Residents in the Stokes who have recently been diagnosed with dementia and their family, carers and friends are invited to a ‘Living Well with Dementia’ roadshow in Bradley Stoke on Wednesday 23rd May.

The event, which is free to attend, will take place from 6pm until 8.30pm at Baileys Court Activity Centre (BS32 8BH).

The roadshow will offer practical, emotional and health advice and is intended to provide people with the information they need to understand their diagnosis, find out what support is available to them and learn how to live well with dementia.

During the roadshow, experts will be on hand to answer questions and attendees will be able to take home a handy guide to all of the relevant services and support that’s available. There will also be talks about managing your affairs and all the help that’s on offer from Age UK, the Alzheimer’s Society and the Memory Service.

Cllr Ben Stokes, Cabinet member for adult care in South Gloucestershire, said:

“A dementia diagnosis can leave the person with dementia and their family with lots of questions about what to expect and what they can do to plan for the future. This roadshow will provide useful information to help answer these questions and provide reassurance that you’re not on your own.”

Dr David Soodeen, local GP and clinical lead for mental health at Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire CCG, said:

“People do not always experience dementia in the same way. We would encourage anyone who thinks they may have dementia to go to their GP as soon as possible. An early diagnosis means that we can start to help. As GPs, we can signpost to a wide range of support services in the community to improve quality of life.

“The roadshow event is designed to connect people with dementia and their families and friends with the services and support available. Finding the right support and meeting others going through a similar experience can make a huge difference, and this event will be a great way of achieving this.”

More: How to book your free place at the event »

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December is finally here, and what a year 2017 has been! From political shock waves to some of the warmest temperatures on record, 2017 has been a year to remember.

December is also the start of Christmas preparations for many of us. Taking care of your health is very much as important as ensuring the turkey gets in the oven on time.

Planning ahead is crucial. Always ensure that if you are on repeat or regular medication that you have enough to last you over the Christmas period. This is also relevant if you are staying away from home over the holidays. Although the NHS is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, please be aware that over the Christmas period a limited service is run by pharmacies and general practice. The provision of this may be different across the country. If you are travelling aboard don’t forget travel insurance and/or a valid European health insurance card.

Also remember to make sure your medicine cabinet and first aid box is up to date. From dealing with minor injuries such as small burns or post-Christmas dinner reflux, a well-stocked medicine cupboard may prevent an unnecessary trip to the Out of Hours service or the Accident & Emergency department. I’m sure everyone is aware to keep medicines away and out of reach of children too!

Staying warm is also important to keeping well. This doesn’t mean you have to turn up the thermostat, but try to wear several layers made from natural fibers. As soon as it night draws in draw your curtains! This will help prevent drafts and keep the heat in.

It also isn’t too late to get your flu jab if you haven’t already. The flu can put a real dampener on anyone’s Christmas and is a real issue for the young and old. It is free for many at risk groups, but can also be purchased and administered in many pharmacies for a small fee, if you are not eligible for a free flu jab.

Having said all that, Christmas is meant to be a merry time and a chance to catch up with friends and family. I and the rest of the practice team wish all the readers of the Bradley Stoke Journal a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Dr Faisal Siddiqui
Bradley Stoke Surgery

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The Family Hope Center, an organisation that works with families whose children have a range of neurological conditions and brain injury, is holding “an interactive presentation for parents and professionals” in Bradley Stoke on Thursday 9th June. The event will take place from 1pm to 4pm at The West of England MS Therapy Centre (on Wheatfield Drive). The event has been organised by Melvyn Joyce, a parent who is currently following The Family Hope Center’s neuro-development programme for his daughter; he and his partner have found the Center’s exercises very beneficial.

Melvyn’s daughter Ella has “a random, non-inherited gene deletion that causes severe neurological dysfunction”. Melvyn and his wife, Claire, had been looking for a solution for their daughter’s condition when they came across The Family Hope Center, based in the USA but working with families all over the world. The Center shows parents how they can follow an individual treatment programme for their child at home.

Measurable progress

The organisation advocates a “programme-based solution that is measurable”, so that parents and carers can measure their child’s neuro-developmental progress in stages, rather than just managing symptoms on a day-to-day basis. The programme involves physical, physiological, emotional, social and nutritional treatments to target the area of weakness or injury and build new pathways in the brain.

Melvyn Joyce, who lives in north Bristol, attended one of the Center’s Parent Training Conferences last November, and says that “after only four months of implementing the programme at home for our daughter, Ella, we have seen a number of positive behavioural and developmental changes.” Melvyn says that through the programme, The Family Hope Center has successfully taken more than 3,000 children off their medication since 2002.

Local centre’s support

When Melvyn learnt that the organisation aims to extend its reach to the UK, he expressed his interest in organising an informative event in Bristol. The West of England MS Therapy Centre showed its support for holding the event here in Bradley Stoke. Doro Pasantes at the MS Therapy Centre has said, “We are very happy to have been chosen for the Family Hope Center’s neuro-rehabilitation open house event on 9th June”. Doro points out that over the last four years, The West of England MS Therapy Centre here in Bradley Stoke has extended its therapies to “any person living with a neurological condition in the Greater Bristol area, including Fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s, stroke and ME”, and oxygen treatment is also available on site for children with neurological conditions.

More: Beginning to address the roots causes of neurological challenges »

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[Advertising Feature] Bradley Stoke Pharmacy, located on Brook Way, alongside Bradley Stoke Surgery, is to reduce its opening hours from Wednesday 6th May 2015, when it merges with the nearby Ferndene Pharmacy (formerly Jhoots Pharmacy and, before that, Lloyds Pharmacy).

Ferndene Pharmacy will cease trading after the close of business on Tuesday 5th May 2015.

The changes come seven months after Bradley Stoke Pharmacy bought Ferndene Pharmacy from Jhoots, with a view to merging the two businesses, subject to approval from NHS England, which has now been granted.

New opening hours from Wednesday 6th May 2015

• Monday to Thursday: 8.30am to 7.30pm
• Friday: 8.30am to 6.30pm
• Saturday: 9am to 12noon
• Sunday: Closed

Richard Slade, joint owner of Bradley Stoke Pharmacy, said:

“Ferndene Pharmacy has lost a significant amount of business to Bradley Stoke Pharmacy. The amount of work and the number of customers at Ferndene Pharmacy have dropped significantly, which made it financially unviable. The best option was to merge both the branches and provide all possible services from one pharmacy.”

More: Previous (longer) opening hours not considered viable »

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