Breast milk donations needed
The Western Trust Milk Bank is located in Irvinestown, Co. Fermanagh, and is the only human milk bank in the country. It has provided help for hundreds of premature and sick babies both north and south in Ireland, since it opened in 2000.
The service operates in a similar way to a blood bank. Breastfeeding mothers who have excess milk and wish to donate, express their milk and send it in insulated containers to the milk bank. Upon arrival in Fermanagh, the milk is checked for bacteria and pasteurised. It is then stored at the bank until it is sent to neonatal units around the country as required.
All babies benefit from breastmilk but for premature babies it can be the difference between life and death. It provides nutrients, hormones and growth factors which are essential for healthy development, and strengthens their immunity for fighting viruses and bacteria.
To contact the Milk Bank, visit www.westerntrust.hscni.net or call 048 6862 8333.
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Melanoma at record high: Incidences of melanoma in Ireland have reached record highs, but advances in treatment provide hope to patients of this often aggressive form of skin cancer, according to the Irish Cancer Society.
At the charity’s Decoding Cancer event: ‘Getting Under the Skin – Modern Melanoma Treatments’, Dr Derek Power, a Consultant Medical Oncologist at the Mercy and Cork University Hospitals, said: “Melanoma cases are rising, but thanks to research advances, there are more ways to treat this form of cancer than ever.”
Cases of melanoma have almost trebled in the last 20 years. While cases have increased, so have survival rates; now, almost nine in ten (89.3%) of patients survive for at least five years after their diagnosis.
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ADHD being missed in girls
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is being missed in girls because they may not display the same challenging behaviour as boys, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice).
New guidelines warn that some groups with ADHD are being overlooked and calls for more scrutiny to ensure people get the right help.
Up to 5% of school-age children are thought to suffer from ADHD – a condition characterised by a group of behavioural symptoms including hyperactivity, difficulty concentrating and impulsiveness.
Dr Gillian Baird, professor of children’s neurodisability at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and chairwoman of the Nice guideline committee, said girls are thought to be under-diagnosed with the condition, while some are given an incorrect diagnosis.
