Centre News

News: From our Centre Chairperson…

Hi everyone,

I hope that you’re all keeping safe and well. It’s been nice and reassuring to see so many of you back in the centre, continuing your therapies during this ‘new normal’.

I myself have managed to get into the centre most weeks for my oxygen therapy. I have not resumed the IMRS sessions yet, as the main benefit for me seems to be the total sensory relaxation that comes from wearing the headphones and goggles. Of course we can’t offer them at the moment, due to ‘cross contamination’. I’ve been thinking that I might try it with my own blindfold (don’t ask 😃) and listen to music from my phone. It won’t be exactly the same, but if it helps me to relax, it’s worth a try.

Myself and the staff are conscious that there are many of our members who fall into the extremely vulnerable category and are currently isolating. You are missed within the centre and we’d love to receive emails/news of how you are coping. Please forgive us if you don’t get an immediate response though, as the new procedures mean that the staff are working harder than ever on the 2 days a week that they are currently in the centre.

I’m relieved that I’m ‘only’ classed as vulnerable. This means that I can at least continue to visit the centre. My regular NHS treatments and appointments have been suspended since March. Early in the first lockdown I bought a hot tub for home and that is literally the only thing that is keeping me moving. I’m spending so much time in there that I’m developing a problem with dry skin. I’ve tried antihistamines and lots of lotions and potions and I’m currently waiting on a delivery of a massive tub of aloe vera for my skin and some crystals to put into the water to help soften it.

I’m hoping that you are all receiving the help and support that you need at home. The authorities should have had plenty of time by now, to put effective support strategies in place. I suspect that you’re all having to delve deep into your extra mental strength to keep yourselves going.

Let’s hope that by the next newsletter this is all a distant memory and we’ve all been reunited with our friends and families.

Stay safe.

Sharon Eccles

News: Re-opening News

Hello to you all, and I hope you are all staying safe and well

We are now finally able to reopen and resume our much-missed therapies.
The centre is looking reasonably familiar and of course our lovely staff are waiting to welcome you back and help you through the new procedures.

Please remember that we are new to these working practices ourselves and be patient whilst we all get used to them. I have every confidence in our staff and wonderful members. We will soon get the hang of this ‘new normal’.

At the moment, the centre will only open on Tuesdays and Fridays. This will be reviewed regularly and may change, depending on demand.

I would like to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to everyone who has continued to donate during the lockdown period. This is making a huge difference to our situation going forward, although we are by no means financially ‘out of the woods’ yet.

If anyone has any feedback or suggestions regarding the new look centre or working practices, please don’t hesitate to get in touch and I will take it all on board.

Also, if anyone can help in any way with fundraising or passing on ideas, please continue to do this.

Finally, I hope to see you all back soon, hopefully still functioning reasonably well, despite the gap in our therapies.

Stay safe and take care,

Sharon Eccles
Acting Chairperson

News: Centre Re-opening

Hello all our lovely people, how are you all keeping? I have everything crossed that the answer to that is ‘OK’. We have really missed you and cannot wait until we can catch up.

However, times are still mighty strange and although we are eager to be up and running, we have to be careful and ensure we move forward with everyone’s safety and peace of mind as a primary factor.

Taking all of that into consideration, staff will be in the Centre from Tuesday 30th June, however this is for pre-operational training and checks only. It is for us to make sure that all of the safety procedures and policies are complete and correct. There will be NO open therapy sessions AT ALL this week.

If everything goes according to plan, we are planning to open the Centre from the week beginning 6th of July. We wish things were immediately going to be back to normal but I think you will understand that that is not possible. There have to be strict rules regarding movement around the Centre, and what can and cannot be allowed at this time. I hope you understand and support us in the precautionary steps we have had to take to ensure safety for all. Any rules and regulations will, of course, be regularly reviewed and relaxed if possible.

For the immediate future the Centre will only be open on Tuesdays and Fridays, this will ensure every morning we are open we are virus free. You will only be allowed into the Centre if you have a pre-booked appointment. Please do not worry if your normal appointment day is neither Tuesday or Friday, for the time being all pre-booked appointments are suspended and all appointments will be opened on a ‘first come first served’ basis. Also, as the number of appointments for all therapies are greatly reduced, if you book an appointment it must be paid for IN FULL whether you turn up for the appointment or not.

Please DO NOT attend the Centre if you think you may have, or are showing any signs of, any infection, even if you are sure it is a cold. If any signs are noticed by staff you may be asked to leave the Centre but you will still have to pay for your therapy.

PPE – all appropriate PPE will be worn by the Staff and Therapists, and there will be gloves, aprons and masks available for members if required.

Oxygen times and pressures will be different to the norm, each session will have a two hour time slot to allow for an hour at pressure and for changing all essential items between sessions. The pressure of each session will be decided when we have a better idea regarding demand. There will only be 3 people taking oxygen inside the chamber at any one time with one, possibly 2, on the outside lines depending on whether things can be adapted to allow for the 2 metres distance between all. Can you please let us know, by email, whether you will want to book an oxygen session and, if so, at which pressure. Once we have an idea of how many people wish to use the oxygen we can then work out a timetable for the oxygen sessions which will commence from Tuesday 7th July.

I am very very pleased to say that our Physiotherapists, Jason (osteopathy), Cath (Alternative Therapies & Massage) are available for providing therapies at the Centre. Please could you let us know, again by email, if you are interested in any of these therapies and if you would like to make an appointment. Or, if you would like to be taken off these therapists’ lists for the time being.

If anyone needs to have a companion with them at the Centre there will be a limited number of chairs available (still keeping the 2 metres safety distance), however these are for necessity only and not for socialising purposes.

If the weather is clement we do not have a problem with people sitting within the grounds and having a chat, but unfortunately we will not be supplying garden chairs, re the above. If you would like to bring your own chairs and drink and chat and chill that would be lovely, but we can do nothing to accommodate these meetings.

I am the first to say this is a rubbish time!!!!!! But, it will get better and although this is unnatural to us, it will soon find its own rhythm and be OK.

Take care everyone

from Julia and the Centre team x

News: Phil Younge is running the Sheffield Half-Marathon to raise money for us

Phil Younge is running the Sheffield Half-Marathon to raise money for us on Sunday 27th September 2020 (unless postponed to a later date).

Phil explains why…’MS has had a huge impact on my wife Jo, both physically and mentally. As someone who does not have MS, it is incredibly difficult, nigh on impossible, to imagine what my wife experiences on a daily basis. Jo will always have my unwavering admiration for getting out of bed every day, and getting on with life in an unrelentingly positive way.
The treatments that are provided at the Centre are not readily available on the NHS; the staff and the services they provide have been of enormous benefit to my wife and I will be forever indebted to them’.

If you would like to sponsor Phil, please follow the link to his gofundme page or sponsorship could be paid straight into our bank account – sort code 40-52-40, account number 00008236 (reference or description Phil sponsorship).

Thanks so much to Phil, and good luck from all of us!!

Covid-19: Centre Closure

As you would expect from us, we are doing the right thing and following the mandate given by the PM last evening. We are closing our doors to you our members with immediate effect and will open them to you as soon as it is safe to do so.

We are so very sorry to let down the people who desperately wanted to continue their oxygen or physiotherapy. I acknowledge that the lack of these therapies may be detrimental and that is why we were desperate to keep going as long as possible.

I still stand behind the fact that the Centre is safe, but unfortunately, I cannot be that certain about any of us humans who may feel well, have no signs, but may still pass it on. That doubt is the breaking point for us.

Staff will keep you updated weekly regarding your Centre and will gladly pass on any ‘good news’ gardening tip or snippets of fab things you’d like to share.  Just email us and we will forward it on, and please could you help us?  Any information we do put out would you please share it with any friendship groups or Facebook friends you have who are Centre Members just in case they do not have access to e-mails.  That would be great.   Thank you.

I am really, really going to miss seeing and bantering with all you fab ladies and cheeky chaps.  But Hey,  see you all soon when we will be better, stronger and chirpier 💜💚💜💙💜💚

Love, hugs and the best of your best health

Julia, Jo, Lynn and Jess

The Centre Team

News: London Marathon 2020

We have the place – do you have the pace?

We have been granted a coveted Charity place for next year’s iconic London Marathon – Sunday, 26 April 2020.

Sponsorship needed is £2000 minimum.

Do you know anyone who would like to experience this amazing event, take up the challenge and raise sponsorship in support of your Centre?

Please get in touch with us for further details.