manager at Care Plus Group, said:

“Coronary heart disease is the UK's biggest killer, with one in every four men and one in every six women dying from the disease. In the UK, approximately 300,000 people have a heart attack each year.

“By offering people free blood pressure checks we can identify if they may be potentially at risk from coronary heart disease and recommend a follow up appointment with their GP.”

The team will also be offering diabetes risk assessments, starting in the next few months.

Anyone wishing to join the team to help promote Coronary heart disease /diabetes or for further information about the collaborative please contact Julie Grimmer or Martin Wakefield on (01472) 232261/7 or email julie.grimmer@nhs.net / martin.wakefield@nhs.net

COAST GIVING AWAY UNION JACK PANTS IN RUN UP TO THE OLYMPICS

 

COAST, the local chlamydia screening programme for under 25’s, is joining the wave of patriotism sweeping the UK in the run up to the Olympics by giving away “Olympic” themed pants.

In a bid to get young people talking about sexual health and getting tested for chlamydia, specially commissioned union jack pants with the theme “Get your game on” are being given to young people who request and return a Freepost test kit via the COAST website.  The pants are the latest in a series of designer underwear aimed at getting young people to take a proactive approach to their sexual health.