LIVERPOOL BIDS TO BE ENGLAND 2018 WORLD CUP PLAYER

LIVERPOOL officially launched its bid to be part of England’s 2018 World Cup plans on Wednesday, 22 July 2009.

City leaders made the case to be a Host City to World Cup bid inspectors this morning before taking them on a whistle-stop tour of sporting, cultural and tourism facilities.

Liverpool is one of 15 cities competing to be chosen by England and stars of Everton FC and Liverpool FC helped kick-start the city's campaign by calling on fans to unite and back Liverpool's bid.

People can show their support for Liverpool by registering online.

David Moyes, Manager at Everton Football Club, added:- “I have absolutely no hesitation in throwing my weight behind Liverpool’s bid to be a host city for the World Cup. Football really matters to people here; it’s something which is much more than a pastime – it is a genuine passion. It would be unthinkable for England to stage a World Cup without this city being a key player. I would urge everyone in the city – be they Blue or Red – to get right behind this bid. We can’t afford to miss out on what could be a magnificent event.”

Liverpool’s bid to be part of England’s World Cup application to FIFA is led by Liverpool City Council. The city has submitted an outline bid based on Everton FC and Liverpool FC both having two new stadia by 2018. The 25 page bid document also highlights the strength of grassroots football, Liverpool's transport and accommodation offer and ability to host a month-long festival of football.

A final bid has to be submitted to England's World Cup bid company by November 2009. England will announce its Host Cities in December and will put forward its official bid, containing between 12 and 18 stadia that meet FIFA criteria, in May 2010. FIFA will announce the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup in December 2010.

Councillor Warren Bradley, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said:- ''You can't envisage the World Cup coming to this country and Liverpool as a city not being one of the hosts. Liverpool is one of the great footballing hubs of world sport. Our clubs, their players and fans, have shaped and enriched the game for more than a century and involvement in the game at the grassroots is second to none. This bid is about building on that tradition, to promote the game to a new generation and help England secure and deliver a fantastic tournament.  This is also a competition against other UK cities and we need both Evertonians and Liverpudlians, and football fans in general, to show their support for the city on the website. Like for the Capital of Culture contest, I'm sure if we unite our passion for the game we will have a very special 12th man in our bidding team.''

As well as two new stadia, Liverpool’s case for inclusion in England’s submission to FIFA focuses on the city’s support and involvement in football at every level and its excellent track record in hosting major international events such as European Capital of Culture 2008, The Grand National and The Davis Cup this September.

Outside the professional game Liverpool has one of the UK’s largest network of amateur leagues with 1,500 Junior teams (23,000 registered players) and 700 Adult teams (11,500 registered players).

Rafa Benitez, Manager of Liverpool FC, said:- "Everybody knows the passion people in Liverpool have for football. Their knowledge and appreciation of the game is known throughout the world and matches being staged in Liverpool would be a huge boost for a World Cup played in England.‬"

Bill Kenwright, CBE, Chairman of Everton Football Club, said:- “If you go anywhere in the world and say you are from the great city of Liverpool, you are met with a standard response – they say ‘football and The Beatles‘. Liverpool is synonymous with football – it is utterly inconceivable that England could stage a World Cup without the city being a major venue. Everyone on Merseyside – whether they are football supporters or not – should get right behind this bid. 2018 could turn out to be the biggest party in the world – and we want an invite."

Colin Hilton, Chief Executive of Liverpool City Council, said:- "This World Cup bid is a huge opportunity for Liverpool and will cement the legacy of all we have achieved in the past 10 years, in terms of harnessing our cultural and sporting offer to regenerate the city and make it a better place live, work and play."

Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), said:- "This is an important bid for all football fans, the people of the city of Liverpool and the Northwest region. In 2006 the FIFA World Cup™ in Germany generated over 2 million visitors and £600 million in economic benefits. I would urge everyone to register their support for England 2018, and show we have the passion and drive to hold a successful World Cup.”

APPEAL FOR WITNESSES - ROBBERY - MILL STREET, TOXTETH

MERSEYSIDE Police are appealing for witnesses following a robbery outside Sam's Club at the Memorial Hall on Mill Street, Toxteth, on Monday, 13 July 2009.

Between 8.30am and 8.45am a member of staff was putting out the rubbish bins when he was approached by two men. They pushed the 70 year old victim to the floor, kicked him and demanded money.

The offenders were disturbed by another member of staff and ran away in the direction of Toxteth Street. They left with a set of keys.

They are described as white and between 18 and 20 years old. They were wearing grey scarves over their faces and dark tracksuits with their hoods up.

The victim was taken to hospital suffering from shock and superficial injuries and has since been discharged.

Detective Inspector Peter Cain said:- "This was a cowardly attack on an elderly man and these people must be caught. It is only luck that the victim was not more seriously injured and I would appeal to anyone who has any information to call us urgently on:- 0151 777 5364 or Crimestoppers on:- 0800 555 111."

Advice for people with asthma on swine flu protection

ASTHMA UK’s team of clinical experts is offering important advice on how people with asthma can help protect themselves against swine flu now and into the autumn.

* Make sure you use your preventer inhaler

Adults and children with asthma are no more likely to contract swine flu than the rest of the population, but if they do get the virus, they could become unwell if their condition is not well-managed. It’s therefore vital that people with asthma ensure that they use their preventer inhaler (usually morning and evening), if they have been prescribed one. Cher Piddock, Clinical Lead at Asthma UK, says:- "Some people with asthma stop using their preventer medicine as they don’t feel any immediate benefit, but it’s actually the most important medicine that you can use to prevent an asthma attack. Preventer medicine controls the swelling and inflammation in the airways and stops them from being so sensitive, but the protective effect builds up over a period of time so you need to take it every day, even when you’re feeling well."

* Ensure that you don’t run out of your inhalers

Mike Thomas, GP and Chief Medical Adviser to Asthma UK, says:- "All the medicines that you have been prescribed are vital to keep your condition under control, so it’s essential that you’re organised and make sure you have a good supply."

* Refer to your personal asthma action plan

If you have a plan, refer to it regularly, as it provides details of all your asthma medicines and tells you what steps to take if your asthma gets worse, and what to do in an emergency. People with a plan are four times less likely to need hospital treatment for their asthma so, if you don’t have one, speak to your GP or asthma nurse for more information.

* Prepare thoroughly before your holiday – and don’t forget insurance

Wherever you go on holiday, it’s important that you take the same sensible precautions with your asthma that you would at home. If you’re travelling in Europe, it’s important that you take a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with you, which you can get from a Post Office. This will enable you to have any necessary medical treatment you need for free, including for swine flu.

However, you will also need separate travel insurance before travelling. Many people with asthma find that getting specialist travel insurance can be difficult and expensive, but it’s essential that you have a policy in place before travelling abroad and that you check it covers asthma and swine flu.

Mike Thomas continues:- "Make sure you take a supply of your normal asthma medications on holiday, a peak flow meter if you have one and some simple over-the-counter cold and flu medications. It’s also important to find out where you can get medical help if you need it."

* Try to lead a healthy lifestyle

Keeping active and eating a healthy, balanced diet are important ways to keep asthma under control. Exercise can help to improve lung function and help with the management of asthma symptoms - studies have shown that people who exercise regularly seem to cope better with their asthma symptoms and have less need for their reliever inhaler. Diet also plays a key role, according to Cher Piddock: ‘Eating plenty of fruit and vegetables can help boost the immune system and help ward off colds and flu.’

For more information, visit Asthma UK’s website, or call the Asthma UK Adviceline on:- 0800 121 62 44.

If you think you may have swine flu, you should first go online and check your symptoms on:- nhs.uk or call the Swine Flu
information line on:- 0800 1 513 513.

EXTRA HELP FOR NHS DIRECT ‘CANNOT COME FAST ENOUGH’

UNISON, the UK’s largest public sector trade union, is welcoming the extra help promised by the Government to NHS Direct to ease the pressure of the huge weight of calls from people worried about swine flu.

The service is currently taking 93,000 calls a day, an increase of more than 86,000. With experts predicting that infections are likely to peak in future waves, the extra help will be vital in easing the pressure staff are currently experiencing following the tragic death of a child and a GP. This extra help will also help to alleviate the pressure on community healthcare teams and make sure that the service can keep giving patients with problems other than swine flu the best treatment possible.

Michael Walker, UNISON NHS Direct officer, said:- “NHS Direct is a vital service. The public need to know they can pick up the phone and get advice and support from someone they trust. Our members at NHS Direct are the experts and they are determined to give worried parents and families high quality care.

Each time a new death is announced, and when the disease peaks, the number of calls rises further. NHS Direct employees and their families are also at risk of swine flu, which makes this extra staff even more essential.

They have been working under great pressure, and still need to provide care to patients with problems other than swine flu, so these additional staff really cannot come fast enough.

UNISON would like to thank all members of the healthcare team for their hard work throughout this outbreak. We would also like to remind members of the public that they can check their symptoms on the NHS Direct website, which would help ease call centre pressure further.”

This week UNISON issued guidance to all its members working in healthcare, advising them on what they should do if they think they have swine flu, and urging them to familiarise themselves with their workplace flu pandemic policy.

NHS Direct employs 3500 people, at any one time there are 300 nurse and health advisers on duty. The service runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.