Views wanted on end of life care issues

A major study has been commissioned to help improve end of life care education in the North West.  Patients, family members and carers who have experienced serious illness or the loss of a loved-one are being invited to share their real life experiences with University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) academics.

The commissioned team will study the responses before creating recommendations for improving future end of life care education for health and social care staff.

Dr Joy Duxbury, Research Lead and Reader in Mental Health Nursing at UCLan, said:- “This is a very sensitive subject area yet we hope some people might be willing to share their experiences and views. Our project team is experienced in speaking to patients, family members and carers around end of life care and the sensitivities involved and will treat people with care and respect.”

The study team is looking for an array of positive, negative, surprising or sad views. Any contributions from people who have experiences to share, from being told about a diagnosis, talking about options for care, to the care they received are welcome. Participation is entirely voluntary.

Elaine Owen, NHS North West Project Manager End of Life Care, said:- “The only way we can improve the care we give to patients and their carers is by ensuring their ideas and suggestions are embedded into the training and education of all professional staff.”

Kerry Hemsworth, Assistant Director of Education and Commissioning for NHS North West, added:- “This is an important project that will ultimately have an influence on education and training for staff providing end of life care. Having conversations about end of life care and sharing experiences and views are critical if we are to ensure we equip staff with the right skills and knowledge.”

Volunteers have to register their interest by the end of January 2011 and will then receive an information pack about the project. Participation can include completing a survey online, by post or by participating in-person at an interview/focus group at one of a number of sites across the North West. These will be held between November and February.

Anyone who is interested in taking part in the study can email, telephone or write to:-

Dr. Terri O’Brien
School of Nursing & Caring Sciences
University of Central Lancashire
Preston PR1 2HE

Email:- taobrien@uclan.ac.uk
Telephone:- 01772 892730

 Euro MP says seal ban reinstatement is a victory for people power

RESPONDING to the decision by the President of the European Court of Justice to dismiss the application for interim measures and fully reinstate the ban on the trade in seal products Arlene McCarthy MEP, who led the law through the European Parliament said:- “When the law was first voted by the European Parliament in May 2009 we said it was a victory for people power and a credit to the campaigners involved. The vast majority of people across Europe were horrified by the cruel clubbing to death of seals. There was no justification for the seal industry's challenge to the law. We have no desire to trespass on the Inuit traditional way of life so the law was drafted to specifically permit trade in products from traditional Inuit subsistence hunting. The law does however prohibit the cruel commercial trade which leads to the industrial scale slaughter of thousands of seals every year. It is wrong that those engaged in large scale commercial hunting have falsely hidden behind the issue of Inuit culture, when that is clearly provided for in the law. Thankfully the President of the ECJ has seen through this baseless challenge and has dismissed the appeal and reinstated the ban in full. This is a victory for upholding the law. I hope the seal industry will now end its legal challenges and accept the will of European citizens.”

Flirting fellas fail to keep their eyes on the road

THE UK has been revealed as a nation of in-car flirts with many motorists admitting they flirt with other drivers on the road - and men are the biggest culprits.  A nationwide survey by women’s car insurance specialist, Diamond has revealed two-fifths of British motorists flirt with other drivers and 15% have crashed their car or had a near miss after being distracted by someone they fancy.

Diamond quizzed 3,000 people and found almost half of men and over a third of women admit to flirting with other motorists. But the male of the species is the most guilty of flirtatious behaviour, with 3 times as many men than women admitting they flirt with other drivers on a daily basis. 

A smile or cheeky glance were the most popular ways to flirt whilst driving, however, the survey also revealed many drivers aren’t averse to a wink, a wave or even beeping their horn.   Men are more likely to beep their horn at people they fancy, whereas women are more likely to give the object of their attraction a smile.

Diamond managing director, Elwyn Gedrych said:- “Flirting with other motorists certainly seems to be popular and men in particular seem well versed at it.  We spend so much of our time driving, perhaps many of us have started to see our cars as an extension of our social lives. Most of us are used to flirting in clubs and bars, so why not in our cars as well? However, in-car flirting isn’t risk free and it can be a distraction. Drivers need to be mindful not to let the handsome man or pretty woman in the car next to them take their mind off the road ahead.”

The research also revealed far more men (63%) than women (42%) would behave more courteously to another motorist if they found them attractive. Also, 3 times as many men than women have actually crashed their car because they’ve been distracted by a good looking member of the opposite gender.

Regionally, motorists in Wales are the biggest in-car flirts and motorists in East Anglia are the most likely to beep their horn at someone they fancy. On the other hand, it’s drivers in the West Midlands who have had the most crashes as a result of being distracted by someone attractive.

Twice as many men than women said they use their car to attract the opposite gender. 20% of men think a car can help attract another person and 6% even admitted that was why they chose their car.  26% of men believe the car they drive can make them more attractive, but only 18% of women agree. However, almost as many women as men find someone more attractive if they drive a nice car.

Elwyn Gedrych continues:- “It’s clear our cars aren’t just a way to get from A to B and for a lot of us they even seem to be another ingredient in our recipe of pulling techniques!“

How do the regions compare?

Do you agree with these findings?  Email us your views to news24@southportreporter.com and let us know what you think!