Our most vulnerable rely on us...

Unlike England, Scotland and Wales, NI still does not have a budget or scheme in place for free period products in all school toilets. Yet again, we have been left behind. Schools already provide free toilet roll, hand soap, hand towels and sanitary waste disposal bins in toilets. What makes period products any different? We firmly believe that any toilet that requires toilet roll, requires period products in exactly the same way. In June 2020, a Plan international UK study showed how 3 in 10 UK girls have struggled to afford or access sanitary wear during lockdown, with over half (54%) of these girls having used toilet paper as an alternative. There is no doubt that period poverty has been exacerbated as a result of the current pandemic and the need to maintain good hygiene has never been more important. Due to extensive job losses, an increase in people using food banks, and many other local support services being cut, families have been hard hit and are under more financial pressure than ever. At the Homeless Period Belfast, we have seen an exponential increase in demand and requests for our own period packs. In April – June 2020 we received 3 times the demand than previous years. Now, more than ever, a free period products scheme in schools across NI will relieve the financial pressure on parents and students purchasing these items. It will also alleviate the pressure of school students having to remember to carry period products in their bags when there are many other things to worry about and remember to bring (exams, books, homework, hand sanitiser/masks, bus passes etc.), meaning students can go about their daily lives without getting caught out. Free period products in schools will ensure that every young person can learn and be their very best, without the worry of their next pad or tampon holding them back. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/northern-ireland-behind-as-rest-of-uk-signs-up-for-free-sanitary-products-in-schools-38022610.html

The pioneering surgery QVH is famous for is at risk of being lost forever should a merger be approved. The multiple mergers between NHS hospitals occurring in the last decade have commonly resulted in hidden and unchallenged loss of services. This risk is posed to QVH specialist services this time. It has been proposed that QVH merges with a super-sized trust Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WSHT) and Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust (BSUH), whose focus is providing local services for people living in Sussex ONLY. QVH is a specialist NHS trust that sits in Sussex. Unlike district general hospitals that only serve the local population, QVH provides specialist services for patients living in a much wider area - Kent, Surrey, Sussex and the rest of the UK. The services under threat include specialist breast cancer free flap reconstruction surgery (QVH performs 10% of all of the total cases in the UK), specialist eye operations (QVH set up the first UK Eye Bank and performs hundreds of complex corneal surgery on adults and children each year), facial palsy services (QVH is the largest centre in the UK), complex hand surgery (QVH performs reattachment of fingers and thumbs traumatically amputated), head and neck cancer surgery (QVH is the 4th largest unit in the UK), orthodontics (QVH is again the 4th largest treatment unit in the UK) and complex surgery for all types of skin cancer including melanoma. For more information about this campaign please visit - http://sossqvh.co.uk/

NHS employees have spent over a year working around the clock to keep us safe. That’s why the government stopped charging parking fees to these key workers during the height of the pandemic. Before that, NHS employees in England and Northern Ireland were charged as much as £40 a day on parking fees. The cost of parking is already a strain on the wages of many NHS workers - and now staff are coming forward to say that charges have been secretly reintroduced. Our NHS staff - who have sacrificed so much over the last year - deserve better. So, will you sign the petition now, and send a clear message to Matt Hancock: that NHS staff in England and Northern Ireland should not have to pay for parking while they work.

The Covid-19 pandemic has unleashed chaos on all our lives, however, it's hit our elderly the hardest. The very people who were asked to shield away from loved ones for months and were warned they were most susceptible to the deadly virus, are now facing a lengthy wait for this vital protection. This mess must be fixed. Hundreds of readers have got in touch with the Glasgow Times as the threat of winter flu season looms. Many of the people we’ve spoken to feel the NHS boards simply don’t care about their health because of their age. This is a national scandal and it must stop. Please sign our petition to help us give our OAPS a shot.

I had residents complaining to me about unmanaged fireworks affecting our UK elderly, sickly, people working shifts, and our pets, once again last night. The bins in Liden Lagoon were destroyed last night. The damage of public items and anti-social behaviour that happens when people get together to set off loud firework explosions in the night is unacceptable to residents. I have notified Swindon Nythe, Eldene and Liden NEL Parish & Police have been advised to act. I have asked Swindon Borough Council to issue letters to perpetrators for no exploding of loud fireworks close to residential housing for Liden, Eldene, Nythe, Park South & Swindon wide. Please report the noise nuisance & Anti-Social behavior to your local police, councils, and governments.

Since the early part of this year, Sinfin Health Centre has been closed for face-to-face consultations with patients. This has meant that we have had to travel to the Heatherton Village branch of the practice. Without a car this means four bus journeys or a taxi fare of £8 to £9 each way. The doctors and other staff are much appreciated by many of us and we do understand the effect that Covid 19 has had on our NHS. However, we feel it to be unfair for one patient group to have to struggle in this way, especially as Sinfin is home to many elderly people and young families on lower incomes. We therefore ask our doctors to consider the impact of their decision and to reopen Sinfin Health Centre now.

I’m one of 4 who have lost there child at birth childloss is such a taboo subject that gets forgotten about ive lost 2 children in neonatal due to early labour me and other greiving parents use this month to remember our babies and raise awareness to the fact it happens

During Covid-19 and in general, these health and wellbeing activities are extremely useful and keep people motivated and positive, particularly those who can't afford more expensive ways or want to be close to nature. This money making exercise is regressive, unhelpful and a draconian measure and should not be excused under any guise. Please stop this. Please sign, share and support. Maium Miah Talukdar

The Hospital League of Friends shop generates a large amount of money each year towards much needed equipment. Without the LoF, the hospital will miss out on at least £18,000 of funding raised purely by the shop alone.

All NHS Trusts across England should allow birth partners to support mothers throughout their whole pregnancy and birth. The government has made it clear that during the coronavirus crisis, birth partners are allowed to be present during pregnancy appointments and the birth. But still, a huge number of trusts in England are preventing birth partners from attending all of the big moments in the pregnancy: the 12-week scan, the 20-week scan and the duration of labour. This means that some mothers are going through birth alone, finding out that they’ve suffered a miscarriage, or that something is wrong during the pregnancy, with no one there to support them. No one should have to go through that alone. It shouldn’t matter where you live in the country - every mother should have access to the same support during pregnancy and birth.

Lakeside Healthcare Group unexpectedly announced on Wednesday 16th September 2020 that St Mary’s surgery will close 1st December 2020. This has triggered considerable public disquiet and discontent, not only about this decision but also about the current quality of Primary Care delivery in Stamford. It has become clear that the Primary Care Committee of Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group [CCG] who contract with Lakeside has not approved the closure and will need to be satisfied that patient needs can be met with the appropriate level of quality care. The Patient Participation Group calls upon Lincolnshire CCG to work in conjunction with South Kesteven District Council [SKDC] to develop a strategic plan for the delivery of Primary Care in Stamford that will be fit for the next 20 years in line with the Local Plan. This plan should be based on a thorough “needs-based analysis” reviewing the town and surrounding villages' current and future demography, the distribution & growth of population, its traffic flows and projections of future healthcare needs as defined in the NHS long term plans … and whether it is the public’s best interests for there to be a monopoly primary care provider. This cannot be left to Lakeside alone who by their rushed and unplanned attempt to close St Mary’s have already shown they do not possess the required competence to lead on such an important subject.