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News, Nottingham News, Notts Health & Care, Notts Leisure, Notts Sport

Here at P.E.C.S. we have been open since January2017, offering a range of facilities from free weights, pin loaded machines, plate loaded machines and fitness classes. Our ethos is to help the community to realise the benefits of a healthy exercise and nutritional lifestyle.

We have not stood still in these seven years of business, we have survived covid and expanded twice since opening. We have future developments to make this a very exciting time to be a member.

We are continually striving to introduce new concepts and classes.

The gym is co-owned by Stephen Edwards and Tracy Kidsley. Stephen has been in the fitness industry for over forty years and brings a wealth of experience. Tracy has been in the industry for seven years and is currently exploring the impact of peri-post menopause fitness benefits. They are both local to the surrounding area and offer personal training sessions at very competitive prices.

One of our main target groups at PECS Fitness is the growing Diabetic population in today’s society. Stephen Edwards co – owner was diagnosed 33 years ago and has first-hand knowledge and understanding of diabetes. Now at the age of 60 he manages the condition through his own specialist diabetic program of exercise and low carb diet. Adapting training techniques with his own substantial training experience to pass on knowledge to members at P.E.C.S. Fitness (Prevention Exercise Cure Solutions) Gibb Street, Long Eaton, NG10 1EE.

We at P.E.C.S. insist that the exercises do not need to be complex or complicated. The first is just to be more active by moving more. You can incorporate an exercise routine using a chair if mobility is an issue. Basic bodyweight exercises and resistant bands can be used to progress to a more active stage.

What is Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is the result of the body losing the ability to control its sugar levels properly. The level of sugar is critical, to high and it can cause damage to the body. Control of sugar levels is the job of a very important hormone called insulin which is produced by the pancreas. Insulin sends the sugar to cells in the muscles, liver or converts it to fat for storage. When someone is type 2 diabetic those cells have become resistant to insulin therefore sugar levels remain elevated and dangerous.

Factors such as ethnicity, high levels of stress, a diet high in processed foods and refined sugars, very sedentary lives all increase the chances of becoming type 2 diabetic.

What is important to be aware of is that type 2 diabetes can be effectively managed and even reversed. Making dietary changes such as reducing consumption of processed foods and refined sugars, increasing daily activity and managing stress effectively can help the body to become more insulin sensitive again which lowers sugar to healthier less damaging levels. Over time medications can be reduced or even stopped and the person classed as non type 2 diabetic.

News, Nottingham News, Notts Health & Care

An innovative project saving surplus food from being wasted which has delivered around 1,000 meals a week to local charities has been shortlisted for a national award.

The City Council’s meal production project in partnership with FareShare Midlands, FareShare UK and Sainsbury’s has been going from strength to strength since its launch in July 2022.

In recognition of our work with FareShare we have been nominated for a prestigious Public Sector Catering Award for Sustainability. The awards celebrate the work of individuals, teams and organisations in the catering industry that work to make a difference whether that be in schools, universities, NHS or local government.

Nottingham City Councillor Cheryl Barnard, Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People and Education, said: “We are delighted to have been shortlisted for a Public Sector Catering Award for sustainability for our meal production project with FareShare. This important project is reducing the environmental impact of food waste while bringing healthy food to community groups.

“The project is giving volunteers valuable opportunities to develop their skills, take part in training, improve their employability and improve mental wellbeing. The meals created have been of an excellent standard and it is evident that the meals are making a difference to people who receive them.”

The FareShare team has been creating delicious meals that make a difference to local people in need and saving food from going to waste. FareShare Midlands are using the commercial kitchen at Loxley House, Nottingham City Council’s HQ, to make meals from surplus food from the food industry that would otherwise be thrown away. The meals are delivered to local charities dealing with poverty, isolation and the cost of living crisis.

By the end of December 2022, the kitchen had:

  • Saved eight tonnes of surplus food going to waste, equivalent to 20 tonnes CO2 
  • Distributed 6.8 tonnes of food, equivalent to 19,428 meals
  • Cooked, frozen and delivered around 1,000 meals per week
  • Registered 19 Nottingham charitable groups to receive meals.

Surplus food is sourced by FareShare from local suppliers across the Midlands. The fresh produce FareShare receive is always seasonal. It’s sourced from growers when they are harvesting quantities of fruits or vegetable surplus to requirements. Currently the project has a glut of celeriac they are putting into meals.

Fareshare has also began accessing and unlocking new surplus food from manufacturing. This food, sometimes termed ‘work in progress’, lends itself to cooking activities as the food is already part-prepared and part-cooked. By accessing this surplus food, they can cook more community meals quickly and save more food from going to waste.

Volunteers are vital to running the project and the FareShare team at Loxley House includes two chefs and a team of over 20 volunteers. Through their experience in the kitchen, volunteers are able to develop their confidence, social connections as well as improve their employability skills.

FareShare Midlands also work in partnership with local organisation Pulp Friction, to provide adults with a learning disability and/or autism the chance to further develop their skills in the Loxley House kitchen.

Pulp Friction’s Members are given the opportunity take part in a ten-week work experience placement at the kitchen where they work through training, such as:

  • Health and Safety in the kitchen
  • Food safety & Hygiene
  • Food preparation skills
  • knife skills
  • Soup preparation (for 300 portions)

At the end of ten weeks, Pulp Friction’s Members can take Level 2 Food Safety.

Then they can volunteer at the Police and Fire Station HQ canteen which serves 1,000 staff meals daily and some will go on to have work experience in a school kitchen environment with a view to employment.

Since September 2022 the kitchen has been shared between FareShare and Nottingham Catering as we needed freshly prepared hot meals to be transport into a local school.

Pierce O’Connor, FareShare Projects and Programmes Manager, said: “All the staff are respectful of the space and get on with each other very well. They are always looking out for each other.”

The project aims to increase its services to cook and distribute 2,000 meals a week to up to 40 local charities within the next six months.

Nottingham News, Notts Health & Care

Care home residents from Fairway View, in Bulwell have been ‘baking up a storm’ in an effort to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Society. Residents were inspired by the charities’ commitment to supporting older people throughout the pandemic, deciding on a tasty treats themed fundraiser.

The care team and residents set to work to bake delicious cupcakes for their bake sale. Residents enjoyed sharing their favourite recipes and even hosted a ‘Bake Off’ style challenge Complete with awards for ‘Messiest Baker’, ‘Star Baker’ and ‘Most Creative Design’!

Resident, Brenda Walton, said, ‘I have always loved to bake, growing up I learnt from my family and always enjoyed making delicious treats for others when I had the chance. It was great to be involved in each step, from weighing out the ingredients, mixing to decorating and knowing it was all for a great cause made the cupcakes all the sweeter!’.
The cupcakes were later sold to staff, friends, relatives, doctors and nurses who all made a charitable contribution for the worthy charity. Home Manager, Gaynor Smart-McCann, said, ‘We are always looking for ways that we can support charitable causes, if that be on a national scale or contributing to a local go fund me here in Bulwell.
To join forces together to make these delicious cakes was a brilliant bonding activity that was filled with fun and laughter.

We are thrilled to have raised so much money during our bake sale for the Alzheimer’s Society and we are proud to know our donation will go towards supporting people affected by dementia’. Fairway View, operated by Ideal Carehomes, is rated ‘OUTSTANDING’ by the CQC and provides 24-hour residential and dementia care on an inclusive fee basis.

Residents can enjoy a full programme of health, leisure and wellbeing activities managed by a dedicated team of carers. All 60 bedrooms are en-suite, enabling staff to deliver person-centred care in a dignified manner, promoting independence as far as possible. For more information about Fairway View, contact the team on 0115 975 8770 or visit https://www.idealcarehomes.co.uk/

Nottingham News, Notts Health & Care

Fairway View, Front of House Manager, Alison Fry, was awarded ‘Support Star of the Year’ at the Prestigious Awards.
Alison Fry, who has worked at Fairway View care home since 2019, has been recognised for her enthusiasm, insightful care home knowledge and dedication to help others.

The award was particularly poignant, as Alison spent much of her time throughout the pandemic offering guidance, updates, and regular check ins with residents friends and families, whilst also organising socially distanced visits and skype calls so loved ones could keep in touch throughout the lockdowns.

The annual Ideal Care Awards were created in 2019 to recognise, reward and pay tribute to the Ideal Carehomes staff team who go above and beyond their roles. After a callout for nominations, the group received a record breaking 1200 entries across 14 categories, ranging from Housekeeping Hero and Resident Outstanding Contribution to Home Manager and Home of the Year. Internal judging days took place in July which determined the finalists who were invited to celebrate their achievements at a gala dinner at Casa Hotel in Chesterfield. The awards were hosted by Shaun Williamson, well- known for his role as Barry Evans in EastEnders.

Shaun entertained the finalists with stand-up comedy before announcing each category winner. He said, ‘It was a real honour to have been asked to join Ideal Carehomes at their awards ceremony. The stories of each finalist were incredibly moving, and it made every award extremely meaningful. Congratulations to the winners, you are all such a deserving bunch of people!’. Speaking after the awards, Alison, said, ‘I am so thrilled to have been presented with the ‘Support Star’ award. There were so many incredibly talented people within the category, so to have won makes me feel incredibly proud. Thank you to everybody who took the time to nominate me, it really means so much to me that my work brings such comfort and support to others’.

Home Manager, Gaynor Smart-McCann, said, ‘I am incredibly proud of Alison and her achievements, she is an extremely deserving winner! Alison is an extremely valued member of our team, however, her work throughout the pandemic has been invaluable. Alison devoted herself to reassuring families, providing a listening ear and shoulder to cry on. Alison also helped us to welcome so many new starters, putting them at ease throughout the course of their training and explaining just how everything works around our home. Congratulations Alison!’.

Fairway View is a residential and dementia care home, which is rated ‘OUTSTANDING’ by the Care Quality Commission. If you are interested in current opportunities to work at Fairway View, visit www.idealcarehomes.co.uk/careers or contact Home Manager, Gaynor, on 0115 975 8770.

Nottingham News, Notts Health & Care

A new venue has opened in Radcliffe which will offer Covid and flu jabs to eligible residents.
The clinic is based in Radcliffe United Reformed Church in Blackburn Street, and there are two types of vaccination being offered:

• A double jab – a Covid booster and the flu jab – to those who are eligible and have received an invitation from their GP or the NHS to book a slot. You cannot just turn up for these.
• To anyone over 16 – first and second doses of the Pfizer Covid vaccine. Young people aged 16 and 17 will receive a single vaccine. No appointment is needed, just turn up. To check the days and times the clinic is open for walk-ins, go to https://www.bury.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=15987).
Covid boosters will be offered to residents who had their second dose of the vaccine at least six months ago. People will be invited in priority order, like the earlier phases of the vaccination programme, meaning that the most vulnerable will receive theirs first.
Dr Victoria Moyle, clinical lead for the Radcliffe clinic and a GP at Tower Family Healthcare in Spring Lane, said: “More than 250,000 Covid jabs have been administered to Bury people in the first two rounds of vaccination, and we’re keen to continue this success and make sure that priority groups get their booster dose.
“We also want those who are eligible for a free flu jab to have that too, which is why we’re inviting those groups to have both jabs at the same time.
“Opening this new clinic in Radcliffe will make it easier for local residents to get themselves fully protected against two potentially deadly viruses.”

Nottingham News, Notts Health & Care

Let’s face it: there is a huge amount of information online about how to shed the pounds and get in shape. Wading into this endless stream of advice can be both confusing and overwhelming. And, when you take into account the new fads that seemingly pop up every day, the situation only becomes more dire. After all, who can keep up with all the raw food plans, prepackaged menus, and liquid cleanses that are constantly promoted in our social feeds?

The main problem with these very restrictive diets is that they only lead to short-term weight loss at best. That’s because most people cannot maintain them consistently and end up giving up after a couple of weeks. Losing 10 pounds a week on a fad diet may seem tempting, but it often results in unhealthy and unsustainable weight loss.
The real secret to healthy and successful weight loss is to adopt a lifestyle that you can maintain for the long run. This involves changing your diet, following a regular workout schedule, and taking the right supplements for your body’s needs. With that in mind, here are 5 other tips to help you achieve your weight and fitness goals:

• Eat Better at Breakfast
While all meals are important, breakfast is the most crucial one of all. That’s because it helps you start your days on the right track. A hearty, healthy breakfast will fill you up and give you optimal satisfaction for longer periods of time.
Your goal should be to eat between 400 to 500 calories at breakfast. Build a meal that includes lean proteins (nuts or eggs), fibers (fruits or vegetables), and whole grains.

• Say Goodbye to Added Sugar
The main reason for most lifestyle diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease is added sugars – especially from sugary beverages and soft drinks. Processed foods in general contain a lot of added sugars and do not provide any of the nutrients your body needs to stay healthy. Instead, jump on Nutribullet bandwagon and replace sugary drinks with healthier, green smoothie options.
For most people, the fastest way to lose excess weight is simply by cutting out foods that are high in added sugars from their diet. Keep in mind that many “organic” or “healthy” foods can also have very high sugar content, so reading labels should be a regular part of your shopping process.

• Start Lifting Weights
While changing your diet can help you lose a lot of weight fast, nothing beats keeping your body fit with regular exercise. Your best option is to visit the gym at least three or four times a week, doing some warm up, and lifting some weights. This form of exercise is ideal because it helps you burn off a lot of calories. It also keeps your metabolism from slowing down – a typical side effect of weight loss. You can also speed this process up with a fat burning supplement such as the range available at www.myelitehealth.co.uk. If lifting weights isn’t your cup of tea, then look for workout plans such as the massively popular Joe Wicks workout to get you moving in the comfort of your own home.

• Cook More
Did you know that research shows that cooking more meals at home can promote healthy eating and weight loss? Eating out is fun, but it should not be your daily go-to. Instead, save the restaurants for special occasions and start eating more home-cooked meals. This is a great way of sticking to your healthy diet plan and keeping your weight in check.

• Sleep at the Proper Time
It might sound funny, but sleep deprivation can cause you to pack on the pounds. In fact, research demonstrates that getting less than seven to eight hours of sleep every night can actually slow down your metabolism! So stick to a regular sleep schedule in the next year for a leaner, fitter you.

Nottingham News, Notts Health & Care

Dr Keith Girling (Medical Director), Carol Drummond (Interim Director of Midwifery) and Michelle Rhodes (Chief Nurse) at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust gave a progress report on their maternity services to the County Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee today. In October 2020, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) undertook a review of maternity services at Nottingham University Hospital (NUH) and in December 2020 published their report in which they re-rated NUH from ‘Requires Improvement’ to ‘Inadequate’ – along with regulatory notices requiring the Trust to take immediate actions to make the service safe for mothers and babies.

This topic was last on the agenda of the Health Scrutiny Committee on 9 March 2021 when Members heard that the Trust accepted there was evidence of longstanding concerns about maternity services and it had taken a range of actions to improve oversight of maternity services even before the ‘Inadequate’ rating had been issued, given the Prevention of Further Deaths Report issued in September 2020. In addition, the Trust’s Improvement Plan has the ambition to move to a ‘Good’ rating by the end of 2021.

Dr Girling, Carol Drummond and Michelle Rhodes attended today to update the committee on their action plan, which included a range of measures such as:
• recruitment of additional midwives including a substantive Director of Midwifery due to start in post on the 21st June
• daily escalation meetings to ensure staffing safe for the women needing care
• additional training on fetal heart rate monitoring (approx. 500 staff) progressing well with expected completion by end of May
• purchase of 51 new fetal heart rate monitors, which are being rolled out into clinical areas as they are configured and training is complete.
• new IT devices being deployed across the service with improvement in community WiFi, to be supported by newly appointed digital midwives.

Councillor Sue Saddington, Chair of Health Scrutiny Committee, said: “I am grateful to the representatives from NUH for coming to update us today, but what I’ve heard and read does give me some cause for concern. I feel that the report we have seen today is not detailed enough and I would like to see much more at our meeting in October, such as the level of training the new midwives have, what type of incidents have taken place, details about after care. We need to make sure that ladies and their babies are safe.”

Dr Keith Girling, Medical Director at NUH, said: “This is all about women and all about babies and making this service right for them. I’m pleased to report we have made a number of appointments into midwifery – 39 since September last year. We are still working with other local providers at recruitment opportunities to fill the remaining gaps. We have been working to hear the voices of women throughout this process and have much better links with mothers about their experiences.

“We have had some progress since our last time in March; the CQC revisited us a few weeks ago and have removed the section 29 improvement notice on the basis of the improvements they have seen. We’re very mindful that there’s still much that needs to be done and that this is not something that’s going to be quick to fix. We are now looking at a transformational programme to create a culture that is safe for women, safe for babies and safe for staff.”
NUH will report back to Health Scrutiny Committee in October (date to be confirmed). In the meantime, NUH representatives have invited Committee members to visit maternity units at their Queen’s Medical Centre and City Hospital Campuses.

Nottingham News, Notts Health & Care

The Nottingham Pet Crematorium were delighted to present Ward D58 at The Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham with a new water cooler recently. Healthcare assistant Erica Stanley, who received the cooler on behalf of the hospital, said: “This is an amazing gesture from the owners of Nottingham Pet Crematorium. We would like to thank them very much. We need every donation possible, even more so during this covid pandemic. Every donation helps in such a big way. The Nottingham Pet Crematorium have been wonderful supporters over the years.”

Rita and John Harbury-Carlisle, owners of the West Bridgford based Nottingham Pet Crematorium, have previously donated several fans, a coffee machine, toiletries and even clothes in pre-covid time. The new water cooler will be available for both staff and patients on the ward. Rita said: “We knew they were desperate for help and we are always delighted to assist the Queens Medical Centre. The recent spell of hot weather did not help. We like to do what we can to make peoples stay in hospital as comfortable as possible.”

The Nottingham Pet Crematorium is a family partnership run by Yorkie breeder Rita Harbury-Carlisle and her husband John. The couple are pet lovers who once ran the Antara Luxurious Dog Hotel. They now concentrate on their 25-year-old Cremation service, complete with chapels of rest and farewell rooms. The Nottingham Pet Crematorium is the only service of this kind in the East Midlands that has been Independently Inspected & Approved by the Association of Pet Cemeteries and Crematoria.

The couple provide a respectful service as an alternative to leaving your pet with the vet for disposal. Rita and John will listen to your wishes, explain the many alternatives available and offer friendly advice. The beautiful surroundings at Nottingham Pet Crematorium are available along with a collection service which includes the option to use their wonderful traditional hearse.

Nottingham News, Notts Health & Care

Nottingham based carers from Coppice Lodge care home have been spreading a little joy around the local community, dishing out hearty breakfasts for frontline workers to show their support and say thank you for all that they do.
With lots of suggestions from the team on where to make their first delivery, Hayward House Hospice Palliative Care Unit was selected to receive the feast in recognition of their outstanding work throughout the pandemic.
The Coppice Lodge team created tasty breakfast bags including sausage and bacon sandwiches, along with vegetarian and gluten free options. They also included a touching ‘thank you’ letter, offering words of support and encouragement to their fellow healthcare heroes.

The care team at Coppice Lodge now intend to continue spreading the joy across the community to those who have worked throughout the pandemic. Plans include deliveries to a multitude of sectors including the emergency services, fire, ambulance and police units, paramedic teams, local GP practices, chemists and pharmacies, postal service workers, refuse collectors and even teachers at local primary schools.

Lifestyle Manager, Lorna Thornley, who is playing an instrumental role in delivering the delicious meals around the community said, ‘During my deliveries, I met some truly inspirational people who have really worked hard over the last year and absolutely deserved a treat! Everyone was so grateful for their breakfast sandwiches, and it really goes to show how a little bit of kindness goes a long way’.

Alex Field, Home Manager at Coppice Lodge, said, ‘We have received so much positive feedback about our breakfast deliveries, and I am just pleased to know that maybe the reason a key worker is smiling is because of our team – It is an incredibly rewarding feeling and the whole reason we started our breakfast initiative!’.

Coppice Lodge, operated by Ideal Carehomes, is a residential and dementia care home boasting a hair salon, cinema room and spacious lounges overlooking landscaped sensory gardens. All 64 bedrooms are en-suite, enabling staff to deliver person-centred care in a dignified manner, promoting independence as far as possible. For more information about Coppice Lodge, contact Home Manager Alex on 0115 920 5906 or click https://www.idealcarehomes.co.uk/.

Nottingham News, Notts Health & Care

Over 100,000 rapid tests (lateral flow test) to support the fight against Covid-19 have now been provided across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. As of Monday 6 September, over 100,000 tests have been taken by people without any symptoms of Covid-19 at Community Testing sites to ensure they aren’t carrying the virus and potentially transmitting it to others.

Around one in three people with Covid-19 don’t have any symptoms, but can still pass it on, which is why rapid testing is such a vital tool in helping to identify cases of coronavirus we would otherwise not find. Even those people who have been vaccinated can still pass on the virus – it is vital to still take regular tests. Through the Community Testing Programme, people have benefited from easy access to tests at local testing centres and mobile units in neighbourhoods. The Programme has also given out nearly 60,000 home testing kits.

Jonathan Gribbin, Director of Public Health for Nottinghamshire said: “Mansfield and other areas across the county are currently seeing high rates of transmission, in a wide range of settings, and affecting people of all ages. Asymptomatic testing plays a vital role in detecting these cases and breaking the chain of transmission. “I’m delighted we’ve reached the 100,000 mark with so many people in Nottinghamshire taking regular tests to protect their communities and loved ones. “Lateral flow tests are free, quick and easy to do and can be completed twice a week. Thank you to everyone who has already used these tests.

With rates in Nottinghamshire remaining at a high level, I encourage everyone to make twice weekly testing a part of their routine, even if they have already been vaccinated” Lucy Hubber, Director of Public Health at Nottingham City Council, said: “This milestone is a great achievement to everyone that has worked hard to set up and sustain a successful community testing programme across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. I would like to thank everyone who have taken up this offer and have used these tests to protect the people around them.

“It takes two minutes to take a free rapid Covid-19 test – a simple and quick swab from the back of the throat and nose. Results take only 30 minutes to show – these 30 minutes could protect your family and friends. “Now we are beginning to experience normal life again, testing is still an important tool in our efforts to stop the spread of Covid-19 and continue to protect each other.” Group Manager at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, Andy Macey, said: “As part of our response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we released 50 members of staff from their normal duties to support our partners. Out of those 50, we had six individuals working on Nottinghamshire’s Community Testing sites.
“Those six members of staff worked extremely hard behind the scenes turning libraries, leisure centres, pubs and even football grounds into testing facilities.

“Our staff trained volunteers into testing operatives who have gone on to test thousands of people around the county.
“The fact that the testing programme has gone on to test their 100,000th person today is fantastic and a great achievement.

“On behalf of everyone from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, we want to congratulate and thank everyone on this programme for their hard work throughout the tough months and for stepping up to this challenge. It has been fantastic to witness great teamwork and partnership working.” There are many sites across the city and county where you can take a test or pick up a box of home testing kits. For further information on opening times and how to order tests online is available on our community testing website page.

In addition, you can order home test kits for free online or collect them for free at local pharmacies. Please remember, if you are experiencing symptoms of Covid-19 or have a positive rapid test, you must urgently take a PCR test, you can also take a PCR test if you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive – you can simply book a test on the Government website or by calling 119.