Author Archives: Amber Tennant

Health and Fitness Tip of the Week: New Psychoactive Substances

What are new psychoactive substances and how can they influence our health?

Often incorrectly referred to as ‘legal highs’, new psychoactive substances are chemical substances which produce similar symptoms to illegal drugs such as cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy. The UK had the highest rate of legal high purchases in 2015 of any country surveyed in the largest study of drug use worldwide.*

THE DRUGS

Stimulants, ‘downers’ or sedatives, psychedelics or hallucinogens and synthetic cannabinoids are the main four categories used to define the symptoms of most psychoactive drugs. You may be familiar with the names of a few of the most common ‘legal highs’, for example…

Mephedrone: Commonly known as meow meow, M-cat or white magic, mephedrone is a stimulant that produces a similar symptoms to ecstasy or cocaine in that it can make you feel energised, physically active and euphoric.

Salvia: Otherwise known  as Mexican Magic Mint is an hallucinogenic drug similar to magic mushrooms or LSD, which can cause hallucinations and induce feelings of being detached from the world around you.

Synthetic Cannabinoids such as Spice or Black Mamba produce similar effects to cannabis, including intoxication, relaxation, altered consciousness and disinhibition.

THE RISKS

The main risk associated with new psychoactive substances is that you can’t be sure what the ‘legal high’ you have purchased contains or how it might influence your health.

There has been very little research done into the health risks associated with these drugs. They can have wildly different strengths and effects on different people. These risks increase if the drug is combined with alcohol or another psychoactive drug.

Quite often they contain different substances to what is on the packaging and they are known to be addictive. According to the Office for National Statistics, there were 76 deaths that involved ‘legal highs’ between 2004 and 2013.

THE LAW

Under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 it is now illegal to produce, supply or be in possession of a psychoactive substance. The maximum sentence that can be imposed is 7 years imprisonment.

 

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/drugs/Pages/Drugsoverview.aspx

http://www.talktofrank.com/drug/new-psychoactive-substances

http://visual.ons.gov.uk/deaths-from-legal-highs/

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/psychoactive-substances-bill-2015

grief blog featured image

Health and Fitness Tip of the Week: Coping with Bereavement

Bereavement is the time we spend adjusting to loss. Losing a loved one is emotionally devastating and it is normal to find it hard to adjust to life without them. It is important to remember that there is no right or wrong way to feel when you’re grieving. Some people might lash out, others may withdraw into themselves; you might feel sorrow and longing, or guilt about what you did or didn’t say to someone. Bereavement is about learning to accept and cope with what has happened, rather than ‘recovering’ as this would suggest that you emerge the same as you were before.

There is no quick fix; you might experience grief every day for 12-18 months after a major loss. However there are practical things you can do to help yourself get through a period of grief or bereavement. Reaching out to others such as a friend, family member, health professional or counsellor can help you process your emotions. Allowing yourself to experience the emotions associated with loss, as it is a healthy part of the grieving process. Keeping up routine where possible, even simple tasks such as going for a walk or visiting the shops can help. Avoiding things that “numb” pain such as alcohol, as it will only make you feel worse once the numbness wears away.

Where can you go for support?

Support, advice and information is available from Cruse Bereavement Care, the leading national charity for bereaved people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Cruse Bereavement Care Freephone National Helpline (08088081677) is staffed by trained bereavement volunteers. They can offer emotional support to anyone affected by bereavement. The helpline is open Monday-Friday 9.30-5pm, excluding bank holidays; with extended hours on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings.

Health and Fitness Tip of the Week: Having Pets

It has long been known that pets are great company and have been ‘man’s best friend’ for centuries. However, increasingly pets can help people of all ages with health problems. For example, recently an autistic child was helped with his communication skills by having a pet dog. It boosted his confidence and provided him with a non-judgemental companion.

Care homes often have pets visit on a regular basis for residents to stroke. People living on their own are often much calmer and feel less lonely if they have a pet. The stroking and caring has a positive effect on them and reduces anxiety.

If you do not have a pet yourself, you might have a friend or relative who would be happy for you to walk their dog. You might be able to volunteer at a pet charity or sanctuary to help look after the animals.

If you want to have a pet yourself think carefully about the costs involved and the time it takes to care for it properly but there are significant advantages in having company and something to fuss and look after.

reading blog featured image

Health and Fitness Tip of the Week: Reading

Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. – Joseph Addison

When was the last time you read a good book? If you’d rather be doing something else, you’re not alone – many people struggle to find the time to read, or find more comfort in television and film; but if you’re part of the 36% of people in England that do not read for pleasure, you could be missing out on a wealth of mental health benefits. According to a study from the University of Sussex, reading for just six minutes a day can be enough to reduce stress levels by up to 68%. Different from reading short news articles, or your social media messages – sitting down with a book involves long periods of focus and attention, keeping your mind stimulated and boosting concentration in everyday life. Engaging with the experiences and feelings of others through reading is also associated with higher levels of empathy and improved relationships with others. If you’re looking to revitalise a love of reading, why not take a look at Amazon’s 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime?

Our Functional Skills in English programmes are designed for those looking to improve their reading and writing skills. The course involves learning how to better understand a range of texts, and how to communicate information, ideas and opinions in styles that are suited to different purposes and audiences. More information can be found on our website.

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Save £100s on a Leadership and Management qualification this summer!

We have joined forces with the Veterinary Practice Managers Association (VPMA) this summer, to help those working in a veterinary practice undertake an Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) qualification and save up to £800!

Our special offer not only means you could save £100s off your course fees but that you will also receive a years’ free VPMA membership!

Those employed in a veterinary practice are eligible for special rates as follows:

ILM Level 3 Certificate in Leadership and Management – £1,864 £998!* (Save over £800!)
ILM Level 5 Certificate in Leadership and Management – £1,864 £1,313!* (Save over £500!)

*excluding awarding body fees

These professional qualifications are perfect for those working in, or looking to work in, a leadership or managerial role such as head nurse or practice manager and consist of online learning supported by two study weekends at college. The first study weekend takes place on the 1 & 2 July followed by a second on 11 & 12 November.

 

As a professionally recognised qualification, successful candidates will be able to apply for professional membership of the ILM, and thereby be permitted to use the Institute’s internationally recognised post nominals.

Further information on the courses can be found at www.caw.ac.uk/ilm 

Save £100s on a Leadership and Management qualification this summer!

The College of Animal Welfare (CAW) and the Veterinary Practice Managers Association (VPMA) have joined forces this summer to help those working in a veterinary practice undertake an Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) qualification and save up to £800!

The special offer provided by CAW and the VPMA not only means you could save £100s off your course fees but that you will also receive a years’ free VPMA membership!

Those employed in a veterinary practice are eligible for special rates as follows:

ILM Level 3 Certificate in Leadership and Management – £1,864 £998!* (Save over £800!)
ILM Level 5 Certificate in Leadership and Management – £1,864 £1,313!* (Save over £500!)

*excluding awarding body fees

These professional qualifications are perfect for those working in, or looking to work in, a leadership or managerial role such as head nurse or practice manager and consist of online learning supported by two study weekends at college. The first study weekend takes place on the 1 & 2 July followed by a second on 11 & 12 November.

Leadership and management “the key to excellence”

Leslie Heaton-Smith, Marketing and Development Director at The College of Animal Welfare, explained: “Whilst technical skills and knowledge create the opportunities for the best possible care of patients it is the leadership and management of staff and resources that is key to delivering clinical excellence, gold standard veterinary care and a positive client experience time and time again.”

As a professionally recognised qualification, successful candidates will be able to apply for professional membership of the ILM, and thereby be permitted to use the Institute’s internationally recognised post nominals.

Further information on the courses can be found at www.caw.ac.uk/ilm or by calling the College on 01480 422060.

– Ends –

For more information please contact:
Alison German RVN
Marketing Executive
The College of Animal Welfare
Tel: 01480 422060
Email: agerman@caw.ac.uk
Notes to editors:

The College of Animal Welfare is one of the UK’s leading providers of veterinary nurse and animal care training and education; operating from four training centres around the UK.
The College has a well-earned reputation for excellence and has created a number of unique achievements that have created new opportunities for learning.
For more information about The College of Animal Welfare please visit www.caw.ac.uk

Calling all SVNs – £500 bursary up for grabs!

VN Times has joined forces with the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) to offer one student veterinary nurse (SVN) a bursary to help fund their qualification.

Worth £500, the bursary is available to any student, regardless of route to qualifying; the only condition being applicants must be engaged in VN training at the time of applying, and have been a student member of the BVNA for two months prior to the closing date.

The bursary will be awarded to the successful applicant at BVNA Congress in October. The closing date for entries is 31 May. To find out more information about the bursary, and download an application form, you can visit the BVNA website.

head nurse congress 2017

Head Nurse Congress 2017 bigger and better than ever before!

Thank you to all delegates, speakers and exhibitors who attended Head Nurse Congress 2017!

Head Nurse Congress 2017, sponsored by the Veterinary Practice Management Association (VPMA) and VN Times, saw over 130 delegates come together with a shared interest and desire to get the very best out of their nursing team. The event included lectures on taking charge of challenging staff members, managing change, mastering meetings, resolving conflict and clashes – and much more!

Due to the fantastic feedback received about last year’s venue, this year’s congress returned to the impressive Whittlebury Hall Hotel and Spa in Northamptonshire; allowing delegates to stay on site for the weekend if they so wished and wind down with the use of the onsite spa facilities.

head nurse congress 2017Saturday’s congress also saw delegates compete for a chance to win a free place at Head Nurse Congress 2018. As part of our competition, delegates were asked to share their best leadership and management tips and have their picture taken with our Instaframe. Congratulations to the winners, Justine Spivey and Jessica Hotchin from Derbyshire Veterinary Services Ltd!

Register your details and be one of the first to hear about next year’s event at www.caw.ac.uk/hnc

 

Head Nurse Congress 2017 bigger and better than ever before!

The College of Animal Welfare would like to thank all delegates, speakers and exhibitors who attended Head Nurse Congress on the 20 and 21 May for making the event such a success.

This year’s congress, sponsored by the Veterinary Practice Management Association (VPMA) and VN Times, saw over 130 delegates come together with a shared interest and desire to get the very best out of their nursing team. The event included lectures on taking charge of challenging staff members, managing change, mastering meetings, resolving conflict and clashes – and much more!

Due to the fantastic feedback received about last year’s venue, Head Nurse Congress 2017 returned to the impressive Whittlebury Hall Hotel and Spa in Northamptonshire; allowing delegates to stay on site for the weekend if they so wished and wind down with the use of the onsite spa facilities.

Saturday’s congress also saw delegates compete for a chance to win a free place at Head Nurse Congress 2018. As part of the competition run by the college, delegates were asked to share their best leadership and management tips and have their picture taken with an Instaframe. Congratulations to the winners, Justine Spivey and Jessica Hotchin from Derbyshire Veterinary Services Ltd!

Short Course and Events Manager at The College of Animal Welfare, Tracey Croucher, said “We were delighted to see so many current and aspiring head nurses come together under one roof. Delegate numbers continue to grow, which says everything you need to know about the dedication that head nurses and practice managers have towards providing gold standard care to, not only, their animal patients, but staff members under their remit too”. She continued “Feedback from delegates about what they want to see at next year’s event is already being used to help us to make next year’s event even better!”

The date for Head Nurse Congress 2018 will be announced shortly. In the meantime you can register your details and be one of the first to hear about next year’s event at www.caw.ac.uk/hnc

– Ends –

For more information please contact:
Alison German RVN
Marketing Executive
The College of Animal Welfare
Tel: 01480 422060
Email: agerman@caw.ac.uk

Notes to editors:
The College of Animal Welfare is one of the UK’s leading providers of veterinary nurse and animal care training and education; operating from four training centres around the UK.

The College has a well-earned reputation for excellence and has created a number of unique achievements that have created new opportunities for learning.

Head Nurse Congress is an annual event aimed at head veterinary nurses and practice managers and was launched in 2015.

For more information about The College of Animal Welfare please visit www.caw.ac.uk

 

Farrier Job Profile

AHT looking for help from horse owners and vets!

The Animal Health Trust (AHT) is looking for horse owners and vets to get involved in a new study into pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID).

PPID, also known as Cushing’s syndrome, is the most common hormonal disorder in older horses and ponies in the UK. In order to better target the study to answer questions around PPID that owners and vets want to know, the researchers are asking for help and suggestions.

If you own or care for a horse or pony with PPID, or are a vet who treats them, researchers want to hear from you! Further information about the study can be on the Animal Health Trust website. Project investigator Becky Tatum can be contacted via email at becky.tatum@aht.org.uk or telephone 01638 751000 (ext 1241).