Hospital team is one
of Britain’s best
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON Hospital’s Anticoagulation Team (ACT) is one of the best in Britain, according to a new national study.
The ACT helps to protect people living with conditions including Deep Vein Thrombosis and Atrial Fibrillation from life-threatening blood clots and strokes.
They do this by checking the clotting time of a patient’s blood, which highly trained staff can then alter if necessary, mainly by using the anti-clotting drug warfarin.
The British Haematological Society’s national standard aims to keep the blood at the correct thickness for at least 50 per cent of the time, but a recent survey showed the Warrington’s average is running at 68 per cent – classed as gold level service. That means they are ranked fifth out of 75 other Anticoagulation teams across the country.
ACT leader Michelle Grundy said the success of the service is down to the hard work of highly trained staff and the co-operation of their patients.
“Warfarin thins the blood, but if the blood becomes too thin, there is a risk of excessive bleeding,” she explained. “If the blood thickens too much, then patients could have a life threatening clot such as a deep vein thrombosis or a stroke.
“That means we have to be extremely vigilant over the warfarin dosage levels to ensure they are kept at the correct amount.
“As well as adjusting the dosage level, we work closely with the patients to discuss factors like diet, other medicines they are taking, their level of exercise and that they are taking their tablets. They are all factors that can alter their blood levels and the patients appreciate being kept fully informed about their treatment.
“The fact that their blood level is where it should be for such a lot of the time shows they are listening to what we say and working with us.”
The ACT sees around 700 people per week from its bases in the Pharmacy and outpatients department at Warrington Hospital and Halton Hospital’s outpatients department. Patients usually access the service once a month, although this can increase depending on the seriousness of their condition.
The team has three nurses, pharmacist support and a clerical assistant based at Halton, while Michelle leads two senior pharmacy technicians and a clerical assistant at Warrington. The exacting nature of the ACT’s work means all members of staff have to complete an intensive 12-week training course before they work with patients.”
Michelle added the ACT would continue striving to ensure its service remains one of the best in the country.
She said: “The rest of the team and I are delighted and proud that we compare so well to other teams, but we are not complacent and will keep working hard to provide this level of service for our patients.”
Freemasons celebrate
75th anniversary
FREEMASON’S from Warrington’s St Oswald Lodge celebrated the 75th anniversary of the consecration of their Lodge by attending morning worship at the
church after which their Lodge is named – St Oswald’s, Winwick.
The service was conducted by the Rector, Canon Bob Lewis assisted by the Rev Ron Biggin.
A history of the Lodge had been written by former journalist Derek Hunt and
a copy was presented to the church along with a cheque for ?250 which was
one of four such donations for charitable purposes to mark the Lodge
anniversary. The Lodge has made several donations to St Oswald Church
throughout the years.
The Lodge history had highlighted the fact that St Oswald, along with St
Elphin – after who Warrington Parish Church is named – brought Christianity
to this part of England. The book also showed how there had been strong
connections between the church and the Lodge for more than 75 years as one
of the founders of the Lodge was the Rt Rev Herbert Gresford Jones who at
the time was Rector of Winwick and Bishop of Warrington.
Alan Griffiths, a senior member of the Lodge, said: “Having celebrated our
anniversary at the last meeting of the Lodge, it seemed appropriate to mark
the occasion with a visit to the church dedicated to the same Saint, which,
through its incumbent so many years ago played such an important part in the
formation and consecration of our Lodge.”
St Oswald Lodge is part of the Warrington Group of Masonic Lodges which
has made donations to several local churches including ?1,000 to Christ
Church, Padgate; ?1,000 to St Barnabas Church, Warrington and ?1,000 to St
Elphin Church which helped to buy a new organ.
Entrants wanted for
“battle of bands”
by staff reporter
SCHOOL groups and other organisations are being invited to go head-to-head in a “Battle of the Bands” at Warrington on May 15.
The hunt is on for the best bands in the area to take part in a competition with a ?200 prize for their organisation up for grabs.
Bands will perform one song of their choice in the competition at the Gulliver’s theme park. A panel of judges will then choose the winner.
Bands must consist of between four and 30 members and all members must be under 16 years old.
Rock, brass or jazz – whatever your style – everyone is welcome to enter.
All members of the band plus one adult co-ordinator will receive free entry to the park and be able to spend time enjoying all the rides and attractions on offer.
Any bands interested in taking part should contact the park for an entry form which must be completed and returned by May 9.
For further information please call 01925 230088 or visit <A HREF=http://www.gulliversfun.co.uk>www.gulliversfun.co.uk</A>
Drama group stages
classic comedy
by staff reporter
ONE of JB Priestley’s classic comedies, “When we are Married”, is to be staged by The Playmakers, Stockton Heath near Warrington.
The play, directed by Frank Bonser, will be presented at St Thomas’s Hall, Stockton Heath on May 10-14.
Mr Bonser said: “Marriage is a fine institution but, as Groucho Marx said, ‘Who wants to live in an institution?’
“I’m very pleased to be directing such a funny play and I hope that you will agree that it is well worth resuscitating.”
The story concerns three rather smug couples, all celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary – three couples married on the same day, at the same chapel, at the same ceremony. Their celebrations are cut short when they discover that… but that would be telling.
A masterpiece of comedy, the play has been a favourite of the West End and of repertory companies for many years.
Choir celebrates
St George’s Day
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON Male Voice Choir’s St Georges Day Concert in the Parr Hall once again proved that the choir can listen and react to the voice of the public.
While various local authorities throughout the region were dithering about their responses to the public’s need to demonstrate their support for the patron saint…the choir got it just right!
Performing to an ever-widening audience mix, they were joined by internationally renowned concert pianist Ingrid Surgenor and tenor Thomas Schulze, both making return visits to perform with the choir.
To add that quintessential touch of English heritage, Cheshire’s own prize winning dance group “The Adlington Folk Dancers” performed sets from the 17th and 18th century.
The audience included the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress of Warrington Coun and Mrs Hans Mundry, Helen Southworth and a group of six first time visitors, with a combined age of more than 470 years, from Broughton House Home for Disabled Ex-Servicemen.
The concert was also broadcast to Warrington Hospital via “Radio General”.
Choir chairman Barrie Johnson ssid: “The concert was a dignified and patriotic celebration of our national Saint’s day.
“We suc
cessfully avoided “jingoism” and nationalist excess. As a result of the response, we certainly plan to stage a St Georges Day concert in 2006, and are currently considering bringing together a number of North West male choirs to form a “Choir of the North” – 200 united male voices. This would be a very impressive sight and sound in Warrington’s Parr Hall”.
The Choir is currently rehearsing for it’s tour of the Isle of Man in July, which will include “Songs of Praise” with their Patron Terry Waite and will be raising money for St Briget’s Hospice and Alder Hey’s Ronald McDonald House.
They will return to Parr Hall with “Last Night of the Proms” on September 24, and their usual seasonal extravaganza “Christmas Voices, Christmas Brass” on December 16-17.
Camper vans
burned out
by staff reporter
FIRE crews were called to Longshaw Street, Warrington when fire broke out involving two
camper vans.
Both vehicles were wrecked by the blaze but no-one was hurt.
The cause of the outbreak is still being investigated, but it is thought an electrical
fault may have been responsible.
[ 05.05.2005, 16:13: Message edited by: DS ]
