World Autism Awareness Week is seven days in which the public are encouraged to take part in activities across the country to raise awareness about autism. Schools, organisations and individuals are encouraged to to hold events across the country to talk about autism and to raise funds. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Grace Parry about living with autism.
Two men in Sheffield have become the face of a new campaign that highlight more reasons to quit smoking. Retired Paul Smith, from Netherthorpe, and security worker Mohammad Akram, who lives in Fir Vale, are hoping to persuade others to join them in quitting by focusing on not only on cancer and heart disease but other health impacts such as gum disease and yellow teeth, low energy, and the effects on senses like taste and smell. The campaign has been launched by Smokefree Sheffield. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!
Sheffield doctors say stem cell transplants could be a game changer for many patients with multiple sclerosis following international trials including at Sheffield’s Royal Hallamshire Hospital. Results showed the treatment was able to stop the disease and improve symptoms. It involves wiping out a patient’s immune system using cancer drugs and then rebooting it with a stem cell transplant. Multiple sclerosis affects one in 600 people in the UK, with over 100,000 people diagnosed between the ages of 20 to 40, some with conditions becoming very severe. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Emma Reid, group coordinator for the MS society.
Anti-fracking campaigners organised a theatrical demonstration outside Sheffield Hall, to highlight dangers of fracking through costume and story-telling. Fracking to extract shale gas through hydraulic fracturing of rocks deep underground has faced strong opposition with some councils already pledged to be frack free and campaigners pressing the government to slow down the issue of fracking licences until the risks are fully understood. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Cameron Hall of Friends of the Earth.
The Royal Hallamshire Hospital is supporting a new initiative for parents to have their baby’s stem cells from umbilical cord blood stored for their own private use in the future. It’s the second health trust in the north to offer the service to its patients following success with the technique in Leeds. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Shamshad Ahmed, founder and chief executive officer of Smart Cells, the company behind the initiative.
Meadowhall has selected Yorkshire Air Ambulance as their chosen charity for 2018/19 and aims to raise £150k in the next two years. The life saving charity maintains and operates two helicopters with full medical crews covering the Yorkshire region. The YAA said it costs around £12,000 a day to run a single helcopter. The charity replaces the Bluebell Wood Childen’s Centre, which received £128,000 from the centre in the last two years.
A report by Healthwatch Sheffield has found that people who are deaf or hard of hearing face multiple barriers leading to discrimination in accessing health or social care services. The Not Equal report, based on consultations with 75 Deaf, Deafblind and hard of hearing people indicated that many had experienced a poor level of service in places like hospitals and surgeries due to a lack of communications support. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Margaret Kilner, chief officer for Healthwatch Sheffield.
Sheffield City Council has been holding a recruitment fair at the Millennium Gallery to provide advice and information about opportunities in the care industry and to recruit new care workers. The event was attended by the council’s apprenticeship, social work, intervention and prevention, residential children’s, and fostering and adoption teams. The council is currently seeking to recruit 20 social care workers. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Taxi drivers across Sheffield have been invited to take part in health checks this week at the Pakistan Muslim Centre to improve their health and well-being. The health awareness event was to encourage cab drivers to have regular health checks including blood pressure and heart rate to help facilitate early intervention if necessary. The event was organised by the Sheffield Taxi Trade Association and Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust.
With patients being held in ambulances and in corridors in emergency wards, Sheffield Live! sought out public comment on the NHS crisis. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!