Health

After months of planning, the new Contact Centre at West London Mental Health NHS Trust will open for business on 1 April 2010.

Until now, calls to the Trust have been answered by Ealing Hospital's switchboard team.

Despite continued denials by health officials over potential Accident and Emergency department closures, Ealing Hospital could be stripped of major services under drastic measures being considered by NHS London.

According to a leaked document obtained by the Gazette, Ealing Hospital could potentially lose its A&E, maternity unit and children's services department if measures to address the £5billion NHS London funding shortfall are implemented.

And with more than 100,000 people each year being admitted to A&E, acute services stretched beyond their capacity and the imminent closure of Ealing's stroke and trauma units, health campaigners claim this will have a catastrophic effect on patients in the borough.

The next meeting of the Southall Community Alliance Community Forum takes place on Wednesday February 24, 2010.

The meeting provides an opportunity for local residents and groups to learn about developments relating to the Southall area and have a say in deciding the future work priorities of SCA.

It's the New Year and I have many resolutions that I made. All with good intentions of course but many of which have failed to materialise. But then again its quality and quantity that counts right?

So I am happy to say that I am still attending my weekly martial arts classes and am still enjoying it.

A primary school in Southall is the first in the borough to screen 'The Life Channel Schools network' broadcasting messages of health and well-being to students, teachers and parents.

Lady Margaret Primary has installed the channel which is already available at Ealing PCT and schools elsewhere in the country giving information on eating well, having an active lifestyle, respecting others and avoiding drink and drug misuse.

The World Gukwoone Federation (WGF) is not simply a martial arts institution. Our focus is on developing good high quality martial artists whilst embedding winning qualities such as self discipline, focus and respect.

The WGF is also an active member of the community and strive to give something positive back to the local community in which we operate in. This is why the majority of Gukwoone martial arts classes are held at community halls.

Like many people I always aim to keep fit and do regular exercise but in today's hectic world it can be difficult to maintain an active lifestyle. Even when you are armed with your best trainers and your membership card at the local gym the main issue becomes lack of motivation!

Suffering from lack of motivation when it comes to going to the gym myself, I decided to join some sort of a class where I could keep fit but enjoy at the same time. And this is the key- you need to enjoy it as that will keep you motivated.

Volunteers are needed to pick up and drop off elderly people for a function on Sunday.

National charity Bowel Cancer UK is launching a bowel cancer awareness DVD and volunteer recruitment drive in Southall next week.

The launch event will take place on Tuesday (June 30) at the Dominion Arts Education Centre, The Green, Southall between 11am and 1pm.

A NEW keep fit centre is re-launching next month at Featherstone Sports Centre in Montague Way, Southall.

Eagle Life Community Wellness is launching on July 7 and will offer a variety of aerobics programmes for anyone aged over 14 years old.