Patients get own blood
back during operations
by David Skentelbery
PATIENTS at Warrington Hospital are receiving their own blood back during and after operations.
High-tech Cell Salvage machines are using to collect any blood lost during an operation – and it is then washed and filtered before being returned to the patient before he or she leaves the operating theatre.
The technique is reducing the need for donated blood, at a time when the demand is higher than ever, and can also result in patients making a more speedy recovery.
Cell Salvage machines cost around $5,000 each. They ensure that patients have a readily available supply of perfectly matched blood ? their own! ? no matter what their blood type is.
It also means patients who would refuse blood transfusions for religious reasons can be treated ? with their own blood.
Transfusion specialist Julie Yates said: “When someone is undergoing a procedure where the surgeon is predicting a substantial blood loss, they can use the Cell Salvage machine and it is proving to be very popular.
“This is great for patients because you know the blood will be a perfect match as it has come from their body originally.?
She added: “For each patient, we use a new sterile bowl and harness to collect the blood, ensuring patient safety by eliminating any possible risk of infection.”
Using Cell Salvage during operations with major blood loss is just one of the measures North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust has implemented to reduce any unnecessary blood transfusions. Other strategies include using iron tablets or injections and lowering the threshold for blood transfusion.
Cell Salvage in also used following orthopaedic surgery. Here, the patient’s blood is collected for up to four hours after the operation when the risk of blood loss is greatest, before being filtered and transfused back to the patient at their bedside.
Julie said: “While Cell Salvage cannot be used in every type of procedure, it is making a significant difference in reducing the need to transfuse patients with donated blood during operations.?
Skatepark
now open!
by Gary Skentelbery
A CONTROVERSIAL new skateboard area has now opened in Ridgway Grundy Park for skateboarders and BMX riders.
Thanks to Landfill Tax credit funding of ?14,000 from the Waste Recycling Group Ltd administered by WREN and a grant of ?2000 from Warrington Borough Council Environmental Improvement Fund, Lymm Parish Council has been able to proceed with the project and are contributing ?9000 towards the cost of the equipment.
Richard Smith, Project Manager at WREN said: “WREN is delighted to be involved in this exciting project to provide a skating facility in the Ridgway Grundy Park. We aim to spend the landfill tax money of Waste Recycling Group Ltd on projects that offer the greatest benefit to communities. This project will not only provide a recreational resource for the young people of Lymm it also promotes the adoption of a healthy life style through sports.”
Coun Mrs Sheila Woodyatt, who has been involved with the scheme since it was first suggested by the young people of Lymm in 2002 commented: “I am delighted this scheme has come to fruition at last. This was a project which young people asked for, they selected the site and it will improve the existing facilities in the Park. I hope we can now look to the future and work with local residents of all ages to ensure the Park is fully used for the benefit of all the people of Lymm as was the intention when the Park was given to the community many years ago.”
The Landfill Tax Credit Scheme gives waste management companies the opportunity to invest up to 6.8% of their Landfill Tax bill into community projects in their immediate area.
Projects applying for grants from WREN (Waste Recycling Environmental Ltd), who distribute the Landfill Tax credits of Waste Recycling Group Ltd, are assessed by an individual panel of locally based experts in each county for their suitability, sustainability and community benefit.
Community Groups looking to find out more about funding through the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme can contact WREN on 01953717165 or visit www.wren.org.uk for more information.
New directors
appointed
by Gary Skentelbery
THREE new directors have been appointed at Warrington based Making Space, a local charity which helps people affected by schizophrenia and other forms of serious and enduring mental illness.
The charity was launched in 1982 by David Lyne, a determined campaigner who believed passionately that Making Space should provide ?first class services for first class people?.
The three new directors are under the under the leadership of Chief Executive, Elaine Parker Johnson.
They are Director of Finance Wyn Jones, who was formerly finance manager at Leonard Cheshire, Director of Operations Gaynor Chisnall, who has held a number of posts within the charity since 1990, while the newest member of the team is Director of Development John Heritage, who has joined from the Princes Trust.
Making Space works in conjunction with local statutory bodies to provide a broad range of quality services including Family Support Workers and and Carers? Breaks.
The charity helps people cope more effectively by responding as quickly as possible to requests for information, with services to meet real needs and promoting support within the community, by advancing public understanding and much, much more.
The current area of operation includes Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Staffordshire and Yorkshire – with everything co-ordinated from a head office in Warrington and another in Leeds.
Volunteer “clean team”
launch blitz on litter
by staff reporter
VOLUNTEER street sweepers have launched a drive to clean up Warrington – with a blitz on litter in Great Sankey.
The “Clean Team”, organised by Great Sankey North councillor Trudi Wood, collected eight bin bags of rubbish in less than two hours in Barrow Hall Lane.
Local councillors Roy Smith and Judith Wheeler were also in the team, along with a number of concerned members of the public.
Coun Wood said: “This was a brilliant effort and shows what can be done by a few people in quite a short time. We made a real difference. We will be contacting the local takeaways and schools about the number of polystyrene cartons and soft drink cans and bottles we collected.”
Coun Smith said: “The idea is to eventually try and expand the scheme to cover the whole borough. Some of the volunteers were from other parts of the town.
“On this occasion, we had a real blitz on one particular area but the idea is that a little work done regularly by a small number of people can make a difference. Some people do it on their way to work in the morning.”
Warrington Borough Council loaned litter-pickers and high visibility jackets for the operation.
Hotel manager scoops
top tourism award
by business staff
YVONNE Jackson, general manager of the Park Royal Hotel, Stretton near Warrington, has won a top tourism award.
She was awarded the ?Commitment to Industry? prize at the Cheshire Awards for Tourism Skills (CATS).
The Park Royal Hotel was one of 50 different tourism organisations in Cheshire represented at the event, including hotels and restaurants, museums, self catering cottages, ice cream farms and local annual events, all competing for the prestigious awards.
CATS awards recognise the best in the industry, and celebrates the hard work and commitment of all those involved in the sector.
In their adjudication, the judges said: ?Yvonne has had a very successful career in the industry, encompassing a wide range of roles. In her current position she focuses on three key areas, product, service and reputation to ensure the absolute q
uality of the business”.
Yvonne has worked in the hotel industry for 25 years, rising through the ranks from her early days in front desk roles, to her present position as a general manager for Qhotels ? owners of the Park Royal.
She received her awards from Hollyoaks actors Nick Pickard and Sarah Dunn.
Yvonne:”I was delighted to receive this award and be recognized within the local community. I work with a fantastic team and I would like to thank them for all of the hard work that they have put in too!”
Council cleared of
maladministration
by staff reporter
A COMPLAINT that the borough council was guilty of maladministration in respect of a housing development on land at Marlborough Crescent, Stockton Heath has been rejected by the Local Government Ombudsman.
The complainant argued that the council had failed to enforce breaches of planning control and that officers had been inappropriately supportive of the developer.
But the Ombudsman says officers were clearly aware of the relevant legislation and did not, as suggested by the complainant, ?lean over backwards? to support the developer.
He says there could be no criticism of officers in their approach to the possibility of enforcement action.
A council spokesman said: ?This decision categorically accepts that correct process was followed in the determination of a planning application for a new dwelling.
?It is clear the Ombudsman accepts that subsequent complaints relating to enforcement of conditions reflect the complainant?s limited understanding of the extent and nature of planning controls.?
Man trapped
in wrecked car
by staff reporter
A MAN was trapped in his car after it was in collision with a stationary trailer in Poplars Avenue, Orford, Warrington.
Fire crews raced to the scene and used cutting gear to release him from thge wrecked Vauxhall Cavalier.
The trailer was attached to a 4X4 vehicle parked at the road side.
Paramedics treated the injured man at the scene and he was taken to Warrington Hospital suffering from head and leg injuries.
