A nursing student and single mum of two, has defied the odds to achieve a first as a Bachelor of Nursing (Hons) at the University of Manchester.

Emma Ridpath, from Warrington, was also part of the nursing team who looked after victims of the Manchester Arena bombing at Royal Manchester children’s hospital intensive care unit.

She was based at the unit during the final part of her training when the tragedy happened.

Even the loss of her beloved grandfather William, just before she started her final year’s studies, did not stand in the way of her success.

Her success has been a family affair: daughter Courtney, 11, son Nathan, 9 and mum Pam have all been doing their upmost to support her.

She said: “There have been a lot of setbacks along the way, but with the help of my two wonderful children I managed to achieve a first class honours.

“It’s given me a chance to pursue my life-long dream of being a nurse. I’ve always wanted to be able to care for people.

“I’ll never forget the amazing patients and relatives who came into the unit on that terrible day in May. I could hardly believe it was happening – but the bravery and dignity of those people was a very powerful experience.”

As soon as Emma finished her studies she was snapped up by Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, intensive care unit, where she has been working since September.

Her studies, she says were tough but ultimately gave her the skills she needed to find her dream job.

She is also hoping to publish her dissertation on the experience of nurses and their families of bereavement in an intensive care unit.

She added: “The course gave me an in-depth knowledge of anatomy and physiology - which is very helpful for anyone who wants to work in intensive care.

“I made some wonderful friends on the course. And without my wonderful academic advisor I don’t know what I would have done. Diane was always there for me.

“Dianne and the staff went above and beyond their duty in the help they provided for me.

Dianne Burns who is a senior lecturer in nursing said: “As Emma’s academic advisor during her studies, I have seen her work exceedingly hard to develop her academic and clinical skills whilst overcoming much personal adversity.

Even during those hard times her commitment to her learning journey was clearly evident in everything she did, always submitting a high standard of academic work.

As a future Children’s nurse, Emma’s passion and dedication to the patient’s in her care was also clear to see, especially in the wake of the Manchester Arena attack when Emma was involved in providing nursing care to some of the unfortunate victims.

“I think I speak for all of us here in the Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work when I say that she is truly an inspirational student of whom we are very proud.”

����Vlog�ٷ� will create the first shared social history of the National Health Service, marking the institution’s 70^th anniversary, thanks to £785k National Lottery funding. (CHSTM), part of the University’s , has received initial support* from the Heritage Lottery Fund () for the ‘From Cradle to Grave: The NHS at 70’ project, it was announced today.

The £785,000 grant will allow the multi-partner project to train volunteers from a range of ages and backgrounds to gather stories from the NHS’s patients and workers as well as politicians and the general public, recording its unique place in everyday, post-war British life.

Many of the health service’s first patients and workers, when it was established in 1948, are now in their 80s and 90s, and the 70^th anniversary of the NHS presents one of the last opportunities to record their stories.

160 people, young and old, from all walks of life, will be trained to gather stories and artefacts from the NHS’ 70-year history. 70 young people aged 14-25 will act as Community Reporters, filming stories in their local area. These testimonies, from everyday users and workers in the health service, to key policymakers, MPs and trade union officials, will contribute to a multimedia, publicly accessible record of the NHS, filling existing gaps in its history, and recording the personal stories that make the service so unique.

A major component of the project will be the creation of an innovative new website which will allow the public to submit their stories of the NHS by uploading recordings, photos and documents. The website will act as a hub for existing and previous histories of the NHS.

The project will also create a touring exhibition, a programme of events and 40 minute feature film.

First round funding of £199,100 has been awarded to help CHSTM progress its plans to unlock the full grant at a later date. This initial development work will focus on the North West of England and South Wales, working with Age UK, the Mental Health Foundation, Rethink Mental Illness, the Stroke Association, NHS England and the NHS Confederation.

Commenting on the award, Project Director, said: “We are thrilled to have received National Lottery funding. The project has huge potential to transform engagement with the NHS’s history across the UK and beyond through digital tools, and through the contributions of volunteers and communities. The project partnership allows us, for the first time, to work together to create a shared story about the NHS. We urgently need to capture the memories of the first generations who worked and were cared for by this unique institution as they are now in their 80s and 90s. The forthcoming NHS 70th anniversary in 2018 is a perfect opportunity to celebrate its past and reflect on its present and future.”

Ros Kerslake, HLF Chief Executive, said: “This fantastic project will capture the rich heritage of the NHS, as it reaches its 70th birthday. We were particularly impressed by the number and range of people who will be involved in the project, receiving training to capture and present the story of this much loved national treasure for future generations.”

Chris Larkin, Regional Director at the Stroke Association, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with the University of Manchester on such an exciting and important piece of work. We’ll be supporting stroke survivors from our local services to become volunteer reporters and share their experiences of the NHS. It’s wonderful that stroke survivors will have such a vital role in helping to document and celebrate the history of the NHS.”
 

Emma Malcolm, Associate Director for Fundraising at Rethink Mental Illness said,  "We're very pleased to be able to support this great project. We hope the involvement of Rethink Mental Illness' members and supporters will help create a record of the mental health legacy of the NHS, which will serve as a reminder of how far we have come, and how far we have to go."

Heidi Bennett, Chief Executive Officer, Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations, said: “BAVO is delighted to be part of this multi-national project celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the NHS as a crucial and unique health service.  We will be working with the University of Manchester to recruit local volunteer interviewers and storytellers via our Volunteer centre in the near future”.

Iris Elliott, Head of Policy and Research at the Mental Health Foundation, said: “Founded in the aftermath of the second world war, Mental Health Foundation will be celebrating our 70th birthday in 2019; and we have recently interviewed two of our founders now in their 80s and 90s. It is vital that the first generation’s visionary contributions to the health of our nation is celebrated. We welcome this opportunity to ensure that mental health is central to this national heritage.”

Niall Dickson, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents health organisations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, said: “The 70th birthday will be a great opportunity both to celebrate past successes of the NHS and plan for a vibrant and exciting future. This project is great news and the funding is a mark of the high regard with which Manchester is viewed in healthcare. We look forward to working with colleagues in the University to take forward this important work.” 

Frances O’Grady, General Secretary, TUC, said: “The NHS is the people’s health service. It is a bond between all of us - patients, staff and communities. Everyone has a story about how the NHS changed their lives. Those stories need to be told, need to be captured and celebrated. We’re delighted to be involved with this project and can think of no better way of celebrating the 70th anniversary of the NHS than bearing testimony to the millions of people that have contributed to this wonderful national institution.”

Antony Tiernan, Director of Engagement and Communications NHS70 said: “The NHS is undoubtedly one of Britain’s most loved institutions and we’re looking forward to marking its 70 birthday next year. All of us have stories to tell about how the NHS has touched our lives and we’re delighted to support the University of Manchester to record and share them, in particular the people who worked for, or were cared by, the NHS when it was launched in 1948.”

The unique experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer people with cancer have been shared on a new video hub from ����Vlog�ٷ�, funded by – highlighting differences in their care, and issues around sex, support and bereavement.

The aim of the videos, which were filmed during 2016 by lecturer in nursing are designed to help people understand the thoughts and feelings of LGB people with cancer and their own experiences of care.

The site is designed for NHS staff as a resource to guide their contact with this group.

Dr Nagington said: “LGB people with cancer often experience services which are heteronormative (designed for straight people). For instance this can include advice on hair loss or makeup which is targeted at making women look particularly feminine when this may not be the way they usually present, whilst not offering any such services to men.

“Some of the people we spoke to told us how advice about the effects of cancer and treatment on sex was designed for heterosexual people and the professionals they spoke with weren’t able to address their concerns or were reluctant to go into much detail.”

The website includes video testimonies from men and women of a variety of ages. One of these, Lesley who has ovarian cancer, said: “It’d be nice if people wouldn’t make assumptions about your husband coming in to visit.”

Another, Greg who had prostate cancer, said: “They said you might experience blood in your wee, but they don’t tell you about how that affects sex.”

There are several sections to the site covering, sex, homophobia and bereavement and also supporting information which health professionals and patients can use.

Despite the issues they’d encountered, most people interviewed didn’t think specific LGB support groups were the answer, although they may be helpful. Instead people felt more recognition of their needs as LGB people would be helpful as they went through treatment.

Dr Nagington added: “Our interviewees often approached misunderstandings about their sexuality with humour and were very brave and honest in telling their stories. I think their overall advice would be that professionals should remember that not all patients are straight and sometimes what fits one group isn’t appropriate for all.

“I hope to expand the site in the future to give more detail on the sexual challenges that lesbian and bisexual women can face, as well as interviewing trans* people about their experiences.”

To view all of the videos, . Follow Dr Nagington on Twitter

Cancer

 is one of ����Vlog�ٷ�’s - examples of pioneering discoveries, interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-sector partnerships that are tackling some of the biggest questions facing the planet. #ResearchBeacons

A landmark new study has revealed that family carers of people with cancer are providing care beyond the safe working hours recommended to preserve their health and well-being.

The Dimbleby Cancer Care-funded study has revealed that family carers of people with cancer on average provide almost 70 hours of care a week to look after their relatives in the last three months of life.

The study, led by ����Vlog�ٷ� in partnership with universities in Newcastle and Groningen, has been published in this month’s Palliative Medicine.

The team received responses from 1,504 carers through a national postal survey in the autumn of 2015. The survey was sent via the Office for National Statistics to 5,271 relatives who registered a death in May 2015. Local carers groups helped shape the material. 

The survey revealed:

- The main type of care provided was social/emotional support but carers also undertook considerable practical help, personal care and healthcare tasks

- Carers had an average of £370 out of pocket expenditure during the last three months of the decedent’s life

- A quarter of carers spent £100 of this on additional medical equipment and care supplies

- One in six had ‘one off expenses’ during their whole time care-giving with costs of £2,000

- Most of the care in the study  - around 75% - was carried out at home.

The research team studied the work of carers by tasks including preparing food, shopping, cleaning, attending appointments and general administration.

Working in partnership with the National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care, Greater Manchester (), , Professor of Palliative Care at ����Vlog�ٷ� led the study - she believes this research highlights the fact that carers are an invaluable resource who should get much more support.

She said: “This study for the first time quantifies the valuable hours carers give to their relatives and friends nationally in the final three months of life. Our figure of 69.5 hours a week is indicative of the huge contribution they make. This is a lot higher than the hours of care giving reported in the population in general and comes at a great cost to carers’ own psychological and physical health.

“Carers are a huge resource and provide vital support to people at the end of their life. The social and emotional support they provide is a huge commitment, but they also undertake a great deal of practical help, personal care and healthcare tasks. It is carers who are there 24/7. Community health and social care staff are simply unable to deliver care round the clock care, which is why we need to invest in carers too. 

“Carers need both support that gives them the know-how to look after the person who is ill and support to preserve their own health and well-being.  Health and social care staff can here make a big difference in making sure carers’ support needs are assessed and addressed. Additionally, workplace, respite and financial support can all play a meaningful part in supporting carers.”

was set up in 1966 in memory of broadcaster Richard Dimbleby, and is based at Guy’s Cancer Centre in Southwark, London. It provides practical and psychological support to people living with cancer and to their families and carers. The charity is also developing a website resource to help people find care and support services nearest to them.  

The Dimbleby Cancer Care Research Fund awards up to £300,000 per year to research projects looking at all aspects of cancer care. Chair of the charity, broadcaster, Jonathan Dimbleby said: 

“The research by Professor Grande and her team illuminates a really grave issue.  I have had personal experience of caring for someone with terminal cancer.  It is draining in every way.  Through the work that Dimbleby Cancer Care does we know how vital informal care is and the huge economic contribution it makes to the NHS and social services. Building on research like this, the work we support at our cancer centre in the Guy's Cancer Centre helps to ease the burden on patients and carers in a wide variety of ways - information, psychological support, complementary therapies and benefits advice.  It is a very important and challenging task.”

This is the first of three sets of findings to be published from the study. Results focusing on the emotional distress and wellbeing of the carers and the economic value to society of their work will be published at a later date.

The paper, '', was published in Palliative Medicine. DOI:10.1177/0269216317690479

Cancer

 is one of ����Vlog�ٷ�’s - examples of pioneering discoveries, interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-sector partnerships that are tackling some of the biggest questions facing the planet. #ResearchBeacons

How do we care in the 21st Century? What can be automated and what needs a human touch? Inspired by University of Manchester research, Hidden is a site specific, immersive show over three floors, made with young carers and exploring the future of caring. It is an intimate experience which challenges people to decide what the future should look like.

Hidden began as a response to research published by ����Vlog�ٷ� which found that young carers, whilst wanting and needing help and support, also asked to be recognised and valued for the ways in which they respond to problems, manage the demands of caring and have developed expertise in managing illness and disability.

It has a cast of professionals mixed with young carers and is led by Andrew McCain (Burmese Theater Workshop) and Nicky Hargreaves (Guildhall). The world of Hidden draws influence from the writing of Philip K Dick and Isaac Asmiov, as well as recent TV shows such as Westworld and Humans.

Audiences are cast as employees of a near-future medical company who must choose how best to use groundbreaking technology to transform the lives of people who care for others.

The project has been in development since autumn 2016, with an R&D period supported by ����Vlog�ٷ�. The creative team has worked with over 50 young carers from across Greater Manchester to develop the show’s concept, script, set design and most importantly, to construct a show that puts them at the centre of the debate with the power to challenge decisions being made on their behalf.

The idea for the work stemmed from an NIHR-funded piece of research looking at the clinical and cost effectiveness of interventions for children of parents with mental illness.

Qualitative research with young people at the start of this project determined the outcome framework and priorities that children and young people were interested in. This work has since been published in  and the full study is in the .

“Since this project we have undertaken other work with this population: most recently an NIHR funded trial where we are working in collaboration with NSPCC to develop a child-centred intervention for children living with parents with mental illness,” added Penny.

Hidden is the first major project at The Horsfall; a new creative venue for Manchester and part of 42nd Street, a Greater Manchester-based mental health charity working with young people aged 13-25. The Horsfall is leading the way in developing creative approaches to improving mental health and wellbeing with young people which includes opportunities to co-create work with professionals to be experienced by the wider public.

Simone Spray, Chief Executive for 42nd Street, said "Hidden is an ambitious production with young carers right at its heart, which is what The Horsfall and our new creative programme is all about; translating the experiences and stories of young people into powerful and engaging creative pieces that challenge and inspire new audiences."

Hidden is on until February 11th at The Horsfall, 87 Great Ancoats Street, Manchester. for more information.

A student who helped care for her elderly relatives has just graduated from ����Vlog�ٷ�, thanks to a scholarship which enabled her to take her dream nursing course.

Lucille Noone has been interested in nursing as a career since she was a child, and recognised that adult nursing was the right field for her when she worked at Ormskirk and Southport hospitals as a domestic assistant and a linen assistant at the age of 16.

She dreamed of attending ����Vlog�ٷ�, but thought chances of getting there were slim due to the cost of accommodation and travel.

She was able to go to Manchester thanks to the Manchester Access Programme (MAP), the University’s flagship social mobility programme, which supports talented pupils aged 16+ who would otherwise be unlikely to attend university due to them living in areas with very low participation in higher education, having low household incomes and/or no family tradition of attending university.

Over a period of 18 months, Lucille participated in a programme of workshops and seminars and received support with her UCAS application. Having achieved her grades at A Level, she was guaranteed a place at ����Vlog�ٷ� and received an Undergraduate Access Scholarship funded by the Himor Property Group.

Lucille’s Undergraduate Access Scholarship eased the financial burden of university, enabling her to continue living at home and helping to look after her relatives throughout her course.

“I am excited to graduate, follow my passions, and explore the variety of places that nursing can take me.”

She has already started to look for employment, and is looking for roles within neurosurgery, cardiothoracic surgery or surgical oncology.

Lesley Dowdall, Deputy Director for Development at ����Vlog�ٷ�, said: “We are thrilled to see Lucille fulfil her lifelong ambition to become a nurse with the help of her donor. We believe a young person’s background should not be a barrier to them gaining a world-class education, and through the generosity of our donors, we are redressing this imbalance. We wish Lucille and our other scholarship students a long and happy career.”

Find out .

To find out more about the Manchester Access Programme, .

Pets can help people manage their long-term mental health conditions, according to University of Manchester research published in the open access journal BMC Psychiatry.

The consistent presence and close physical proximity of their pets was described in this NIHR-funded study as providing an immediate source of calm and therapeutic benefit for the pets’ owners. The researchers suggest that pets should be considered a main source of support in the management of long-term mental health problems.

Lead author, from ����Vlog�ٷ� said: “The people we spoke to through the course of this study felt their pet played a range of positive roles such as helping them to manage stigma associated with their mental health by providing acceptance without judgement.

“Pets were also considered particularly useful during times of crisis. In this way, pets provided a unique form of validation through unconditional support, which they were often not receiving from other family or social relationships. Despite the identified benefits of pet ownership, pets were neither considered nor incorporated into the individual care plans for any of the people in our study.”

Dr Brooks added: “These insights provide the mental health community with possible areas to target intervention and potential ways in which to better involve people in their own mental health service provision through open discussion of what works best for them.”

The researchers interviewed 54 participants, aged 18 and above, who were under the care of community-based mental health services and had been diagnosed with a severe mental illness.

Participants were asked to rate the importance of members of their personal network including friends, family, health professionals, pets, hobbies, places, activities and objects, by placing them in a diagram of three concentric circles. Anything placed in the central circle was considered most important; the middle circle was of secondary importance and the outer circle was for those considered of lesser importance.

Pets played an important role in the social networks of people managing a long-term mental health problem, as 60% placed their pet in the central most important circle and 20% placed their pet in the second circle.

The participants stated that one reason for this was that their pet helped by distracting them from symptoms and upsetting experiences such as hearing voices or suicidal thoughts. Participants from the study were quoted as saying:

“I felt in a sense that my cat was my familiar in that he understood or was an extension of my thoughts.”

“When I’m feeling really low they [pets] are wonderful because they won’t leave my side for two days.”

“You just want to sink into a pit and just sort of retreat from the entire world, they force me, the cats force me to sort of still be involved with the world.”

“I’m not thinking of the voices, I’m just thinking of the birds singing.”

The interviews supported existing evidence that some participants feel distanced from healthcare and uninvolved in discussions about services. Taking more creative approaches to care planning, such as incorporating discussions about pets, may be one way of helping to better involve participants because of the value, meaning and engagement that individuals have with their companion animals.

The paper, ‘’, was published in the journal BMC Psychiatry. DOI 10.1186/s12888-016-1111-3

An accompanying blog has also been pulbished which can be read .

Nurses who campaigned to create England’s first nursing degree programme reunited at ����Vlog�ٷ� this week (10 and 11 November) to share memories of breaking prejudice, working in Africa, (and living in the same flats as George Best!).

The eight women, dubbed ‘super nurses’ by the media at the time, played a leading role in turning their course into a full degree in 1970. And they were back on campus together for the first time this week to share their experiences and talk to current staff and students about how they view the profession in the modern era.

All had continued to work in nursing or health visiting, but owing to the training they received had followed a huge variety of careers – serving in hospitals and the community, becoming a professor or working in African and Asian countries.

But they had all come from different backgrounds when arriving at the University for the first time. Kate Kelley (nee Keeling) talked about how different Manchester was to her: “I was from the south with an upper-class accent so moving north at that time was a terrifying thought.

“But it was the 60s and a time when women were increasingly getting the freedom to choose what they wanted to do. At that time only 10% of people went to university and we were part of a process of opening out degrees to women.”

Carol Cole (nee Ireland) had a similar experience as the first person in her family to go to university. “The social aspects of the course really attracted me,” she added “We weren’t just learning about health, it was about the whole community. It was revolutionary at the time.”

Carol also had the experience in living in the flat above the one in which the (very young) footballers George Best and Mike Summerbee lived. “George Best was actually very shy in person,” she said. “We shared a garden and he and Mike often invited us to their parties. We considered them friends.”

For Pam Smith, now a professor of nursing at the University of Edinburgh, the way the course was taught was inspiring. “The tutors gave us confidence,” she said. We were able to suggest new techniques like using sheepskins to relieve pressure ulcers and we worked on understanding care holistically – working with local authorities for example.”

Pam’s degree led her first into teaching and then to Tanzania and Mozambique where she carried on teaching student nurses after the countries became independent. She came home after five years and developed an interest in research, and eventually gained her PhD.

Carol ended her career working in Cambodia, helping to train health visitors to spread messages about boiling water and washing hands to reduce infant mortality. Prior to that she worked for many years in central Manchester hospitals, only yards from where she did her training.

Kate moved back south, working in London and then moving to LA and Boston, where she continues to work as a nurse practitioner.

All three experienced resistance in their early careers as among the first nurses in the country with degrees, but they and others like them slowly eroded that conservative culture to gain acceptance. It’s a journey that the current head of , feels can inspire today’s students. “These women are all trailblazers and I’m proud that this happened here in Manchester,” she says.

“The students we have now share the same determination and a desire to improve the lives of others.

“These women show just how diverse a career in nursing can be, and where it can take you.”

Almost 2,500 pregnant women and new mothers have participated in research on their diet and lifestyle behaviours

The first results of '', an EU-funded pilot project involving ����Vlog�ٷ�, to promote healthy diets and lifestyles to pregnant women and new mothers, show that nearly 40% of pregnant women are neglecting their greens - eating less than one portion of vegetables per day.

This is only one result of a survey carried out among pregnant and breastfeeding women in six European cities: Manchester, United Kingdom; Murcia, Spain; Odense and Kolding, Denmark; Prague, Czech Republic; and Varna, Bulgaria. It gathered key insights that the cities will use to decide which activities are most needed to support the women in improving their lifestyles.

Community involvement and the participation of pregnant and breastfeeding women in health-promoting activities on offer are key to the project's success.

The project particularly wants to reach vulnerable women (with low education level, low income, very young mothers, or women with linguistic barriers). Each city made special efforts to reach this target group and to include their answers in the findings.

Highlights from the survey of 2,500 women:

One out of five pregnant women feel stressed during the pregnancy, but 95% have the help and support of their partners who are emotionally supportive and concerned about their health and that of the unborn child. However, only 50% of men take part in prenatal classes.

Three out of four women are willing to do everything they can to safeguard their babies’ health – both during pregnancy and the breastfeeding period. They start eating and drinking more healthily, quit bad habits and 84% of pregnant women start taking vitamin supplements. 50% of women who smoke quit during their pregnancy, and 40% cut back on cigarettes (on average from 10 a day to 5 a day).

Over 80% of pregnant women get into drinking water, having a glass more than three times a day. Many are even willing to have a glass in place of coffee, with 50% of women drinking a lot less or giving it up altogether.

As far as diet and exercise goes, intentions are good - the majority of pregnant women intend to eat more vegetables and fruit, and keep up or increase regular physical activity.

However, only about 60% of pregnant women eat at least one portion of vegetables a day. Fruit is more popular, with 3 out of 4 women eating at least one portion a day. While 50% of women confess to snacking more between meals, it is mainly on fruit.

There is room for improvement when it comes to exercise, and most pregnant women end up lowering or stopping their normal exercise routines.

Eighty-four percent intend to breastfeed their baby and the most common reasons to consider using formula is because women are not confident that breast milk will meet their babies’ needs or that they will have trouble breastfeeding.

Keep up-to-date through the 'Together' website, and check out all the key findings of the zero-measurement .

Manchester at a glance…

While pregnancy can be a stressful time, 89% of Manchester women say they are able to cope ‘very well’.

A new baby is likely to inspire women in Manchester to bring healthier habits to the whole family. 70% believe that the whole family needs to maintain healthy diet and lifestyle habits in order to ensure the health of their babies.

While eating enough vegetables is a problem for many women, it is less so in Manchester. 31% eat at least two portions per day.

“These findings from across Europe support academic findings from the USA and UK that pregnancy is a time in which women are more motivated to make lifestyle changes and health professionals should see this as an ideal opportunity to make healthy changes for the whole family,” said Dr Debbie Smith, Clinical Health psychologist, ����Vlog�ٷ�.

New practical digital skills focus at ����Vlog�ٷ� sees crucial Patientrack e-observations taught from very first weeks of nursing training, for the first time

Student nurses in Manchester have become the first anywhere in the world to be trained in how to use a vital signs observations technology called , before they set foot onto the ward.

The pioneering move at ����Vlog�ٷ�, signals the start of a changing educational focus to equip the UK’s first generation of ‘paperless’ nurses with real skills needed to help save more lives on the modern wards of NHS hospitals, from the earliest stages of their training.

Manchester’s , has now become the first school to teach student nurses how to capture important patient vital signs through Patientrack, during the initial weeks of their classroom teaching.

The Patientrack system is making a big difference to patient safety in hospitals across central Manchester, in other parts of the UK, and overseas, where it is helping clinicians to prevent harm and reduce mortality, by ensuring patients at risk of deterioration are identified early and that warning alerts are automatically sent to doctors to ensure prompt interventions. It is also making a significant difference to nursing practice, ensuring accurate observations, reducing burdens placed on nurses and allowing them to dedicate more attention to unwell patients.

Nurses will still be taught how to record bedside observations on traditional paper charts. But 400 students this year have already been taught how to capture patients’ vital signs digitally through Patientrack, on their iPads, from the very beginning of their training.

, a former A&E matron, now clinical skills tutor at the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, said: “Learning how to carry out patient observations and recording accurate vital signs is the bread and butter of nursing practice. As the NHS becomes paperless, we need to give students a real feel for the systems they will use.

“Introducing Patientrack into the classroom was the only way to do this, something no other nursing school has done.

“Allowing first year students to learn how to carry out patient observations digitally, through classroom simulation, is an important step in updating nursing teaching in the university environment, so that it reflects the realities of 21^st Century NHS nursing.”

In the real hospital environment, Patientrack works by ensuring that important observations are not missed and allows nurses to capture vital signs digitally at the bedside. The software then accurately calculates a patient’s early warning score and automatically calls doctors to intervene when signs of deterioration are present. The system continues to escalate calls until patients receive an appropriate response. This has meant that nurses using the system in many hospitals no longer need to manually phone for doctors to attend, reducing risks and ensuring patients get the response they need to prevent harm.

In the classroom, a student training version of Patientrack has been created, to help students understand how to record patients’ observations on iPads and other tablet devices. Students will even use the technology to help them manage a simulated deteriorating patient for a full day, where they will record observations and experience hospital escalation scenarios in action.

Emily Heggie, one of the first students to use the technology before her initial hospital placement, said: “The early introduction to Patientrack was something I hugely valued once out on placement. I was able to recognise the software and easily find my way to input details when asked. Being able to confidently use the system was a great help.”

Ruth Bayley, who has also just completed her first hospital placement, added: “Training in clinical skills gave me the confidence to use Patientrack on hospital wards. The system has helped me to understand physiological observations better and allowed me to develop my nursing skills when interpreting patients’ health, noticing any signs of deterioration in a patient’s observations faster.”

, director of NHS education contracts & external liaison at the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, said: “Patientrack strengthens our links with practice partners and enhances our students’ understanding of patient safety. Our NHS trust partners use Patientrack, and now our students are able to test out the technology in a safe, simulated clinical setting, in preparation for use in real clinical environments.”

Used by hospitals across central Manchester, other parts of the UK and overseas, Patientrack is the first technology to be chosen by the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, to be implemented into its teaching programmes. Other technologies, including electronic medicines management, may now also be added in future.

Donald Kennedy, managing director at Patientrack, said: “We are very fortunate to work with innovative frontline doctors and nurses, who have used our technology to improve patient safety, to reduce mortality and to prevent adverse events like cardiac arrests. It is fantastic to see this innovation spreading into the classroom, to help equip the nurses of tomorrow with the skills they need to deliver the best possible care for patients.”

Find out more about .

Women who had a caesarean section in a previous pregnancy are much more likely to have a vaginal birth if their antenatal care is led by a midwife, according to a new study from a University of Manchester researcher, which was carried out in Southampton.

Although caesarean sections are safe, research is increasingly showing that vaginal birth and labour protects against long term-risks such as impaired immune response, asthma, obesity and type 2 diabetes in the baby. As a result there is a growing emphasis placed by health authorities on promoting vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) where it is safe to do so.

The new study, published in the journal Birth, is the first to evaluate the influence on VBAC rates of midwife-led antenatal care as opposed to care led by an obstetrician.

Using patient records, 405 women giving birth at one hospital after a previous caesarean were examined in two groups. The first group was from 2008 when antenatal care was led by obstetricians and, following a change in hospital policy in 2009-2010, the second group was drawn from women who had received midwife-led antenatal care in 2011.

The number of women who intended to give birth by VBAC in 2011 was 90.3 percent, against 77 percent in 2008. Those who actually achieved VBAC was also higher in the midwife-led group with 61.2 percent instead of 46.9 percent. Both represented significant increases in VBAC when antenatal care was led by a midwife.

, a midwifery lecturer in the University’s , carried out the research at the University of Southampton. She said: “There were few differences between the two groups of women we studied, so the main variance was the professional responsible for their care.

“Where it can be achieved safely, vaginal birth is preferable, but there’s a real issue with women who have had a caesarean once, opting for the same again. There aren’t many initiatives out there to break this cycle so this finding is important for providing evidence that midwives are best placed to promote vaginal birth.”

The authors of the study are not proposing that women should reject caesarean birth when they are advised to do so, but suggest that midwives are important figures in promoting VBAC in suitable women.

There is a three year gap between the two groups of women but in terms of age, socio-economics, ethnic group and other variables, the groups are similar. The only significant change was the change in policy to midwife led care in the hospital. The results are also unlikely to be due to cultural changes over time as the VBAC rates across England more generally did not change during the study period.

Dr White added: “The more we understand the role of the microbes living in the vagina, the more we are uncovering the protective effects of labour and natural birth against conditions such as diabetes and obesity.

“Midwife led care is cost-effective and, if it safely reduces the number of repeat caesarean sections, then it’s even more beneficial for mothers and babies.”

The paper ‘’, was published in the journal Birth.

New mums and pregnant women in Moss Side, Hulme and Rusholme are being given the chance to get healthy with a new range of free activities run by a team of midwives and psychologists from ����Vlog�ٷ�.

The programme of activities is being offered in the Moss Side, Hulme and Rusholme areas of the city and includes swimming, Pilates, cooking classes and yoga, alongside small changes to participants’ lifestyles that could make a big difference to their own and their family’s health.

Claire Lyon, a research midwife at ����Vlog�ٷ� is leading the project. She said: “We know that being active is good for mum and baby – delivering oxygen and nutrients around the body. It helps to keep mum fit and avoid excessive weight gain during pregnancy while reducing anxiety, and releasing endorphins (the happy hormone).

We also know that women who do not stay active during their pregnancy are 4.5 times more likely to have a caesarean section, so making even a few small changes can make a big difference.”

The EU-funded will run for six months with other activities including aqua-natal and cooking and eating demonstrations.

The first activity will offer free swimming on Wednesdays from 20 April 31 August at to pregnant women and new mums. Women need to register for a free swimming card from .

There will also be a free four-week Pilates course for new mums (up to one year after the birth of their baby) starting on 22nd April between 1pm – 2pm at Martenscroft Children’s Centre. Women need to need to register at reception.

The programme as a whole is intended to promote a positive lifestyle change at a time when women are making other big changes to the way they live their lives. , a health psychologist involved in the project claims that the evidence suggests that despite being a period of physical and psychological transition, it is a great time to encourage change.

Claire added: “New mums are thinking very hard about their health at this time but it’s often hard to find out which activities they prefer or learn about changes they can make. That’s why we’re trying out these pilot activities, so that women can see what they like and make the changes which will work best for them.”

Any pregnant woman or mother of a baby aged one year or less can take part in the programme.

More information .

Twitter:

Increased vulnerability due neglect and abuse, the absence of a supportive adult in their lives and a lack of mainstream effective sex and relationship education due to placement moves, are some of the reasons identified by children’s charity as to why standard sexual health education may need re-thinking for care experienced young people, to reduce unplanned pregnancy.

The findings have emerged from a review of academic papers and research from 2000 to 2014 undertaken by experts from ����Vlog�ٷ� and Lancaster University to ascertain how best to improve outcomes of this vulnerable group of young people.

found that non-targeted methods to prevent unplanned pregnancy did not help to prevent unplanned pregnancy and childbirth for young people with experience of care leaver due to the following reasons:

• increased vulnerability due to pre-care experiences (such as abuse or neglect) contributing to a higher likelihood of mental health problems;
• increased chances of missing out on effective mainstream sex and relationship education due to placement moves;
• the absence of a supportive adult in their lives;
• being more likely to choose to continue with an unplanned pregnancy due to a desire for a loving attachment in their lives

, lead author from ����Vlog�ٷ�’s , said: “For me, one of the key messages of this review is the paucity of publications that focus on interventions that aim to prevent unwanted pregnancy in looked after young people. That is not to say that good work is not taking place - but if it is, we all need to know about it. It is therefore vital that interventions are evaluated and published so the good practice can be shared and costly mistakes avoided."

Karen Broadhurst, co-author and Professor of Social Work Lancaster University, said: “The findings from the review are helpful in thinking about where we might start in developing and testing pilot projects that aim to help young people avoid an unplanned pregnancy, make positive choices about partners and be better prepared for parenthood. There are some excellent initiatives in the US and we can learn from the evaluation of the initiatives we have described in our report, to develop bespoke programmes in the UK.”

Professor Broadhurst referred to her related on-going research funded by the Nuffield Foundation, which included interviews with 72 birth mothers. “40-50% of these women had a care background, and 100% were either in care or on the edge of care. Interviews revealed the complexity of factors associated with early unplanned transition to motherhood which included young women finding themselves in highly coercive relationships with older men where domestic violence was a feature of their daily lives."

Director of Operations at Coram, Renuka Jeyarajah-Dent said: “The context of this review is a situation in which young people who have been in care are falling pregnant, some repeatedly so, (British Journal of Social Work (2015) 45, 2241–2260 while at the same time reduced teenage pregnancy overall suggests that the messages about sex education and healthy choices are showing great success.

“There are few examples of evidenced programmes to prevent pregnancy for young people who have been in care. The report concluded that the lack of published evidence of effective unplanned pregnancy programmes in the UK means that successes cannot be replicated and mistakes are likely to be repeated. It also found that the results which have been published are not necessarily evaluated in a robust manner.

“However, our review also identifies models where programmes have been successfully tailored for the needs of care leavers, mainly in the US. Now we have to think about what could be adapted from these, applying our increased understanding of the issues so that vulnerable young people get a better level of support and can make educated choices about what’s right for them.”

Read the full review on (PDF)

Researchers at ����Vlog�ٷ� are to investigate 160,000 patient records to identify issues affecting the quality of stroke therapy in England.

Around 1.2million people in the UK are classed as stroke survivors with around 150,000 new incidences of stroke each year. Although three quarters of people survive their stroke, many are left with problems which impact on their quality of life.

Therapy is one of the most important ways of helping these people regain their quality of life but in England most people do not seem to achieve the recommended 45 minutes a day of therapy.

����Vlog�ٷ� research team working with colleagues from King’s College London, funded by the HS&DR Programme, will use the records from the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (), a database of which tracks patients’ progress from the first ambulance call to six months after their discharge from hospital. The research team will use the most recent available 160,000 records stemming back to 2013.

Professor of Rehabilitation, , is leading the research. She said: “SSNAP is the first database of its kind anywhere in the world and access to it means we can find underlying reasons for any variations in the quality of stroke care and propose cost-effective ways of doing something about it.”

Therapy covers a diverse range of activities designed to help people regain their independence after a stroke. Issues that therapy tackles include speech and mobility problems and regaining ‘thinking skills’ which let patients return to work, or resume their previous lives as much as possible. Early intervention is important to the success of this therapy as is ongoing support for the patient once they have been discharged back into the community.

In the study which is funded with £221,446, various factors such as the type and amount of therapy received, how services are organised and what the outcomes for patients are, will all be analysed and at the end of the two-year study a series of detailed recommendations will be issued.

Professor Tyson added: “The raw data from SSNAP gives a value description of how stroke services are delivered but it does not explain how factors are inter-linked; why therapy does (or does not) happen; how much therapy services cost, nor which are the most effective ways of organising therapy services in terms of maximising therapy, recovery or value for money. We will work this out.

“This important information is needed to make sensible, evidence-based decisions about how to improve therapy services so that as many stroke survivors as possible, get as much therapy as possible and make as much recovery as possible.”

Neighbours Joy (80) and Bert (90) who live in Sale, Manchester, have been keeping active by trialling new computer games designed specifically to prevent older people suffering falls.

Joy a former professional dancer and Bert who worked as an inspector at Dunlop were two of the first to test out the ‘Exergames’, which have been specially developed by with clinical and academic expertise from and ����Vlog�ٷ�. The games have been developed to help reduce the number of falls elderly people experience in the community.

The friends were asked to take part in the initial study at their independent living accommodation where an Exergames session was provided three times a week. Both Joy and Bert believe that the Exergames have helped with their balance and boosted their confidence.

Led by , from the University’s , the next step of the project is to run a new research study, to refine the Exergames and conduct a randomised controlled trial. This is supported by MIRA Rehab Ltd, which is receiving over £600,000 of funding through a pre-procurement contract from the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Healthcare Phase 2 award, .

The study will compare the effectiveness of MIRA’s computer games, against standard prevention programmes, in reducing falls in the community. At least 30 per cent of people aged 65 and older experience a fall each year. Even more alarmingly, this figure rises to 50 per cent for those aged 80 and over.

The issue is expected to have an ever increasing impact, as the UK population ages, and represents a significant cost to the NHS at more than £2.3 billon every year.

Research has shown that engaging in certain physical exercises can prevent falls by at least 40 per cent, but many older people find it difficult to maintain sufficient activity levels. The series of computer games, called Exergames, aim to make staying active more engaging for older people.

Joy explained: “I’ve always been quite fit and tried to exercise, but as I got older I found that I could quite easily lose my balance when I turn. For me, Exergames provided a structure to encourage me to exercise more regularly. I found that as a result I could get up more easily after kneeling down. I feel healthy and positive that I’m doing something to help prevent problems that might otherwise occur.”

Bert added: “I use a walking stick to steady myself and have had a couple of falls. The Exergames consists of a number of different games designed to work different parts of your body. The Exergames are helping with my balance, confidence and in keeping me alert.”

The Exergames were developed by MIRA Rehab as part of its MIRA software platform and are played using a Microsoft Kinect sensor to monitor body movements. They can be programmed by clinicians to be tailored to the individual’s level of ability, taking into account fatigue, pain and fear of falling.

The MIRA software, which includes activities such as squatting to control movement of objects on a TV or computer screen, logs the duration of gameplay, how frequently it is used, and provides reports to clinicians on patients’ progression.

Dr Emma Stanmore, Lecturer in Nursing at ����Vlog�ٷ� explained: “We spoke with a lot of older people and physiotherapists before creating the games, because it was really important that what we produced was easy to use and made keeping fit as fun as possible.

“We have already worked with older people to test the games in community centres. The results so far have been promising and this new funding will help us to further optimise the games. As part of this work we will be developing a remotely monitored version which will be trialled and, ultimately, used in the comfort of people’s own homes.”

Dr Jay Chillala, Consultant in Elderly Health at Trafford Hospitals, part of Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CMFT), added: “We will be monitoring and comparing the progress of patients attending standard fall prevention programmes and those utilising the exergames using questionnaires, physical examination, interviews and self-reported falls calendars.”

Cosmin Mihaiu, Co-founder & CEO, MIRA Rehab Ltd said: “The insight that working with clinicians and patients brings is great. We will soon be in a position to test a more refined version of the Exergames. This new multi-centre randomised controlled study will hopefully provide the comprehensive evidence to make the Exergames available to patients across the NHS and further afield.”

MIRA’s Exergames currently include 12 games with a variety of physiotherapy exercises, such as leg lifts and squats, with more gaming environments already in development. Previous phases of the development and testing were funded by MIRA Rehab Ltd through a prior SBRI Phase 1 award, and ����Vlog�ٷ�’s . The project was also supported by Manchester Improving Medicines with Innovative Technology (MIMIT) and , the North West NHS Innovation Service.

More than 2.6 million stillbirths continue to occur globally every year with very slow progress made to tackle this ‘silent problem’, according to new research published in The Lancet, and co-authored by from the Stillbirth Research Centre at and ����Vlog�ٷ�.

Despite significant reductions in the number of maternal and child deaths, there has been little change in the number of stillbirths (in the third trimester of pregnancy) even though the majority are preventable.

states the annual rate of reduction for stillbirths is 2.0%, much slower than progress made for maternal (3.0%) and child deaths (4.5%). It also reveals the hidden consequences of stillbirth, with more than 4.2 million women living with symptoms of depression, often for years, in addition to economic loss for families and nations.

Series co-lead, Professor Joy Lawn from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said: “We must give a voice to the mothers of 7,200 babies stillborn around the world every day. There is a common misperception that many of the deaths are inevitable, but our research shows most stillbirths are preventable.

“We already know which existing interventions save lives. These babies should not be born in silence, their parents should not be grieving in silence, and the international community must break the silence as they have done for maternal and child deaths. The message is loud and clear – shockingly slow progress on stillbirths is unacceptable.”

Video courtesy of the Faculty Fellowship Academy

New estimates of stillbirth rates for 195 countries developed by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine with the World Health Organization and UNICEF reveal huge inequalities around the world. Ten countries account for two-thirds of stillbirths* with India having the highest number, estimated at 592,100 in 2015. The highest rates are in Pakistan (43.1 per 1,000 total births) and in Nigeria (42.9). The lowest rates are in Iceland (1.3), Denmark (1.7), Finland (1.7) and the Netherlands (1.8). Netherlands is also making the fastest progress, reducing stillbirths by 6.8% per year. The United States is one of the slowest progressing countries with a reduction of 0.4% per year.

The new research includes the first global analysis of risk factors associated with stillbirth, underlining that many deaths can be prevented by:

• Treating infections during pregnancy – 8.0% of all stillbirths are attributable to malaria, increasing to 20.0% in sub-Saharan Africa, and 7.7% of all stillbirths are associated with syphilis, increasing to 11.2% in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Tackling the global epidemics of obesity and non-communicable diseases, notably diabetes and hypertension – at least 10% of all stillbirths are linked to each of these conditions.
• Strengthening access to and quality of family planning services – especially for older and very young women, who are at higher risk of stillbirth.
• Addressing inequalities – in high-income countries, women in the most disadvantaged communities face at least double the risk of stillbirth.

The research also highlights the underappreciated psychological, social and economic impacts of stillbirth on parents, families, caregivers, and countries. New estimates suggest at least 4.2 million women around the world are living with symptoms of depression due to stillbirth, suffering psychological distress, stigma and social isolation, as well as increased risk of family breakdown, and even abuse and violence.

Christina Sapulaye from Malawi, who experienced a stillbirth last year, said: “It was a very painful situation to me and I never knew what to do… I am being stigmatised by my own people and was divorced due to the stillbirth, and now I am by myself with my little kids.

Fathers also commonly report suppressing their grief, and almost half of 3,503 parents surveyed in high-income countries felt society wanted them to forget their stillborn baby and try to have another child.

The economic impact of stillbirth for families ranges from funeral costs for their baby to loss of earnings due to time off work, with data suggesting 10% of bereaved parents remain off work for six months. The direct financial cost of stillbirth care is 10-70% greater than for a live birth, with additional costs to governments due to reduced productivity of grieving parents and increased welfare costs.

Dr Alexander Heazell, co-author from the Tommy’s Stillbirth Research Centre at St Mary’s Hospital and ����Vlog�ٷ�, said: “The consequences of stillbirth have been hugely underestimated. Our research suggests that grief and symptoms of depression after stillbirth often endure for many years.

“It is vital we, as carers, see the loss through the eyes of those parents affected to provide sensitive and respectful bereavement care. We know that something as simple as supporting parents to see and hold their baby and providing bereavement support can reduce the long-term negative impact of stillbirth.

“Dealing with stillbirth can also have a psychological impact on health workers; consequently, better training and provision of support for those looking after affected families should also be a priority.”

The Ending Preventable Stillbirth Series was developed by 216 experts from more than 100 organisations in 43 countries and comprises five papers. The research provides compelling evidence of the preventability of most stillbirths, forming the basis for action from parents, health care professionals, and politicians. It follows the research group’s 2011 series on stillbirths also published in The Lancet.

Using olive or sunflower oil on new born babies’ skin damages the barrier which prevents water loss and blocks allergens and infections, new research led by ����Vlog�ٷ� has found.

Despite most midwives recommending olive or sunflower oil for dry skin, as highlighted in a previous University study, there has been little research into the effects of these oils, outside of small studies in the lab.

This is despite changes to baby skin care being linked to a dramatic increase in eczema over the last few decades: from 5 percent of children aged 2-15 in the 1940s to around 30 percent today.

To test the effects of the two oils on babies’ skin, 115 new born infants were recruited at to the pilot study, which was supported by the NIHR.  The babies were divided into three groups – olive oil, sunflower oil and no oil.

At the end of a 28-day trial period where babies in the oil groups were treated with a few drops on their skin twice a day, the lipid lamellae structure in the skin of each baby was investigated and in both oil groups the development of the skin barrier function was delayed compared to the no oil group.

, the lecturer in midwifery who led the research said: “If the skin barrier function is a wall with bricks made of cells, then the lipid lamellae is the mortar that holds it together.  If it isn’t developed enough then cracks appear which let water out and foreign bodies through.

“Oil prevents this mortar from developing as quickly and this could be linked to the development of conditions such as eczema.”

The skin of the babies who were given the oils tended to be better hydrated, however the researchers feel that since the implications of the effect on the lipid layer weren’t fully understood, this was not enough of a benefit to outweigh possible harm.

There is no UK national guidance on neonatal skincare, although there is evidence from studies carried out in South Asia that sunflower oil has an anti-microbial effect which could benefit premature babies in developing countries.

However in healthy babies in the UK, the Manchester researchers say that they cannot recommend the use of either sunflower or olive oil on babies’ skin.

Alison added: “We need to do more research on this issue with different oils and also study possible links to eczema, but what is clear is that the current advice given to parents is not based on any evidence and until this is forthcoming the use of these two oils on new born baby skin should be avoided.”

The paper, ‘Olive Oil, Sunflower Oil or no Oil for Baby Dry Skin or Massage: A Pilot Assessor-blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial (the Oil in Baby SkincaRE [ObSeRvE] Study)’, was published in the journal Acta Dermato-Venereologica.

doi: 10.2340/00015555-2279

Full study available here:

Some 61 million rural children left behind by parents moving to China’s booming urban centres are at risk from increased fat and reduced protein in their diets, research from ����Vlog�ٷ�, published in Public Health Nutrition suggests.

The study of 975 children from 140 rural villages in nine provinces carefully analysed nutritional intake and showed a particular risk to boys who were left behind in the care of grandparents or one parent while a mother or father sought work away from home.

The research was led by Nan Zhang from the University’s . She said: “There are sound financial reasons why so many people move from rural to urban areas in China, but the benefits that more money brings to a family can often be at the expense of child nutrition.

“The Chinese government needs to recognise this growing problem among rural communities and this research provides some evidence to target health policies on encouraging a balanced diet.”

The study found that ‘left behind’ boys in particular consumed more fat and less protein than those from complete families, which leaves them at increased risk of obesity and stunted growth. This finding has important policy implications in a specific cultural context where ‘son preferences’ are powerful.

Although the findings don’t provide reasons for this change in diet, the researchers speculate that mothers moving away from home generally earn less, and that these lower earnings act in combination with grandparents’ poorer dietary knowledge or willingness to spend more on food.  Another academic paper led by Nan Zhang has explored the intergenerational differences in beliefs about healthy eating for left-behind children among grandparents and parents and was published in Appetite.

Another factor at work could be that prices of protein-based foods such as eggs and meat have increased faster than many households’ incomes – meaning that even though money is being sent home from one or both parents, nutrition doesn’t always improve.

Nan Zhang said: “The process of parental migration is complex and the reasons for problems in boys’ nutrition are not straightforward, however we can see that both parents and grandparents in rural areas need to be educated about good diet. 

“Because raising children can fall on all members of the family, good care-giving practice needs to become more widespread.”

The paper, ‘ was published in the journal, Public Health Nutrition.

Funding came from an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Postgraduate Scholarship

A video featuring more than 500 people in ten countries taking part in a flash mob is demonstrating exercises that can help reduce the risk of falls in the over-65s.

Co-ordinated by the University of Manchester, members of the public and researchers working on the issue all joined the flash mob event on International Older People’s Day (1 October).

The idea is to let people know that falls aren’t an inevitable part of ageing and that with a few simple exercises and precautions, the risk of injury can be greatly reduced.

The countries represented were England, Germany, Greece, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Sweden and Wales (and the Australians also got in on the act in their role as advisors to the project).

For more information on the ProFouND Stay Strong, Stay Steady Campaign and guides to exercises you can take, click .

Nine hundred people have set a new Guinness World Record today (16 October) at a University of Manchester-organised CPR relay, in aid of European Restart a Heart Day.

One person suffers a cardiac arrest every six minutes in the UK and 12 young people die every week from undiagnosed cardiac conditions, so the attempt, which is in support of , sought to train a minimum of 701 people in this vital technique – breaking a previous record of 700 set by the American Heart Association.

Training to save a life only takes 15 minutes and each volunteer who took part performed chest compressions for one minute before the next person took over.  Even a five second delay between the transfer between people would have resulted in the record being invalid, so organisation was key to the success of the attempt.

The record attempt was the brainchild of senior lecturer, Patricia Conaghan and Professor Christopher Cutts, Associate Dean for Social Responsibility, .

Patricia said: “A huge thanks to our volunteers and the people of Manchester who took part in the attempt today. Mainly though this is about getting the message out that learning this skill only takes a few minutes and thanks to this event we’ve now got over 700 people who can perform CPR in an emergency.”

The event was supported by ����Vlog�ٷ� , ; , , , , ,Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and . The event was also supported by from University alumni and friends.

Dr Andy Lockey, Honorary President of Resuscitation Council (UK), was at the event.  He said: “We want as many people to know CPR as possible, so Manchester is now a fantastic place to be because if you collapse there are an extra 700 people who know what to do.”

����Vlog�ٷ� has a strong commitment to supporting resuscitation through the deployment of defibrillators across campus and training initiatives including a student volunteering project.

Student, Rob Turton took part.  He said: “I really wanted to take part in the world record attempt but it’s really important that people know CPR – it’s such a good thing to know.”