City cleans up with green sweeper

LIVERPOOL is trialling an electric street sweeper as part of a drive to make the City green and clean. The test run of the Bucher CityCat 2-2-ev cleaner is part of a wider plan to introduce a diesel free fleet of Council vehicles in the City Centre by 2019, and across the City by 2024. They would be replaced by a range of electric, compressed gas and natural gas vehicles.

Operating costs for the CityCat are 75% less than a traditional diesel; and each vehicle can save the environment from up to 26 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. It can run for up to 8 hours when fully powered and can be charged up at any public car charging station in around 2 to 3 hours.

It follows a request from Mayor Joe Anderson last year for the prioritisation of electric vehicles and clean fuels in order to reduce the impact of air pollution on residents under an initiative known as:- 'Breathe Liverpool.' In Liverpool, particulate air pollution contributes to 4% of all deaths, and long term exposure contributes to heart diseases and stroke, lung cancer and respiratory diseases like asthma and chronic bronchitis.

Councillor Steve Munby, Cabinet member for City services, said:- "All vehicles, no matter how large or small, contribute towards pollution levels in the City and as a local authority which has a large fleet it is right and proper that we show the way forward. As a City we have made great strides in reducing levels of sulphur dioxide over recent years, pollution from vehicle related emissions such as Nitrogen Dioxide and Particulate Matter is still too high. It is not good enough for us to be just below the worst, as it still has a direct effect on the health of many residents and creates a huge cost for the NHS, which means it has to be a real priority. There is already a lot of good work going on delivered by partners such as Merseytravel, but we can support that by using our influence to deliver changes which will improve air quality. Although there will be an upfront cost to buying new vehicles, they are far cheaper to run and maintain which will deliver a saving in the long term. By 2025 we want the City to have developed a central heart where walking, cycling, electric vehicles and clean fuels will dominate."

A total of 100 electric vehicle charging points are also being planned across the City to improve air quality in Liverpool. Work is underway identifying Council car parks, supermarkets, leisure centres and streets in areas such as the Baltic Triangle.

The City is no longer 1 of those identified by Government being over the statutory limit for Nitrogen Dioxide and last year dropped to 26 out of 50 local authorities for levels of Particulate Matter.

The City Council is working with the Combined Authority to determine the costs of introducing a:- 'Clean Air Zone.'

Patient's praise for innovative prostate surgery

A leading urological surgeon has carried out surgery at Ormskirk Hospital for the first time which improves bladder control due to an enlarged prostate. A father of 2 was the 1st patient to benefit from the innovative surgery led by Consultant Surgeon Rahul Mistry.

Dave, who is in his forties and from Ormskirk, said:- "I'm so much better. I was in and out of Hospital within the same day - in fact, the procedure took less than ½ an hour. Within 3 to 4 days I was fully recovered and I noticed an improvement almost immediately.  Mr Mistry fully explained the operation to me beforehand and I would recommend this operation not only to friends and family, but to all men who need it. I can't believe how quickly it took me to fully recover and be back to how I used to be."

Prostate problems are more common in men aged over 50. The prostate gland surrounds the tube that carries urine out of the body and sits just below the bladder. An enlarged prostate can cause a lot of discomfort and unpredictability for men when they need to pass water, particularly at night.

The advantage of the new Urolift technique is a much faster recovery time, no routine need for a catheter, and a minimal effect on sexual function.

Patients traditionally had to stay in Hospital for 2 to 3 days and then take off a further 6 weeks. Instead, the Urolift procedure is a day case operation, saving the NHS money, and from which the patients will be recovered within 2 to 3 weeks.

Mr Mistry added:- "It's great news that patients at Ormskirk and Southport Hospitals can now benefit from this innovative procedure, quickly recover and go on to lead a normal life again. It's also much better value for the NHS as the Urolift is a day case operation which means patients don't have to stay in Hospital. The post operation infection rates are also much lower."

The surgery has been made possible through partnership work between NHS England, North West Innovation Agency, Urolift and Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust and the NHS commissioners

If you have a problem with passing urine or have any signs of symptoms you should go and see your local GP.

Signs of an enlarged prostate can include:-

► Difficulty starting or stopping urinating.

► A weak flow of urine.

► Straining when passing urine.

► Feeling like you're not able to fully empty your bladder.

► Prolonged dribbling after you've finished peeing.

► Needing to pass urine more frequently or more suddenly.

► Waking up frequently during the night to pee.