Clan Dec 2018_to proof 27/11/2018 08:37 Page 1 e f f d e f f f d d e THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OFe LARYNGECTOMEE CLUBS NEWSLETTER Issue No. 147f December 2018 Inside this issue Recent Research . 4 Amazing Recovery . 9 International Head & Neck 2018 . 5 News from the Clubs . 12 O2 Roof Walk . 6 President’s Christmas Message . 2 Plus lots of other news, thoughts, NALC Safety & Awareness . 2 Sir Michael Morpurgo . 8 poems, letters and views # To make a donation please complete and return this form to: NALC Suite 16, Tempo House, 15 Falcon Road, Battersea, London SW11 2PJ o I would like to make a one off payment 2018: A SIGNIFICANT YEAR! and enclose a cheque payable to NALC. 2018 has been a significant year in many respects. It is the final o I would like to make a one off payment year when NALC will receive funding from Macmillan Cancer of £ by card. Support. So fundraising will be more vital than ever. So if you or ............................ your club have thought of inventive ways to raise money, why (A facility to do this will soon be available on the website) not tell us about them? We are always keen to hear from clubs. And to see your photos of course! As we’ve said before, we Name on card ................................................................. only hear from a few clubs on a regular basis. If you produce a newsletter then why not email a copy to CLAN? War Horse Start date Expiry date Another packed issue this Christmas with some inspiring stories including that of four Security code (3 digits on back of card) year-old Jenna Smith and the somewhat older, Sir Michael Morpurgo, author of War Horse. Mr and Mrs Editor had the privilege of seeing the play a few years ago and it o If you would like to make a regular was truly one of the most impressive they have ever seen. It ranked alongside the donation, please set up a standing order Editor’s puppet pantomimes that dominated their children’s formative years. The final through your bank account to: one was written in rhyming couplets (oh yes it was) which included the (surely) National Association of Laryngectomee immortal lines: “Hello everybody, and welcome to our panto, My name is Simple Clubs Simon and my favourite drink is Fanto!” A Happy Christmas and New Year to you all! Sort Code: 20-46-60 Account No: 03376745 Ian Honeysett (Editor) If you are a UK Tax payer, may NALC Gift Aid your donation? Yes o No o I understand that I must pay an amount of Income Tax/Capital Gains Tax at least equal to the amount. For all items for Clan: Ian Honeysett (Editor), 53 Combe Road, Farncombe, Godalming, Surrey GU7 3SL NALC reclaim on my donation in the email: [email protected] appropriate tax year. For all other matters (including requests to be added to or removed from the mailing list): Name ................................................................................... Vivien Reed (Association Secretary), NALC, Suite 16, Tempo House, 15 Falcon Road, Battersea,f London SW11 2PJ Tel: 020 7730 8585 Website: www.laryngectomy.org.uk e Address .............................................................................. The views expressed by the contributors are not necessarily those of the Editor or NALC. Great care has .................................................................................................. been taken to ensure accuracy but NALC cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions. Tel. No. …………………………......................………… Deadline for issue No. 148: 1 February 2019 d Email …………………………...............………………. e Signature …………….………………………………... f e e f f Clan Dec 2018_to proof 27/11/2018 08:37 Page 2 NALC Safety and Awareness Campaign NALCe President’s Since the inception of our Safety Campaign earlier this year to raise awareness of the Christmas e needs for laryngectomees in emergency situations we have produced a ‘Neckbreather Message Emergency Care’ leaflet which explains in detail how to administer mouth to stoma resuscitation and what to look for to identify a neck breather, we have also written a I write this messagee covering letter to accompany the leaflet. Key points in the letter are: in early November, l It is important to recognise that a patient is a neck-breather and that a stoma may not after an early e be immediately obvious. encounter with l There is a variety of stoma covers, eg: cravats and jewellery. You should also look for ® snow in Scotland, alert items, eg: wrist bands, car stickers and wallet cards. and now the clocks have gone back l It is essential that resuscitation is carried out through the stoma. and the supermarket shelves have l The only airway to the lungs is through a stoma. suddenly filled with Christmas items. l Laryngectomees have a very diminished sense of smell. 2018, like every year, has provided l They have limited and varied means of communication. highs and lows. NALC received a final l There is also a danger and vulnerability around water. grant from Macmillan Cancer Support, The leaflet ‘Neckbreather Emergency Care’ can be found on the NALC website: ending an association of more than www.laryngectomy.org.uk and is available to download. 40 years. However the laryngectomee community has responded For further information please contact Tony Hudson via the NALC office. magnificently to our appeals for Expanding the Campaign support. I want to thank everyone who Although this campaign is primarily for the emergency services who are usually the first has made a donation or organised a point of contact in these situations we could in the future think about expanding the fundraising event and I hope you will campaign further afield where it might be considered beneficial. continue to support us. Malcolm Babb, our NALC President, asked me to lead the campaign and I have been One part of my work that I really eenjoy working closely with my local ambulance service the South Central Ambulance Service, is meeting laryngectomees and their (SCAS), who have been very supportive in their help and guidance and they cover a large carers around the country. I learn so area consisting of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Hampshire and employ much from hearing of their 3300 members of staff. experiences and so it proved recently I have visited Huddersfield and First Responder Scheme Wakefield hospitals. SCAS also operate a Community First In 1976, Norman Wesley Brooks wrote: Responder scheme (as do other ambulance services) which involves Christmas is forever, volunteers trained to a high standard not for just one day, e of first aid and life-saving skills by the for loving, sharing, giving, ambulance service who can respond are not to put away in their local towns/villages if needed. like bells and lights and tinsel, It was suggested by SCAS that if we in some box upon a shelf. could produce a short five minute DVD South Central Ambulance Service Community The good you do for others explaining emergency aid for e First Responder training class showing the is good you do yourself. laryngectomees then there would be a NALC awareness DVD These words sum up for me the spirit possibility that they could incorporate it into their training programmes, Malcolm with his IT skills produced a DVD and it has of the work of NALC and members of its affiliated support groups. been piloted on training courses for Community First Responders with some excellent feedback and in the future will be incorporated into their training courses. I send Christmas Greetings to all our readers and wish you a very happy Furthermore it is intended that our leaflet and letter will be displayed on all SCAS notice New Year. boards and an electronic version appearing as an article in one of their monthly staff newsletters. Malcolme Babb, President of NALC If (or perhaps I should say when) this pilot of the project is shown to be a success then we will extend it to other emergency services and to other areas of the country. I already expect to have introductions to the Police and Fire and Rescue services within the area to expand our campaign and also to the local Clinical Commissioning Groups, I also intend, using my involvement, to take the campaign to the voluntary sector with the Vivien and Kerry St John Ambulance and the Red Cross. at the NALC Head Office, If any Club or Members have local contacts with the emergency services or the voluntary wish all the readers of Clan first aid sectors then I would be interested in hearing from you and you can contact me a Merry Christmas and via the NALC office. Happy New Year! d Tony Hudson, NALC Vice President 2 e e e f f f Clan Dec 2018_to proof 27/11/2018 08:37 Page 3 We are Countrywide Supplies We offer support and care to those who have had or are awaiting a laryngectomy or tracheostomy. Our aim is to support you through your journey back to leading a full life. Our customer team will work with your clinical mK>\®to help you to use the products most suitable for the life you want to lead. In some areas of the UK we also offer a Nursing Service where you are able to receive one to one guidance and support in the comfort of your own home. 0800 783 1659 @ [email protected] www.countrywidesupplies.co.uk 07800140059 MyVoice laryngectomy community events are held across the UK ‘MyVoice’ events are a great opportunity to get to know other people living with a laryngectomy in your area. These are “your” events where you can discuss different topics and share experiences with others over a cup of tea. You can also meet your local Atos Medical representative who will be happy to answer any questions specific to your needs.