I don’t know if its only rock and roll, but I like it

This is my last blog before Christmas arrives next week. As I write these words, the first couple of lines of the famous poem, ‘Twas the night before Christmas’ come to mind – ‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house / Not a creature stirred, not even a mouse’ – but somehow ‘Twas the blog before Christmas’ doesn’t have the same ring to it. The poem in question was first published on December 23^rd, 1823.  It was a long time ago for sure, but I enjoyed reading it again just now - (see if you can remember all the reindeer names). I couldn’t.

And talking about things from a long time ago, last week my social media timeline carried many variations of what were described as ‘rare photos’ of Keith Richards helping to build the Egyptian pyramids. He celebrated his 82^nd birthday last week, and his wrinkled and lined face apparently underpinned the notion that he’s been around forever. For sure, he has given us some great music and songs. Whilst it is never a good thing to be envious, I wish I could play the guitar half as well as he does. I can’t. I hope I’m still going, just as strong, as he is when I get to 82!

I was also slightly envious last week of my lovely wife, who has been on a winning streak. Jane won £100 in the Christmas raffle at our church, and before she could draw breath, she also won the £8 weekly church prize draw (for the second time in a row). On top of this, last week Jane won a fabulous £200 in the local hospice Christmas draw. Was I a winner too? I wasn’t. However, we celebrated her good fortune with a meal out (on Jane!) and a refreshing walk along our beach.

We were at church for this year’s Carol Service. It was a candlelit service, albeit the candles were battery operated tealights. They flickered realistically, and gave off more of a glow than any light. I had been asked to do a reading. In the gloom of the church, I wasn’t sure I would be able to see the words. I asked the vicar, Father John, if he had a copy of the reading with slightly larger print. He didn’t. I replied that if he knew how old my eyes were, he would turn the church lights on. He didn’t. However, in the end, with the aid of my flickering battery operated tealight candle, I was able to read the shepherds’ story.

After the service, Father John asked me when I planned to pack everything in and retire. I don’t. Yes, I have stopped doing many of the things I once did, but I continue to be the Chair of a large mental health NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester. Prestwich Hospital, as the present day Trust was originally known, was built in 1847, and opened with 350 patients in January 1851. It is not known whether Keith Richards helped with its construction though.  

It is my second time working here at the Trust. The first time was way back in 1984. I didn’t think I would return. But I did. I’ve been the Chair now for nearly two years. It has been a challenging, interesting, and a very rewarding two years. We were NHS England’s number one most worrying Trust for several years. This followed a Panorama undercover programme in 2022 that revealed abuse, poor-quality and totally unacceptable care. The Panorama programme made for very difficult viewing. So many people had been harmed over a number of years by those charged with keeping them safe and well.  

So, it felt a privilege to have the opportunity to return and be asked to be part of the team who would help the Trust on its recovery journey. Very soon after starting in January 2024, I was joined on this journey by our Chief Executive Karen Howell. Together, and with no help from Keith Richards, we have assembled an almost completely new Trust Board. As a Board, they have provided the leadership that has mobilised the energy and motivation of colleagues from across the whole of our Trust to make a difference as we take our recovery journey forward.  

They have done so at pace. We came out of special measures (the NHS England recovery support programme) on the 27^th November. If you had asked me whether I had confidence that my colleagues would collectively get us to this point, I did. Tom Peters, (In Search of Excellence fame) famously observed that most people don’t go to work to do a bad job. All the colleagues I’ve been fortunate to meet over the past two years, have reinforced Tom Peters’ words. I have met creative, innovative, energised folk and above all people who take proud in what they are doing.

Do they also make me feel proud of what they have achieved? Absolutely they do! A big thank you from me. Wishing Keith, and everyone, a restful and peaceful Christmas.

Hot water (and knowledge) helps you stay away from the misery of flu – vaccinations are even better!

Last week was an incredibly challenging one for many of my healthcare colleagues. The demand for healthcare has ramped up exponentially over the past week. So, it is no consolation that, last week, it appears I was sadly right to highlight the growing population health problem that is this year’s flu epidemic. Once again, can I urge everyone to both get their flu vaccination and think seriously about wearing a mask when in an enclosed public place.

Although reminiscent of those difficult Covid-19 days, wearing a mask makes sense when in public areas. At this time of the year, in the UK, the daylight hours are shorter and we will undoubtedly be spending more time indoors, having probably greater contact with others. The colder weather makes for a perfect flu storm. As I mentioned in last week’s blog, this year we seem to have a mutant super-flu variant. It’s horrible, and not to be underestimated.

That said, folk do seem to be waking up to the fact that they might come down with the flu; although this heightened awareness doesn’t surprisingly, as yet, seem to have resulted in a greater flu vaccine uptake. However, I was amused (meaning concerned in this context) to read that some supermarkets were putting their supplies of cold and flu products, such as Lemsip and Sudafed, behind locked screens in an attempt to prevent stockpiling. Again, reminiscent of those early pandemic days. At the same time, I am a acutely aware that many of us continue to feel the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, and these are expensive products to buy.

Wearing my nurse’s hat for a moment (and before my Trolls protest, yes I know I’m no longer registered, but once a nurse always a nurse), I think there are alternatives to consider. Paracetamol, for example. It’s cheap to buy. Paracetamol helps to regulate temperature, and is equally effective at reducing the aches and pains of flu. If you can tolerate ibuprofen (and I can’t) this can work even better at reducing both pain and fever. Jane swears by alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen, when she is really poorly.

She follows the science. I, on the other hand still like to dip into those folk remedies my parents believed in. My Mother had Jewish ancestry and chicken soup was always a staple meal, when any of the family were poorly. Whilst it is a wholesome meal, being a long time vegetarian and holding the unofficial Guinness Book of Records for the world’s greatest chicken collection, it is a meal I would never have.

What I would still have, however, is a hot toddy. To be honest, I’m a great fan of a hot toddy as a ‘cure’ for a cold or flu. I know, wearing that same nurse’s hat, such a belief is absolute bunkum. Or is it? Most traditional hot toddies have three ingredients, lemon, honey and whisky all mixed in a glass of hot water.

Lemon contains vitamin C. There is research that suggest taking vitamin C helps in reducing the length of time we experience cold symptoms. That said, the same research suggests that to have any efficacious impact, we would need to consume at least 200mg of vitamin C daily. Most lemons contain just 30-50mg. So that is a lot of lemons to get through each day! Honey is said to help reduce a tickly throat and how often we might cough. I can’t really say anything more, other than the sweetness of honey is soothing.

Whisky is said (mainly by me) to give rise to a warm and pleasant feeling when drunk. Does whisky have any medicinal effects? Sadly no. Actually, alcohol can disrupt our immune system by reducing the way in which white blood cells work – the latter being critical in combatting viruses. 

It is the hot water in a hot toddy that really is the secret ingredient. When we are poorly with cold or flu-like symptoms, keeping hydrated is crucial. Hydration helps our bodies maintain a strong immune system. I guess the message is to stay hydrated, get plenty of rest, (work will still be there if you need to take time off) and eat healthily. Whilst staying off the alcohol is generally, or most likely probably, beneficial, having a whisky hot toddy once in a while isn’t a such a bad thing. Most importantly, get your flu vaccination

The Rule of Seven and getting your Flu jab

Way back in the 1930s, Hollywood film makers came to realise that moviegoers needed to see advertisements for the studio’s films a whole seven times, before they would decide to buy a ticket and go to the cinema. The Rule of 7, as the idea became known, was quickly taken up by advertisers and marketing companies. I’m not sure if the rule still applies today, but for the purposes of this week’s blog, I’m going to assume it does.

I’m on a campaign to persuade everyone to get their flu jab asap. So, I’m taking every opportunity to remind, persuade, and challenge people, to get their flu jab. There are very good reasons for doing so. The ‘flu season’ in the UK has already started, and it has started in a big way. Every day last week there were nearly 1,800 people struggling with influenza in acute hospital beds, 69 of whom were in critical care units.

According to NHS England (NHSE), this is 56% higher than the same week last year and ten times higher than two years ago. The NHSE Chief Executive, Sir Jim Mackey, noted last week that this number could easily quadruple in the coming weeks. People need to get their flu jab, in order to reduce the risk of becoming one of these patients in hospital.

Fortunately, nearly 17 million flu vaccinations have been given this year. However, the population of England is just over 58 million people, and across the UK, over 68 million. Anyone over the age of 65 (and many others, see here) can get a free flu vaccination. If you are not eligible, flu vaccinations cost on average £12. Now if you think that is not a great way to spend your hard-earned cash, consider the story of Steve Collett.

Last Christmas, Steve spent 19 days in a coma after catching flu. He spent 52 days in hospital and has not been able to return to work since due to the long-term consequences of his illness. Like other healthcare workers he was entitled to a free flu vaccination. He chose not to have one, believing himself to be a fit and healthy individual. There were nine to ten days where it was uncertain as to whether Steve would survive, or not. If Steve’s experience doesn’t persuade you to get your flu vaccination, last year there were 7,800 deaths from flu. That is more than double the 3,600 deaths in 2023-2024.

Getting a flu vaccination is the best way to protect yourself. For healthcare professionals like Steve, it not only protects the individual, but the patients they care for. Paradoxically, over the last few years healthcare professionals have for various reasons, been reluctant to get a flu vaccination. This year we have access to more robust data on the uptake of flu vaccinations by healthcare colleagues. The national average uptake level currently stands at just under 40%. The best (Harrogate and District NHS FT and Norfolk and Norwich NHS FT) have both achieved a 61% uptake. Well done to both organisations!

There are other compelling reasons for folk to get their flu vaccination; that is the current state of urgent and emergency care services. A&E departments are already experiencing increased demand. Whilst a third of all people who pitch up have no need for emergency care*, nationally, A&E departments are becoming increasingly busy, as health problems associated with winter begin to rise. They are not great places to be, if you don’t need to be there. Helpfully, last week, NHS England posted a great short film on YouTube entitled ’24 Hours Not in A&E’ to try and help folk get help for common health problems rather than pitch up at an A&E department. Getting a flu vaccination will also help you avoid an A&E department attendance for flu.

Finally, this year’s flu mutation, H3N2, is said by the World Influenza Centre to be more infectious and leading to more severe illness and hospital admissions than previous flu viruses. It’s been described as a ‘nastier’ virus than those previously experienced. China is a few weeks ahead of the UK with its flu season. The H3N2 flu virus is already beginning to cause China hospital and other health care services to become overwhelmed. So please, please, if you haven’t already done so, get your flu vaccination as soon as you can. Let’s try and keep each other healthy and safe.

* I was astounded to discover that there were over 200,000 A&E attendances this time last year for non- emergency conditions which could easily have been sorted elsewhere. These included almost 9,000 attendances for itchy skin and nearly 97,000 for a sore throat.