NEWS GETTING IN TOUCH!
Age NI information packs have been sent out to all UCA members in recent weeks, full of lots of useful information to support our partnership! In the pack we highlight three important opportunities:
• Fundraising events • Age NI Awards
• Age NI Advice Service referral scheme
These are all important ways that we can work together to make a tangible difference to the lives of people locally.
Your contact in the Age NI offi ce if you would like more information is Rosalind Cole (
rosalind.cole@
ageni.org / 0785 0919 165). We'll also be following up with all UCA members over the phone to see how we can
work together throughout the year.
Age NI can help those concerned by welfare reform changes
The introduction of the Welfare Reform Act has meant signifi cant changes to many benefi ts in Northern Ireland - some will be replaced and some will apply different rules when claiming. As such, a growing number of people are turning to Age NI for advice as they struggle to make sense of welfare changes, with many concerned about health, care and money.
‘In recent months,' said Brenda Kearns, Head of Advice and Advocacy, 'we have received queries about Personal Independence Payment (PIP), a new benefi t that is designed to support people dealing with the challenges of a disability or a long
term health condition. From 20 June 2016, PIP will replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for those of working age. However, the uncertainty and confusion around the introduction of this new benefi t has caused anxiety for many older people, their families and carers. Many feel unsure about what these changes mean to them – will they be affected by this new benefi t and, if so, will they lose out fi nancially.’
The Age NI Advice Service can help older people and their carers who are unsure about PIP and how it can affect personal circumstances. If you are speaking to someone who you feel might benefi t from talking to one of our advisors in confi dence, please complete a referral form with them or pass on one of our Advice cards. Together, with the support of
UCA members, we can make sure that older people in our lives have someone to go to for help.
The Age NI Advice Service is available on freephone 0808 808 7575 seven days a week, 8am – 7pm.
Brenda Kearns HEART DRUG COULD REDUCE
DIABETES-RELATED BLINDNESS: QUB According to recent WHO global estimates, 422 million people have diabetes, of which one of the most common complications is vision loss.
CONNOLLY’S PHARMACY - CARRICKMACROSS
WE ARE CURRENTLY RECRUITING A QUALIFIED PHARMACIST REQUIRED TO WORK 4 DAYS PER WEEK.
-This is a support pharmacist position -Minimum 37 hours per week -No late nights
-Experience desirable but not essential
-Would suit some-one who likes working in a friendly, dynamic, customer orientated team.
-Excellent support staff including two pharmacy technicians.
If interested please forward your details via email to :-
shaneconnollypharm@msn.com
Now, researchers at Queen’s University Belfast and University College London have discovered that a drug, originally developed to treat cardiovascular disease, has the potential to reduce diabetes-related blindness.
Diabetic Macular Oedema occurs in approximately seven per cent of patients with diabetes and is one of the most common causes of blindness in the Western World. In the UK, this sight-threatening complication of diabetic retinopathy is associated with estimated health and social care costs of £116 million. The socio-economic burden will only increase with prevalence of diabetes rising by more than 50 per cent by 2030.
Queen’s and UCL researchers, in partnership with GlaxoSmithKline, found that the drug Darapladib inhibits an enzyme which is increased in people with diabetes and causes blood vessel leakage in the eye which leads to swelling of the retina and severe vision loss.
54 - PHARMACY IN FOCUS
The discovery by the Queen’s and UCL teams demonstrates that Darapladib in form of a tablet has the potential to reduce the need for monthly injections and provide protection against vision loss in a much wider group of patients with diabetes.
‘Diabetes-related blindness is caused by high blood sugar levels damaging the blood vessels in the retina,’ said Professor Alan Stitt from the Centre for Experimental Medicine at Queen’s University. ‘We have found that an enzyme called Lp-PLA2 which metabolises fats in the blood contributes to blood vessel damage and leakiness in the retina. The drug Darapladib acts as inhibitor of Lp-PLA2, and was originally developed for cardiovascular disease. Based on our break-though we are now planning a clinical trial and if successful we could soon see an alternative, pain-free and cost effective treatment for diabetic- related blindness.’
The research has been published in the a top scientifi c journal called Proceeding of the National Academy of Science USA (PNAS).
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