Diabetes UK
Hounslow Voluntary Group
Past News
Donation of £1,000 to Diabetes UK Adopt A Project, May 2008
In May 2008 we remitted £1,000 of money collected on behalf of Diabetes UK and applied it to sponsor the “Support for improving diabetes care in Mozambique” Project. Various Committee Members attended the Diabetes UK Networking Day on 15th March 2008, where there was a presentation on the progress of this project, which Diabetes UK launched in 2007. The news of what was happening in Mozambique was really startling and alarming, where for example the average life expectancy of someone with Type 1 diabetes in rural areas is just 7 months. Our hearts went out to our fellow less fortunate diabetes sufferers. Our Committee agreed to send £1,000 to Diabetes UK for them to apply to this project. The main objectives of the project are to offer specialised training, provide patient education materials, provide advocacy support, and to develop a core group of people to be involved in diabetes.
New Appointments of Executive Officers on our Committee, 30th April 2008
Colin Stacey as
Road Show Manager
Peter Curtis as Patient User Representative
Ron Grant as Upbeat Heart Awareness Desk Manager
Rosalina Seaman as Support Secretary
4 Volunteers pass as “Health Trainers”, March 2008
We sent 4 volunteers on the Health Trainer Course held at the beginning of March and all 4 passed. Congratulations to Pat Smithers, Jeanette Hare, Elaine Williams and Ron Grant. They will get a level 2 Award in “Understanding Health Improvement” from the Royal Institute of Public Health.
“Health Trainer” Courses, March 2008
We arranged for up to 25 of our volunteers to go on a course to be accredited as Health Trainers. At the end of the course and having passed an exam, they will get a level 2 Award in “Understanding Health Improvement” from the Royal Institute of Public Health. It will assist us with the training of our volunteers who work at our diabetes information desks. The basic topics cover: What does health mean, basic concepts of health, the NHS, self care management, food and nutrition, physical activity, sexual health, smoking cessation, drugs & alcohol, ways of identifying lifestyle changes, how to influence people to change their behaviour, and handling confidential information. The course is run by the Local Authority Public Health Team and will be based in the Civic Centre, Lampton Road, Hounslow. There will be no cost to our volunteers. The course runs for 4 days from 9.30am to 4.30pm.
Presentation to delegates on Diabetes UK Networking Day Saturday 15th March 2008.
Diabetes UK organised a Networking Day for volunteers from the London and South East Region to get together and give an opportunity to share ideas and best practice etc. Your Chair David Cahill was asked to give a presentation to the delegates on our successes in applying for grant funding for our group. Diabetes UK thought that other volunteers would be keen to hear about our successes as other groups also need these vital funds in order to run effectively and campaign for better services.
New Appointments of Executive Officer on our Committee, 27th February 2008
Mrs Pat Smithers as Manager of the diabetes desk at Heart of Hounslow Health Centre
Diabetes UK Information Desk at Heart of Hounslow Health Centre, February 2008
On 14th February 2008, We started our second Diabetes Information Desk which will operate every Thursday in the health centre from 1.00pm to 4.00pm. It is situated on the ground floor, opposite the main information desk. It is timed to be open at the same time as the Diabetes Intermediate Care Clinic (based on the second floor). There are free booklets and information about diabetes, covering: Who is at risk, detailing the symptoms and complications, and how living a healthy lifestyle can help avoid or delay developing diabetes. We also have a selection of books on diabetes for sale. New volunteers will be welcome. Normally we have the use a table, and a large screen to display our posters. However there are 3 permanent Diabetes poster boards in the health centre: There is a “Diabetes Awareness” poster board on the ground floor (on the right hand side wall as you enter the building) containing general information about diabetes and how to prevent it. There is a “Diabetes UK” poster board on the second floor (in the Outpatients waiting room) containing details about the Hounslow voluntary group events. There is a “Hounslow PCT Diabetes Services” poster board on the second floor (in the Outpatients waiting room) containing details of various courses run by the PCT
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New Appointments of Executive Officers on our Committee, 16th January 2008
Colin Stacey as
Vice Chair
Ken Riley as Volunteer’s Secretary
Grant of £7,000 from the “Reaching Out” Programme
We
received a grant of £7,000 in December 2007 from The Reaching Out Grants
Programme. It is intended to support independent voluntary
organisations in hospitals that wish to diversify their current
volunteering base. Particular emphasis to be given to involving: people
without formal qualifications, black minority ethnic groups, and people
with physical or learning difficulties. The project is to encourage
people to undertake voluntary work, reflect the need for multi cultural
society, must benefit the health and well being of project users and/or
volunteers and/or local community.
In our
case, the project will centre on public awareness of diabetes, on
prevention of diabetes, on early detection of diabetes, and on better
self-management of the disease by patient support activities. We intend
to achieve this by carrying out more talks and diabetes awareness road
shows and by helping to extend the work of the “Lifestyle” road shows
organised by West Middlesex Hospital. We intend to offer further
support to people who have diabetes in order for them to self manage the
disease better. This support will be via our normal activities of
providing information to patients at our diabetes information desk at
the hospital, and from talks at our bi monthly public meetings. We will
extend this by setting up an additional desk at the Heart of Hounslow
Health Centre, and hopefully by starting 3D (Diagnosed Diabetic
Discussion) Groups, and offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice (see
Latest News page).
Donation of £1,326 to Diabetes UK Research, December 2007
In December 2007 we remitted a donation of £1,326, which was money collected on behalf of Diabetes UK and we applied it to sponsor a research project under the “Adopt A Project” scheme. Our Voluntary Group’s Committee selected the project run by Dr Prabal Chaterjee, of the University of Brighton. It is a £69,100 3 year joint Diabetes UK / Kidney Research UK Studentship Project. The project aims to increase understanding of the cellular mechanisms involved with diabetic nephropathy [kidney function] in the hope that it will lead to the development of new therapies.
Your Chair David Cahill was accredited as a “Health Trainer”, October 2007
Your Chair David Cahill attended a course to be accredited as a Health Trainer. At the end of the course having passed an exam, he was awarded a level 2 Award in “Understanding Health Improvement” from the Royal Institute of Public Health. The course was run by the Local Authority Public Health Team and was based in the Civic Centre.
Honoraria Grant of £500 from gsk GlaxoSmithKlein, October 2007
The result of our application for a £5,000 Local Health Award from gsk GlaxoSmithKlein was unsuccessful, but our application was shortlisted and we were asked to re apply next year. However, our organisation was selected by 2 of the Judges (Sue Ellen, Chair of West Middlesex Hospital and Sue Ricketts of gsk GlaxoSmithKlein) to receive a special mention and a £250 honorarium from each of them. We thank the Judges for their donation of this £500. We will put it towards the cost of our local activities.
Article in Hounslow Primary Care Trust (PCT) Annual Report 2006/07, September 2007
The PCT published its annual report for 2006/07 in September 2007. On page 11, under Voluntary Sector Working our work was highlighted in respect of our partnership with the PCT and it contained details of our diabetes awareness initiatives in Hounslow. It stressed the importance of carrying out awareness activity in preventing people from developing type 2 diabetes, and on how early detection reduces the risk of developing complications. The report recognised our desk at West Middlesex Hospital, diabetes awareness stands at lifestyle road shows and village fairs, our bi-monthly meetings and diabetes information talks, the talks we present to other groups, our bi-monthly newsletters and website.
Diabetes UK Volunteer Achievement Awards 2007, September 2007
We were nominated for Volunteer Achievement Awards from Diabetes UK in 2007. As a result we received 2 certificates signed by the Diabetes UK Chief Executive Douglas Smallwood. One certificate was to “Hounslow Voluntary Group, Thank you for all your hard work and commitment to Diabetes UK”. And the other to our Chair “Mr David Cahill, Thank you for all your hard work and commitment to Diabetes UK”. These were presented to Ken Riley and our Chair by Sue Jeffers Director Hounslow PCT at our Members Meeting on 26th September 2007.
Diabetic Retinopathy Screening has now started in Hounslow, September 2007
We were very pleased to report that the Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Service started in September. We understand that appointments will be allocated to the month of your birth. There will be sufficient capacity to screen every patient by this “Gold Standard” Service over the coming year. The screening will be done at the new Heart of Hounslow Health Centre, Bath Road Hounslow; at The Feltham Health Centre; and at a health centre in just inside Ealing. This is extremely good news, and is evidence of how successful lobbying can achieve results.
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Gold’s Gym, 29-31 Lampton Road Hounslow TW3 1JA, September 2007
We
negotiated a reduced rate corporate membership at Gold’s Gym, 29-31
Lampton Road, Hounslow, TW3 1JA.
Tel 020-8572-1414. The normal membership rate including use at peak
times is £59 per month. Our rate has been reduced to £39. Our member’s
minimum contract period will be only 6 months (normally 12 months).
Enrolment fees have been waived. There is a fully equipped gym with the
latest equipment, which includes the optional use of a computer key that
records your individual exercise programmes and results (which can be
downloaded to the mainframe computer), individual SKY tv on each
exercise machine, some with individual fans, a full range of weight
lifting machines, free weights, swimming pool, Jacuzzi spa bath, sauna
and steam room. There are free classes on Aqua Aerobics, yoga, pilates,
spinning, aerobics etc.
The
membership is also extended to include all Medical Staff including NHS
staff, Hospital Staff, PCT staff, and those working for GPs, Clinics,
Dentists, and Pharmacists in Hounslow.
For
your introductory letter to get your reduced rate corporate membership.
Please
contact David Cahill on 020 8572 8959 or email
chair@diabeteshounslow.org.uk
or
Jasbir Chana on 020 8574 7308 or email
membership@diabeteshounslow.org.uk
Article in West Middlesex Hospital Annual Report 2006/07, August 2007
The Hospital has published its Annual Report for 2006/07. On Page 15 under Hospital Support Groups, we were mentioned along with 2 other main Patient Support Groups, the Upbeat Heart Support Group and the Mulberry Centre (for cancer patient support). It detailed that we had been on hand in the Hospital since 2006 to support patients and families. It went on to say that we provided booklets and information about diabetes, outlining who is at risk, detailing the symptoms and complications, and how living a healthy lifestyle can help avoid or delay developing diabetes.
Our Chairman David Cahill appointed Non Executive Director of Hounslow PCT (Primary Care Trust), August 2007
Our Chair David Cahill was appointed as Non Executive Director of the PCT from 1st August 2007. We are pleased to announce that there will now be even closer links with Hounslow PCT.
Appointment New Treasurer Ken Riley 18th April 2007
Janet Wilson resigned as Treasurer on 18th April 2007. She has been one our most valued Committee Members over the years due to her commitment and dedication. Her conservative judgment has been invaluable over the years, and have kept us solvent, we must thank her for her efforts. Your Committee appointed Ken Riley to take over as Treasurer. Ken is a Chartered Accountant, and with his financial background we know our group will be in safe hands.
Diabetes UK Joint London & South East Regions Networking day 24th March 2007
Our voluntary group was represented by David Cahill (Chair) and Ken Riley (Secretary). There were around 100 delegates mainly representing Voluntary Groups, but also User Representatives and Campaigners.
New Hounslow Voluntary Group Website, January 2007
Our website has gone live, and is being supported by Max Robertson.
X-Pert Course, January 2007
From January 2007, Hounslow PCT is now running the “X-Pert” Course. This is a structured patient education programme for people with Type 2 diabetes. It is intended to increase our self-management skills, knowledge and confidence in managing our diabetes.
For further details see Self Care
West Middlesex Hospital Website, January 2007
On 22nd January 2007, we were included as a Patient Support User group on the West Middlesex Hospital Website. The site can be found at: www.West-Middlesex-Hospital.nhs.uk Once there, look for the left hand side drop down menu, then tab “For Patients”, then tab “General Information”, then tab “Patient Support Groups”.
The Diabetes UK - Feltham Voluntary Group, disbanded January 2007
The Feltham Voluntary Group has disbanded, and Diabetes UK has asked us to take over responsibility for their area. On 17th January 2007 Our Committee agreed to this.
New Admin Secretary Ken Riley and separate Membership Secretary (Jasbir Chana) roles, January 2007
We have split the role of Secretary between Membership Secretary and Admin Secretary. On 17th January 2007 our Committee appointed Ken Riley as our new Admin Secretary. We thank Jasbir Chana for continuing with his membership duties as Membership Secretary.
Glaucoma Project, January 2007
The Department of Health was funding a project run by Dr Mitesh M Ladwa of Pera (www.pera.com). Pera is a non profit making innovation organisation set up by Winston Churchill. We were invited to participate in this project. Dr Ladwa was looking for people suffering from diabetes who also suffer from Glaucoma to act as (unpaid) consultants on problems with the current method of dispensing medicine by putting in eye drops, and to develop a new system of spray dispenser. The current method of using eye drops is difficult to self-administer and results in having dosage problems and dizziness. We were asked to input our views, and attend meetings in London.
Grant from LB Hounslow, December 2006
In December we received the first installment on a £2,000 Community Investment Fund Grant from The London Borough of Hounslow. This is to assist us in promoting awareness of diabetes to the public in general, trying to influence those at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes to make changes to their lifestyles so as to avoid or delay developing the disease; and to promote awareness of the symptoms of diabetes, so as to enable people who have it, but are unaware that they have it, to seek medical attention without delay; and to provide relief to, and promote the welfare of local people living with diabetes.
Donation of £1,277 to Diabetes UK Research, December 2006
In December 2006 we remitted a donation of £1,277, which was money collected on behalf of Diabetes UK Research and we applied it to sponsor a research project “Stem Cells Research”. This is a project by Dr Lodovic Vallier’s team at Cambridge University, jointly sponsored by Diabetes UK and the Medical Research Council Fellowship.
Diabetes UK Information Desk at West Middlesex University Hospital, July 2006
From 25th July 2006, We started an Information desk operating every Tuesday from 9.30am to 12.30pm. It is situated in the Atrium, opposite the main information desk, we are next to Outpatients One. There are free booklets and information about diabetes, covering who is at risk, detailing the symptoms and complications, and covering aspects of how living a healthy lifestyle can help avoid or delay developing diabetes. We also have a selection of books on Diabetes for sale. Normally we have the use of 2 tables, and a large screen to display our posters. The poster screen should be on display at all times. Volunteers will be welcome.
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