NEWS...

A FREE smartphone app they say has already saved several lives called "What3words" enables you to pinpoint a physical location.  

Its developers divided the world into 57 trillion squares each measuring 3m by 3m (10ft by 10ft) and allocated each a unique three-word address.

For example, the entrance to Wigmore Village Hall is, "cherub.thrones.obliging".

So what's the point?  

Well, for emergency services it pinpoints exactly where they need to go in the event of an accident.  

Lost in the countryside?  

Fire at a remote farm building?

Accident on a lane in the middle of nowhere?  

The three-word code will tell first-responders exactly where you are within three metres.  

For rural communities this could genuinely be a lifesaver and once downloaded the app works without phone connection using GPS.

This system is now being adopted by the emergency services.

KNIGHTON ROTARY CLUB TO HOLD COLLECTIONS FOR LOCAL FOOD BANKS

On Tuesday December 3rd and Tuesday December 17th the Knighton and District Rotary Club will be collecting at the Co-op in Knighton for the Knighton Food Bank, who support those in crisis in Knighton and East Radnor. Rotary President Chris Price said today “We are pleased to be able to support the Food Bank who have centres in Knighton and Presteigne. In the current economic climate, the services the Knighton Food Bank offer are sadly all too often essential for those facing redundancy or financial hardship. As we know, this can impact all age groups”. Rotary Community Chair Nick Stimpson added “We will also be collecting for the Wales and Midland Air Ambulances and other Rotary supported local charities”. Members of the Rotary Club look forward to meeting you in December and hope you will think of those less fortunate as you plan for Christmas.

Over the last week, there have been numerous incidents within Herefordshire whereby older community members have been scammed out of their hard earned cash. Scammers have phoned  up claiming to be a police officer and that there has been fraudulent or theft activity on the persons bank account. They have gained their trust and eventually have asked for that money, so that it can be put into ‘safe keeping’. 

It is really important that we get the message out to older members of the community not to give out personal details and especially not banking details to anyone. 

If you have any information regarding these incidents, or are concerned for a member of your community please do not hesitate to contact us. 

REMEMBER!

Never give your personal information away over the phone. Do you know who is calling? Suspect anyone you don’t know, regardless of who they claim to be.   Answer ‘NO’ to any personal questions. Don’t part with any of your personal information or money. Remember, the police and your bank would NEVER ask for such details as your PIN or account numbers over the phone. 

Leave the conversation. If you are suspicious or feel uncomfortable with the caller’s questions, then end the call.  If in doubt wait 10 minutes and then

let us know. 

Please contact us via Action Fraud (phone 0300 123 20 40) www.actionfraud.police.uk or phone the police on 101.   11/19

Patient Participation Group News...

Dementia Research Claire Brown, Herefordshire Primary Care Research Nurse, attended our meeting to talk about dementia research. Claire is encouraging anyone to sign up for this including those with dementia and their carers. Sign up can be done via the Join Dementia Research website 

https://www.joindementiaresearch.nihr.ac.uk/signup or by telephoning 0300 1115111. This is an NHS project and is not funded by drug companies.

Staff changes  The practice has appointed a new reception apprentice, Rosa Ingram. Steph is now back at work almost full time following her accident. We have a new year 5 medical student from Keele University, Joseph Toner. He will be with us until November.

Ear Irrigation  This service should be starting in November but there will be strict criteria.

Herefordshire One Record  This will be launched in November. The idea is that all health providers in the county will be able to look at patient’s records using one system. There will 

be articles in the Hereford Times etc.

CM PPG Rep.

Vital studies into early diagnosis, prevention and new treatments for dementia are taking place in the UK – but more volunteers are needed.
 

  Every 3 minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with dementia. There are numerous questions about diagnosis, treatments, prevention and best care for which there are no clear answers yet. Only research into dementia will help  find these answers, and this research is reliant on people like you volunteering to take part and making a difference for the future.


To find out about new studies looking for participants, anyone over the age of 18 can register with Join Dementia Research. You do not necessarily need to have a diagnosis, but we are encouraging those with dementia and their carers and relatives to sign up. You can do this online, by phone or by post, and  you can sign up for yourself, or on behalf of someone else. Join Dementia Research is a service which allows people to register their interest in national dementia research, by signing up you are merely agreeing to be contacted and the choice is always yours  as to whether you take part in individual studies.


Once registered, your details will be stored securely, and will be regularly checked to see if you match to studies. Once matched with a study, information is sent to individuals to allow them to decide whether or not they  might be interested in taking part, participation is always voluntary. There are lots of types of studies, such as those looking at prevention or new ways to diagnose the condition; drug studies trialling new treatments; or simple surveys  and questionnaires.


You can sign up today at www.joindementiaresearch.nihr.ac.uk, by calling Alzheimer’s Research UK on 0300 111 5 111 or Alzheimer’s Society on 0300 222 1122, or by collecting a registration form from Mortimer Medical Practice.
 

These daffs were planted by villagers (under licence) in 2006 to brighten up the verges beside our village nameplates. The daffodils were purchased for this purpose by the local group ‘Lingen Arts All Inclusive’ (LAAI) with the majority of the forerunning snowdrops being donated by residents from their gardens.

The full story can be seen on the Lingen Arts All Inclusive web page https://lingen.org.uk/arts-all-inclusive

Our daffodils are Narcissus Pseudnarcissus; the wild Tenby daffodil. Of these in the late 16th century John Gerard wrote that wild daffodils grew almost everywhere in England. Since then they’ve become increasingly rare due to agricultural intensification. 

These spring flowers have been given many names across the ages and counties, for example ‘fairy bells’ in Dorset and ‘lenty cups’ in Somerset.

In folklore, they are considered lucky and not to be stepped on. In giving a loved one a bunch of daffs, you are sending them good luck.