News

'Who Cares? Supporting Children and Young People through Changes in Healthcare.'

The all day conference to be jointly hosted by Action for Sick Children and another registered charity 'WellChild', will take place on the 19th October in Manchester.

The conference which is open to all, will provide the opportunity for professionals working within children's services, together with parents and other interested members of the general public to hear from a range of speakers on current key issues for children's healthcare. 

For further information please see the new 'Conference 2012' page of our website by clicking the tab in the left hand menu bar.

The fifth Norah Rees Award will be presented in Manchester in October this year. For 50 years Action for Sick Children has championed the cause of sick children and involving children and young people in the planning and provision of healthcare. Action for Sick Children is using the opportunity of a legacy from Norah Rees to celebrate achievement and promote research and development through the Norah Rees Award for the best Master's dissertation that furthers Action for Sick Children's aims and values.

Action for Sick Children is offering a prize of £500 for the best Master's dissertation by a Nurse or Healthcare Professional. Nurses and Allied Health Professionals (registered with either the Nursing and Midwifery Council or the Health Professions Council) who completed a dissertation as part of a Master's degree between June 2010 and 2012 can apply for the Norah Rees Award. As well as the prize money, Norah Rees Award holders will gain publicity for their work. The degrees in which Award winning dissertations are completed will also benefit from the prestige and publicity. Award holders will be able to include the Award on their C.V.s as national recognition of their work. The Norah Rees Award will be presented for the best postgraduate dissertation that contributes to the Action for Sick Children Charter, incorporated into the European Association for Children in Hospital (EACH) Charter.

If you are interested in applying for the Norah Rees Award, an application form is here: Norah Rees Award Application Form 2012.

The Action for Sick Children Charter can be seen on the application form or by clicking the 'History & Charter' tab in the left hand menu bar.

The Department of Health in partnership with the Department of Education is developing a new digital advice service for parents-to-be and new parents. Parents will be invited to sign up from early pregnancy to receive free email and SMS messages offering high quality advice, and signposting them to trusted sources of information.

Please view the Digital Advice Service Factsheet here: The New Digital Advice Service

The Chairman of Action for Sick Children, Pamela Barnes has been invited to the official opening of the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital by her Majesty The Queen on Friday 23rd March. Pamela has written the history of Pendlebury Hospital ( the old Royal Manchester Children's Hospital ) as well as the history of Paediatrics in Greater Manchester and edited the history of Action for Sick Children. All three books are available through the Action for Sick Children office. Please email: publications@actionforsickchildren.org.

The EACH (European Association for Children in Hospital) Congress will be taking place from the 17th to 20th October in Manchester, providing an opportunity for the Committee and General Assembly to meet and also to attend the 'Who Cares?' Conference on 19th October (see above). There will also be a visit arranged to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital on the 20th October.

For further information and to book accommodation, please see the new 'EACH Congress 2012' page of our website by clicking the tab in the left hand menu bar.

Fundraising Events:

Vanessa Chappell Fell Race ~ 23 May 2012.

Paul Harris, Business Manager at Action for Sick Children will be taking part in a sponsored fell race in May this year to raise funds for Action for Sick Children.

For more information, please view the new 'Fundraising Events' page (click the tab in the left hand navigation menu).

The Forum, launched on Thursday 26th January by the Secretary of State for Health, will operate as an equivalent to the NHS Future Forum ‘listening exercise’ for children and young people. It has been tasked with creating a set of health service outcomes for child health and addressing longstanding system issues that prevent children from accessing universal and specialist healthcare. It will also ensure that children’s health needs are central to government thinking during the final phase of development work on Health & Social Care Bill reforms.

Action for Sick Children is an invited Stakeholder. Christine Lenehan, Director of Council for Disabled Children and Professor Ian Lewis, Medical Director at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, will jointly chair the forum.

Action for Sick Children recently produced the first issue of the Dental Playbox Project newsletter. Please click here to view the Dental Playbox Project newsletter.

Chairman Pamela Barnes and Mia Wild outside the Dental Playbox Project office.

Action for Sick Children visited Vernon Primary School in Poynton as part of the school's Circle of Life project. Action for Sick Children helped to promote children's dental hygiene through play. You can see further information here:

http://clc2.uniservity.com/Grouphomepage.asp?GroupId=135238

Regional Co-ordinator Teresa Dooley holding the Dental Playbox Session at Vernon Primary School in Poynton.

There is a wonderful article in the news at the moment about Charlie - a little boy who at the age of five was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a killer brain tumour that strikes down about 50 children in the UK every year.

This brave boy has written a letter describing his fight with cancer which highlights all the issues children worry about when they are ill and undergoing treatment. In his letter Charlie describes his ordeal:

'Imagine several days of not being able to put anything, even a drop of water, in your mouth'

'Needles aren't the nicest thing in the world, and I used to be petrified of them' 

'Parents may seem unfair or not let you do things you want, but they will always help you. They feed you, they clothe you and they give you a home, but most of all they help you when you are hurt. My mum and dad sat with me day after day in the hospital, and watched me being pulled about, having all kinds of medical treatment I couldn't stand.'

Charlie adds,

'At Addenbrooke's Hospital I had to endure medical treatments that included radiotherapy, which involved me going into a cylindrical tunnel for about half an hour, which is quite scary for a 6 year old, as I was at the time. I also had several MRI scans, also in a cylindrical tunnel, with all kinds of noises while you are inside'.

'The chemotherapy was through a drip which was inserted into my body, in my upper chest, like a transfusion, and went on for a few hours at a time every month. I also had to have lots of blood transfusions'.

Charlie describes the naughty children at school, those who misbehave and distract the class when he is trying to learn, Charlie says,

'I wonder if those children, who don’t care and don’t behave, all had cancer one day, like me. Would it change them?'

Charlie has since been given the all-clear. He writes

'Now you have heard from a real life cancer survivor, I hope my story has shocked you in some way into thinking about your own lives.'

The full article can also be read here:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2089334/Charlie-Williams-shares-battle-cancer-help-others.html

"For over 50 years Action for Sick Children has been trying to help everyone to understand how a child and his family's life is turned upside down by illness - this account describes this brave little boys fight - please help us to help them".

Pamela

Chairman, Action for Sick Children

The 16th December was the twentieth anniversary of the UK ratifying the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Above is a photo of the delegation to 10 Downing Street – delivering thousands of footprints with children’s messages from all across the country.

Unfortunately, one young person was poorly and could not attend, otherwise there would have been a delegation of 20 – one child / young person for every year since ratification.

There were so many footprints, boxes had to be delivered to the Department for Education after Downing Street.

Action for Sick Children Trustee, Marcelle De Sousa, was recently awarded the Chief Nursing Officer's Lifetime Achievement Award at the Nursing Times Awards held at London's Hilton Hotel, Park Lane, on 2 November. The award is judged by the Chief Nursing Officer's for England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland.

The award recognises an inspirational nurse leader who has made a significant positive impact on the nursing profession at regional or national level over a sustained period.

Marcelle with her award.

For the full press release, please see the Nursing Times website, at:

http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-specialisms/childrens-nursing/lifetime-award-for-leading-childrens-nurse/5037468.article

Please also see the Nursing Times Awards listing at:

http://www.ntawards.co.uk/328616

We would like to give congratulations and thanks to Marcelle for all her hard work over the years.

Amber Wade from Essex is six years old. She is a long term patient at The Portland Hospital for Women and Children and has been having major Urology surgery there since she was eighteen months old. She has had more than her fair share of hospital admissions.

Amber was one of the attendees at The Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health in London on Wednesday 26th October, she went to collect a prize. She entered into Action for Sick Children's art competition, to mark the charity's 50th anniversary earlier this year. The competition was open to all children and young people who were inpatients in hospital at the time.

Amber's artwork won first prize in the under eight category. Amber even got to visit the House of Commons, thanks to David Rutley MP for Macclesfield.

Amber's family all say of Amber, "She is like a member of the Portland family, she loves visiting the hospital and she especially loves her 'sleepovers'. We are extremely proud of Amber for winning this art competition".

Action for Sick Children is reg. charity no 296295.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Action4SickCh

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Please direct all enquiries to: enquiries@actionforsickchildren.org

Michael Ralph from the Isle of Man was flown over to The Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health in London on 26th October, to be awarded a prize. Michael's artwork came highly commended in the under eight's category in Action for Sick Children's art competition, to acknowledge the charity's 50th anniversary earlier this year.

Action for Sick Children's affiliated charity in the Isle of Man, the Manx Association for the Welfare of Children in Hospital, were able to pay for his flight to the awards ceremony and this became an all expenses paid trip for Michael and his family. Michael even got to visit the House of Commons, thanks to David Rutley MP for Macclesfield.

Michael had been diagnosed with Leukaemia and was coming to the end of his three year treatment when a fever and infection resulted in him being admitted to Noble's Hospital in the Isle of Man. He drew a lovely bright sunny picture of his hospital. Michael has since completed his treatment and is now under monthly observation.

Michael's father, Mark Ralph says,

"Michael was thrilled that his picture won him the trip to London. He was very excited to get to go on the Underground!"

Action for Sick Children is reg. charity no 296295.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Action4SickCh

Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/Action4SickChil

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Action4SickChildren

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/Action4SickChildren

Enquiries, please email enquiries@actionforsickchildren.org

Olivia Sarah Vickery was among the children who visited London's Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health to be awarded a prize in October. Her entry was highly commended in Action for Sick Children's art competition, to mark the charity's 50th anniversary earlier this year.

Olivia, twelve years old from Surrey, was an inpatient at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London at the time. Children were asked to draw a picture of their hospital including a favourite member of staff. Olivia chose to draw her play specialist who keeps her entertained during her weekly four hour infusions.

Olivia has Morquio Syndrome which is a rare inherited disease in which an enzyme is missing causing progressive damage to the skeletal system. She has to be seen regularly by a team of experts at the hospital. Olivia's case is classed as mild, doctors only realised something was wrong when a fall caused her to need an x-ray. She was eight years old at the time. Many children's symptoms are noticed much earlier. Olivia's brother Luke was just three years old when he was diagnosed. The disease is progressive and at present there is no cure.

Olivia started taking part in a trial of an enzyme replacement drug at Great Ormond Street Hospital on her 10th birthday. The hospital kindly re-scheduled Olivia's treatment so that she could attend the recent awards ceremony in London.

Olivia's mum, Ita Vickery says,

"I’m not sure we would still be going [for the infusions] if it wasn’t for the lovely staff there but for now I feel Olivia must persist with the trial in order to give other families hope. It's great that her artwork has won a prize, we are really proud of her".

For further information on volunteering or donating please click on the 'Donate or Volunteer' tab. To donate by text: text code AFSC00 £ with your amount, to 70070

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Enquiries, please email enquiries@actionforsickchildren.org 

Action for Sick Children hosted an awards ceremony at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in London on Wednesday 26th October.

Action for Sick Children - the UK's leading children's healthcare charity, celebrated its 50th anniversary in April and held a children's art competition open to all children and young people who were inpatients in hospital at the time. The winners and those whose artwork was highly commended, were lucky enough to visit the Royal College in London to accept a prize. Numerous family members were present as were invitees from various health professions. Although not part of the prize, children also visited the House of Commons, thanks to David Rutley, MP for Macclesfield.

Madison Stewart's work was highly commended & Max Bufton won 1st prize in the 8-12 yr category.

Megan Walley's artwork was highly commended in the over 12 category.

 

All winners! (left to right): Amber Wade, Olivia Vickery, Madison Stewart, Megan Walley, Michael Ralph & Max Bufton. Back left: Linda Dean & right: Helen Thorpe (Norah Rees Award Winners).

 

To acknowledge the charity’s five decades of ensuring children receive the highest standard of healthcare possible, there were two Norah Rees Awards of £500 prizes presented during the ceremony. These awards promote research and development and are awarded for postgraduate dissertations which further the charity's aims and values.

 

Helen Thorpe with her Norah Rees Award.

 

Action for Sick Children's Chairman Pamela Barnes, spoke about Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green’s 50th Anniversary Golden Jubilee Lecture ‘Speaking Out For Sick Children and Young People - Where to Now?' held at the Royal Society of Medicine. Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green is Professor Emeritus of Child Health at University College London and also a patron of Action for Sick Children. He was also the first Children’s Commissioner in England.

 

Action for Sick Children Chairman Pamela Barnes with our Patron Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green at the Awards Ceremony in London.

 

Pamela Barnes said "We are delighted that all the children enjoyed the day so much".

 

Reeves kindly donated art materials packs as prizes for the winners in the highly commended category.

 

Reeves continues to lead innovation within the fine art, hobby & craft, education colours, grounds and accessories - making them the fastest growing art brand in the world.

 

Specialist Crafts Limited kindly donated the art pack prizes for the 1st prize winners.

 

Their range of creative products have for many years been selected and compiled in consultation with educationalists, including Advisors, Heads of Department, and Technicians to ensure that the range is relevant to the curriculum!

Senior professional nurses from Japan visited the new Royal Manchester Children's Hospital in October to see the play facilities on offer and the new environment created for children. 

The breakaway club

Action for Sick Children arranged the visit and Chairman Pamela Barnes visited the hospital, meeting with the Japanese senior health professionals and hospital staff.

Multisensory room

Non pharmacological pain management

Teenzone

Outdoor tropical oasis

Pamela thanked the hospital for their comprehensive tour and said the visit, seeing all the facilities for children, was delightful.

The play services team

All in all the day was a great success and we would like to thank the Japanese Health Professionals for their generous donation of £100.

Action for Sick Children now has a Flickr page. View photos of our awards ceremony, fundraising events and more on Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/Action4SickChil

Action for Sick Children now has a Twitter page. Follow our activity on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/Action4SickCh

Our recent 'Tramble' (Sponsored Walk) fundraising event took place on Tuesday 4th October, starting at 9.30am.

Mums & Tots were out on the day in support of Action for Sick Children.

The walk started at St. Mary's Church car park in Disley and ended at 11.30am at Lyme Hall in Lyme Park for a much needed coffee break.

Chairman Pamela Barnes (right) with some of the Tots from Disley Baptist Tots Group & Disley Methodist Toddlers.

Friends & relatives were sponsored on the day to walk the distance in aid of Action for Sick Children. Families took part with pushchairs and buggies and helped to raise £250, for which we are very grateful.

Action for Sick Children Chairman Pamela Barnes (left), says "Thanks very much to all who took part and those who sponsored us".