Health and well-being - an Eastbourne perspective Health and well-being is probably the most important issue that each of us are called upon to consider in our lifetime. However, as we get older, the question of health and well-being assumes even greater importance. For that reason the ESF feels that health and well-being should be one of its main priorities. The Eastbourne Seniors Forum will not offer advice on any medical condition or recommend any particular treatment for a medical condition. Any person who requires information about treatment or any medical condition should seek the advice of their doctor or other health professional. The ESF is not responsible for the content of external internet sites shown as links to our website. The ESF as a voice for older people, will play its full part in seeking to improve the health provisions and well-being of older people in Eastbourne and the surrounding area by working in partnership and liaison with Organisations, both Statutory and Voluntary who have a responsibility to provide health facilities for older people. We will do this without distinction of gender, ethnic background, age, disability, sexuality, religion and cultural and political beliefs. It is claimed that British adults are the most obese in Europe with 22.6% of adults obese compared to just 12.9% in Germany, 9.4% in France and 8.5% in Italy. On any view these are frightening statistics and all the more so because obesity is one of the biggest causes of health problems resulting in diabetes, heart attack and stroke. There is evidence to show that 4% of the British population have been diagnosed with diabetes, a condition which is alleged to absorb 20% of NHS funding. The importance of regular screening and check-ups is therefore, a valuable lesson to all of us and in particular, the older age group. There is talk of the Government introducing a National Screening Programme for everyone over the age of 40 and this is a proposal the ESF will continue to monitor closely It is reassuring to know that the Eastbourne area is well served by a significant number of Statutory and Voluntary Organisations who are able to offer advice to older people on a range of issues. The areas where advice is most likely to be sought include exercise, winter safety and health, drinking sensibly, giving up smoking, healthy eating and nutrition, personal care and most notably, staying active. In addition, there is a wealth of specialist information on individual healthcare issues concerned with screening for breast cancer, bowel cancer, prostate cancer, blood pressure and cholesterol checks. However, it is important to remind everyone that any advice on the need for these and other screening procedures must be a matter solely for your doctor of health professional. A number of links that we believe are also well worth visiting are shown under the general heading of Health and Well-being. They include Eastbourne Borough Council – Exercise for Older People – Nifty after Fifty, which aims to promote the importance of exercise. On the same website, there is also some very helpful advice on health and lifestyle that reinforces the importance of food safety and healthy eating as defined by the ‘Five a Day’ programme. The ESF recommends a visit to the Health Provisions website set up by East Sussex County Council and that which has been established by Age Concern. You might also like to vist the national government Directgov website. Most of us are only too aware of the significant developments being addressed at National level to decide on the provision of healthcare by the NHS for older people in the years ahead. In order to be certain that the views of ESF members are given full account, we will seek to ensure that our voice is heard by those responsible for addressing Government recommendations. This will call for us to liaise with East Sussex Downs and Weald Primary Care Trust, East Sussex Hospitals Trust, East Sussex County Council and Eastbourne Borough Council together with those Voluntary Agencies that provide health and social welfare services for older people. The ESF focus – through its membership and lobbying process will concentrate very much on an Eastbourne perspective while at the same time ensuring that the Forum has a sound grasp of National viewpoints. It will achieve this by liaison with similar Forums for older people throughout the United Kingdom at County, National and International level. This accords with the ESF view that health and well-being provisions for older people are undoubtedly the single and most important consideration for the majority of its members. It is encouraging to hear that this month, the NHS is to offer screening for illnesses for everyone aged 40 - 74 although at this stage it is unclear exactly when the scheme will come into operation. The Health Secretary, Alan Johnson has said 'gradually we will introduce this service throughout the country'. Patients will now be able to receive health checks which were previously only available privately. He has said he hopes that surgeries throughout the country would start offering the check-ups as soon as possible. The check-ups aim to help prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease. Screening of this type, it is claimed, will detect symptom less conditions and through its control, around 40% of strokes could be prevented. Thousands of lives will be saved and many more will avoid serious life-long disability. The success of the scheme and in particular its benefit for older people is something the ESF will continue to monitor closely and make local representation on behalf of its members where appropriate. The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme has this month now released further information about the 'Go Live' dates for the Cancer Screening Programme. So far the Help Line has been unable to provide information about when the screening programme will go live in East Sussex although it is hoped that an announcement will be made later this year. If you are in your sixties, you will automatically be sent a screening test kit when the programme reaches our area here in East Sussex. You can obtain further information by visiting the NHS Cancer Screening website at or by calling the NHS Help Line on 0800-707-6060 to find out further information The Commission for Social Care Inspection Annual Report The Commission for Social Care Inspection, England’s single social care regulator, has published (2008) its annual report on The State of Social Care in England for the year 2006-07. CSCI's latest annual assessment of the state of social care highlights issues around eligibility and self-funding and a growing divide between those who are and those who are not supported by the system. It identifies a tension between councils having to focus on narrowly defined adult social care to manage budgets and meeting broader objectives to improve health and well-being and ensuring personalised care. CSCI concludes that people who have to fund their own care should have expert, timely advice and information, a proper assessment of their care needs and access to high quality care services. Local authorities should take account of all those who might need social care, including people who fund their own care, when commissioning for their whole population. Its summary of the state of social care in England reports that: People qualifying for services arranged by their council are seeing improvements and, in some areas, early steps towards a redesigned system offering personalised care. People ‘lost to the system’ because they are not eligible for council-arranged services and cannot purchase their care privately often struggle with fragile informal support arrangements and a poor quality of life. People who fund their own care are also disadvantaged, lacking advice and information about their care options and often largely invisible to local councils. Care services provided by councils, private and voluntary bodies are meeting more of the national minimum standards but improvement appears to have stalled. The Government’s Green Paper on long-term care funding offers an important opportunity to establish a fair and sustainable social care system where people, whether they pay for their own care or not, as a minimum get good advice, an assessment of their situation, and access to high quality services. ESF members voice concern over the Sovereign Centre swimming facilities In response to the concerns expressed by several ESF members over the condition of the Sovereign Centre, in particular the condition of the swimming pool and changing areas, the letter below was sent to the Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, Cllr. David Tutt. We await with interest Cllr Tutt's response. We await with interest Cllr Tutt's response. "Dear Councillor Tutt The Committee of the Eastbourne Seniors Forum has asked me to bring to your attention their concern with the condition of the swimming facilities - including the changing areas - at the Sovereign Centre, and to ask you what the Borough Council intends to do to improve the facility and to ensure it is maintained to an appropriate standard. You will be aware from letters in the local press that even basic facilities at the Centre have been allowed to fall into disrepair; that basic hygiene standards appear to have been ignored; and that routine maintenance has not been carried out for a considerable period. Members of the Forum report similar experiences. I am sure you are also aware of the importance that the Department of Health and other health organisations attach to exercise - of which swimming is one of the most beneficial and, for the elderly, one of the most accessible. We see it not only as playing a major role in preventing age related diseases such as coronary heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; but we also recognise that it could play a vital role in reducing the much needed incidence of obesity, and, in so doing, reduce substantially the incidence of other diseases. Furthermore, without the opportunity for exercise, the mobility of the elderly is severely restricted; and with the reduction in their mobility, the quality of their life and health is greatly reduced Since the deterioration in the facilities has occurred over a long period of time, it would appear that the Council’s procedures for monitoring the contract and securing contract compliance from the contractor have been totally inadequate. Our concern, therefore, is not only that the facilities be brought up to the relevant standards, but also that the procedures for ensuring that they do not fall below those standards need to be adequate and implemented. We are disappointed that there has obviously been a lack of vigilance and will by the Borough Council: vigilance to observe what was happening and will to prevent it. We look forward to hearing from you the steps that the Borough Council will be taking not only to restore the facilities at the Sovereign Centre to an appropriate standard but also to ensure that they then remain in good condition and fit for purpose. Yours sincerely Walter James Lead Member David Tutt responds to ESF members' concerns over the Sovereign Centre swimming facilities Dear Walter, Thank you for taking the trouble to write to me on behalf of the Seniors Forum. I share their concern regarding the Sovereign Centre and also understand the importance of swimming to all age groups and the health benefits which this can bring. I am pleased to say that work to improve standards at the centre were already underway and can report that a new Duty Manager has recently been appointed. The management are currently conducting a review of all procedures and looking to implement a deep cleansing programme. A commitment has also been given by Serco to upgrade the changing rooms by the fun pool and I believe that this work is scheduled to take place this October/November. Whilst understanding the challenges associated with maintaining cleanliness at such a facility during periods of heavy usage, I believe that this is something which can and must be achieved. Towards those ends I will work with the Council's Officers to ensure that effective monitoring is in place for the future. Whilst writing please can I ask you to pass my best wishes to the forum. Should you wish me to attend any of your meetings, either to address specific issues or simply as an observer, I would be happy to do so. Kind regards
David Tutt Ageing: the best news for a billion years? Free public lecture organised by the University of Brighton Why could a 400-year-old clam help you live to a healthy old age? How can studying old pond snails help you remember your PIN number? Would Jeremy Clarkson love or loathe a car designed by older drivers? Hear the answers to these and other questions at a public lecture on Monday 14 July from one of Britain’s foremost experts on the ageing process. In the run-up to the largest international meeting ever held by the British Society for Research on Ageing Dr Richard Faragher, of the University of Brighton will explain how the latest research in science and engineering promises better lives for older people. Dr Faragher directs SPARC, a network of the best and brightest biologists, designers and chemists dedicated to finding ways to make later life better in every possible way. Activities such as SPARC have a clear objective he says: To register for your free place please contact Dr Nicky Hewson on n.hewson@brighton.ac.uk or call 01273 642124. The University will also be taking part in the BSRA annual scientific meeting to be held in Brighton from 17-18 July. Further details Eastbourne Seniors Forum – Health and Well-Being Day for the over 50s Health and well-being is arguably one of the most important issues that each of us will have to consider in our lifetime, and as we get older, the question of health and well-being assumes even greater importance. For that reason our Forum feels that health and well-being should be one of its main priorities. With this in mind, a new Health and Well-being Special Interest Group has recently been formed by members of the Forum to promote issues of Health and Well-being throughout our local area. In order to give the Group a good start, we are organising a Health and Well-being Day to be held at the Congress Suite in Eastbourne Town Centre on Tuesday the 17th March 2009. The event will have as its centrepiece two performances by the Pyramid Theatre Company of their health education play ‘Big Little Heart’. The Theatre Company specialise in delivering plays that explore issues surrounding a variety of health topics, in this case heart problems. As well as the performance itself, which last for about 45 minutes, there will be an opportunity for members of the audience to interact with members of the cast to explore in greater depth some of the motivation, thoughts and feelings of the characters. In addition practitioners and representatives from the various health professions will also be on hand to answer specific points raised by the performance. The two performances will take place at set times during the morning and afternoon sessions of the event. In addition to the performances there will be a good variety of stands from organisations interested in Health and Well-being so there should be something to interest everyone. Please note however, that due to the limitations of space the Theatre Company performances will be limited to a set number of people. Those wishing to view the performances will be asked to register for a ticket on the day. So if you are interested in Health and Well-being and would like to take part in what promises to be a most interesting event please make a note in your diaries now. The Congress Suite is situated just to the right of the Congress Theatre in Carlisle Road, Eastbourne, BN21 4BP
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