News reports located on this page = 3.

Have a heart and save lives in your community

HAVE you got the heart to raise awareness of atrial fibrillation in your community? The Innovation Agency, the Academic Health Science Network for the North West Coast, is appealing for volunteers to become AF Ambassadors in Merseyside, Cheshire and Lancashire. The call comes at the start of Global AF Aware Week 2018. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia (heart rhythm disorder) affecting over 1.5 million people across the UK. There are up to 500,000 people unidentified, undiagnosed and at high risk of an AF-related stroke which is more devastating than any other type of stroke and often fatal.

The 2018 theme of Global AF Aware Week is:- 'Know your pulse to know your heart rhythm.' Knowing your pulse can save your life. If your resting heart rate is irregular, too fast, or too slow, it is possible that you have an undiagnosed arrhythmia. But, once detected, anticoagulation therapy can prevent a stroke.

The Innovation Agency is helping to spread this message by sending out its team of volunteer AF Ambassadors to test pulses throughout the week to help detect AF and prevent strokes. Now, it is calling for more volunteers to be trained as AF Ambassadors. Volunteers are equipped with mobile ECG devices which can detect an irregular pulse within 1 minute. Over the last 6 months, the team of 36 Ambassadors have tested around 1,000 pulses with 29 people being referred to their GP for further tests, potentially saving several strokes.

Now, the Innovation Agency wants to step up its work by increasing the number of AF Ambassadors. Dr Julia Reynolds, Head of Programmes at the Innovation Agency, said:- "The North West Coast has 1 of the highest AF related stroke rates in the UK and we know that there are at least 20,000 people in our Region who are unaware they have AF, so we have a number of people left to find. We aim to reduce the number of AF related strokes to fewer than 500 per year in our Region, by 2020."

Other Innovation Agency initiatives to reduce strokes include:-

► An AF Collaborative of more than 100 GP practices using the mobile ECG devices with a further 30 to join soon.

► A partnership with Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service who are carrying out pulse tests during their 'Safe and Well' home visits.

► An initiative in East Lancashire involving equipment which allows AF patients to self manage their condition at home; saving them repeated visits to a Hospital or Clinic.

Anyone interested in becoming an AF Ambassador should call Debbie Parkinson on:- 01772 520250 or send an email.

A video about the Innovation Agency's AF work can be seen here.

KIND Christmas Appeal 2018 needs your help

SINCE 1975 KIND has made Christmas a happier and less stressful time for tens of thousands of disadvantaged children and their families from within our Merseyside community. The KIND Christmas Appeal is all about giving those children and families from within our community, the Christmas that we expect for ourselves. KIND can only achieve this with YOUR help! Last Christmas KIND helped over 8,500 disadvantaged children and their families. The provision of large Christmas food hampers, toy parcels, and clothing helped to give our families a Christmas to remember and not 1 to forget. The food, the toys are all part of the Christmas celebrations. But perhaps as important as the material gifts are the knowledge to our families that other people in the community care about them and their problems at this special time of the year.

"We are only a small charity, but with your support, we can give those children and families in need within our community, on Merseyside, a Christmas to remember. Your support makes a huge difference. Every pound you donate is a pound we spend on the Appeal... Also if you know a family who is in need and will benefit from our KIND Christmas Appeal support, please let us know as soon as you can. Thank you and have a Merry Christmas!" said Paul, from KIND.

► To donate all you have to do is send a cheque or postal order (make payable to KIND), to:- 19 Back Cannon Street, Liverpool, L8 7PB, UK.

► To make a secure online donation visit:- KIND.Org.UK.

► For every ₤75 we raise we can provide a family with a wonderful large Christmas Food Hamper...

We're also known to accept cash believe it or not! Don't forget to Gift Aid your donation if you are a taxpayer. (For every ₤10 you donate we receive a further ₤2.50 from the Government). It is also worth noting that the charity is not just about Christmas, but they also work throughout the year on a number of projects for disadvantaged children and their families.

For more information and also if you or your family, friends, work colleagues or even your neighbours can help, contact Stephen Yip, from KIND on:- 0151 708 8273 or send an email to:- Info@KIND.Org.UK.