Tag Archives: Health

Put Spring in your step

Winter is finally over, so why not have a spring clean of your lifestyle choices and try walking to work?

People who walk to work often arrive feeling awake and with plenty of energy to take on the challenges of the day.

Walk to Work Week is the perfect time to get active. Join in the campaign between Monday (May 14) and Friday (May 18) by registering your steps on the website at http://www.livingstreets.org.uk/walk-with-us/events-and-challenges/great-british-walking-challenge and counting up how many muffins you can eat in exchange for the number of calories you burn.

Cllr Peter Butlin, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transport, said: “Why not make exercise part of your daily routine by combining your commute to work with getting into shape? A 15 minute walk both to and from work everyday can constitute the minimum recommended amount of physical activity you should be doing every week.”

John Linnane, Warwickshire’s Director of Public Health, added: “If you feel you live too far away to walk the whole way, or you are feeling a little out of condition, why not combine it with another mode of transport. You could catch the bus or train and walk the remainder of the journey and still feel the benefits. Or park and stride by finding a viable parking spot just outside of where you work.  And if you can not walk to work, at least take some time out to get some fresh air and exercise during your lunch hour.”

On average people walk between 3,000 and 4,000 steps a day. In Japanese, the pedometers nickname is ‘manpo-kei’, but there’s nothing lost in translation here, as it literally means ’10,000 steps’. This is the Government recommended daily amount of steps and there is evidence that walking 10,000 steps a day can lead to significant health benefits. If done daily it can help reduce the risk of developing serious illnesses such as heart disease, some cancers, diabetes and depression.

New powers will effectively ‘close’ problem alcohol retailers

Businesses that persistently sell alcoholic drinks to children could lose their license to sell alcohol in a matter of a few short weeks, thanks to new powers given to Warwickshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service.

Trading Standards Officers and Warwickshire Police can now stop businesses selling alcohol for up to two weeks where the retailer is found to have made two or more sales of alcohol to children in a three month period.

For many stores that rely wholly or predominately on the sale of alcohol for their profits, such as off-licenses, preventing a retailer from selling alcohol can often have a significant effect upon a business – effectively closing it for trade.

These new powers offer Trading Standards Services the opportunity to take quick and decisive action against problem businesses, whilst still allowing officers to take a full prosecution if a business transgressed further.

Warwickshire County Councillor Richard Hobbs, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety said: “Most retailers understand the problems caused by under-age drinking, to the health of young people and in terms of anti-social behaviour in the community. They take their responsibilities seriously and ensure that children and young people cannot buy alcohol.

“However, there remains a small minority who despite education, support and warnings, continue to sell to under 18s. This new power will help us to take quick and decisive action against them which will have an effect not only on their alcohol sales, but their entire business.”

In the latest undercover test purchase exercise, 17 alcohol retailers were visited across North Warwickshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth and Rugby. Businesses that were suspected of selling alcohol to children were targeted and four sales of alcohol were made to 15 year old child volunteers.

  • Nuneaton and Bedworth and North Warwickshire: 11 alcohol test purchases attempted and one sale made (in North Warwickshire).
  • Rugby: six alcohol test purchases attempted and three sales made.

Warwickshire Trading Standards uses information and intelligence gathered from local communities to target problem businesses and investigations by Warwickshire Trading Standards Service are now on-going.

  • A recent survey has revealed that 20 per cent of 13-year-olds drink alcohol at least once a week. In 2009, the Chief Medical Officer advised that under-15s should not be drinking alcohol at all.
  • Alcohol misuse is a major public health problem, placing a heavy burden on society, and affecting a large number of individuals of all ages.
  • A new national alcohol strategy was published in March 2012.
  • In Warwickshire, alcohol is key public health priority having featured in the Director of Public Health’s annual report of 2011; it is a cross-cutting priority for all four Community Safety Partnerships; and there is Warwickshire wide alcohol implementation plan supported by all key stakeholders.

Under 18?

Contact Compass Warwickshire for drug and alcohol advice, information and specialist treatment on freephone 08000 88 72 48. The service is available between the hours of 9am and 5pm. Please leave a message if your call isn’t answered – someone will get back to you.

More information from – http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/alcohol

In addition to the new powers detailed above, brought in following an amendment to the Licensing Act 2003, Trading Standards Officers also have the option to prosecute as an alternative. The offence of persistently selling alcohol to children now carries a maximum fine of £20,000 (raised from £10,000) and following conviction, a Magistrates court could suspend the retailers licence to sell alcohol for up to three months.

Health and Wellbeing Blog Launched!

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Warwickshire’s Health and Wellbeing Board have been celebrating the launch of a new Health and Wellbeing blog.

The aim of the blog is to give our residents news and information about the important health issues affecting them within the County.  Those visiting the site will be able to see details on local health initiatives, agendas and minutes of all meetings, information on board members and information on how the board will work together to improve the health and wellbeing outcomes for the residents of Warwickshire,

Health and Wellbeing Boards are a central concept in the government’s reform of health and social care, which is outlined in the Health and Social Care Act 2012. The vision is that the Board will act as the main strategy forum for health and care in the County; bringing together colleagues from the county council, district and borough councils, the NHS, public health and social care. The Board’s key responsibilities will be:

  • To ensure a coordinated approach to health, social care and public health across the County
  • To lead the development of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment
  • To develop a shared Health and Wellbeing Strategy that will act as an overarching strategy for all the partners involved
  • To receive and consider the commissioning plans of the GP led Clinical Commissioning Groups
  • To receive and consider patient and public feedback via regular reports from Warwickshire HealthWatch

Speaking about the blog, Director of Public Health, Dr John Linnane said:

“The blog will provide us with a great way to communicate key messages to a variety of audiences in a timely manner. Warwickshire was one of the first local authorities to establish a Health and Wellbeing Board in 2011 and yet it is already becoming a useful forum for reaching high level agreements on the principles of how health and social care will be delivered in the future. I am hopeful that the blog will now be used as a regular tool to see how that will be achieved.”

Bryan Stoten, Chair of the Health and Well-being Board said

“Good health for Warwickshire residents is what the County Council puts at the heart of its priorities. We can only do that with people’s support , they need to know what we are doing and why we think it will improve their health and social care. The goal for all of us must be to achieve the fullest engagement about their Health and Wellbeing between our residents and those providing their care.”

Follow for more information on the Health and Wellbeing Board.

What’s in your kebab?

Consumers ordering lamb curries or lamb kebabs may not get what they expect a Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards Service project has revealed.

Trading Standards Officers visited 20 restaurants and takeaways, at random, in Stratfordupon Avon, Leamington Spa, Nuneaton and Rugby and purchased 39 lamb curries and lamb kebabs. These were then tested to see what meat they actually contained and to check for high levels of artificial colours.

Lamb is typically the most expensive meat consumers can buy, followed by beef and pork with chicken being the cheapest. Trading Standards Officers wanted to check that consumers were getting what they expected – and paid for.

Incredibly, none of the 20 lamb kebabs sampled contained just lamb. They all contained a mixture of lamb together with either pork, beef or poultry (chicken).

Trading Standards Officers understand that some restaurants may be knowingly using chicken in their lamb kebabs as it helps to ensure the meat sticks together around the skewer during cooking.

Of the 19 lamb curries tested, only three contained just lamb. Again, most contained a mixture of lamb together with either beef or poultry (chicken).

Four lamb curries didn’t contain any lamb at all.

The foods were also checked for high levels of artificial colourings. Adults can be adversely affected by artificial colours, and in children trigger hyperactivity.

Although none of the curries were found to contain high levels of colours, 70 per cent of the kebabs tested did. One contained levels of artificial colouring that were 18 times higher than permitted, another was 13 times higher. This may be due to human error in preparation of the marinades used by the restaurants and take-aways to give the kebab colour.

Warwickshire County Councillor Richard Hobbs, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety said: “Trading Standards carry out important work to help ensure that the food we eat is correctly described and safe.”

“Consumers rely on accurate food descriptions. Some foods are not permitted to be eaten by some religions and cultures whilst some people may wish to avoid some foods because of allergy concerns.”

“Consumers should also have the confidence that if they are buying an expensive product such as lamb, that they are not getting chicken instead, a meat that is half the price.”

“Warwickshire Trading Standards will now be contacting every restaurant and takeaway involved. Further investigations are to be carried out and advice will be provided to retailers and the wholesale trade.”

Health from the hedgerows

This summer, Warwickshire County Council’s Heritage and Culture are running a series of walking tours around the Warwickshire countryside. 

Walking through areas of natural beauty, these tours will highlight the health and medicinal properties of wild plants and herbs across a variety of landscapes.

The tours will be led by experienced workshop leader and herbalist Lynne-Tann Watson.  Lynne’s extensive knowledge of plants includes their culinary, medicinal, magical and mystical uses.  Join her to discover both the common and little known uses of the different plants you encounter on one of her guided walks.

These walks take place on the following dates and locations.

Sunday 6 May 2pm – Kingsbury Water Park

Bodymoor Heath, Sutton Coldfield, B76 0DY (Grid Ref: SP20423 95917.  Meet at the information centre.  Car park charges apply. Over 600 acres of country park.

Friday 15 June 6.30pm – Clowes Wood

Off Wood Lane, near Earlswood, Solihull (Grid Ref. SP1015 7433) Meet in main car park off Wood Lane. Warwickshire’s finest ancient woods.

Wednesday 18 July 11am – Nebsworth Downs

Near Ilmington (Grid Ref. SP17714303). Meet in the car park of the National Trust Hidcote Gardens. The highest point in Warwickshire with stunning views.

Wednesday 29 August 11am – Burton Dassett Hills Country Park

Burton Dassett, Southam, CV47 2AB (Grid Ref. SP3945 5208). Meet at the Beacon car park. Car park charges apply. A stunning spot with some very rare plants.

Warwickshire County Council can offer these walking tours for FREE thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.  Booking is essential, please telephone Heritage Education 01926 412069 to book a place.  All ages welcome.

These are walking tours and we cannot guarantee any seating will be available at any point during the walks. Please wear footwear suitable for walking and clothing suited to the weather.  Terrain is not suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs.

Door to Door Health Screen Warning

Warwickshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service and NHS Warwickshire are warning residents to be cautious if they are offered health screening services on the doorstep.

Trading Standards Officers have received complaints about the activities of traders who are visiting consumers homes and using electronic devices which they claim can determine cardiovascular (or heart) health, blood pressure and the ‘biological age’ of the subject.

Health professionals at the Arden Cluster (NHS Warwickshire and NHS Coventry) are concerned that people may be given inappropriate advice by door step traders who are not medically qualified.

Trading Standards Officers believe that consumers may be pressured in to buying unnecessary health monitoring equipment or dietary supplements.

NHS Warwickshire’s advice to people who have specific concerns about their cardiovascular health is to discuss the matter with their GP. Any one who is generally concerned about looking after their health is advised to stop smoking, maintain a healthy weight, keep physically active and eat a healthy balanced diet.

Dr Francis Campbell, Medical Director at the Arden Cluster, said:

“Door to door traders are not the most suitable people to turn to if you have health concerns.”

“No trained, professionally qualified medical person will cold call at your home.”

“If you are concerned about your health, you require appropriate medical advice and should speak to your GP, pharmacist, or call NHS Direct or Warwickshire Healthline.”

To contact NHS Direct phone: 0845 46 47 or visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

To contact Warwickshire Healthline phone: 03000 247 111.

The Citizens Advice consumer service provides free, confidential and impartial advice on consumer issues. Visit www.adviceguide.org.uk or call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 08454 04 05 06.