New non-executive director of North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

NORTH West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, have recently welcomed a new Non-Executive Director, Michael Tate, to the Trust Board. Michael will support with the effective running of the Trust, having worked in the NHS for 36 years.  The Trust Board brings together its team of executive directors with independent Non-Executive Directors from outside the organisation to collectively lead the Trust, making sure that full and effective control over the Trust's business is maintained.  Michael is a qualified accountant and has been a director of finance for 9 years. He has recently retired from his role as Chief Finance Officer and Director of Commissioned Services in a Clinical Commissioning Group. Michael's leadership skills, in depth knowledge of the NHS and experience of strategic planning, make him a great addition to the board.

Michael said:- "This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of the Trust Board, and I believe I have the knowledge and skills required to make a real difference. I'm excited about the challenges and opportunities ahead, whilst ensuring community and mental Health Services are delivered in a joined up way."

Helen Bellairs, Trust Chairman, said:- "I look forward to working with Michael and welcoming him to our Trust Board in September. Our non-executive directors play an important role in ensuring the Trust has robust systems in place to provide our service users and carers with reliable, safe, high quality community based physical health, mental health and learning disability services."

Free Family Fun Day at Ince Blundell Village Hall for Macmillan

A free family fun day with live music, barbecue and classic cars will be held at Ince Blundell Village Hall, on Sunday, 2 September 2018, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.  During the day, which runs from 12noon to 4pm, live music will be provided by:- PopVox choir, Nicola Hardman and Formby based Viking Skiffle Band, at the Hall, on Victoria Road. Classic vehicles will be on show and Crosby Coastguard will have a Beach Patrol Quadbike on display. There will also be:- table sales, raffle, tombola, barbecue, tea, coffee and cake, as well as a licensed bar.

Committee Member, John Devonport, who was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2016 and treated at Broadgreen Hospital, is helping to organise the event. The 64 year old retired area operations director was referred by his doctor to attend Macmillan's 'Move More' classes in Formby and Southport. The scheme helps people get and stay active, both during and after cancer treatment, and enables them to take back control.  John, who is married with 2 children and 3 grand children, said:- "We're a fairly new committee and we wanted to stage a summer fete to raise funds for the hall, and also for a charity that helps people going through a tough time. We chose to support Macmillan as most of us have benefited directly or indirectly from their support. It promises to be a great day out, and fun for all the family, whilst at the same time raising vital funds to help Macmillan support people living with cancer right across Merseyside."

For further information, and table bookings, contact Vicky on:- 07717 431319, or go to:- InceBlundellVillageHall.Co.UK or find them on Facebook.

Counterfeit couture confiscated City Council officers 'bag' thousands of pounds worth of fake goods

THEY look like the real things, they feel like the real thing, but don't be fooled by these flashy fakes because what seems like a load of high end designer gear is actually a batch of bad bags. Thanks to Officers from Liverpool City Council's Public Protection Team, they've been taken off the streets and are destined to be destroyed.

The team took part in a special operation looking for fake items for sale since October 2017. They swooped on the haul of hoax handbags which were being sold at:- The Bag Shop, within St John's Shopping Centre. The haul included rip off versions of big name brands like:- Dolce and Gabanna, Gucci and Louis Vuitton.

City Council Public Protection Officer Jenny Davies explains:- "The bags were being sold for between ₤20 and ₤30 and on first inspection look quite authentic, but if you look a little bit closer they are actually very poorly made. Some of them have started to lose their clasps and other items so are pretty much unusable. Because they are fake, we know very little about their origins, so they could contain materials that are flammable or otherwise unsafe."

Whilst the bags were being sold at a fraction of the cost of their genuine counterparts, officers believe the haul would be worth as much as ₤18,000 if they were real.  Jenny said:- "These bags were being sold in the run up to Christmas so people may have thought they were getting a real bargain but they are not genuine and clearly not built to last. It's an old adage, but we would like people to be aware of the fact that if something seems too good to be true, it usually is."

Liverpool City Council Cabinet Member for Street Scene, Cllr James Noakes, said:- "Everyone loves a bargain but we want shoppers in Liverpool to be aware of the potential pitfalls of buying counterfeit goods. In this instance it was bags, but it could be:- clothes, electrical items, perfume, watches; the list goes on. Whatever the item is, they are often of bad quality and may not have not have been through the same rigorous safety checks as the legitimate items, so they could be unsafe. We would urge everyone not to be tempted by fakes, because the attraction of getting something cheap could end up costing you dear."

You can report fake items through the City Council's website and search for:- 'consumer protection' or via Crimestoppers on:- 0800 555 111.