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The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) on Thursday (4 December) announced a new strategic partnership with the Bank of England to protect small businesses from the risks associated with accepting counterfeit banknotes. Cash is still the number one customer payment method for 25 per cent of small high street businesses, and cash payments are expected to increase during the festive period, according to FSB. By becoming a Strategic Partner of the Bank of England's Banknote Checking Scheme, the organisation is trying to help its members become aware of the use of counterfeit notes, which has reputational and financial impacts. The FSB is encouraging its members to sign up to the Scheme, which offers training materials to staff so they can identify a counterfeit note at point of sale and know what to do with it, as well as stay up to date with best practice and bank note developments.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Men who want to keep their bones strong may want to add running to their exercise routine, new research suggests. In a study of 42 athletic men ages 19 to 45, researchers found that running seemed to have even bigger benefits for bone mass than strength training did. Both runners and weight trainers had greater bone density in the spine compared with road cyclists, but much of the benefit in weight trainers seemed to stem from their greater muscle mass.

Pediatric wheelchairs enable child or teen to participate in all types of daily activities. Pediatric wheelchairs are lightweight, portable, and convenient for use at school, day programs, doctor visits, and recreation with family and friends. Pediatric wheelchairs comes in wide range of sizes and vibrant colors for every lightweight wheelchair. A variety of positioning options are also available. Pediatric wheelchairs are manufactured with unsurpassed quality and style, specializing in compact-folding, lightweight wheelchairs for children of all ages - from toddlers to teens! Custom built to child's specific needs, mobility aids offer rehabilitative benefits for physical disabilities from Cerebral Palsy to Autism. Pediatric, or child wheelchairs, are mobile aids designed for and used by children. Children require the use of a wheelchair for many different reasons, some may have suffered head injuries, some have muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy, some are amputees, and others only have an occasional use of their wheelchairs in lieu of a walking device or crutches. Certain types of pediatric wheelchairs are built to expand in size to accommodate increased bulk and weight by altering a cross balance on the bottom of the chair. The front frames for the legs can be lengthened as child's legs grow longer. For a pediatrician seeking to prescribe a Pediatric Wheelchair, must be sure that the patient has the proper upper body strength to use one. If the patient is too weak for self movement, the practitioner would be better to consider a powered wheelchair for mobility. While Pediatric Wheelchairs are smaller and can be just as manuverable as scooters, that depends upon the patient's own abilities in steering the chair. These are factors that the doctor must think about before recommending what type of wheelchair a patient should get. Pediatric Wheelchair with a body contouring S-Shaped seat frame and contoured armrests provides the user with all day comfort an

Digital transformation is sweeping across the healthcare landscape. Fuelled by ambitious government policy, exciting innovation and huge injections of funding, it's hard for anyone in the sector not to catch a dose of digitisation fever. But digitisation is not a universal tonic, and it certainly isn't always a 'good thing'. In fact, there's a real danger to digitising healthcare. Such a fundamental change to the very nature of care delivery is an inevitably high-risk process: sometimes things or people get forgotten, vital processes stall, or new systems fail to replicate the strengths of those they replace. Take, for instance, the digitisation of pharmacies. Over recent years, the public's use of online-only pharmacies have boomed: in March it was reported that the number of items dispensed from distance-selling pharmacies in England, UK quadrupled between 2016 and 2021. These online providers offer an attractively convenient way for patients to receive their medicines; replacing a trip to a high street pharmacy with a package delivered straight to their door. On the surface, this digital solution seems perfect not only for young patients with busy schedules, but also for older patients or for those with restricted mobility who may struggle with in-person collection.

Ergonomic Wheelchair - s90 Ergonomic wheelchair series provides users with a large selection of ultra lightweight wheelchairs that can help improve your life. This series has features that include a high strength lightweight frame, foldable and easy to store, breathable anti-bacterial, anti-staining, removable and machine washable cushion. Also includes the exclusive S-Shape Seating System, which provides increased stability, better weight distribution and lowers the risk of pressure sores and spinal injury. The patented S-Shape Seating System that comes with every wheelchair model in this series provides an ergonomic seating frame that conforms and flexes to the shape of your body. Ergonomic Wheelchair - s90 features an ergonomic "S" shaped seat that provides the perfect shape to fit the human body to relieve pressure, increase stabilization, weight distribution and lower the risk of pressure sores and scoliosis. Features Ultra-Lightweight Frame & Riggings Ergonomic S-Shape Seat Frame Ergonomic grip built into the wheels you propel yourself in Relieves pressure throughout your body T6 Aircraft Grade Aluminum Fusion of form and function at its best with modern stylish designs and options Tube In Center designed footrests protects legs from impacts Extra wide and ergonomic concave arm pads and foldable backrest Flip back armrests allows for easier transfers Removable footrests KM 7501 Wheelchair KM 7501 Wheelchair is a manual wheelchair for children. Its ergonomically antelope horn-shaped handle makes it easy to steer and push the chair, and vertical footrest allow legs to be placed in the correct position. One-piece footplate increases stability. Ergonomically antelope horn -shaped handle Outward extended front wheels Caring footrest One-pieced footplate Vertical footrest Ultra lightweight and compact Seat widths : 11"and 13.5" Weight:9.3kg Ultra lightweight and compact.

"How can I tone my body at home when I don't have time?" While gym equipment might be great, nobody has enough time to go to the gym every day, these days. It is the digital era; or you could say the era of DIY, (do it yourself), memes and GIFs. Busy schedules have led to increased demand for online and in-home services. Urban Clap, Swiggy, Zomato, Uber Eats, are few popular examples of such. The latest trend is the no-equipment home workout. So how to get a perfectly toned body at home? Read on to know how to tone up loose skin, how to tone your muscles and overall, how to tone your body at home. But First, What is Body Toning? Body toning is basically a fine-tuning fitter and a better physique with primary emphasis on the musculature. Few may want to tone to simply look better, some may be fitness enthusiasts, some may just wish to carve their bodies for a defined, muscular shape. Toning also helps to tighten loose skin, reduce stretch marks after weight loss or weight gain. Though sometimes used interchangeably with "gymming", toning is also associated with simpler, external forms of a workout than hardcore workouts. How Long Does it Take to See Results from Workout? An average person takes about 6-8 weeks to begin noticing significant results. However, a regular and intense practitioner may begin to notice changes by 4-5 weeks. And for the body types that show slow results, it might take about 12 weeks to view significant positive changes. Diet plays a very crucial role in the entire process and can have a drastic impact on the results. Another factor that affects the results is the original weight of the person. Needless to mention, the more the weight, the more time it will take, and vice versa. DIY: How Do I Tone My Body - With This Simple 10 Min Workout For any of the below exercises, the maximum space you would require is to be able to take 4-5 long steps. A good warm-up session is crucial before an actual workout. Then switch to these eas

Britain on Tuesday (January 4) faced warnings of an impending hospital crisis due to staff shortages caused by a wave of Omicron infections, as the country returned to work after Christmas. However, Britain's vaccine minister said hospitalised Covid-19 patients were showing less severe symptoms than before, adding that there was no need for further restrictions at this stage. Prime minister Boris Johnson resisted imposing stringent lockdown measures in England ahead of New Year as Omicron fuelled a spike in cases to record highs. While hospitalisations are rising they have not tracked the trajectory of daily cases, possibly reflecting the impact of vaccines and booster shots, the likely lower severity of Omicron and the time lag in people going into hospital. "At the moment, if you look at the people who have been hospitalised, they are going in with less severe conditions than before," minister for Vaccines and Public Health Maggie Throup told Sky News, adding that the "Plan B" Johnson brought in in December was working. "The numbers that are in hospital beds is about half what it was a year ago - and that just shows the power of the vaccine."

Following a period of prolonged uncertainty, the Competition and Markets Authority has given its approval to Bestway Healthcare's acquisition of Lexon UK and Asurex. The company expects the transactions to be finalised in the upcoming months. In April, Bestway, the owner of Well Pharmacy, acquired Asurex Limited and Lexon UK Holdings, along with the 44-community pharmacy chain Norchem Group, known as Knights Pharmacy. However, in June, the CMA raised competition-related concerns about the transaction, citing worries that the acquisition could lead to a significant decrease in competition among retail pharmacies across 12 areas in Liverpool and the northeastern region of England. The CMA had asked undertakings from Bestway Healthcare due to competition concerns affecting specific branches of Knights Pharmacy within the acquisition. In July, the CMA indicated its readiness to approve the deal, contingent upon Bestway's completion of the required divestments. According to Bestway Healthcare, This matter has been successfully resolved, as Bestway Healthcare has consented to the sale of seven pharmacies in Liverpool and the northeastern region of England. "The impacted Well pharmacies are situated in Seaham, Bishop Auckland, Kenton, High Howden, Stockton, Moreton, and Pensby. Buyers for all seven branches have been identified and contracts have been signed."

Pharmacy chain Superdrug has introduced what it asserts to be the most affordable private flu vaccinations offered on the UK high street. The vaccinations will be priced at £8.79 for 17.2 million members of its Ghada , and £16.99 for non-members. The 2023-24 vaccination service is set to become available across 150 of its stores starting from early September. Superdrug has taken this step in response to a change in NHS England's inclusion criteria, which has rendered the 12 million individuals aged 50-65 ineligible for the NHS flu vaccination service, the company said. The company is anticipating heightened demand for private flu vaccinations due to the postponed commencement of the NHS service and alterations in eligibility for free flu jabs. "Our waiting list for private flu vaccination services has already exceeded last year's figures, indicating a heightened demand this year," said Ghada Beal, Superdrug's Healthcare Director. "Providing this service at a more accessible price-point is significant, given the eligibility changes that will impact millions. Our private flu vaccination services provide a convenient means for individuals to safeguard themselves against flu and its potential complications." In May, the government's annual flu vaccination programme letter indicated that individuals aged 50 to 64 won't receive free flu vaccinations in the 2023/24 season. Moreover, the NHS plans to delay flu vaccine distribution to October, with the goal of enhancing protection for those aged 65 and older and other eligible groups during the winter months.

The government has launched a consultation into radically changing the Statutory Scheme for branded medicines (known as the Statutory Scheme). The consultation comes as delicate negotiations for replacing the alternative Voluntary Scheme are underway, potentially undermining these talks, while also further damaging industry confidence in the UK as a viable place to research, launch and supply medicine. The government proposals seek to hold average revenue clawback rates under the Statutory Scheme at historic highs of between 21-27%, compared to the pre-pandemic averages of 9.4% for the Statutory Scheme (2019-2021), and 6.88% for the Voluntary Scheme (2014-2021). The accompanying cost-benefit analysis ignores any negative impact this may have on medicine supply and wrongly claims it will boost investment. The consultation comes on the heels of government data last week showing UK life sciences foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by 47% between 2021 and 2022, down by £900m year on year. This large fall in investment coincided with a rise in the main UK clawback rate under the Voluntary Scheme from 5% to 15%, and led to the UK falling from 2nd to 9th out of 18 comparator countries for life sciences FDI in 2022. The Voluntary Scheme clawback rate now sits at a record 26.5% in 2023.

The future of community pharmacies is in danger. With some 639 local pharmacies closing in England since 2016, action is clearly needed to ensure their longevity and maintain their rightful place on the high street. With increasing pressure on the NHS, which is suffering from healthcare backlogs and long waiting lists following the harsh impact of the pandemic, pharmacies have an opportunity to create a more substantial contribution within the healthcare industry. To ensure that pharmacies are able to embrace this opportunity, they need to be equipped with the necessary tools to enable them to meet the needs of an increasingly digital population. One way of doing this is to support pharmacies online, by providing them with a means to connect to patients via mobile, tablet or desktop. In turn, the UK population needs to be more aware of the services that can be provided by a pharmacist - many of which would save them from visiting a GP.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and Pharmacist Support hosted a roundtable on the impact of pharmacy workforce wellbeing on patient safety on Wednesday (17 May). It also released its annual Workforce Wellbeing Survey which showed continued pressures on pharmacy teams. The discussion explored the actions needed to support staff so they can continue providing safe and effective patient care and included representatives from the NHS, professional bodies, employers, trade unions, education and regulators. A report of the roundtable will be published in the summer. Amandeep Doll, RPS Head of Professional Belonging, said: "We know that pharmacy teams go above and beyond for their patients, but are also under enormous pressure. "Now more than ever, we need to strive to make the pharmacy profession more inclusive and ensure that everyone's wellbeing is supported. "It is vital that we do all we can to encourage people into pharmacy and to support them so they can enhance their skills, develop their careers, and continue to deliver high-quality patient care. "This discussion was a welcome step and showed that making a difference for staff wellbeing requires a concerted effort from stakeholders across the whole of pharmacy.

The Company Chemists Association (CCA)'s workforce finding showed that by 2024 eight years' worth of growth of the pharmacist workforce will have been funnelled away from community pharmacies. "In 2019, when NHS leaders realised they were unable to find enough GPs to meet the public's needs, they hastily decided to recruit pharmacists and other healthcare professionals to fill the gaps. This was implemented without any corresponding efforts to increase the supply of pharmacists, creating huge shortages," said CCA. "The bulk of the NHS's recruitment drive was paid for using additional money ringfenced by the NHS - the £2.4bn Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS). We estimate over the life course of ARRS funding (2019-2024), the equivalent of eight years of growth in the number of pharmacists in England will have been funnelled directly into primary care at the expense of other sectors. At the current rate, CCA estimate that community pharmacy will have experienced the equivalent of three fallow years by 2024. To ensure the pharmacy network is protected and able to take pressure off other parts of the NHS, there are several urgent measures which must be implemented. Countering the impact of primary care recruitment: Community pharmacists should be commissioned to provide 'packages of care' on behalf of GPs, rather than taking pharmacists away from accessible high street settings.

During the coronavirus pandemic many people found themselves working from home, and this has continued to some extent in many businesses. A change in working environment can bring challenges, one of which can be joint pain and discomfort. Imagine you have gone from a busy office environment, meeting in boardrooms and visiting the canteen for a coffee, to working at home on your dining room table, walking several feet to get a cup of tea and sitting back down again, this change in surroundings can have an impact on your joints. Community pharmacists can be a source of knowledge to help individuals that may be suffering from joint complaints, this may be from the above scenario or just general aches and pains that come from an office based role. Firstly, it's important for us to know the effects of sitting down at a desk all day (not a scenario I'm sure many community pharmacists experience daily): Back pain - is one of the most common complaints. This can be caused by bad posture while sitting too high, too low, or hunched over. While this may present as just a soreness or discomfort, if not rectified and/or accessed this can lead to some serious health issues such as spinal compression, sciatica or spinal stenosis.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has called on employers, governments and NHS organisations to provide pharmacists with regular protected learning time (PLT) within working hours to develop their skills in clinical delivery, education, research and leadership. RPS workforce wellbeing survey showed an average 42 per cent of pharmacists were not given any PLT, a figure which rose to 55 per cent in community pharmacy. Most were unable to engage in professional development activities as part of their working day because of their responsibility to deliver frontline clinical services to patients. This means learning is often undertaken outside of working hours, increasing pressure on individuals and impacting their work/life balance. The survey showed that 48 per cent of respondents identified a lack of PLT as negatively affecting their mental health and wellbeing and that 88 per cent were at high risk of burnout. PLT improves the quality of patient care through professional practice and reflection, helping to develop insights, maintain and refine care standards and increase confidence. It facilitates continuous professional development (CPD), ensuring that skills and knowledge are up to date.

Some herbs have diuretic effects and may help with sodium and water retention. Instances include: Dandelion "Ginger" Parsley Hawthorn Juniper Natural diuretics could help lessen fluid retention by making you urinate more. But more scientific evidence can prove that these herbs have diuretic impacts, so you may not find them compelling. Ginger is a spice that has a long history of use as a medicinal herb. It's been used to treat everything from colds to diarrhea, but one of the most common uses for ginger is that it acts as a diuretic to get rid of water retention (swelling) in the body. While there's no single cause for swelling or bloating, it can happen because of a variety of factors, including being overweight or gaining weight rapidly due to muscle building or pregnancy. However, ginger isn't just used as an herbal remedy: its active ingredient, shogaol, also exists naturally in other foods like broccoli and carrots! What is ginger? The ginger plant is the underground, fleshy part of the plant that forms a rhizome. It's a perennial herbaceous flowering plant in the Zingiberaceae family. It looks like a small palm tree with reddish-brown stems. Its flowers are white and fragrant with five petals and look like gingerbread cookies! The plant originated in Southern China but now grows in tropical regions all over the world, including India, Japan, and Jamaica. Ginger is used for cooking, medicine, and perfume making because of its intense flavor (which comes from an oil called gingerol). How are diuretic herbs good for you? A diuretic is a substance that promotes the production of urine. Diuretics can treat high blood pressure, heart failure, and kidney problems. They are also sometimes prescribed as a weight-loss aid to help the body eliminate excess water weight associated with bloating or edema (swelling). As you can see from its many uses and benefits, having a diuretic handy when you're feeling bloated is always a good idea. How can you make

Ginger for Weight Loss Ginger is a flavorsome and natural food that may help you supervise weight. Eating ginger fosters a feeling of fullness, an effect scientists call "satiety." Researchers at Columbia University in New York found that when bulky men drank a hot ginger drink, they had lowered feelings of appetite. Hunger can push us toward the consumption of foodstuffs. In many cases, we let our feelings of hunger evolve firmly, causing us to eat high-calorie edibles rich in sugar and fat, such as processed foods, which are well-documented to boost obesity. According to Research, ginger: Stimulates feelings of fullness Improves blood sugar regulation Decreases the amount of fat the gut absorbs Reduces gut inflammation Boosts the process of thermogenesis Ease digestion by stimulating digestive enzymes Help to Reduce Gas, Bloating, and Nausea Improve the Health of Your Gut How Does it Work? Ginger is most well-known for its ability to ease your stomach, especially when floundering with nausea or bloating issues. In your belly, ginger is doing much better in facilitating weight management and improving your health. The gut microbiota is one of the most comprehensive research areas in obesity. Researchers know that tiny microbes in your gut greatly affect your body weight. Collectively, these little microbes are called gut microbiota. The types of foods consumed impact the gut microbiota. Ginger is one of the most widely used spices and has a healthy effect on gut microbes. Ginger emerges to lower gut inflammation and helps the body be better responsive to insulin, enabling improved blood sugar control and reduced weight gain. A 2020 research study published in the European Journal of Nutrition noted that ginger changed the gut microbiota in rats in a manner that helped reduce obesity. Stimulates Stomach Movement to Promote the Elimination of Waste Products Ginger root is a natural digestive aid that can help promote the elimination of waste products in your b

The aging process can bring with it physical, emotional, and financial changes that can impact elderly parents. As children of aging parents, it is important to be aware of their changing needs and help them adjust to these changes. With the right support, elderly parents can maintain a high quality of life in their senior years. Here are some suggestions on how to help older parents. 1. NURSING SERVICES Nursing services can help aging parents manage their physical needs and provide peace of mind for them and their families. They can help with personal care, assist with medication management, and provide guidance on diet and exercise. Additionally, getting home care nursing services can also provide elderly parents with a sense of companionship and reduce their risk of social isolation. If your parent is in need of nursing services, be sure to research options in your area and look for an experienced provider who will treat them with respect. It's also a good idea to visit them regularly and check in with the nurse to ensure that your parent is receiving quality care