Latest news with #SheffieldChildren'sNHSFoundationTrust
North Wales Chronicle
13-05-2025
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
Smart scales and special clinics to help thousands of obese children lose weight
The digital device, hailed by health chiefs as a 'game-changing tool,' is being rolled out at specialist NHS clinics where staff can monitor and provide ongoing weight loss help to patients and their families. About 350 patients are already using the smart scales, which have 'hidden digits' that connect to a mobile app. It visually shows the 'direction of their weight management' without displaying specific numbers, a spokesman said. The data is automatically transferred to the patient's clinical team, who can keep in touch with the family through the app to send regular personalised feedback. This would be done in line with any behavioural changes that may be needed. The aim is to deliver expert care at home and cut down on the need for frequent hospital visits, for a range of potential issues such as stroke and mental health problems. The pilot scheme is being rolled out at 15 Complications from Excess Weight (CEW) clinics. So far 4,784 children and young people, aged from two to 18, living with severe obesity in England, have received care for complications or conditions linked to excess weight from 32 specialist NHS clinics, since 2021. Another 150 children are in line to use the new smart scales tool and app when it is rolled out to four more clinics this summer, according to NHS England. Professor Simon Kenny, NHS England's national clinical director for children and young people, said: 'This game-changing tool is helping our specialists support and keep track of children's weight-loss progress without them needing to leave home, while offering regular advice to them and their parents to help build healthy habits. 'Living with excess weight can cause problems affecting every organ system and long-term complications such as type 2 diabetes, stroke, early joint replacements and mental health difficulties. 'We also know that children living with health problems have poorer school attendance, which can affect their future employment and life opportunities – and the NHS won't just sit by and let children and young people become ill adults.' Early intervention can help limit excess weight gain and prevent the long-term health complications linked to obesity, according to Prof Kenny. He said the specialist clinics have 'already transformed the lives of thousands of children and young people – supporting them to lose weight, live heathier lives and improve their mental health'. A 16-year-old schoolgirl, named only as Kirsty, described going to Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust CEW clinic two years ago as 'the best decision I ever made', even though she was 'really nervous' at first about attending. Kirsty was severely bullied about her weight and height at school, which led her to struggle with her mental health and gain more weight. She said: 'Talking about my mental health helped me a lot. The team also taught me a lot about food groups, portion sizes and lots of other things. 'Now I am the best I have ever felt, I am the lowest weight I have ever been and still losing weight. I am getting a lot of help with my mental health and also still getting a lot of other support.' CEW clinic patients can face a range of complex conditions and challenges, according to an analysis of thousands of patients' demographic and obesity-linked health data presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Malaga, Spain. A high proportion have a neurodevelopmental disorder, including 24% who had autism or 23% with a learning disability. Major health complications such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease was recorded in 30% of patients, 21% had obstructive sleep apnoea and 21% also suffered from hypertension. More than 40% of patients also lived within the most deprived neighbourhoods, according to the researchers from Leeds Beckett University, Sheffield Hallam University, Leeds University and the University of Bristol. Young people could be referred to a CEW clinic if they have a body mass index (BMI) above the 99.6 percentile, which is considered severe obesity, especially in children and young people, and a complication because of their excess weight. Specialist NHS doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers and dietitians are at hand to assess their complications, provide tailored help with diet and lifestyle changes, and give mental health support and coaching.
South Wales Argus
13-05-2025
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Smart scales and special clinics to help thousands of obese children lose weight
The digital device, hailed by health chiefs as a 'game-changing tool,' is being rolled out at specialist NHS clinics where staff can monitor and provide ongoing weight loss help to patients and their families. About 350 patients are already using the smart scales, which have 'hidden digits' that connect to a mobile app. It visually shows the 'direction of their weight management' without displaying specific numbers, a spokesman said. The data is automatically transferred to the patient's clinical team, who can keep in touch with the family through the app to send regular personalised feedback. This would be done in line with any behavioural changes that may be needed. The aim is to deliver expert care at home and cut down on the need for frequent hospital visits, for a range of potential issues such as stroke and mental health problems. The pilot scheme is being rolled out at 15 Complications from Excess Weight (CEW) clinics. So far 4,784 children and young people, aged from two to 18, living with severe obesity in England, have received care for complications or conditions linked to excess weight from 32 specialist NHS clinics, since 2021. Another 150 children are in line to use the new smart scales tool and app when it is rolled out to four more clinics this summer, according to NHS England. Professor Simon Kenny, NHS England's national clinical director for children and young people, said: 'This game-changing tool is helping our specialists support and keep track of children's weight-loss progress without them needing to leave home, while offering regular advice to them and their parents to help build healthy habits. 'Living with excess weight can cause problems affecting every organ system and long-term complications such as type 2 diabetes, stroke, early joint replacements and mental health difficulties. 'We also know that children living with health problems have poorer school attendance, which can affect their future employment and life opportunities – and the NHS won't just sit by and let children and young people become ill adults.' Early intervention can help limit excess weight gain and prevent the long-term health complications linked to obesity, according to Prof Kenny. He said the specialist clinics have 'already transformed the lives of thousands of children and young people – supporting them to lose weight, live heathier lives and improve their mental health'. A 16-year-old schoolgirl, named only as Kirsty, described going to Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust CEW clinic two years ago as 'the best decision I ever made', even though she was 'really nervous' at first about attending. Kirsty was severely bullied about her weight and height at school, which led her to struggle with her mental health and gain more weight. She said: 'Talking about my mental health helped me a lot. The team also taught me a lot about food groups, portion sizes and lots of other things. 'Now I am the best I have ever felt, I am the lowest weight I have ever been and still losing weight. I am getting a lot of help with my mental health and also still getting a lot of other support.' CEW clinic patients can face a range of complex conditions and challenges, according to an analysis of thousands of patients' demographic and obesity-linked health data presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Malaga, Spain. A high proportion have a neurodevelopmental disorder, including 24% who had autism or 23% with a learning disability. Major health complications such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease was recorded in 30% of patients, 21% had obstructive sleep apnoea and 21% also suffered from hypertension. More than 40% of patients also lived within the most deprived neighbourhoods, according to the researchers from Leeds Beckett University, Sheffield Hallam University, Leeds University and the University of Bristol. Young people could be referred to a CEW clinic if they have a body mass index (BMI) above the 99.6 percentile, which is considered severe obesity, especially in children and young people, and a complication because of their excess weight. Specialist NHS doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers and dietitians are at hand to assess their complications, provide tailored help with diet and lifestyle changes, and give mental health support and coaching.
Western Telegraph
13-05-2025
- Health
- Western Telegraph
Smart scales and special clinics to help thousands of obese children lose weight
The digital device, hailed by health chiefs as a 'game-changing tool,' is being rolled out at specialist NHS clinics where staff can monitor and provide ongoing weight loss help to patients and their families. About 350 patients are already using the smart scales, which have 'hidden digits' that connect to a mobile app. It visually shows the 'direction of their weight management' without displaying specific numbers, a spokesman said. The data is automatically transferred to the patient's clinical team, who can keep in touch with the family through the app to send regular personalised feedback. This would be done in line with any behavioural changes that may be needed. The aim is to deliver expert care at home and cut down on the need for frequent hospital visits, for a range of potential issues such as stroke and mental health problems. The pilot scheme is being rolled out at 15 Complications from Excess Weight (CEW) clinics. So far 4,784 children and young people, aged from two to 18, living with severe obesity in England, have received care for complications or conditions linked to excess weight from 32 specialist NHS clinics, since 2021. Another 150 children are in line to use the new smart scales tool and app when it is rolled out to four more clinics this summer, according to NHS England. Professor Simon Kenny, NHS England's national clinical director for children and young people, said: 'This game-changing tool is helping our specialists support and keep track of children's weight-loss progress without them needing to leave home, while offering regular advice to them and their parents to help build healthy habits. 'Living with excess weight can cause problems affecting every organ system and long-term complications such as type 2 diabetes, stroke, early joint replacements and mental health difficulties. 'We also know that children living with health problems have poorer school attendance, which can affect their future employment and life opportunities – and the NHS won't just sit by and let children and young people become ill adults.' Early intervention can help limit excess weight gain and prevent the long-term health complications linked to obesity, according to Prof Kenny. He said the specialist clinics have 'already transformed the lives of thousands of children and young people – supporting them to lose weight, live heathier lives and improve their mental health'. A 16-year-old schoolgirl, named only as Kirsty, described going to Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust CEW clinic two years ago as 'the best decision I ever made', even though she was 'really nervous' at first about attending. Kirsty was severely bullied about her weight and height at school, which led her to struggle with her mental health and gain more weight. She said: 'Talking about my mental health helped me a lot. The team also taught me a lot about food groups, portion sizes and lots of other things. 'Now I am the best I have ever felt, I am the lowest weight I have ever been and still losing weight. I am getting a lot of help with my mental health and also still getting a lot of other support.' CEW clinic patients can face a range of complex conditions and challenges, according to an analysis of thousands of patients' demographic and obesity-linked health data presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Malaga, Spain. A high proportion have a neurodevelopmental disorder, including 24% who had autism or 23% with a learning disability. Major health complications such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease was recorded in 30% of patients, 21% had obstructive sleep apnoea and 21% also suffered from hypertension. More than 40% of patients also lived within the most deprived neighbourhoods, according to the researchers from Leeds Beckett University, Sheffield Hallam University, Leeds University and the University of Bristol. Young people could be referred to a CEW clinic if they have a body mass index (BMI) above the 99.6 percentile, which is considered severe obesity, especially in children and young people, and a complication because of their excess weight. Specialist NHS doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers and dietitians are at hand to assess their complications, provide tailored help with diet and lifestyle changes, and give mental health support and coaching.
BBC News
02-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Sheffield Children's Hospital epilepsy drug trial 'life-changing'
A mother has said she felt like she had "won the lottery" after a clinical trial transformed the life of her son who has a severe form of families of Albie Kelly and Freddie Truelove said the seven-year-olds had been given a new lease of life following the research trial of the drug zorevunersen at Sheffield Children's boys have Dravet syndrome - a rare form of epilepsy which often begins before the age of one and affects about one in every 15,000 babies mother Lauren Kelly said: "Since the research trial it's like I have a new child. It's been life-changing. I feel like a millionaire, like I've won the lottery." Children taking part in the trial had seen dramatic changes, including taking part in sport, making new friends, and learning to speak, read and write independently, the hospital who lives with his mother, father and sister in Barnsley, received the first dose of the trial drug zorevunersen in June the trial, he was non-verbal, showed little emotion and often fell when he walked. However, after the trial, Albie's family said he had become "incredibly independent" - making new friends at school, playing sport and sleeping through the mother added: "I used to be terrified to put Albie to bed, never knowing what we'd wake up to. Now, he wakes up and says, 'Morning mummy'". Freddie, who lives with his mum, dad and younger sister near Huddersfield, was the first child under 13 in the UK to receive zorevunersen in September then, he has gone from suffering more than a dozen seizures every night, to one or two brief seizures lasting only seconds every three to five days, and even up to 10 days without any can walk up stairs unaided and even swim and ski - something Freddie and his family never thought mum, Lauren Truelove, said: "It's really hard to articulate just how big the impact this research trial has had on us, it has completely changed our lives."We now have a life we didn't ever think was possible and most importantly it's a life that Freddie can enjoy." 'Helping future generations' The research trial, based at Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust's dedicated clinical research facility, is led by Stoke an observation period, the children on the trial are given an initial three doses of zorevunersen over a period of 12 second part of the study involves receiving the drug every 16 patients, from across the north of England and the Midlands, are at Sheffield Children's Hospital on the trial and 17 children are taking part in epilepsy at the trust Dr Archana Desurkar said: "By taking part, children like Freddie and Albie are not just helping themselves, they are helping future generations with these conditions too."She added that it could take several years before the trial drug became a part of standard NHS treatment due to the rigorous data assessments and regulatory approvals required. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
