SPORTS INJURY How to tackle it EXERCISE The power of Pilates ...

14 N E HEALTH ADVERTISING FEATUREYoungstershelping to shapethe futureObesity is a growing problem amongst young people, so perhapswe should ask them what we should be doing about itAGROUP of young people inDarlington is helping to shapethe future health of the town’spopulation including thegrowing problem of obesity.The Young People’s Health Group(YPHG) is working with DarlingtonPrimary Care Trust providing a valuableinsight into the health needs ofchildren.Obesity, the availability of drinkingwater in schools, isolation punishmentand breastfeeding are just some of theissues to come under the spotlight sofar.The Government has instructed allPCTs in England to set up Patient andPublic Involvement (PPI) Forums – butthese are made up of local people overthe age of 18.In Darlington, YPHG, which is partof the young person’s organisation Investingin Children, is on hand to offerthe children’s perspective.“We think that children and youngpeople should also have the right to beinvolved in health related decisionmakingwithin our communities,” saidJoanne Pearson, 16, of Heighington.“We are aiming to find out young people’spoints of view about the servicesthat are provided to children andyoung people in Darlington.”Libby Finlay, 17, Darlington, added:“We want to know what needs tochange so we can lead as happy andhealthy life as possible. Also we wantto inform children and young peopleabout the changes that are happeningin Darlington in relation to health.”One of the first projects was to lookat child obesity. Childhood obesity isconsidered to be one of the biggestthreats to future health and the planoutlines ways it can be treated and preventedby influencing behaviour, dietand encouraging exercise.The most recent health survey on theissue revealed 8.5 per cent of six-yearoldsand 15 per cent of 15-year-oldswere obese along with 16 per cent of allchildren aged two to 15.The proportion of overweight preschoolchildren rose from 14.7 per centto 23.6 per cent between 1989 and 1998and obesity in pre-school children almostdoubled from 5.4 per cent to 9.2per cent between 1989 and 1998. In sixto 15-year-olds, obesity more thantripled from five per cent to 16 per centbetween 1990 and 2001.With the help of the young people,Darlington PCT has produced an obesitystrategy designed to combat theproblem by promoting healthy livingand an active lifestyles.Members of the group analysed theobesity action plan, feeding back theircomments and rewriting it so it couldbe understood by young people.YPHG also looked at the availabilityof drinking water in schools whichshowed differing results ranging fromnone at all to one primary schoolwhich had a pilot project to provide allstudents with individual bottles andplaces where they could be refilled.Isolation punishment in schools alsocame under the microscope, how it operates,differs and what it is used for.The group is also tackling the issueof making Darlington a breast feedingfriendly town as well as working to increaseits profile across the borough.● Anyone interested in joining YPHGshould contact Investing in Childrenon 0191 386 7485.❛We think that childrenand young peopleshould also have the rightto be involved in healthrelated decision-makingwithin our communitiesMembers of the YPHG, left to right, Joanne Pearson, Kimberley Malcolm and Libby FinlayDegree success: Carol Lancaster and Julie SmithDelving deep intoour spiritualside and fightingour fatigueNURSING in Darlington has improvedby degrees as two healthcare staff gain new expertise.Darlington Primary Care Trustnurses Carol Lancaster and JulieSmith have both obtained BSC honours degreesin developing capable practice nursingin the home.The district nursing sisters completed aone year course at the University of Teessideduring which time they spent two days aweek working in primary care with neighbouringPCTs.They are now able to use their new-foundknowledge to improve primary care nursingacross the town.Carol, from Darlington, began her nursingcareer just four years ago after working asan auxiliary for ten years. Julie, from Reeth,in Swaledale, trained as a nurse in the1980sat Darlington Memorial Hospital and laterworked as a Marie Curie nurse.“The PCT is very keen that its nursesshould progress in their careers,” said Carol.“We now manage and lead a team of districtnurses with a patient caseload and will beable to use and pass on what we have learnton the course.”“We are helping to develop services sohealth care for patients can move on andpeople can stay in their own homes ratherthan have to go into hospital,” added Julie.As part of her studies, Carol looked at spirituality.“This is about discovering whateach person gets pleasure from. It could besomething as simple as a nice sunset; it iswhat moves them. In nursing, this has an impacton health. You have to look at patientsas a whole, including their spirituality, notjust medically. It could be making sure thatsomeone who is very ill has their lipstickhandy or their hair done because that iswhat makes them feel good.“Often we work one-to-one in people’shomes where we build relationships with patientsand care goes beyond looking at theirsymptoms.”Julie studied cancer related fatigue forpart of her course work. “It’s the most commonlyreported side effect yet its treatmentis given the least attention,” she said. “Verylittle research has been done into it as we paymore attention to the pain and the nausea,yet the effects are debilitating.“It needs to be assessed and dealt with asbest we can. Even acknowledging it and talkingabout it to patients seems to help.”‘‘You have to look atpatients as a whole,including theirspirituality, not justmedically