Monthly Archives: July 2012

Trolley Buddy transforms supermarket shopping

July 18, 2012   Carers, cerebral palsy

Singing the praises of a new trolley seat

Warrington mum Linzi Price and her 3 year old son Zack are singing the praises of a new trolley seat, designed by children’s charity Cerebra, which has helped to transform their daily lives.Zack was born prematurely with Cerebral Palsy and problems with hearing, seeing and feeding. Many everyday activities that people take for granted are difficult for Zack and his mum, including a trip to the supermarket.  Zack’s Cerebral Palsy means that he can’t sit very well in the trolley, falling forward, sideways or even out of the seat.

 

Luckily Linzi found out about a special trolley seat, the Trolley Buddy, developed by the charity Cerebra.  The Trolley Buddy is designed to fit into a regular supermarket trolley but provides extra support for children like Zack.  When Linzi expressed her interest in the seat, the charity offered to send her one to test before she committed to buy.

 

Linzi was so pleased with the seat that she posted her own review on a blog – http://theboywithfivenames.blogspot.co.uk/. Linzi says “the Trolley Buddy is so simple – a little portable seat that you can take with you to the supermarket.  You just pop it into the trolley, strap it round the back and pop the child in.”

The Trolley Buddy has been so successful that Cerebra have a waiting list for them and are looking for a commercial partner so that they can produce them on a larger scale.  Linzi appeals for supermarkets to “buy the Trolley Buddy, have them to hand behind your counter and help us mums and dads out – we just want to take our children shopping.”

 

Cerebra aims to improve the lives of children and young people with neurological conditions through research and on-going support.  The charity’s Innovation Centre adapts and develops equipment for children with brain injuries.
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GPs ‘too expensive’ to run health authorities

July 18, 2012   Carers, DOH, health

Bureaucrats will still run local health authorities, despite Government plans to put clinicians in charge, according to GPs who say the money is not there to pay enough doctors to run them.

By , Medical Correspondent

6:30AM BST 18 Jul 2012

One of Andrew Lansley’s first announcements as Health Secretary was to say England’s 152 primary care trusts (PCTs) would be abolished, to be replaced by groups led by GPs.

The idea – largely approved of by medics – is that doctors will make better decisions about organising local health services for their patients than managers.

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North Norfolk tot Angelina Mills marks special milestone at nursery sports day

July 17, 2012   Sturge-Weber syndrome

Angelina suffers from neurological condition Sturge-Weber syndrome

By DONNA-LOUISE BISHOP, Reporter

Tuesday, July 17, 2012 4:06 PM

 Angelina Mills, who has Sturge-Weber Syndrome, pictured at the Strawberry Patch Pre School’s Olympics. Angelina and her mum, Lisa Massingham, who was an Olympic torch bearer.

A brave toddler from north Norfolk, who has battled with a rare brain injury since birth, marked a special milestone today (Tuesday) when she took part in her nursery school’s sports day.

Angelina Mills, who has Sturge-Weber Syndrome, pictured at the Strawberry Patch Pre School’s Olympics. Angelina taking part in the egg and spoon race, with a helping hand from her mum, Lisa Massingham, who was an Olympic torch bearer.

Three-year-old Angelina Mills, from Gresham, spent the morning running with her friends and competing in an egg and spoon race at the Strawberry Patch Nursery in nearby Hempstead.

Her mum, Lisa Massingham, who also has two sons Luca, 11, and Stefan, nine, said it was a day her and partner Stephen thought would never come.

“We are so happy to see Angelina taking part in the races and playing with other children,” she said.

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