Health

DIABETICS in Three Rivers are being urged to attend their appointment when they receive an invitation to have their eyes screened.

Anyone suffering from the condition who is aged 12 or above and registered with a doctor in west Hertfordshire is eligible for screening.

But many are not taking this simple test, which could reduce the likelihood of losing their
sight.

WOMEN across Northwood and Rickmansworth are being urged to protect themselves against cervical cancer by having a smear test.

Around 900 people die every year from the disease - which can be largely prevented thanks to screening and vaccination programmes. All women aged between 25 and 64 are eligible for free cervical screening every three to five years.

Sue Marsden, screening manager for East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, said: "Following Jade Goody's sad struggle with cervical cancer last year we saw an increase in the number of women coming forward who had never had a test before, or who weren't tested regularly.

"Regular testing can help to detect any abnormalities early so they can be monitored or treated and can help to prevent cervical cancer developing in the future."

A TOUCH screen patient check-in and automated call system at Mount Vernon Hospital has been hailed a success, bringing benefits to both patients and staff.

Savience Assure was installed earlier this year at the hospital's outpatient department, which is now based at the newly built treatment centre and sees an average of 2,600 patients each month.

The system, which is currently being used in 15 hospitals and 750 doctors surgeries, has been praised for helping to significantly reduce queues at reception desks and giving nurses more free time to concentrate on care.

A MULTIPLE Sclerosis sufferer is calling for a change in UK euthanasia laws so he can die with dignity in his own home.

Chris Handley, 55, of Links Way, Croxley Green, has lived with the degenerative disease for the past 15 years.

He said: "Out of the blue one morning, I woke up blind. My eyesight slowly came back but I went to hospital for a scan which discovered I had a mild form of MS.

"Then about six years ago, I collapsed when I was walking the dog, and my condition has steadily worsened. Now, my hip muscles have gone and I'm in an electric wheelchair."

NURSES at a Northwood hospital held a Clean Team Day to raise awareness of the importance of hand washing as one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce infection.

Staff, consultants and visitors of BMI Bishops Wood Hospital, in Rickmansworth Road, were asked to take a hand-washing test using a special gel that mimics germs and a UV light box, known as a glo box.

After applying the gel and washing their hands with soap, participants used the glo box to see which areas were not thoroughly cleaned.

RUBBISH that has been mounting up outside the site of a former pub is becoming a major health hazard, say residents.

The litter first started to get dumped outside the site after The Reindeer pub was demolished last year and people in the area are concerned it is attracting rats.

Lisa Maclay, a member of Northwood Residents' Association, said: "There has been rubbish accumulating there for months and months and it looks absolutely dreadful.

"It's extremely unsightly and obviously a health hazard. I have heard there are rats in there."

However, the site owners are registered in Cyprus so they are exempt from UK legislation.

Kathryn Sparks, deputy director of environment and consumer protection for Hillingdon Council, said: "We are aware of the problem at the site of the old Reindeer pub and are working to resolve it as soon as possible.

"As the waste is on private land, we are legally required to serve notice before removing it. A noticed was served on September 3 and the waste will be removed if not cleared within 21 days."

Mrs Maclay added: "From our point of view it has been going on for long enough now so if the council are able to do something about it we expect them to take quick action once they are legally able to do so."

Northwood councillor, Scott Seaman-Digby, also said he will be pushing for the area to be fenced in the coming weeks if the refuse problem persists.

HOSPITAL staff have been left devastated after being told the ward they have worked on for 21 years is to close.

The Daniels Ward, a continuing care facility for long term conditions at Mount Vernon Hospital, Rickmansworth Road, Northwood, could be closed in less than a month.

Alan Holmes, 75, of Northwood, has been a volunteer at the ward for 12 years.

He said: "The management held a meeting with the ward staff on August 24 to tell them the ward would close in six to eight weeks.

"When they came out they were all crying because they thought they were going to lose their jobs. The ward has been open for 21 years and most of the staff have been there since it opened.

"Most of the patients are extremely old and some are deaf and partially blind. They can't cope with anything themselves and they're just going to be pushed out somewhere else and they'll probably be separated.

"They get cared for so well in the ward and we always have birthday parties for them.

"There are eight of them on the ward but others keep coming in. The most we have had since I've been there is 14.

"They easily get frightened if they are out of their environment because they're familiar with everyone on the ward.

"They have brought us through the war and worked hard and paid their way and now what's happening? They're getting pushed out to die. That is what will happen.

"No one even knows where they will be going. It's a disgraceful thing they're doing."

However, a spokesperson at NHS Hillingdon, said: "Following a review of the services provided at the Mount Vernon site and due to the falling number of patients receiving care on the ward, NHS Hillingdon are considering closing the ward.

"We are working with the hospital management to then look to move patients to a specialist placement, more appropriate to patients conditions, which we would match as closely as possible to individual needs.

"We would also wish to take account of patients and relatives wishes as far as possible with regards to possible placements, including taking account of locations and travel times. We are in discussion with relatives to facilitate this.

"With regard to staff, there will be no redundancies."

A DOCTOR who helped a brain damaged colleague sign a power of attorney in favour of his wife has escaped punishment.

Dr Nizar Merali, 57, of Wolsey Road, Northwood, assessed his former colleague after the doctor suffered alcohol related brain injuries and was unable to talk.

Merali claimed Dr Kantilal Parmar's ability to understand was 'eight out of ten' and he could therefore sign the power.

But this was disputed at the General Medical Council where it was revealed Dr Parmar scored zero out of ten on tests in India, where he fell ill.

Dr Parmar's wife Vasanti then withdrew an inheritance bond in favour of stepdaughter Kendal for £100,000.

She also cut her and sister Belinda from her father's will.

On Friday (28) Dr Jacqueline Mitton, chair of his hearing, said Merali's actions were not in the best interests of his friend and his failings amounted to misconduct.

She said: "The tests used by you to assess Dr Parmar's mental capacity were both inadequate and inappropriate.

"The panel has found that in confirming Dr Parmar had the necessary mental capacity to sign the power of attorney your actions were below the standard expected of a registered medical practitioner."

But despite the finding of misconduct, Dr Mitton said there was not enough evidence to suggest Merali's fitness to practise was impaired.

Although she considered issuing Merali with a warning, this too was dismissed as his misconduct was 'not sufficiently serious to undermine confidence in the medical profession'.

Merali, who denied wrongdoing, was found guilty of nine charges relating to his flawed assessment in 2005. He was cleared of dishonesty.

The doctor attended the two week hearing throughout.

A SUCCESSFUL and devoted charity that has raised almost half a million pounds for a cancer centre has finally called it a day after 20 years.

Friends of Mount Vernon Cancer Centre (MVCC) decided to go out with a bang with a final cheque presentation of £44,512 towards chemotherapy pumps for the centre.

Chairman of the charity, David Brooke, presented the group's final cheque to Williams, general manager for cancer services, and consultant clinical oncologist Dr Peter Ostler, at a special get-together on Monday (24).

Mr Brooke said: "It's a sad day and we all have lots of fond memories but it just had to be done.

"The amount of donations was dropping away and my wife and I then decided to move away from the area.

"Underneath all this was the thought that we didn't want it to just dwindle away. We wanted to go out with a big final cheque and we've definitely done that.

"We've had a fantastic time and raised over £440,000 without taking anything away for admin costs.

"In this day and age when you get fundraisers earning £30k a year and we do it for nothing you know it's a pretty special thing."

The event, held in the board room of the cancer centre at Mount Vernon Hospital, in Rickmansworth Road, Northwood, marked the end of two decades of dedicated fundraising by the group.

The team have organised a variety of events over the years but perhaps will be best remembered for the golf days, which alone raised over £80,000.

They have bought everything from carpets and furniture to state-of-the art brachytherapy equipment to tackle prostate cancer.

Mrs Williams said: "The Friends of MVCC have been true friends to the staff and patients of our service. I have a great deal of admiration for the hard work and dedication they have put into the fundraising over the years.

"The committee has been a small but loyal band of supporters offering up views and opinions as well as funds.

"I will miss them personally and I know the cancer centre will miss their contributions to our service."

PATIENTS at Mount Vernon Hospital will now have access to their own dedicated bathrooms and toilets thanks to a £335,000 project.

At the end of July, the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust completed the project to overhaul patient bathrooms and toilets at the Lister and Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) hospitals and at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, in Rickmansworth Road, Northwood.

Patients in single sex bays now have access to their own dedicated bathrooms and toilets, thus improving their privacy and dignity.