Page 16 - link magazine

16 The Link Magazine • August 2003
Melinda helps Focus to recognise 1,000th carer
A West Swindon mum at the end of her tether at the beginning of the year had a lovely surprise on 11 July when Swindon celebrity Melinda
Messenger dropped by with a bouquet of flowers to welcome her as the 1,000th carer to register with the Princess Royal Trust Carers Centre,
known in Swindon as Focus on Carers and Self Help.
Rachel George from The Holbeins Focus provides practical and themselves as hus-
in Grange Park turned to Focus for emotional support for anybody band, wife, son,
support when caring for her 11 year who looks after a member of their daughter, partner
old son Lewis got too much for her. family, close friend or neighbour or friend."
He has severe dyspraxia which because they have an illness, dis- Rachel said she ,
means he has short term memory ability or are frail with old age, often became over-
problems and difficulties coordi- at great personal and financial cost. whelmed by the re-
nating physical and mental activ- They estimate there are about sponsibility of be-
ity. With three other children to 18,000 carers in Swindon with over ing available almost weekdays.
care for, her feelings of grief from 4,000 providing care for over 50 24 hours a day for Rachel with - w
the death of her father three years hours a week. But as director of Lewis. Now with Melinda and
ago and trying to maintain her Focus Gillian Barber says, "a sig- help from support Focus suppor
reflexology business, Rachel spi- nificant number of people don't worker Elaine worker Elain
ralled into depression. recognise they are carers, seeing House, she has been
able to put her life into balance asked by Focus to help raise its
again. profile; there are so many people
"I was surprised to be asked if who act as carers and they need
Abbey Meads Dental Practice Melinda Messenger could come to both recognition and practical
my house, shocked in fact; who help.
Dental care when you need it body like that. She is a lovely per- which does not interfere in your
"It's a fantastic organisation
would say no to meeting some-
son, really down to earth and un- life, because you decide how much
NHS and private care derstanding of the experiences of help you need. It's important to
other mothers. She gave us a lot of know that if you're struggling to
• Modern comfortable environment
time. cope, you are not alone."
• Cosmetic treatment including veneers, crowns and bridges Melinda said she had experi- Focus won't be able to send
enced post natal depression after Melinda round to help you care
• Tooth Whitening her second son was born and be- for somebody, but they can cer-
• Denplan come more aware of the need for tainly help relieve the burden.
support. "I was delighted to be Call them on 531133, 9am to 5pm
Affordable dental care for everyone
Tel: 01793 726288 Shaw hut disappears to make way
for doctor's extension and new hall
A piece of West Swindon's history was unceremoniously compressed
Still sitting in that into a skip in early July when the temporary community hall at Shaw
village centre was demolished.
traffic Queu e first appeared in Westlea in the Practice whereby the surgery will
The bright yellow portakabin
be allowed to extend to provide more
early 1980s soon after the residents consulting rooms and a small hall to
arrived. They bitterly protested be used for clinics. Under a legal
that landowners Bradleys had not agreement, the practice will make
Isn't it about time considered the needs of house buy- the room available for use by com-
you thought seriously ersby not providing a meeting place. munity groups.
The hut was replaced by the Councillor Nick Martin said the
about a scooter?
George and Ann Tweed social hall arrangement had joint benefits.
Did you know.... at Westlea School and was moved "There has always been a plan for
by the council to Shaw in 1988. a community centre at Shaw but
• You can ride one Eventually it was condemned in council finances have never al-
on a car licence?
2000, forcing Jellytots playgroup lowed this. This agreement means
• They can do over to be relocated to Sparcells social an increase in the number of GPs
100+ m.p.g.? hall and then to Brook Field School. serving the community whilst pro-
• Road tax is only Now Swindon Council has struck viding local groups with another
£15 per year? ►T—r- a deal with the Ridge Green Medical place to meet."
s sic ^
• You can buy a brand
new scooter from GP surgery introduces laser acupuncture
only £999 O.T.R.? The range of complementary therapies has been extended at
See the fabulous new Taw Hill Medical Practice to include laser acupuncture as an
Peugeot letforce scooters only at the alternative to needles.
Cycling Centre. From £2.149 OTR Complementary practitioner Mark Ackland, who trained at the
Ask about our special
n1 College of Integrated Chinese Medicine in Reading, says "Taw Hill
package deal for beginners
is a very forward-looking surgery whose main objective is to get
CNA"af Cycling Centre people well using both conventional and alternative therapies. I am
Ferndale Road
Finance & insurance arranged to delighted to practise here.
suit your personal requirements c, P ^ "Acupuncture treats a wide range of physical and emotional condi-
at w ^°'
e tions such as chronic pain, chronic fatigue, depression, anxiety,
ste ^ w ^`^.q:
ay sports injuries, sciatica and menstrual problems."
Ooas^5
The laser pen used in the treatment gives off an intense light beam
233 Ferndale Road, Swindon • Tel: (01793) 5366571 that is safe and completely painless.
Treatment is available without a doctor's referral. For details call
07973 185158 or mail: [email protected]