West Midlands
These pages will keep you informed about regional events, news and campaigns. Our region covers Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands.
The region has 38 staff, including fundraising staff. We have nine Communication Support Services and 14 Family and Carer Support Services for the region.
IT support services
If you are disabled and having computer problems you can find out more about IT support in your area by visiting the ITCH Network website - www.itcanhelp.org.uk or telephone the free AbilityNet helpline on 0800 269 545 (and minicom).
Stroke Association volunteer wins award
Martin Smith, who has been a volunteer with us for the past seven years, has received an award from Mid Staffordshire General Hospitals to recognise his outstanding voluntary contribution to supporting patients. He gives his time to help with transport, visit patients on the ward, take people from the ward to appointments and many other duties. He is very popular with everyone on the stroke ward and is a cheerful, kind and considerate member of our Volunteer Team. We would like to congratulate Martin on his achievment. The photo below shows him receiving his award with Sue Gooch, Administration Assistant and Angela Bloor, Family and Carer Support Co-ordinator.
West Midlands FAST bus advertising campaign
We are working with the Coventry and Warwickshire and Black Country Cardiac Networks to fund and promote the Face - Arms - Speech Test (FAST), which helps people recognise the symptoms of stroke, and the importance of emergency medical treatment. FAST requires an assessment of three specific symptoms of stroke:
Facial weakness - can the person smile, has their mouth or eye drooped?
Arm weakness - can the person raise both arms?
Speech problems - can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?
Test - for all three symptoms
Large advertisements on buses across Coventry, Warwickshire, Dudley, Walsall and Wolverhampton will run until the middle of April. They give details of these three specific symptoms of stroke, how to test for them and the fact that a suspected stroke is a medical emergency. The FAST publicity materials have been provided by The Stroke Association and posters and leaflets will also be displayed in GP's surgeries, health clinics, community centres and libraries throughout the campaign.
Chris Bennett from The Stroke Association said, 'we are working with the NHS in these areas to make sure that the public know how to spot the signs of a stroke, and that people who are suspected of having a stroke can get the urgent medical help they need. The FAST method is easy to remember and simple to follow but it undoubtedly saves lives'.
New stroke support groups launched
The Stroke Association has launched two new stroke support groups in Redditch and Evesham. We have been able to establish these much needed groups thanks to the Worcestershire Network Neighbourhood (WINN) project. Redditch has not had a stroke club for many years and with 22 stroke survivors already attending the need for support is clear.
Stroke survivors and carers are welcome to attend this friendly group which aims to help people re-engage with the local community and gain and share information about stroke. The group meets fortnightly on Wednesdays from 10:30am-1pm at Churchill Community Centre, Loxley Close, Churchill South. For further information please contact Clair Johnson, Stroke Support Co-ordinator, on 0121 441 6408.
The Evesham Stroke Support Group also has 22 members. The group meets on the first and third Tuesday of the month from 10am-12pm at the Evesham Red Cross Centre, Briar Close. The main activities include speakers, music, exercise and socialising, plus support for stroke survivors and their families and carers. For further information please contact Sally Galvin, Stroke Support Co-ordinator on 01386 841629.
One in three men in Birmingham have high blood pressure
The Birmingham Health and Well-being Partnership (BHWP) are sending a healthcheck bus to various community locations. To find out when it will be in your area visit their website
Stop Smoking
Helpline
Call the free NHS Stop Smoking Helpline on 0800 169 0 169 to find out about local NHS stop smoking services. Did you know that 120,000 people die every year of smoking related diseases, which is six times the number killed in road accidents? One thousand of these people die as a result of other people's tobacco smoke.
Birmingham's new free stop smoking service
Giving up smoking sessions are now being offered during the day or evening, at a venue near you and free of charge. Find out more by calling 0800 052 5855
NHS Asian tobacco helplines (lines open every Tuesday from 1pm - 9pm)
- 0800 169 0 881 - Urdu
- 0800 169 0 882 - Punjabi
- 0800 169 0 883 - Hindi
- 0800 169 0 884 - Gujarati
- 0800 169 0 885 - Bengali
Further help and information is available from:
www.givingupsmoking.co.uk
www.ash.org.uk
www.quit.org.uk
For information about stroke and details of The Stroke Association's local services and support, please call our helpline on 0845 30 33 100 or email info@stroke.org.uk
