Easter Sunday music spot

The origin of this anthem as I was told the story is that Samuel Sebastian Wesley wrote this lovely piece while he was organist of Hereford Cathedral. This was at a time when cathedral choirs were at "a very low ebb" and it was written for an Easter day service at which only three trebles and the Dean's butler, who sang bass, were available. 

Wesley was a genius and the anthem would undoubtedly work for four such voices, but I prefer it with a full choir, as performed here by the choir of St Paul's cathedral or as I heard it sung this morning by the choir Selby Abbey.

 

Happy Easter to anyone reading this

Wishing all Christians in the UK and everywhere - and anyone else reading this and celebrating this great festival - a happy and peaceful Easter.

A Christmas Message

 For anyone reading this who is of the Jewish, Christian, Muslim or Bahai faiths, May the God of Abraham be with you and all who you love at this time, guard, guide and protect you.

For anyone reading this who loves the Christmas story:

• May the Joy of the Angels,
• The Eagerness of the Shepherds
• The Wisdom of the Magi
• The Patience of Joseph
• The Love of Mary
• and the Hope represented by the baby Jesus

be with you this Christmas season and throughout the year

For anyone reading this of any other faith, may your God be with you at this time.

And for everyone reading this, I with you and your family good health and happiness at this time and a peaceful, happy, healthy and prosperous New Year 2025.

In other words: HAPPY CHRISTMAS! 

Princess Royal opens £40 million new facilities at WCH

The third and final phase of the redevelopment of the West Cumberland hospital, all built and equipped with funding agreed and provided during the 2010 to 2024 Conservative led governments, has been opened by the Princess Royal.

The new facilities include a therapy gym, a courtyard with access to a 'challenge path' and a kitchen to prepare patients for returning home after a stay in hospital.

Princess Anne unveiled the plaque and was invited to sign the visitor book which had previously been signed by her grandmother Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother when she first opened West Cumberland Hospital in 1964 and King Charles III, then Prince of Wales, when he visited the hospital in 2010.

Steven Morgan, Chair of North Cumbria Integrated Care (NCIC) NHS Foundation Trust said, 

“We are delighted that the Princess Royal, as Patron of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, has officially opened this fantastic new facility in Whitehaven today.

"It’s a great step forward and will benefit the residents of West Cumbria for years to come.

"I was pleased to hear about the vital role that occupational therapists play in our patient’s recovery and the innovative practice they are developing to make that a reality.”

Dr Sarah Elliott, Associate Director of AHPs at NCIC added, 

“We hope we have demonstrated that despite the geographical challenges of being a diverse rural and coastal organisation, that NCIC continues to develop and innovate evidence-based practice allowing individuals to start well, live well and age well.

"We hope that we have demonstrated to you the sense of real pride our community and colleagues feel for the outstanding services we provide and how much we appreciate your support.”

Wishing His Majesty a full and quick recovery

"Wishing His Majesty a full and speedy recovery.

I have no doubt he’ll be back to full strength in no time and I know the whole country will be wishing him well."

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

I also, of course, with His Majesty the King a full and speedy recovery following his cancer diagnosis.

For anyone who has not seen it, this was a statement from the palace yesterday:

World Mental Health Day

Today is World Mental Health Day 2023.

World Mental Health Day (10 Oct) is a day to talk about mental health and show everyone that mental health matters. It’s also a day to let people know that it’s okay to ask for help, no matter what you’re going through. 

As the theme of World Mental Health Day highlights, ‘mental health is a universal human right’.

Three new medical schools

It is great news for West Cumberland Hospital and for patients in West Cumbria that today the health secretary announced three new medical schools as part of the NHS Workforce Plan.

Health secretary Steve Barclay laid out plans for the creation of three new medical schools and unveiled a new £30 million fund to speed out the roll out of cutting-edge technology across the NHS, improving patient care in the long-term and helping to cut waiting lists. 

• A strong NHS workforce, backed my new technologies and medical advancements, will ensure our NHS is fit for the future and there for people when they need it.
• The biggest challenge for hospital and health services, from district general hospitals to GP and Dental surgeries, has been the shortage of doctors, dentists and other medical professionals which is mainly due to the fact that for thirty years, under governments of all political parties, Britain has  not been training enough of them. That's why there is a shortage of GPs in many parts of Cumbria and is the main reason behind repeated threats to local hospital services. Jeremy Hunt finally started to address this when he was health secretary, increasing the number of medical training places and launching a previous round of new medical scbools. But although this was welcome, still more places were needed. 
• That is why I was very pleased to hear the Health Secretary today announce the creation of three new NHS medical schools to provide a further 205 undergraduate places from September next year and help deliver on the government's long-term ambition to double the number of medical school places to 15,000 by 2031. 
• The Health Secretary also announced the creation of a new £30 million Health Technology Adoption and Acceleration Fund, helping local NHS organisations to rapidly adopt new technologies to detect illnesses sooner, help people receive treatment in their own home, and increase productivity.
• This is good news, I hope and expect that today’s announcements will ensure patients get the care they need when they need it – as we focus on making the long-term decisions for a brighter future.  

£200 million of new funding to help the NHS through the winter

Further to yesterday's post, I was pleaseed to see that today the government  announced £200 million of new funding for the NHS, boosting resilience so patients get the care they need this winter as we cut waiting lists.

• Winter brings immense challenges for the NHS, so it is important that the government is working with health leaders to make sure the NHS is prepared. 
• That is why I was pleased to see that the government is investing £200 million to boost resilience in the NHS and protect elective care so we can address the serious challenge of cutting waiting lists. The government is also investing £40 million to bolster social care capacity and improve discharge from hospital. 
• This funding will help patients get the care they need and help to cut waiting lists.