Tag Archives: Manchester

BBC Sports Personality Of The Year 2009 shortlist unveiled

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Ten sportsmen and women from across the United Kingdom and from nine very different sports, make up the shortlist for BBC Sports Personality Of The Year 2009, BBC One, Sunday 13 December, 7.00-9.00pm.
The live event will be held at the Sheffield Arena for the first time and is a sell-out with around 11,000 people attending, making it the biggest Sports Personality ever.
The shortlist (in alphabetical order) is:
Jenson Button
Mark Cavendish
Tom Daley
Jessica Ennis
Ryan Giggs
David Haye
Phillips Idowu
Andy Murray
Andrew Strauss
Beth Tweddle
These 10 sporting celebrities (2009 highlights below) will now compete for the public vote on the night of the live show.
The public will be able to vote for their BBC Sports Personality Of The Year by telephone; details of the numbers to vote on will be given out during the programme.
The shortlist of 10 contenders was put together by a panel of 26 sports editors from (national and regional) newspapers and magazines.
Details of the sports editors’ votes can be seen on the website at bbc.co.uk/sportspersonality at 7.30pm on 30 November.
The live show will be presented by Sue Barker, Gary Lineker and Jake Humphrey.
In addition to the main award of Sports Personality Of The Year there will also be awards for:
Team of the Year
Coach of the Year
Overseas Sports Personality of the Year
Lifetime Achievement
Helen Rollason Award
Young Sports Personality of the Year
Sports Unsung Hero
For voting criteria on all the Awards, further information and updates please visit bbc.co.uk/sportspersonality.
Notes to Editors
Contenders’ highlights:
Jenson Button
Jenson Button will never forget 2009. Just weeks before the season started in March, he didn’t have a car to drive – but by October he was Formula One World Champion. He started out in pole position winning an incredible six out of the first seven Grands Prix, building up an unassailable lead thanks to a combination of brains and a Brawn car that was just too good for the competition. Jenson – who was 100-l to win the title in January – had only won one Grand Prix before this season and is now the 10th Formula One world champion Britain has produced.
Mark Cavendish
Mark Cavendish was simply the fastest man on two wheels in 2009. The Manxman won a history-making six stages in the Tour de France and his final victory in Paris was extra special as he became the first Briton to win on the Champs-Elysees. During the Tour, the Team Columbia rider wore the prestigious Green Jersey and in the early stages of the Giro d’Italia he wore the leader’s Maglia Rosa jersey. Mark won many stages in many races throughout the season – with another highlight being his victory in the Milan-San Remo Classic earlier in the year.
Tom Daley
Tom Daley sensationally became a world champion this year – at the tender age of 15 years and 61 days. When most teens would be studying at school, Tom was ruling the world thanks to an incredible display of dives in the 10-metre platform event in Rome. The 2007 Young Sports Personality of the Year beat a top class field which included Olympic champion Matt Mitcham and he saved the best for last thanks to a flawless final dive which moved him up from third to first.
Jessica Ennis
Jessica Ennis showed all of her Sheffield steel this year with a golden performance at the World Athletics Championships. Just a year after cruelly missing out on the Beijing Olympics with injury, the Yorkshire star shone during the heptathlon, leading from start to finish in Berlin to take gold. The ’tadpole’ – as she’s affectionately known – posted seven sensational performances in the 100 metre hurdles, the high jump, shot put, 200 metres, long jump, javelin and 800 metres. And her score of 6,731 points was a personal best.
Ryan Giggs
Ryan Giggs just gets better with age. The 36-year-old Manchester United playmaker is the most decorated player in English football history and in May this year, he won a record 11th Premier League winners’ medal. He’s been in outstanding form all year – and was instrumental in helping United reach the Champions League final. He is one of the most respected players in the game and in April this year he won the prestigious PFA Player of the Year award for the first time. In the same month he made his 800th appearance for United – the only club he’s played for in a professional career spanning 19 years. In 2009 he scored his 150th goal for United.
David Haye
David Haye realised a dream in 2009 by becoming the heavyweight champion of the world. Despite conceding nearly a foot in height and seven stones in weight against giant rival Nikolai Valuev, the 29-year-old scored a dramatic majority points victory thanks to a boxing masterclass. Haye used all his speed and skill to make up those deficiencies in the much anticipated ’David v Goliath’ battle in Nuremberg, Germany, to become Britain’s sixth world heavyweight champion in history. The ’Hayemaker’ now has his sights set on adding more belts to his WBA version in 2010.
Phillips Idowu
Phillips Idowu became Britain’s second gold medallist at the World Athletics Championships thanks to a brilliant performance in the triple jump. The Belgrave Harrier from Hackney leapt to 17 metres and 73 centimetres in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, which was also a personal best. The victory was consolation for 30-year-old Phillips after he missed out on Olympic gold last year. And it was fitting too, as he was presented with his medal by former world and Olympic triple jump champion Jonathan Edwards – who was also BBC Sports Personality Of The Year in 1995.
Andy Murray
Andy Murray once again flew the flag for British tennis in 2009. The 22-year-old had an outstanding year, winning six tournaments (correct at 9/11/09) including two top tier Masters events at Miami and Montreal. Those wins helped propel him to a career high world number two – the highest ever ranking by a British player. Andy also won a first tournament on home soil at Queen’s just before Wimbledon – but his dream of glory at SW19 was ended by Andy Roddick in the semi-finals. That was his best ever performance at Wimbledon – and he also enjoyed his best run in the French Open, reaching the quarter finals.
Andrew Strauss
Andrew Strauss had a wonderful summer. England’s cricket captain masterminded the Ashes victory over Australia – and he did it in style by being named player of the series. Strauss always looked cool and he led from the front as England reclaimed the famous old urn by winning two Tests to one. The opening batsman topped the run-scoring charts with 474 – at an average of 52. And with an innings of 161 at Lord’s, he also hit the highest score of the five-Test series. Always in control, always in charge, Andrew was captain fantastic.
Beth Tweddle
Beth Tweddle had a year she will never forget. Britain’s greatest-ever gymnast won gold after a glorious routine on the floor at the World Championships. What made Beth’s achievement all the better was that it was in front of a huge home crowd at London’s O2 Arena, and it came just days after she suffered a fall during her signature event on the bars. But like all top class athletes, Beth dusted herself down and came back to perform a brilliant flawless routine which was full of high risk and technical difficulty.

Source: WEBWIRE

Diodes Incorporated Wins EEF Environmental Achievement Award

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Diodes Incorporated (Nasdaq: DIOD), a leading global manufacturer and
supplier of high-quality application specific standard products within
the broad discrete and analog semiconductor markets, today announced
that the Company was named North West England’s winner of the
Environmental Achievement Award in the inaugural EEF Future
Manufacturing Awards. The Company received the award, sponsored by
British Gas plc., at a presentation held at Manchester’s Imperial War
Museum and will now go forward to take part in its national awards
finals taking place in February next year.
The Environmental Achievement Award was presented to Diodes Incorporated
in recognition of the Company’s 50% reduction in its carbon footprint at
its Oldham based semiconductor wafer fabrication facilities. The award
reflected both improvements to production processes as well as employee
involvement through ‘green teams’, dedicated to increasing energy
efficiency, reducing waste and improving overall environmental
performance.
David Ost, Director of the EEF’s North West Region, said, “Manufacturers
make a valuable contribution to the economy of North West England and
the United Kingdom as a whole. Diodes’ award sends a clear message that
anyone who thinks the United Kingdom has lost its manufacturing edge is
wrong! The awards night proved that there are companies right here that
are breaking down barriers, reinventing the rules and reaching out for
new opportunities to create a manufacturing industry we can be proud of.”
Dr. Keh-Shew Lu, President and Chief Executive Officer of Diodes
Incorporated, said, “Diodes’ Zetex operations began setting targets for
reducing its carbon footprint years ago, before the issue had really
grabbed worldwide attention, and the achievements today are truly
amazing. This award is thanks to the hard work and commitment of the
entire Zetex team, including our ‘green team’ – made up of people who
are passionate about environmental improvements and the benefits they
bring to the business.”
For more information, please visit our website at http://www.diodes.com.
About Diodes Incorporated
Diodes Incorporated (Nasdaq: DIOD), a Standard & Poor’s SmallCap 600 and
Russell 3000 Index company, is a leading global manufacturer and
supplier of high-quality application specific standard products within
the broad discrete and analog semiconductor markets, serving the
consumer electronics, computing, communications, industrial and
automotive markets. Diodes products include diodes, rectifiers,
transistors, MOSFETs, protection devices, functional specific arrays,
amplifiers and comparators, Hall-effect sensors and temperature sensors,
power management devices including LED drivers, DC-DC switching
regulators, linear voltage regulators and voltage references, along with
special function devices including USB power switch, load switch,
voltage supervisor and motor controllers. The Company’s corporate
headquarters is located in Dallas, Texas. A sales, marketing,
engineering and logistics office is located in Westlake Village,
California. Design centers are located in Dallas; San Jose, California;
Taipei, Taiwan; Manchester, England and Neuhaus, Germany. The Company’s
wafer fabrication facilities are located in Kansas City, Missouri and
Manchester; with two manufacturing facilities located in Shanghai,
China, another in Neuhaus, and a joint venture facility located in
Chengdu, China. Additional engineering, sales, warehouse and logistics
offices are located in Taipei; Hong Kong; Manchester and Munich,
Germany, with support offices located throughout the world. For further
information, including SEC filings, visit the Companys website at http://www.diodes.com

Source: Business Wire

British Conductor and Harpsichordist Nicholas Kraemer Leads Chicago Symphony Orchestra Dec. 10-12

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British conductor and harpsichordist Nicholas Kraemer returns to Symphony Center to lead the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) in a program highlighting three composers of the 18th centuryTelemann, Haydn and Mozartas well as 20th-century master Richard Strauss.

Performances are Thursday, Dec. 10, at 8pm, Friday, Dec. 11, at 1:30pm and Saturday, Dec. 12, at 8pm.

Well known as an authority of Baroque and Classical period music, Nicholas Kraemer is equally successful leading music by composers of the 20th century and today; his repertoire ranges from Vivaldi and Monteverdi to Britten and Musgrave.

Kraemer, familiar to Chicago audiences as principal guest conductor of Music of the Baroque, made his CSO debut in November 2007 with works by Handel, Haydn and Telemann, earning critical acclaim for his stylish, lively interpretations.

His December concerts contain Haydns Symphony No. 88one of the composers finest and the first in which he uses trumpets and timpani in a slow movement; Mozarts spirited Divertimento in D Major, K. 131; selections from Telemanns second volume of imaginative Tafelmusik, which Kraemer will lead from the harpsichord; and Strauss elegiac Metamorphosen, composed at the end of World War II as a heartfelt lament on the destruction of his beloved opera houses and cultural monuments of Germany.

Nicholas Kraemer began his career as a harpsichordist and soon moved from playing Baroque continuo at the back of the orchestra to directing from the keyboard at the front. While performing with the English Chamber Orchestra in the 1970s, his repertoire widened to encompass the 19th and 20th centuries.

He formed Raglan Baroque Players in 1978 and served as its music director, and he held conducting posts with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Irish Chamber Orchestra and London Bach Orchestra.

In addition to his current position with Music of the Baroque, he is permanent guest conductor of the Manchester Camerata in England.

Kraemer regularly conducts ensembles, orchestras and opera companies throughout the world, including the Hall Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic and National Orchestra of Wales, Berlin Philharmonic, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Royal Symphony Orchestra of Seville, Toronto Symphony, Detroit Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and Ensemble Kanazawa in Japan.

Upcoming debuts include the West Australian Symphony and Colorado Symphony Orchestra.

Committed to working with young musicians, Kraemer has directed orchestras and choirs of Venezuelas El Sistema programs and has led master classes at the Aspen Music Festival; he regularly conducts the Northern Sinfonias Young Sinfonia and in 2010 will lead Handels Belshazzar in a collaboration of the Manchester Camerata and the Royal Northern College of Music.

His discography includes dozens of concertos by Vivaldi with both the City of London Sinfonia and Raglan Baroque Players; music of Locatelli, Tartini and Pergolesi as well as Handels Rodelinda with Raglan Baroque Players; several works by Thea Musgrave with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra; and choral works by Scarlatti, Mozart, Handel and Haydn.

He also has contributed to several feature films, most notably as Baroque music director for The Madness of King George.&/

Source: Chicago Press Release

Triple grant success for medical researchers

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Pre-eclampsia – a group of conditions that result in high blood pressure in expectant mothers – can be fatal, while fetal growth restriction, where the baby does not grow properly in the womb, results in a greater risk of death or handicap.

The five-year programme grant from the Medical Research Council has been given to Professor Colin Sibley, Dr Sue Greenwood and Dr Mark Wareing in Manchester’s Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre based at St Mary’s Hospital, together with collaborators in Cambridge, Harwell and Alberta.

Professor Sibley said: “Pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction are diseases with many different causes and are the most dangerous pregnancy complications. There are currently no treatments available other than Caesarean section or inducing labour.

“Some of the causes of the conditions are similar to those in other conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer, and our research will determine whether the same drugs that are useful in those diseases can be used in treating pregnancy complications.”

A further £220,000 has been awarded by the Medical Research Council to fellow Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre scientists, Professor John Aplin and Dr Lynda Harris. Their research will focus on an enzyme called MMP-12 and whether blocking its actions may be a therapeutic intervention in complicated pregnancies.

Meanwhile, Dr Stuart Pickering-Brown and Professor David Mann, in the School of Translational Medicine, have been awarded £1 million of a £4.5 million programme grant by the Wellcome Trust and Medical Research Council to identify genetic risk factors in motor neurone disease.

Working with colleagues at King’s College London, the Manchester researchers will investigate a gene called FUS – known to play a role in motor neurone disease – in dementia patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration ( FTLD ).

Dr Pickering-Brown said: “Recent research on motor neurone disease and frontotemporal dementia has shown that RNA-processing proteins are deposited in degenerating nerve cells and that rare mutations in three known genes, including FUS, cause a genetic form of these diseases.

“Using these discoveries, our team will model key aspects of the human disorders in transgenic mice to allow us to explore fundamental disease mechanisms and identify new therapeutic targets.”

Ends

Notes for editors
For further information contact:

Aeron Haworth
Media Relations
Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences
The University of Manchester

Tel: 0161 275 8383
Mob: 07717 881563
Email: [email protected]

Source: Media Newswire

“Need not greed”, say Nobel Prize winners

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The renowned group of 50 signatories is led by moral philosopher Professor John Harris and Nobel Prize winning biologist Professor Sir John Sulston, both from the Institute for Science, Ethics and Innovation ( iSEI ) at The University of Manchester.

Nobel Laureate and Chair of the Brooks World Poverty Institute at The University of Manchester, Professor Joseph Stiglitz, is also among the signatories.

The ‘Manchester Manifesto’ calls for a reassessment of the current system of patents and intellectual property regulated by national and international laws.

According to Professors Harris and Sulston, the system is in desperate need of change because it excludes poorer people from access to essential medicines and expertise.

They both say profit should not override the needs of the public despite it being currently the primary reward for research and development.

Professor Sulston received a Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 2002 and was a key member of the Human Genome project team.

He chairs iSEI and has been a vocal critic of a biopharmaceutical companys patenting of two genes closely associated with breast and ovarian cancer.

The US Government allowed Myriad Genetics to patent tests of the genes, sparking fury from patients and a campaign by the American Civil Liberties Union – supported by Professor Sulston.

He said: It shocks many people when they realise that even our genes fall under intellectual property law.

Genes are naturally occurring things, not inventions, and part of humanitys rich heritage.

We cannot restrict essential research into diseases such as cancer to only those who can afford to pay.

The current method of managing innovation and intellectual property has an adverse effect on many impoverished people- especially in the developing world.

The system is wrong: powerful states have huge influence in the way the rules are created and tailor them to their own advantage.

We also ask for a strong commitment from Western Governments to increase assistance to the developing world to build capacity for their own scientific research.

Professor Harris, who is the Director of iSEI said: The Manchester Manifesto is a first attempt to answer the question ‘Who Owns Science?’.

And from our work, it is clear that the existing model, while serving some necessary purposes, also impedes achievement of core scientific goals.

In many cases access to scientific knowledge and products has been cut off, stopping the benefits of science in its tracks.

The system restricts the flow of information and it can hinder innovation through the costly and complicated nature of the system.

Limited improvements may be achieved through modification of the current IP system, but consideration of alternative models is urgently required.

“iSEI is coordinating a programme of further work including edited books, education programmes and meetings, details of which are also available.

Notes for editors

Download the Manchester Manifesto at http://www.isei.manchester.ac.uk/

For media enquires contact:

Mike Addelman
Media Relations
Faculty of Humanities
The University of Manchester
0161 275 0790
07717 881567
[email protected]

Source: Media Newswire

Rezidor restaurant awarded two stars from Michelin for the third consecutive year

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The Rezidor Hotel Group owned Regent Berlin’s Fischers Fritz restaurant, has been awarded two stars by Michelin, the French guide to fine dining, for the third consecutive year.
Chef de Cuisine, Christian Lohse, has succeeded in maintaining his crown as Berlin’s only two Michelin-starred Chef, with his classic French cuisine with a contemporary twist. In fall 2007, Lohse’s dedication to his craft and relentless pursuit of perfection placed him firmly at the forefront of Berlin’s culinary world, when he became the first Berlin based chef in 13 years, to merit two Michelin stars.
I am delighted to be celebrating this most sought after culinary honour, with Christian Lohse and his team, said Stefan Athmann, General Manager at The Regent Berlin. To receive two stars from Michelin is an impressive achievement, to retain them for the third succeeding year, is a great motivation for us all to continue to strive even further in the pursuit of excellence
By retaining the two Michelin stars for the third time, Christian Lohse again confirms his position as one of the most celebrated chefs in Germany and follows up on his previous awards. Prior to his engagement at The Regent Berlin he worked at such renowned places like three-starred L’Espérance in Vezelay, the Guy Savoy in Paris and The Dorchester in London, where he became the personal chef to the Sultan of Brunei.
The Fischers Fritz’s menu is an artistic and modern approach to French-inspired cuisine, featuring exquisite fish and seafood delicacies. Subtle yet sophisticated, the dishes complement the restaurant’s atmosphere of balance and class. Simple creations distinguished by the high quality of fresh produce have made The Regent Berlin’s gourmet restaurant a place of pilgrimage for gourmets.
Lohse sees the award as a great honour as well as a motivating reward: I am extremely proud of the great team effort of everyone involved in sustaining two Michelin Stars for the third time in a row. It demonstrates the commitment and dedication of the team’s exacting standards. Our challenge in gourmet gastronomy is to maintain a high-level of consistency day by day
The Regent Berlin is located on the Gendarmenmarkt square with a beautiful view of the French Cathedral and the concert Hall. The boulevard Unter den Linden, the Brandenburg Gate and Friedrichstrasse with their exclusive boutiques are just a few steps away. The very personal service and luxurious furnishings of the 195 rooms and suites make the five-star superior hotel a popular address for celebrities, holiday makers and business travellers. With highly modern conference and meeting rooms, as well as the Michelin-starred Fischers Fritz gourmet restaurant, The Regent Berlin is the ideal setting for any event.
About The Rezidor Hotel Group
The Rezidor Hotel Group is one of the fastest growing hotel companies in the world. The group features a portfolio of more than 380 luxury hotels either operation or under development with 81,700 rooms in almost 60 countries including UK based luxury hotels in London, Manchester and Edinburgh, as well as luxury hotels in Dublin and luxury hotels in Paris.
Rezidor operates the brands Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts, Regent Hotels & Resorts, Park Inn and Country Inns & Suites in Europe, Middle East and Africa, along with the goldpoints plusSM loyalty programme for frequent hotel guests. Under a worldwide licence agreement with the iconic Italian fashion house Missoni, Rezidor also operates and develops the new lifestyle brand Hotel Missoni.
In November 2006, Rezidor was listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. Carlson Companies is the main shareholder.
PR contact:
Christine Reiter
Director of Corporate Communication
The Rezidor Hotel Group
Avanue Du Bourget 44
B-1130 Brussels
Belgium
+32 2 702 9222
www.radissonblu.com

Source: WEBWIRE

Optical Express sponsors the Kirsty Clubs Angel Ball 2009

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Optical Express has donated free laser eye surgery to the Kirsty Club’s annual Angel Ball, in an effort to support the Francis House Children’s Hopsice in Manchester. Held on Saturday, November 21st at the Hallmark Hotel, the event raised funds for the Hospice, a centre which provides support and care for terminally ill children and their families. The free surgery, available to be redeemed at any of Optical Express’ clinics across the UK and Europe, was raffled off among other prizes.
The star-studded event was hosted by Mike Sweeney. Other attendees included supermodel Caprice, singer Russell Watson, actor and singer Richard Fleeshman, and actors Sue Jenkins, David Fleeshman, William Roach and Denise Welch, among others.
Held annually since 2006, the Angel Ball was originally part of the campaign Kristy’s Appeal, designed to raise £5 million for the Francis House. After meeting this goal, the charity Kristy’s Club was founded, to provide continued support for the growth and ongoing running of the Hospice.
The namesake of the campaign and charity is Kirsty Howard, a young Briton living with a rare and unnamed condition where her heart is back to front, causing her internal organs to be misaligned. This inoperable condition requires constant treatment, including a steady supply of oxygen. In 1999, at the age of 3, Kirsty was given just six weeks to live. She celebrated her 14th birthday this September. She has won numerous awards for her courage and charity work, including the 2001 Child of Courage Award, the 2002 Pride of Britain Award, and the 2004 Helen Rollason Award.
Joanna Patterson, marketing assistant for Optical Express, commented on the significance of supporting such an event: Kirsty’s Club is such a great cause, and one that we were more than happy to support. Kirsty and all of the work that she has done to raise money for Francis House is inspirational, to say the least, and we were glad for the opportunity to contribute
Francis House Children’s Hospice, the brainchild of Sister Aloysius, was opened in November 1991 by the late Princess Diana of Wales.
About Optical Express
The Optical Express Group was founded in 1991 and is now a global leader of selected healthcare services, specialising in opticians services. The group covers optical stores, refractive laser eye surgery, glasses, contact lenses as well as dental clinics.
Optical Express provides trained specialists to help patients determine which laser eye surgery treatment is best suited to their unique needs and offers the most advanced eye surgery treatments such as LASIK eye surgery and LASEK as well as Advanced CustomVue Wavefront and Intralase.
For more information, please contact:
Lindsay Taylor
Marketing & Communications
5 Deerdykes Road
Westfield Industrial Estate
Cumbernauld
Glasgow
G68 9HF
+44 (0)1236 723 300
uk.opticalexpress.com

Source: WEBWIRE

Michael Mansfield launches legal advice clinic

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Michael Mansfield will also open The University of Manchester’s second free legal advice clinic in east Manchester this week ( Nov 18 ).

The pro bono clinic on Ashton Old Road, Openshaw, is a collaboration with New East Manchester and the charities LawWorks North and Manchester Settlement in association with The College of Law.

Mansfield famously represented four people wrongly convicted of the Guildford and Birmingham pub bombings carried out by the IRA.

He has represented Stephen Lawrences family; Michael Barrymore at the Stuart Lubbock inquest and Barry George at the inquest into the death of Jill Dando.

He also represented Mohamed al-Fayed at the inquest into the deaths of his son Dodi al-Fayed and Diana, Princess of Wales.

His book, The Memoirs of a Radical Lawyer, was published last month.

The clinic will be staffed by students from the university’s School of Law under the supervision of legal practitioners and coordinated by an administrator funded by New East Manchester and employed by the ‘Manchester Settlement’.

The Centre is sponsored by Clifford Chance LLP and Barlow Lyde and Gilbert LLP.

Manchester Settlement was founded by the University in 1895 though strong links continue today.

The new clinic is an addition to School of Law’s existing free legal advice work: The Legal Advice Centre has been giving legal advice to the public since it opened in November 2000.

Director and solicitor at the Legal Advice Centre Dinah Crystal OBE has been involved in setting up the new centre.

She said: Were delighted to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the legal advice centre by paying host to the distinguished barrister and supporter of pro bono Michael Mansfield.

“We are also delighted to launch this venture in East Manchester which will allow our staff and students and local lawyers another opportunity to participate in clinical education and more importantly to put something back into the local community.

Eddie Smith, Chief Executive of New East Manchester, said: “We are pleased to support this new service in an area that still has significant numbers of residents who require affordable access to high quality legal advice.

“The advice service from The University of Manchester is a welcome addition to the services that are being added to Openshaw to transform it into a vibrant and sustainable neighbourhood.

“The Settlement’s new premises complement other improvements in the Openshaw neighbourhood, including the new health centre a short distance away, new homes and a new district centre with a Morrisons supermarket which is soon to be built.”

Maria Gardiner, General Manager of Manchester Settlement said: We are delighted to be working in partnership with both the University and New East Manchester to bring such a valuable service to the residents of east Manchester.”

Rebecca Hilsenrath, Chief Executive of LawWorks – which is a national pro Bono charity, commented: “This is a wonderful example of building access to justice through partnerships between students, lawyers and local communities.

“I am particularly excited that we are working with stakeholders in Manchester in this way. I am really grateful to all our partners in this venture and look forward to hearing about the progress of the clinic.”

Paul Roebuck, pro bono co-ordinator at The College of Law, Manchester, said: “The College of Law recognises the importance of outreach work within the local area and is proud to be involved with the launch of the new centre in east Manchester.

“Our students will be providing an advisory service, with supervision from professionals in the field, which will not only develop their skills as practitioners but will strengthen our relationship with Manchester University, local partners and the wider community.”

Notes for editors
New East Manchester is a regeneration partnership initiative between Manchester City Council, English Partnerships, the North West Development Agency and the communities of east Manchester.

The New Roundhouse is a partnership with The Manchester College, New Deal for Communities and Mosscare Housing.

The College of Law is the leading provider of professional legal education and training in Europe with centres in London, Birmingham, Chester, Guildford, Manchester and York. A new centre will be opening in Bristol in September 2010.

For media enquiries contact:

Mike Addelman
Media Relations Officer
Faculty of Humanities
The University of Manchester
0161 275 0790
07717 881 567
[email protected]

Source: Media Newswire

Statisitical Press Notice – Stroke < Transient Ischaemic attack(tia) data – Quarter 2 2009-10

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Context

Stroke has been made a top priority for the NHS and this has been recognised in the NHS Operating Framework for 2009-10 where stroke services are covered by a Tier 1 Vital Sign: that is a must do for the NHS

Data is being published for the first time on activity relating to Stroke and Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) performance completed during Quarter 2 of 2009-10.

Main Points

In total 16,917 patients were admitted with stroke during this period of whom 57.4% spent at least 90% of their time on a specialist stoke ward.

Of those presenting with higher risk of TIA in an outpatient setting 46.4% were treated within 24 hours.

Some areas have not submitted data on TIA as either they are still developing the data reporting systems or they treat higher risk TIAs as inpatients.

Publication is an important mechanism in order to improve coverage and completeness of the data

Title:

Number of people who were admitted to hospital following a stroke, who then spent 90% of their time on a stroke unit, NHS organisations in England, 2009-10 July to September (Q2)

Source:

Department of Health dataset VSMR

Status:

Originally published 13 November 2009.

SHA

Name

Patients who spend at least 90% of their time on a stroke unit

Number of people who were admitted to hospital following a stroke

Percentage of patients who spend at least 90% of their time on a stroke unit

England

9,715

16,917

57.4%

Q31

5HG

Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT

58

143

40.6%

Q36

5C2

Barking and Dagenham PCT

27

35

77.1%

Q36

5A9

Barnet PCT

52

77

67.5%

Q32

5JE

Barnsley PCT

82

129

63.6%

Q33

5ET

Bassetlaw PCT

19

33

57.6%

Q39

5FL

Bath and North East Somerset PCT

23

68

33.8%

Q35

5P2

Bedfordshire PCT

62

111

55.9%

Q38

5QG

Berkshire East PCT

21

73

28.8%

Q38

5QF

Berkshire West PCT

101

122

82.8%

Q36

TAK

Bexley Care Trust

6

33

18.2%

Q34

5PG

Birmingham East and North PCT

65

100

65.0%

Q31

5CC

Blackburn with Darwen PCT

8

36

22.2%

Q31

5HP

Blackpool PCT

69

95

72.6%

Q31

5HQ

Bolton PCT

45

108

41.7%

Q39

5QN

Bournemouth and Poole PCT

103

152

67.8%

Q32

5NY

Bradford and Airedale PCT

83

113

73.5%

Q36

5K5

Brent Teaching PCT

48

85

56.5%

Q37

5LQ

Brighton and Hove City PCT

43

70

61.4%

Q39

5QJ

Bristol PCT

93

128

72.7%

Q36

5A7

Bromley PCT

38

71

53.5%

Q38

5QD

Buckinghamshire PCT

89

122

73.0%

Q31

5JX

Bury PCT

39

60

65.0%

Q32

5J6

Calderdale PCT

38

68

55.9%

Q35

5PP

Cambridgeshire PCT

68

167

40.7%

Q36

5K7

Camden PCT

31

39

79.5%

Q31

5NP

Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT

122

206

59.2%

Q31

5NG

Central Lancashire PCT

52

173

30.1%

Q36

5C3

City and Hackney Teaching PCT

57

60

95.0%

Q39

5QP

Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT

71

263

27.0%

Q30

5ND

County Durham PCT

114

250

45.6%

Q34

5MD

Coventry Teaching PCT

59

105

56.2%

Q36

5K9

Croydon PCT

86

122

70.5%

Q31

5NE

Cumbria PCT

124

192

64.6%

Q30

5J9

Darlington PCT

23

61

37.7%

Q33

5N7

Derby City PCT

61

96

63.5%

Q33

5N6

Derbyshire County PCT

107

146

73.3%

Q39

5QQ

Devon PCT

159

251

63.3%

Q32

5N5

Doncaster PCT

76

106

71.7%

Q39

5QM

Dorset PCT

79

157

50.3%

Q34

5PE

Dudley PCT

53

97

54.6%

Q36

5HX

Ealing PCT

40

85

47.1%

Q35

5P3

East and North Hertfordshire PCT

26

67

38.8%

Q31

5NH

East Lancashire PCT

32

79

40.5%

Q32

5NW

East Riding of Yorkshire PCT

26

97

26.8%

Q37

5P7

East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT

62

155

40.0%

Q37

5QA

Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT

254

293

86.7%

Q36

5C1

Enfield PCT

48

80

60.0%

Q30

5KF

Gateshead PCT

71

98

72.4%

Q39

5QH

Gloucestershire PCT

119

201

59.2%

Q35

5PR

Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT

24

113

21.2%

Q36

5A8

Greenwich Teaching PCT

16

65

24.6%

Q31

5NM

Halton and St Helens PCT

68

86

79.1%

Q36

5H1

Hammersmith and Fulham PCT

3

21

14.3%

Q38

5QC

Hampshire PCT

212

452

46.9%

Q36

5C9

Haringey Teaching PCT

41

52

78.8%

Q36

5K6

Harrow PCT

27

46

58.7%

Q30

5D9

Hartlepool PCT

36

39

92.3%

Q37

5P8

Hastings and Rother PCT

32

95

33.7%

Q36

5A4

Havering PCT

43

66

65.2%

Q34

5MX

Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT

44

67

65.7%

Q34

5CN

Herefordshire PCT

34

65

52.3%

Q31

5NQ

Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT

44

77

57.1%

Q36

5AT

Hillingdon PCT

39

46

84.8%

Q36

5HY

Hounslow PCT

44

70

62.9%

Q32

5NX

Hull PCT

22

96

22.9%

Q38

5QT

Isle of Wight Healthcare PCT

35

59

59.3%

Q36

5K8

Islington PCT

20

20

100.0%

Q36

5LA

Kensington and Chelsea PCT

25

37

67.6%

Q36

5A5

Kingston PCT

19

21

90.5%

Q32

5N2

Kirklees PCT

69

120

57.5%

Q31

5J4

Knowsley PCT

41

54

75.9%

Q36

5LD

Lambeth PCT

57

67

85.1%

Q32

5N1

Leeds PCT

81

166

48.8%

Q33

5PC

Leicester City PCT

69

108

63.9%

Q33

5PA

Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT

114

201

56.7%

Q36

5LF

Lewisham PCT

87

108

80.6%

Q33

5N9

Lincolnshire PCT

73

273

26.7%

Q31

5NL

Liverpool PCT

136

184

73.9%

Q35

5GC

Luton Teaching PCT

47

92

51.1%

Q31

5NT

Manchester PCT

71

146

48.6%

Q37

5L3

Medway Teaching PCT

40

51

78.4%

Q35

5PX

Mid Essex PCT

66

100

66.0%

Q30

5KM

Middlesbrough PCT

45

53

84.9%

Q38

5CQ

Milton Keynes PCT

26

46

56.5%

Q30

5D7

Newcastle PCT

43

73

58.9%

Q36

5C5

Newham PCT

47

55

85.5%

Q35

5PQ

Norfolk PCT

115

267

43.1%

Q35

5PW

North East Essex PCT

55

98

56.1%

Q32

TAN

North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus

43

71

60.6%

Q31

5NF

North Lancashire PCT

104

151

68.9%

Q32

5EF

North Lincolnshire PCT

32

57

56.1%

Q39

5M8

North Somerset PCT

30

87

34.5%

Q34

5PH

North Staffordshire PCT

62

80

77.5%

Q30

5E1

North Tees PCT

104

111

93.7%

Q30

5D8

North Tyneside PCT

94

128

73.4%

Q32

5NV

North Yorkshire and York PCT

87

236

36.9%

Q33

5PD

Northamptonshire PCT

110

168

65.5%

Q30

TAC

Northumberland Care Trust

131

151

86.8%

Q33

5EM

Nottingham City PCT

46

56

82.1%

Q33

5N8

Nottinghamshire County PCT

166

212

78.3%

Q31

5J5

Oldham PCT

44

87

50.6%

Q38

5QE

Oxfordshire PCT

72

151

47.7%

Q35

5PN

Peterborough PCT

21

47

44.7%

Q39

5F1

Plymouth Teaching PCT

80

128

62.5%

Q38

5FE

Portsmouth City Teaching PCT

29

57

50.9%

Q36

5NA

Redbridge PCT

31

49

63.3%

Q30

5QR

Redcar and Cleveland PCT

48

56

85.7%

Q36

5M6

Richmond and Twickenham PCT

25

34

73.5%

Q32

5H8

Rotherham PCT

35

87

40.2%

Q31

5F5

Salford PCT

85

97

87.6%

Q34

5PF

Sandwell PCT

51

81

63.0%

Q31

5NJ

Sefton PCT

77

127

60.6%

Q32

5N4

Sheffield PCT

88

280

31.4%

Q34

5M2

Shropshire County PCT

58

97

59.8%

Q34

TAM

Solihull PCT

46

66

69.7%

Q39

5QL

Somerset PCT

83

218

38.1%

Q34

5M1

South Birmingham PCT

58

91

63.7%

Q35

5P1

South East Essex PCT

113

133

85.0%

Q39

5A3

South Gloucestershire PCT

75

94

79.8%

Q34

5PK

South Staffordshire PCT

133

202

65.8%

Q30

5KG

South Tyneside PCT

36

70

51.4%

Q35

5PY

South West Essex PCT

90

111

81.1%

Q38

5L1

Southampton City PCT

24

70

34.3%

Q36

5LE

Southwark PCT

66

80

82.5%

Q31

5F7

Stockport PCT

85

124

68.5%

Q34

5PJ

Stoke on Trent PCT

60

73

82.2%

Q35

5PT

Suffolk PCT

82

209

39.2%

Q30

5KL

Sunderland Teaching PCT

53

98

54.1%

Q37

5P5

Surrey PCT

168

284

59.2%

Q36

5M7

Sutton and Merton PCT

61

84

72.6%

Q39

5K3

Swindon PCT

14

69

20.3%

Q31

5LH

Tameside and Glossop PCT

28

87

32.2%

Q34

5MK

Telford and Wrekin PCT

50

62

80.6%

Q39

TAL

Torbay Care Trust

53

93

57.0%

Q36

5C4

Tower Hamlets PCT

59

65

90.8%

Q31

5NR

Trafford PCT

44

69

63.8%

Q32

5N3

Wakefield District PCT

85

134

63.4%

Q34

5M3

Walsall Teaching PCT

77

186

41.4%

Q36

5NC

Waltham Forest PCT

50

77

64.9%

Q36

5LG

Wandsworth PCT

49

62

79.0%

Q31

5J2

Warrington PCT

46

73

63.0%

Q34

5PM

Warwickshire PCT

116

191

60.7%

Q35

5PV

West Essex PCT

65

92

70.7%

Q35

5P4

West Hertfordshire PCT

26

41

63.4%

Q37

5P9

West Kent PCT

113

224

50.4%

Q37

5P6

West Sussex PCT

157

288

54.5%

Q31

5NN

Western Cheshire PCT

26

54

48.1%

Q36

5LC

Westminster PCT

34

45

75.6%

Q39

5QK

Wiltshire PCT

107

199

53.8%

Q31

5NK

Wirral PCT

59

119

49.6%

Q34

5MV

Wolverhampton City PCT

75

89

84.3%

Q34

5PL

Worcestershire PCT

54

172

31.4%

The following PCTs adopted an inpatient model of care for treating higher risk TIAs and should therefore be treated as data not applicable:

Darlington PCT
Sheffield PCT
Birmingham North < East
South Birmingham PCT
Plymouth PCT
Salford PCT

The following PCTs did not submit a return for TIA this Quarter. They are addressing data submission issues and we expect data to be provided in subsequent collections.

Blackpool PCT;
Bolton PCT;
Warrington PCT;
Oldham PCT;
Bury PCT;
Heywood, Middleton < Rochdale PCT;
Hastings < Rother PCT

AppSense Wins 2009 Techworld Award

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AppSense, the leading provider of user environment management solutions
for the enterprise, today announced that AppSense Environment Manager
8.0 has won the Desktop Software Product of the Year award as part of
the Techworld Awards 2009. Recognizing both products and users, the
Techworld Awards reward innovation for all aspects of the IT industry
and are evaluated on strategy, creativity, innovation and effectiveness.
Winners are selected by an independent panel of judges consisting of
highly respected individuals from the IT industry and Techworld editors.
AppSense Environment Manager is the only enterprise solution that
enables standardized desktop environments to be fully configured and
personalized without the need for cumbersome profiles or scripts. From
server-based computing environments through to virtual and physical
desktops, AppSense Environment Manager ensures users always receive a
consistent, predictable and personalized working experience. Full
desktops can now be configured and business rules applied on-demand,
enabling compliant, personalized virtual desktops to be quickly
delivered to thousands of users at lowest possible cost. Additionally,
AppSense technology is used in conjunction with many third party systems
integrators, including CSC, HP, EDS, Dell and IBM.
“We are honored that AppSense Environment Manager has been recognized as
the best solution to sit on the desktop by the Techworld editors and
members of the IT community,” said Peter Rawlinson, vice president of
worldwide marketing at AppSense. “AppSense’s unique approach represents
a fundamental change in the way the corporate desktop is constructed and
is a core solution in all desktop environments, providing a stable and
consistent user environment. With the introduction of Microsoft Windows
7 and a huge uplift in VDI adoption, AppSense looks forward to
continuing to provide enterprises with our award-winning solutions,
allowing them to increase user productivity and dramatically decrease
operational costs.”
This award comes on the heels of the recent Gold award in the Desktop
Virtualization category in the ‘Best of VMworld 2009’ awards for
AppSense. For more information about the Techworld awards and to view a
complete list of winners, please visit http://awards.techworld.com/2009/winners/.
About AppSense
Founded in 1999, AppSense is the leading provider of user environment
management (UEM) solutions for enterprise organizations. UEM is a proven
method of reducing desktop management costs by treating the user
environment separate from the desktop and delivery method. This
separation enables IT to standardize the corporate desktop and automate
the delivery of the users working environment, significantly reducing
operational costs. AppSense technology is used around the world by
companies such as JPMorgan Chase, Lowes, United Airlines, Wachovia,
Wal-Mart, ESPN and CB Richard Ellis. AppSense has main offices in New
York and Manchester, England with additional offices in Palo Alto,
London, Munich, Melbourne and Amsterdam.

Source: Business Wire

Rezidor honoured for profound growth and expansion in Africa

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The Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the world’s fastest growing hotel companies, has been honoured for its ambitious business development across the African continent at the Hospitality Investment Conference Africa (HICA) in Sandton Sun, Gauteng, South Africa, on 4-6 November.
Andrew McLachlan, the group’s Vice President Business Development for Africa & the Indian Ocean Islands, was given the prestigious ’Mover & Shaker’ award. The HICA prize is awarded to an individual who through their skills, ingenuity and energy has already had an extraordinary impact in the industry, and recognises his outstanding leadership role and contribution to hospitality investment in Africa.
Between January 2007 and March 2009 McLachlan tripled Rezidor’s portfolio from eight hotels (open or under development) in five African countries to 21 Hotels in Africa (open or under development) across 13 sub-Saharan African countries. Over this period the Rezidor portfolio expanded with properties in nations such as Angola, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Mozambique, Zambia and South Africa under McLachlan’s headship.
The Hospitality Investment Conference Africa, is an annual event on the local and international hospitality and investment calendar. This year’s event was hosted by the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA), in association with the conference’s founding partners and the Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism of South Africa.
The event proved to be a big success and was attended by the South African Minister of Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk. Mmatsatsi Marobe, CEO Tourism Business Council of South Africa, stated on the HICA website, His attendance serves as confirmation of his commitment to promoting investment opportunities for South Africa and the continent as a whole. The department’s continued support for the conference, as well as the launch of the South African Tourism Investment Portfolio for 2009 at HICA serves as further confirmation.
About The Rezidor Hotel Group
The Rezidor Hotel Group is one of the fastest growing hotel companies in the world. The group features a portfolio of more than 380 luxury hotels in operation and under development with 81,700 rooms in almost 60 countries including luxury hotels in London, Manchester and Edinburgh
Rezidor operates the brands Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts, Regent Hotels & Resorts, Park Inn and Country Inns & Suites in Europe, Middle East and Africa, along with the goldpoints plusSM loyalty programme for frequent hotel guests. Under a worldwide licence agreement with the iconic Italian fashion house Missoni, Rezidor also operates and develops the new lifestyle brand Hotel Missoni.
In November 2006, Rezidor was listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. Carlson Companies is the main shareholder.
PR contact:
Christine Reiter
Director of Corporate Communication
The Rezidor Hotel Group
Avanue Du Bourget 44
B-1130 Brussels
Belgium
+32 2 702 9222
www.radissonblu.com

Source: WEBWIRE

Best Western Castle Green Hotel acknowledged in North West Tourism Awards

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The Best Western Castle Green Hotel near Kendal, in Cumbria was highly commended in the most prestigious awards for hotels in the North West.
The hotel was runner up in the large hotel of the year category in the North West Tourism Awards which were held in Blackpool.
The only independent hotel in the shortlist, the Best Western Castle Green Hotel, one of a number of hotels in Kendal, was up against stiff competition from across the region. The Lowry in Manchester won the award, which was the only hotel in the category with a five star rating.
After winning the large hotel of the year category in the Cumbrian Tourism Awards in May 2009, the Best Western Castle Green was automatically short-listed for the awards covering the whole region, including the hotels in Manchester, Merseyside and Lancashire category winners.
The highly commended status means that the hotel passed a mystery shopper visit with flying colours. The hotel also had to show excellence in the areas of – customer care, investment in training and staff development, accessibility and innovative marketing.
Tim Wade, Best Western said; We are delighted that the Best Western Castle Green Hotel has received such a prestigious accolade at the North West Tourism Awards. As an independent hotel group we are always striving to not only maintain but exceed our internationally renowned high standards of quality and service. So, it is fantastic to see how well this hotel has done to achieve such excellent recognition. We hope that next year the hotel will have a repeat success and maybe secure the top award
The 2009 Northwest Tourism Awards were held at Blackpool Tower on September 28. The event was hosted by BBC presenter Ranvir Singh and organised by the Northwest Regional Development Agency.
About Best Western Great Britain
Best Western Great Britain is part of Best Western International, the world’s largest hotel chain. Best Western currently has more than 280 individual hotels in the UK, including hotels in Blackpool, Chester and Darlington. Each one is independently owned and managed, while being committed to the company’s common standards of quality, service and value.
PR Contact:
Mikhaila Brentnall
PR manager
Best Western Hotels GB
Consort House
Amy Johnson Way
Clifton Moor
York
YO30 4GP
01904 695400
www.bestwestern.co.uk

Source: WEBWIRE

Brave duo complete charity abseil

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Two daring employees from Chester-based ACF Car Finance Limited are celebrating after completing an abseil down a 250ft building for charity.
Nicole Davies, 23, and Jane Whittle, 25, braved the dizzy heights of the landmark Opal 3 building in Leeds, on Sunday 27th September, to help raise vital funds for BEN, the automotive industry charity.
The brave duo, who both work for the company’s Marketing Department on Chester Business Park have so far raised over £600 for BEN, which provides care and support to employees and their dependents in times of need.
Speaking about the abseil, Marketing Executive Nicole said: “I’m thrilled to have completed the abseil. It was a lot scarier than I’d imagined, as we were quite a distance from the building when we were abseiling down it.
“I’m delighted to have gone through with it though. I feel a great sense of achievement for taking part and raising money for such a good cause. Jane and I would like to thank all of our work colleagues, friends and family who have offered their support and donations so far and hope the donations will continue to come in so we can smash our original £500 fundraising target.”
BEN currently offers help, support, financial assistance and advice to over 15,000 people in their own homes every year. The Fund also provides a home to over 350 disabled and elderly people in one of four nursing and residential centres. If you would like to make a donation, please visit www.justgiving.co.uk/nicole-davies-.
ACF Car Finance is a privately owned UK company which specialises in providing quality used cars and arranging car finance. The company is a market leader in its field, stocking a wide selection of quality used vehicles, most between two and four years old, all of which undergo a 136 point vehicle quality inspection and an independent M.O.T.
ENDS
ACF Car Finance Limited. Registered in England number 4757280. Registered office: International House, Kingsfield Court, Chester Business Park, Chester CH4 9RF.
ACF Car Finance allows customers to conveniently apply for car finance online, via telephone or by visiting a branch directly. Branches are located in Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, East Midlands, Bristol, Dunstable, Maidstone and Isleworth.
For further information on ACF Car Finance, visit www.acfcarfinance.co.uk.
PIC CAPTIONS:
Image 1: The Brave Duo, Nicole and Jane.
For further information, please contact Kerry McCrink at de Winter PR on 01244 320 677 or email kerry@dewinterpr.co.uk.

Source: WEBWIRE

Child obesity ‘levelling off’

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Data published today suggests the rapid rise in child obesity may be levelling off.

The figures, produced by a team of independent experts led by Professor Klim McPherson of Oxford University, looked at childrens overweight and obesity levels that have been forecast to 2020.

Analysis using data from the past few years indicate a 17 per cent drop in the forecasted number of overweight 2 11 year old girls and a 4 per cent drop in the anticipated numbers of obese girls of the same age. In boys of the same age, the figures indicate a 5 per cent drop in the forecast number of overweight and a 7 per cent drop in the anticipated numbers of obese boys.

Public Health Minister, Gillian Merron, will welcome the new data from Portsmouth, one of the countrys 9 Change4Life Healthy Towns, where she will visit successful projects in the town as part of National Obesity Week and to celebrate one year of the Change4Life Healthy Towns programme.

Public Health Minister, Gillian Merron said:

Obesity is one of the biggest health challenges we face, there are currently 1.5 million children and 25 million adults that are overweight or obese, leaving them at increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart and liver disease.

The encouraging news that child obesity may be levelling off is thanks to the hard work of families, schools and the NHS across England, supported by Government initiatives such as 5 A Day and Healthy Schools which have overseen improvements to school food and school sport.

But obesity levels are still too high and we need to keep the momentum going thats why Im delighted to see our campaigns such as the Change4Life Healthy Towns being so successful.

Well only turn the tide on obesity for good if everyone government, families and industry play their part.

The Change4Life Healthy Towns, launched a year ago this month, are Dudley, Halifax, Sheffield, Tower Hamlets, Thetford, Middlesbrough, Manchester, Tewkesbury and Portsmouth.

The towns, which went through a rigorous selection process and each received a share of a 30 million Government investment, have spent the last year creating opportunities for their local communities to get active and eat healthily.

Over the year, initiatives in Change4Life Healthy Towns have included:

a healthy meal event in Middlesbrough with over 10,000 diners tucking in;
free fruit and veg for the 5,629 Year Seven pupils in Sheffield;
healthy weight projects in workplaces across Halifax;
Change4Life corner shops stocking fresh fruit and veg in Tower Hamlets;
a mass bike ride in Portsmouth with over 250 cyclists;
a green gym to get people active in the outdoors in Thetford;
cooking clubs for mums, dads and kids in Tewkesbury; and
better walking and cycling facilities in Dudley.

During her visit to Portsmouth, Minister Gillian Merron will meet local people involved in Change4Life Healthy Town initiatives such as Kick-start Health, getting kids eating well and moving more; the Pompey Health bus, which takes healthy living ideas out to residents and a community growing project, to help people from the town plant vegetables.

Change4Life Healthy Towns will continue to lead the way in helping residents live healthier lives, collaborating with other towns to share the lessons of their successes.

Many of the Change4Life Healthy Towns are using this first year anniversary as an opportunity to announce plans for the year ahead, including:

the launch of the Points4Life scheme in Manchester which will reward local people with free activities and healthy food;
work with GPs in Halifax to open nine healthy weight clinics across the town;
Tower Hamlets ambition to get 700 people from the Ocean Estate ditching their cars to take up walking or cycling;
the extension of the Tewkesbury cycle network; and
four more bike recycling and maintenance centres in Portsmouth

Dr Paul Edmondson-Jones, Portsmouths Director of Public Health and Wellbeing, said:

Were really looking forward to showing the Minister some of the excellent partnership working going on in Portsmouth on a range of initiatives including healthy living, healthy eating, healthy lifestyles and healthy weight.

The partners on our Local Strategic Partnership, which include the Primary Care Trust and Portsmouth City Council, have pulled together to make obesity one of our four top priority areas, with special emphasis on trying to tackle obesity in children. There are so many initiatives going on but they include work by the councils Health Improvement Service, childrens centres, Sure Start, breakfast clubs and school education – and all this work is starting to to have a positive impact on trends. The Minister will see some of this work in action.

Vascular Solutions Announces 510(k) Clearance and U.S. Launch of GuideLiner Catheter

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Dr. Douglas Fraser, an Interventional cardiologist with Manchester Heart Centre in Manchester, United Kingdom, commented on his initial clinical experience with the GuideLiner: Deep intubation of the GuideLiner catheter within a soft 6F guide provides better backup support and is less traumatic than using stiff 7F and 8F guides that were previously required in complex disease. Furthermore, the soft and very flexible tip will often cross tortuous disease where a stent gets stuck, enabling delivery of stents and other equipment directly to the target lesion. The GuideLiner is as easy to insert as a standard rapid exchange balloon catheter and has quickly become a routine part of my angioplasty practice.

Dr. Colm Hanratty, an interventional cardiologist at Belfast City Hospital in Belfast, Ireland, commented on one of his initial clinical uses of the GuideLiner: In this patient, despite modification of the diseased segment and subsequent pre-dilatation, we could not track a 3.0 mm stent across the lesion due to significant friction in the proximal vessel. We then passed a 6F GuideLiner into the vessel and by removing the proximal resistance we could then deliver the 3.0 mm stent, followed by a 4.0 mm stent and post-dilatation with a 4.0 mm balloon. Deep intubation with the GuideLiner facilitated delivery, allowed us to optimize stent apposition and also improved visualization of the vessel due to selective cannulation.

Howard Root, Chief Executive Officer of Vascular Solutions, commented: The GuideLiner catheter is a significant new internally-developed addition to Vascular Solutions line of specialty catheters designed to meet specific needs of physicians performing percutaneous coronary interventions. The initial customer response we have received to our international launch of the GuideLiner makes us very optimistic concerning the potential of this completely unique and proprietary product.

About Vascular Solutions

Vascular Solutions, Inc. is an innovative medical device company that focuses on developing unique clinical solutions for coronary and peripheral vascular procedures. The companys product line consists of five major categories: hemostat (blood clotting) products, extraction (clot removal) catheters, vein products, specialty catheters and access products. Vascular Solutions delivers its proprietary and distributed products to interventional cardiologists, interventional radiologists and vascular surgeons through its direct U.S. sales force and international distributor network.

The information in this press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Important factors that may cause such differences include those discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and other recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks associated with the need for adoption of our new products, limited working capital, lack of sustained profitability, exposure to intellectual property claims, exposure to possible product liability claims, the development of new products by others, doing business in international markets, limited manufacturing experience, the availability of third party reimbursement, and actions by the FDA.

For further information, connect to www.vascularsolutions.com.

Source: Globe Newswire

Men’s gift and accessories firm is groomed for success thanks to bank and Government funding

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£987,000 enterprise fund cash helps ensure new stores are looking good
EXPANSION plans for men’s gift and accessories company Menkind Stores certainly created the right impression with the Royal Bank of Scotland, when it agreed to help fund the company’s plans to open five new stores.
The high street bank decided that Menkind could benefit from a little ‘grooming’ if its plans to expand beyond its original single store and launch a cutting-edge new website were to take it to the next level.
So Menkind Stores’ founder, Paul Kraftman, went to his bank manager, Robert Laurie, with his plans, and was put in touch with the administrators of the government’s Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) scheme.
And the bank helped Menkind secure £987,000 of EFG cash which has gone a long way to funding the buying and fitting out of the five new stores.
The funding boost has certainly had the desired effect on the business’s fortunes.
“Our new store openings were fitted out in a new concept, which has proven to be a great success in driving sales,” said Mr Kraftman.
“We are grateful to Robert and the team at RBS for arranging the finance package we needed.”
One thing Mr Kraftman is only too well aware of is the seasonal nature of the men’s gift market, but he believes Menkind’s growth has been achieved because of, rather than in spite of, this.
“Our flexible operating model allows us to manage and align costs so effectively with the seasonality of our market,” he added.
Menkind opened its first store in 2001 in the Lakeside Shopping Centre, Essex. The five new stores are in Aberdeen, Cardiff, Nottingham, Liverpool and Manchester.
Its new-look website, www.menkind.co.uk, is now live in good time for Christmas, and is crammed with thousands gift and novelty ideas for men (and big boys) of all ages to suit every pocket.
ENDS

Source: WEBWIRE