News
Study - Familial Cancer Risk in Ethnic Minorities
Genetic Alliance UK are recruiting people in England from South Asian or White Irish backgrounds who have a significant family history of breast/ovarian, bowel, or prostate cancer for the above study. They would like to invite people to take part in a discussion with a Researcher and offer a £20 Gift Voucher to thank participants for their time.
The purpose of the study is to firstly identify why people from minority ethnic groups with a significant family history of cancer are less likely to access clinical genetics services than the mainstream UK population. Secondly it will inform the development of interventions in order to improve access to genetics services for people from minority ethnic groups.
The study, funded by the Big Lottery Fund, is being carried out by Genetic Alliance UK formerly Genetic Interest Group (GIG), a national charity, in partnership with the Division of Primary Care at the University of Nottingham.
Leaflets about the study can be downloaded from the website at: http://www.geneticalliance.org.uk/projects/ethnicityandaccess.htm
For more information contact Anna Allford
Research Assistant/Project Officer
Genetic Alliance UK
anna@geneticalliance.org.uk
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Religious and Cultural Circumcision Services across Greater Manchester
Circumcision (removal of the foreskin from the penis) is practiced in a number of cultures and religions. Circumcision is common and as Greater Manchester’s population grows more diverse, more and more young boys are being circumcised. Circumcision is not usually a medical procedure and the majority take place in the community as part of a religious or cultural celebration. As most circumcisions are performed outside the NHS, there is currently no way to ensure the safety of these services. Whilst the majority of circumcisions happen without any complications, in recent years a number of young boys have needed medical treatment for serious problems caused by circumcision.
Greater Manchester Safeguarding Children's Board, (GMSCB) want to reduce the risk of harm to children. This summer they are launching a new process that will review the quality of religious and cultural circumcision services:
• Every known religious or cultural circumcision service operating across Greater Manchester will be sent a self assessment form for completion.
• A expert panel will then assess the information provided, using Care Quality Commission, British Association of Paediatric Surgeons, BMA, GMC and Initiation Society standards.
• Services that offer the highest professional standards will be included in a leaflet to be distributed by midwives, health visitors and other health services as well as community and faith groups.
This is a voluntary process which will run annually - GMSCB cannot stop anyone performing religious or cultural circumcision for their community, but they can use NHS expertise to make sure that the services they approve meet the highest safety standards. The signposting leaflet will help families across Greater Manchester to choose safer circumcision services for their sons. NHS Manchester’s Public Health Directorate is leading the process on behalf of GMSCB.
If you are performing religious or cultural circumcisions and would like to be part of this important process, please email your details to Helen Gollins at helen.gollins@manchester.nhs.uk or call tel: 0161 765 4478.
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Hepatitis C Drop-in in Hulme
• Have you recently been diagnosed with hepatitis C and need advice and information?
• Are you currently on treatment for hepatitis C and need support?
• Do you have a relative, friend or are a carer of someone with hepatitis C and want some advice and information?
Starting on 4 March 2011 and then every Friday 11:00am-2:00pm at
Claremont Resource Centre, Hulme Hall, Rolls Crescent, Hulme, Manchester M15 5FS (next to the Junction Pub)
BHA Hepatitis C Support Greater Manchester are coordinating a drop-in service for anyone affected by hepatitis C. There will be advice and information from people that have been through similar experiences.
If you have recently been diagnosed with hepatitis C, are under treatment or are a carer, relative or friend of an individual with hepatitis C, drop in for confidential free advice and information. If you are travelling from Manchester City Centre you can catch bus number 256, 85 and 86.
For further information please contact Shabana or Angela at BHA on
0161 874 2173 or email shabana@blackhealthagency.org.uk
You can also access information on the
following websites:
www.gmhepc.org.uk
www.hepctrust.org.uk
www.british-liver-trust.org.uk
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Thirty one new quality standards to be developed by NICE
Quality standards for thirty one new clinical areas are to be produced by NICE in the latest round of development, on topics including asthma, bipolar disorder, diabetes and four different types of cancer. The quality standards will join the suite of four already published by NICE, and a further nine currently in development.
Read more
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Unique new dental facility opens in Manchester
Wheelchair users of all ages and bariatric patients in Manchester can now access a full range of dental treatment at the new Withington Dental Care Centre.
Read more
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Leading medics challenge GPs to fight Andrew Lansley over NHS reforms
"Doctors' leaders are facing a challenge from senior medics who claim they have been too quick to accept the government's NHS shakeup and should instead "mobilise" to thwart it."
Read the article in the Guardian
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Launch of new Trust website - your feedback needed
Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust have recently revamped their website to make it easier to use, more attractive and, most importantly, more service user and carer focused. The site now contains easy-to-find information on all the Trust's services and how to contact them as well as advice on issues such as staying on a ward and how to get help in a crisis.
The Trust have involved service users and carers in the development of the site and believe it will be a valuable tool for them as well as the Trust's staff, partner organisations and GPs. However, they would really like to hear your views on how they could improve it even further and would be very grateful if you could take a few minutes to go to
www.mhsc.nhs.uk and e-mail any comments either online via the comments page or by e mailing communications.admin@mhsc.nhs.uk.
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Have your say on North Manchester Hospital
Are you a North Manchester Resident who accesses services at North Manchester Hospital?
Manchester LINk want to hear your experiences good or bad
What do you think is working well and what could be improved?
Become involved with the North Manchester Task group and help to shape services!
For further information contact Danny on 0161 214 3909 or email danny@blackhealthagency.org.uk
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MRHF has moved!
Our new address is:
BHA,MRHF, Democracy House, 609/609A Stretford Road, Old Trafford, Manchester, M16 0QA
Tel: 0845 450 4247 Fax: 0845 450 3247
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HIV and Black Caribbean communities in the UK
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Read BHA's 2009/2010 Annual Report
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MRHF Registration forms
Those already on the MRHF mailing list should have received a registration form for completion with contact details and interests. It would be appreciated if these could be filled in and sent back. Please contact us if you are not already on the list and would like to be.
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Race bias in cancer 'costing lives'
Each day around 125 women are diagnosed with breast cancer, but are they all getting the same chances?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11492960
http://www.betterdays.uk.com
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HIV and black Caribbean communities in the UK
National AIDS Trust (NAT) has just published a report highlighting the neglected HIV-related needs of black Caribbean communities in the UK. Whilst HIV prevalence remains much lower than amongst gay men and African communities, it is still three times higher among black Caribbeans than in the British-born white heterosexual population. About half of those diagnosed HIV positive were born in the UK and half were born in the Caribbean. One quarter of black Caribbean people living with HIV in UK are men who have sex with men, while the remaining three quarters contracted HIV heterosexually.
Whilst there is some good work being done around HIV and sexual health at the local level, black Caribbeans are not currently served by a national HIV prevention programme. NAT is calling for a national strategic approach to prevent both HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in black Caribbean communities, with appropriate needs assessments and funding. The new report also recommends that healthcare workers in the UK implement the UK guidelines for HIV testing and offer HIV tests to people from the nine Caribbean countries with generalised HIV epidemics. Read the report at www.nat.org.uk