HEALTH MATTERS
JULIA Hulland-Vernon, Community Engagement and Participation Officer, NHS Eastern Cheshire CCG EVERY week, volunteers in Cheshire East contribute more than 65,000 hours of their time to support our community. This is the equivalent of more than 1,700 full-time jobs. Imagine what our community would be like if it weren’t for the generosity of this truly dedicated group.
June’s Volunteers’ Week is a chance for us to say thank you for the fantastic contribution that residents of Eastern Cheshire have made through giving their time and expertise to support health and care for the people who live here.
There are many ways in which people contribute to health and care in the community, whether it is volunteering with East Cheshire NHS Trust – which runs the Macclesfield, Congleton and Knutsford hospitals; being a patient representative for NHS Eastern Cheshire CCG – which plans and buys the area’s healthcare; or supporting the charity and voluntary sector.
Unpaid volunteers are often the glue that holds a community together.
Volunteering support for organisations is vital. Without the hours devoted to our community each week by our volunteers, many of our care services would not be possible. We thank you all for the important work that you do. We also encourage others to become volunteers in their local community. You can volunteer no matter your age, whether you are in work or not and whether you have any support needs. Volunteering is a fantastic way to support your community but it also benefits you:
It can provide valuable work experience, add to your CV and increase your prospects of future employment.
It offers a chance to explore new fields of interest, whether you are looking for a new direction or diversity in your work life or developing your current skill set and building confidence.
It should not exclude you from receiving benefits but speak to your advisor before applying.
It allows you to play an active role in the local community, apply your life skills and knowledge in support of a cause and enrich an organisation with your experience.
For volunteer opportunities you can:
Contact julia. hulland-vernon@nhs.net to become a patient representative for the CCG.
Go to community and voluntary services Cheshire East’s website www.cvsce.org.uk/ volunteering to volunteer in Cheshire East.
Contact the Royal Voluntary Services to volunteer at East Cheshire NHS Trust: www.royal voluntaryservice.org.uk. My Labrador Ben keeps biting at his paw. There is no sign of injury or anything stuck to it though. What could be wrong?
There are several possible reasons for Ben to bite at his paw. Pollen allergies are a very common cause at this time of year, but other irritants such as concrete dust or harvest mites could also have this effect. He could also have something that you can’t see stuck under the skin in between his paws, or if he’s had a previous injury it might be a touch of arthritis. As there are several possible causes, it’s worth taking Ben for a check-up to eliminate some of them. Regardless of the cause, excessive licking can cause an infection in the area, which will become quite painful. Keep the area covered but ensure it doesn’t become damp – if Ben pulls off any dressings, you might need to pop a plastic collar on him until you can get to the vet. My kitten keeps coughing and hacking, and then brings up what I think is a hairball. She does lick herself a lot, so I guess she’s swallowing a lot of hair when she does this. Is there anything I can do to prevent this?
It does sound as though your kitten is bringing up hairballs. When she grooms her fur with her tongue, she’s also swallowing loose hairs and, over time, they bind together and ball up in her digestive system. Hairballs are much more common in long-haired kitties, but can still occur if your cat has shorter hair. The best prevention is to groom your kitten with a brush every day, which will help remove loose hairs. There are also special pastes that can be given to help her pass a hair ball, though these don’t work for every cat. Getting a check-up would also be a good idea, to make sure she’s on the right food to help prevent problems and to make sure there’s not a more sinister reason for her vomiting.
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