News

Cheadle based, young enterprise, ‘Gamerlife’ has announced that their first ‘Fifa 13 Gaming Tournament’ will be held to raise funds for local North West Charity Action for Sick Children. 

 

The tournament is to be held at the Kyoto Lounge in Manchester over four weeks beginning on June 2nd. Over 150 teams of 2 players will battle it out through four qualifying rounds to compete in the grand final on June 30th. It is hoped that the tournament will become a regular feature of the gaming world in the future, with more tournaments being held throughout the North West.

 

 

Gamerlife is a trade name of The Resource People Ltd and was established as part of the company’s young enterprise hub to encourage start up ventures run and managed by young people. Managing Director, Tina Lucas said, "We are really pleased that Gamerlife is working with such a prestigious charity as Action for Sick Children. The tournament will give our young team the opportunity to manage their first large event whilst also raising money for a very worthy cause”. 

 

The qualifying first round will be staged on the 2nd of June between 12pm and 

10pm. The winning team will become the first ‘Gamerlife Fifa 2013 Champions’ and will receive a £250 cash prize. The runners up will each receive a pre-order copy of Fifa 14.

 

Chairman of Action for Sick Children, Pamela Barnes, said, "I would like to thank Tina and Gamerlife for this very kind gesture. We have been working for over 50 years to improve healthcare for children and this is exactly the kind of event we need to be associated with on behalf of the children that we represent”.

 

It costs £5 per player to enter the tournament. Interested teams need to go direct to www.gamerlife.co where they can buy tickets.

 

 

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Action for Sick Children has announced that their Dental Playbox project has achieved an impressive 49% increase in the numbers of children seen at sessions.

 

The Dental Playbox project was started in response to the increasing numbers of children being hospitalised because of tooth decay. According to statistics, over one third of children in the UK have tooth decay by the time they start primary school.

 

Action for Sick Children provides trained facilitators who visit playgroups, nurseries and schools to teach children, by learning through play, about the importance of healthy eating and to prepare them from an early age for a trip to the dentist. Play gives children the opportunity to learn and express any fears that they may have in a safe and secure environment.

 

In 2011 Dental Playbox visited 133 locations and presented to 3,769 children. By the end of 2012 the figures had risen sharply to 203 locations and 7,240 children.

A specially designed box of resources which includes role play uniforms, hand puppets, games, easy to read stories, toothbrushes and a teacher’s pack, is left for a week after the session for the children to continue learning.

 

Manager of the Dental Playbox project, Teresa Dooley, said, "There has been much debate about children’s oral health. The numbers of children with dental problems is growing at an alarming rate, putting an even greater strain on the healthcare industry. The Dental Playbox project is a fun way for children to learn about the importance of visiting the dentist and looking after their teeth.”

 

This year, Action for Sick Children’s aim is to visit 264 locations presenting the Dental Playbox project to more than 9,365 children.

 

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Action for Sick Children and the students of Product Design at the University of Salford in Manchester are joining forces to design a new toothbrush holder to be used as part of the Dental Playbox brushing scheme.

 

The design project is in direct response to enquiries from schools, playgroups and nurseries about brushing schemes which would help promote good oral health during the day. The students brief is to design a child friendly toothbrush holder that children will not only find visually exciting but will also encourage good brushing habits.

 

The Dental Playbox project began in 2007 due to the increasing numbers of children being hospitalised because of tooth decay. According to statistics, over one third of children in the UK have tooth decay by the time they start primary school.

 

Dental Playbox provides trained facilitators who visit playgroups, nurseries and schools to involve children, by learning through play, about the importance of healthy eating and to prepare them from an early age for a trip to the dentist. Play gives children the opportunity to learn and express any fears that they may have in a safe and secure environment.

 

A specially designed box of resources which includes role play uniforms, hand puppets, games, easy to read stories, toothbrushes and a teacher’s pack, is left for a week after the session for the children to continue learning.

 

 

Manager of the Dental Playbox project, Teresa Dooley, said, "We are very pleased to be working with the students of the University of Salford on the new toothbrush holder. I am confident that the students will produce a design that parents, teachers and children will find appealing.”

 

This year, Action for Sick Children’s aim is to visit 264 locations presenting the Dental Playbox project to more than 9,365 children.

 

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A new pledge about making improvements to the health of children and young people has been launched. The pledge is part of the government’s response to the Children and Young People’s Health Outcomes Forum.

 

Dr Daniel Poulter MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health, was first to sign the pledge at an event at the Evelina Children’s Hospital – part of Guy’s and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust.

 

By signing the pledge, he committed the government to do everything it can to improve the health of children and young people, improve services from pregnancy to adolescence and beyond and reduce avoidable deaths.

 

Chairman of Action for Sick Children, Pamela Barnes, said "We welcome the response from the Health Minister, Dr Dan Poulter MP, pledging the government to improve children’s health and reduce child deaths.  The charity, which has always campaigned for over 50 years for high standards of healthcare for children and young people, is delighted to have this commitment from the Department of Health.

 

"We have always endorsed the right for children and young people to be at the heart of any healthcare system. Now with the huge changes about to take place in April 2013 it is very important that children are placed at the centre and receive the standard of care they deserve.

 

"Who will look after us in our old age unless we look after our children”.

Pamela Barnes has over 40 years experience of working with children, young people and their families in both health and education in the statutory and voluntary sectors. This has included the setting up of the academic programme for hospital play specialists, part time lecturing posts in hospital play, child development and early year’s education. She has over 30 year’s experience of representing a children’s voice on community health councils, health authorities and trusts.

 

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Pamela Barnes, Chairman of Action for Sick Children, has been nominated for the Cheshire Woman of the Year Award 2013.

 

The Cheshire Woman of the Year Award has been applauding women since 1985. It is the perfect opportunity to reward truly outstanding women of Cheshire with the recognition they deserve and also raises money for the NSPCC.

 

Pamela has over 40 years experience of working with children, young people and their families in both health and education in the statutory and voluntary sectors. This has included the setting up of the academic programme for hospital play specialists, part time lecturing posts in hospital play, child development and early years education. She has over 30 years’ experience of representing a children’s voice on community health councils, health authorities and trusts.

 

The event, now in its 28^th year, gives recognition to women from all walks of life who have given considerable service to their community, achieved outstanding success personally or professionally, or shown personal courage.

 

 

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Seven out of Ten parents in Britain would not know how to treat their child in a medical emergency. A study suggests that 72 percent of parents would not know how to deal with an unconscious child, administer CPR or attend to burns and scalds. The figure is even higher (at 80 percent) among parents of six to nine year olds. It highlights the lack of first aid knowledge among British parents, of whom only 28 percent have completed a first aid qualification, a mandatory requirement for all registered nannies and childminders. Tom Harrow, a father of one and the CEO of Findababysitter.com, which published the survey, said: 'Leaving your children with a childcare professional is one of the hardest things a parent has to do, but when you look at it from the angle, it really puts things into perspective -are our kids safer with a nanny or childminder than they are with us?'

Nominations for this year's WellChild Awards are now open. The aim of this event is to celebrate some of the UK's most inspirational children and young people who every day live with the consequences of serious illness. The awards also recognise the dedication of the many health professionals who go that extra mile t oreally make a difference to the care of these children and young people and their families. Further information of the award categories along with details of how to nominate can be found by clicking on the following link

http://www.wellchild.org.uk/WellChildAwards2013.asp

Although the Francis Report dealt mainly with care for the elderly at Mid Stafford Trust, there were cases of younger persons; a 20 year old boy and a 4 day old baby. Action for Sick Children has always advocated that the voice of the child is heard. It is very important that parents/carers help to make decisions about the health care needed for their children and that not only the parents voice but that of the child is heard when developing local services. Real opportunities need to be developed in order that all have a voice in local health care services. Somehow we have to overcome a culture of blame and fear to allow user experiences to be heard.

Action for Sick Children's 50th Anniversary Children's Art Competition Winners & Runners up entries are now on display at the Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health. The Patient Gallery was opened on 20/11/12 by Dr Hilary Cass.

 

              

              

              

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has discussed whether to recommend ultrasound at the end of pregnancy to reduce Britain’s rate of stillbirths, which is amongst the highest in the developed world.

 

One in every 200 babies is born dead and almost a quarter of these deaths could be avoided, experts said. Yet mothers are left confused about the warning signs as the health service has failed to take the problem seriously enough and urgently needs to make prevention a priority.

 

It was found that only a quarter of hospital trusts have a policy of using growth charts, which have been recommended by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists for 10 years. The charts plot the results of antenatal appointments and can help identify babies that are at risk. Babies who do not grow normally in the womb are 10 times more likely to be stillborn.

 

Chairman of Action for Sick Children, Pamela Barnes, said, "It would seem that not all NHS practices are up to date and fit for purpose. There should be a consistent policy in place for monitoring the unborn baby to avoid causing unnecessary heartbreak for families throughout the UK”.

 

Pamela Barnes, Chairman of Action for Sick Children presented this bright and colourful clock to the Royal Manchester Childrens hospital. The clock was unveiled by Mr Peter Mount CBE, Chairman of the Central Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.

  

 

 

 

The decision this week to reduce the number of children’s heart surgery units has come as a deep blow to many parents. Professor Sir Ian Kennedy and Professor Chris Ham (from the King’s Fund Think Tank) agree that in order to carry out high quality heart surgery for children it is essential to have those carrying out the procedures to be very experienced in this field. It therefore follows that some units may not be sustainable.

Action for Sick Children believes in high quality services for children and does acknowledge the above argument. However, there is one huge proviso – that there must be in place the support facilities for families who will have to forego "care closer to home” – only if huge efforts are made to ensure this happening can Action for Sick Children endorse the reorganisation.

A leading UK children’s healthcare charity, Action for Sick Children, is concerned about the increasing numbers of children being hospitalised because of tooth decay. According to a recent ‘Tonight’ programme shown on ITV, a third of children in the UK have tooth decay by the time they start primary school. Children under five years old are commonly having as many as fourteen milk teeth extracted and these hospital procedures are on the rise. Thirty-six thousand hospital procedures to remove decayed teeth take place on children aged seventeen and under every year. Two-thirds of children under twelve years old require general anaesthetic in order to have their decayed teeth extracted, which is both traumatic for the child and expensive for the NHS. This accounts for ten to fifteen percent of all the anaesthesia given to children. Currently one hundred children are admitted to hospital each month, which costs the NHS £2.8 billion per year.

'Connie' the puppet is a regular favourite with the children.

 

Action for Sick Children devised the Dental Playbox Project in response to this issue. The aim is to increase understanding amongst parents and children of the importance of good dental care and regular visits to the dentist. There are three main oral health messages that Action for Sick Children promotes and these three messages are being mirrored by the British Dental Health Foundation during its thirty-sixth annual oral health campaign, ‘National Smile Month 2012’. National Smile Month (20th May until the 20th June) sees co-ordinated events happening across the UK.

 

During this National Smile Month, Action for Sick Children facilitators are touring schools, nurseries and community centres, holding free sessions lasting up to an hour. Sessions are available to book all year round. To book a FREE Playbox Session, receive the newsletter, request a resource pack or for more information, email: dpbox@actionforsickchildren.org or call 01663 766 445 and speak to a member of the Dental Playbox team.

It is now possible to make a donation to by text. Text code ‘AFSC00’ with an amount (£1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10) and the money goes straight to support the Dental Playbox Project. 

For further information on volunteering or donating please email: enquiries@actionforsickchildren.org or call 01663 763 004.

The Chairman of the UK’s leading children’s healthcare charity, ’Action for Sick Children’ was awarded Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in London earlier this year. The award was presented to Pamela Barnes on Wednesday 23rd May at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health’s annual conference in Glasgow.

Honorary Fellowship is bestowed to individuals who have demonstrated through research or clinical commitment, major contributions to paediatrics during their career and advanced the specialty through these endeavours.

The day was a memorable one, attended by many within the profession. The staff at Action for Sick Children are proud of their Chairman for her work and dedication over the years, now acknowledged by the Royal College. Pamela Barnes says,

"It was a wonderful surprise. I was delighted to have my work recognised by such a prestigious body”.

 

Pamela A Barnes Hon. FRCPCH      

Chairman, Action for Sick Children

 

Pamela Barnes of Disley near Stockport received the award of Honorary Fellowship of The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health on 23rd May at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Conference in Glasgow.

 

Pamela Barnes has contributed to the wellbeing of sick children throughout her long career within the statutory and voluntary healthcare sectors in the UK. Trained as an early years teacher in Sydney, Australia, she had a particular interest in child psychology and was able to translate this interest into the emotional and psychological needs of sick children on arrival in the UK. She took a particular interest in furthering the cause of Action for Sick Children (NAWCH) and campaigned as an advocate for the needs of sick children and their families for a high standard of healthcare.

 

She established the first hospital play programme in the North West, under NAWCH auspices. She then assisted in the development of NAHPS, bringing those involved in hospital play programmes together as a national association and became Chairman in 1981.

 

In 1985 she established the Hospital Play Staff Education Trust as well as the academic programme for HPS in Greater Manchester, overseeing the academic qualification of hospital play specialists and held the office of Chairman until 2004 when appointed the (Hon) President. She assisted in writing the study programmes for HPS.

 

From 1974 onwards, Pamela Barnes held various posts within Greater Manchester, Chairman of North Manchester Community Health Council, Non Executive Directors of North Manchester and Salford Health Authorities and Non Executive Director of the Children’s Trusts (Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and Booth Hall) 1995-2001 and finally as a member of the Network Supervisory Board, overseeing the reconfiguration of children’s services in Greater Manchester.

 

She has travelled extensively visiting hospitals at home and overseas and has been a frequent speaker at National and International Conferences, making a distinguished contribution in highlighting the needs of sick children and their families. She is currently giving advice as a lay member on the Paediatric Cardiology SAC at the Royal College of Physicians.

 

She has chaired Action for Sick Children over the last 12 years when the charity celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2011. Alongside these many activities, Pamela Barnes has written and published extensively both here and abroad. She says she is proudest of being able to write the histories of the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and the History of Paediatrics in Greater Manchester. But many children and parents are most grateful to her for her book on "My Heart Operation” and for making "play” a universal component of any child’s hospital stay.

 

 

                                  

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.