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Welcome to the InterAct Reading Service Blog

This blog is designed to keep you updated on the activity of the charity InterAct Reading Service and we welcome your comments, opinions and thoughts.

Tuesday, 27 July 2010

Children and Stroke

Stroke is so often associated with the elderly, that indeed is the publics perception of just who will get a stroke. In point of fact, over 1000 babies every year in the UK will have a stroke, and the proclivity of stroke amongst young people is quite startling. Here's a link to a Telegraph article from Monday 26th July.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/children_shealth/7907230/The-child-victims-of-stroke.html

http://www.childstroke.org.uk/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/

Monday, 26 July 2010

Actress Jane Lapotaire article on her stroke

Actress Jane Lapotaire on the consequences for her following her stroke. The Guardian newspaper article can be found at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2003/apr/29/healthandwellbeing.health

Stroke debate in House of Lords

Stroke was discussed in the House of Lords recently, led by the Rt Hon Lord Rodgers, who himself had a stroke a few years ago and was in the Royal Free and the National. Here's the link to the debate.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldhansrd/text/100630-0007.htm#10063035000546

We have a Facebook Page

Dear All,
Here's the link to our Facebook page, please let your friends know!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/InterAct-Reading-Service/135570389794247?ref=ts

Friday, 23 July 2010

InterAct perform at Connect for a Day


InterAct performed a piece entitled It Couldn't happen to Me at Connect, the disability support network head office on Marshalsea Road London as part of their Connect for a Day workshops. The play, a two hander performed by Nirjay Mahindru and Eleanor Rhodes explores the consequences of stroke on a couple, and lasts about 12-13 minutes. This was followed by a Q n A with the audience, who thorough enjoyed the piece. Alex Stirling, Specialist Development Manager at Connect said "Your play obviously had a great impact on our audience of people with aphasia and their relatives. "

Thursday, 22 July 2010

Wednesday, 21 July 2010

More links to stoke related policy documents

Here's a great link to access various stroke policy and strategy documents.
http://www.healthcareforlondon.nhs.uk/stroke-project-documentation/

Transforming Stroke Services Conference Tuesday 20th July

The transforming Stroke Services conference occured yesterday and here are some brief points from it.
Dr Anthony Rudd Clinical Director of Stroke in London said that the reconfiguration of stroke services in London represented a major step change in stroke service delivary.

In 2004, Stroke cost the NHS £7bn but only £590 million of that was spent on acute care.

Hyper Acute Stroke Units (HASU's) officially went on stream as of 8am on the 19th July 2010.

Average ambulance journey time to a HASU is 14 minutes in London.

Since February 2010 there has been 587 thrombolysed patients, a four fold increase.

Average length of stay in a HASU is 3 days and average lenght of stay in a London stroke unit is now down to 17 days.

Dr Rudd stated that post hospital discharge was still problematic, saying that it cost "£50,000 to keep someone in a nursing home per year".

The national context of accelerating stroke improvement was articulated by Professor Roger Boyle, the Director for Heart Disease and Stroke, Dept of Health. Professor Boyle has led the development of a national stroke strategy since 2006. It was refreshing to hear Professor Boyle say that "The patient experience is vital" and that the psychological well being of patients is part of the London pathway.

Patient experience was consistently commented on, bringing new validity and importance to the once derided notion of anecdotal evidence. Keith Millar, a stroke survivor summed it up rather succinctly when he said that following his stroke "I became a non-person". We still have plenty of work to do!

Monday, 19 July 2010

Shakespeare on the street!

On 31st July InterAct Reader Kelda Holmes and her fiancee (soon to be husband on the 21st August 2010) are participating in a fund raising event to raise money for Fantastic Theatre Company, The Globe players!

They will be performing a Shakespeare duologue ( Kate and Petruccio Act 2 Sc1, Taming Of The Shrew) on every Shakespeare Road, Avenue, Crescent etc in greater London, during the course of a 7 hour period.

They are not alone in this...at the start of the day there will be a group on every target road. Each group will work out a route taking in as many target roads as possible, in approximately 7 hours, performing a duologue at each and photographically recording it! If you see them, let us know!

Tuesday, 13 July 2010

Changes to NHS

The new Government has unveiled its White Paper on reform of the NHS. Details can be found at http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/@ps/documents/digitalasset/dh_117352.pdf

Specifically on stroke, the National stroke guildelines can be found at
http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/pubs/books/stroke/stroke_guidelines_2ed.pdf

Hospital Team Meetings

Here are the latest dates for hospital team meetings.

Mile End team meeting will take place at 11.00am on Sat 4th Sept in the Victoria ward meeting room.

WEST MIDDX & CLAYPONDS - THURSDAY 5thAUGUST (Emma to chair)

ST MARY'S - SATURDAY 24TH JULY - HOSPITAL CANTEEN - 12.00 NOON (Christine to chair)

BRIGHTON & HAYWARDS HEATH - SUNDAY 25TH JULY - VENUE AND TIME TBA - (Christine to chair)

CHELSEA &WESTMINSTER - FRIDAY 30TH JULY - CARLUCCIO'S (accross road from C+W) - 12.00 NOON (Emma and Christine to chair)

KINGS & LEWISHAM - SUNDAY 15TH AUGUST - NICKY'S HOUSE -11.30 AM (Emma and Christine to chair)

Monday, 12 July 2010

What some of our actors are up to at the Moment (July 2010)

Risa Hall has been performing her original music from her new cd, Glass Half..? on BBC Radio Manchester, BBC Radio Lancashire, BBC Radio Nottingham and other places. Her album was produced by Nigel Stonier (Thea Gilmore, Joan Baez, Waterboys) and features 10cc/Jethro Tull drummer Paul Burgess on both drums/percussion.

Maggie Mash is performing with her group Trio Literati, singer Louise Gibbs and pianist Jonathan Gee at the Edinburgh Fringe. It's called Five in a Bar and it's poetry and music of the Beat Generation and it's at the Jazz Bar, Chambers St, 9th - 15th August at 3.30

Two of Frinton’s favourite actors launch the 70th anniversary season of Frinton Summer Theatre next week. The curtain goes up on The Mystery of Irma Vepp by Charles Ludlum on Tuesday13th. Patrick Marlowe returns for his fourth stint in town and will be joined by Julian Harries who will be notching up his fifth season at the theatre. Pat has also written a play specially for the anniversary season called The Box which will be on at the beginning of August. The two actors will be playing all eight characters with rapid costume changes, cross dressing and appearing as everything from mummies and vampires. Full details in Clacton Gazette

Julien Ball will be in Doctors 21-23 July playing Lt Col in the Army

Kirsty Cox is performing in weekly rep in Devon at the moment

Nicky Goldie is about to open in Romeo and Juliet in Oxford for Creation Theatre which runs from 9th July - 4th September, playing Nurse and Prince, and has recently filmed 2 eps of Coronation Street which may possibly be aired on 23rd August.

Rachel Stevenson is about to start rehearsals for Fragments Theatre's The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov, adapted by Hannah Burke, directed by Shane Dempsey.The show is going to Edinburgh (dates are roughly 9th-18th August) and then to the Green Phoenix festival (http://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/others2010/greenphoenix/)from 19th to 21st August. The company have been working as an ensemble together since last year and we're very excited to start work on what will be a highly physical and energised piece of theatre. http://fragmentstheatre.ning.com/profiles/blogs/the-master-and-margarita

Sharon Heywood is doing a play from July 26th – 29th called The Decision’ written by Mia Darlone - at the Theatre Royal or also known as the Coliseum in Manchester – Deansgate She has also been doing some stand up character comedy in and around Manchester.

Jo Kloska is currently appearing in Comedy Of Errors at Regent's Park

Penny McDonald is currently rehearsing a play called 'Raving Beauties' by Dave Simpson, which will be on at the Dance House in Manchester from July 29th to the 31st for four performances.

Dominic Hecht and Katy Foster Barners are in their final week at the Mill at Sonning theatre doing an Ayckbourn called If I Were You. Following which, Katy will be filming in august for a new crime drama called Vera starring Brenda Blethin.

Martin Parr has been touring the USA with Romeo and Juliet and is now at the Mercury Theatre in Colchester doing The Grapes of Wrath

Tuesday, 6 July 2010

Link to short film on Mark Ware winning Life After Stroke Award

Here's the link to see the short piece made on Mark following his Life After Stroke Award victory last month!

http://www.stroke.org.uk/campaigns/life_after_stroke_awards/2010_winners/adult_courage_award.html

Fantastic Swim by Dan Crowder in aid of InterAct!

Dan Crowder completed his sponsored swim raising money for InterAct in a time of 33 minutes - 34.23 is his official time but he had to be treated for cramp when he finished so he's quite rightly knocking a minute off!! Dan also said the following.

It was a fantastic day and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes to swim.
My final total looks like £650 although a few more people have said they'll visit the justgiving page and donate. I'm really pleased with the amount. I'd be very interested to know how the money has helped as I understand you have to raise a small fortune every year to keep going.
Well I had such a great time I'm sure I'll be doing some more in the future so I'll keep you posted as I think It's a smashing way to raise money for InterAct.



Thank you Dan for your wonderful effort and brilliant spirit of generosity to InterAct!

Monday, 5 July 2010

Three Monkeys project at Whittington Hospital

The Three Monkeys project performed at Whittington Hospital on Friday 2nd July. The project is a joint venture between InterAct and the Manor Gardens Heart and Stroke Project and is composed of 3 parts. The 1st part is the 12 minute play It Couldn't Happen to Me a two hander exploring the consequences of stroke on a couple. The 2nd part is a 12-15 minute piece devised by InterAct actors Christine Collins, Eleanor Caird in conjunction with stroke survivor Sally from Manor Gardens Stroke Club, and Josephine Robespierre, a carer who has been working at Manor Gardens. The final part is a Q n A with the audience.

The Whittington audience consisted of pharmacists, occupational and speech therapists. Some of the feedback included the following comments.

"Makes me think about my own practice in relation to stroke"
"Good to highlight the plight of carers"
"Would be very useful for nursing staff and care staff on the ward, and social services staff eg social workers, to improve their understanding of life on the other side".