'Ground-breaking' changes for London cancer patients - BBC News
The way London's cancer patients are treated changed on Thursday in a move the NHS hopes will save up to 1,000 lives a year.
Cancer services in the north and east of the capital have combined to be called London Cancer - responsible for more than three million people.
It has brought together hospital specialists, GPs and scientists.
Patients can now receive specialist care at major cancer centres and then the rest of their care closer to home.
London Cancer's chief medical officer Professor Kathy Pritchard-Jones said: "We've got some of the best scientists and clinicians in the country in our capital city but we need to get them to work together much more effectively for the benefit of patients.
'Compete with the best'"I think this is a real opportunity to do something ground-breaking for our patients.
"We've been given the opportunity to think really big and to plan services for a population of three and a half million people in north and east London, so this means we can now compete with the very best in the world."
About 13,600 people die from cancer in London each year and more than 27,000 are diagnosed with the disease.
One patient is 46-year-old black cab driver Mark Fitzpatrick.
He is one of the first to experience what life will be like for future patients.
In January he was diagnosed with cancer at Barts Hospital. Since then he has been receiving his chemotherapy treatment at Whipps Cross Hospital - 10 minutes from his home - meaning he does not have to travel into town.
He said: "It's not a journey you'd want to do on a regular basis, particularly at the beginning - because if you are particularly ill you don't want to be travelling into central London.
"It's just so handy to go to your local hospital. I mean, I live 10 minutes away, it just makes life so much easier at a time when you don't feel well.
"It's nice to be treated locally as it's a small unit and they treat you particularly well."
At the moment the average survival rates for cancer in London one year after diagnosis are worse (63.8%) than the rest of the country (66.5%).
Satisfaction rates amongst patients are also lower.
It is hoped this new network, and one for south and west London, to be launched later this year, will change that.
Vauxhall restaurant offers 'Good for the Soul' food - NJ.com
Good for the Soul, is a new soul food restaurant in Vauxhall. It is a family-owned restaurant specializing in good Southern Cuisine. From crispy fried fish to delicious Soul Punch, we have an extensive and inviting menu and offer tasty daily lunch specials. Not only are we the only full service, dine-in Soul Food restaurant in the area but we also provide catering services for either on- or off-premises events. Good for the Soul will be offering patrons a larger, on-site, banquet facility option for parties and events, this summer.
Menu samples are: fried wings and waffles, fried wings and red velvet waffles, baked chicken, fried wings, Buffalo and stick wings, macaroni and cheese, string beans, cabbage greens, Tilapia, fried Whiting, pork chops, sweet mashed potatoes, Soul chips, fish and grits and our very own Soul Punch. Daily specials - beef ribs, pork ribs and assorted salads. Homemade Desserts - Red Velvet Cake, Cheesecake, Red Velvet Cake Pops, Pound Cake.
A meeting room is available for private functions, birthday parties, graduation parties, kids parties, book club meetings, bridal and baby showers, bachelor and bachelorette parties, spa parties and corporate meetings, family reunions and christening parties.
Good for the Soul is located at 2170 Springfield Ave. (near Maple Avenue) in Vauxhall - 908-378-5354. Visit us on Facebook. Dine in or take out; on- and off-premise catering. Hours of operation are Monday, closed; Tuesday, Wednesday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, noon-6 p.m.
Pure gold to have Becks at the London Olympics - Daily Mail
|
Kick it: David Beckham is still a fans' favourite
Anyone who was at Wembley last Saturday could not fail to understand why David Beckham had to be in Great Britain's Olympic football team at London 2012.
The wall of noise, the palpable sense of excitement, that greeted the mere mention of his name is something only Beckham can generate.
It would be madness to be so straight-laced, stuck up and, well, British about it that we overlooked our global superstar.
We have seen where 'football reasons' have got us in the last few weeks, but Stuart Pearce's task was not to pick the best 18 eligible players based on statistics and somehow hope they can all make a go of it next month. He was asked to pick a squad capable of winning a gold medal.
Pearce has recognised that, and while the incredible midfield engine is not what it once was, Beckham's game has adapted and moved on. He hasn't been messing about in the garden with his kids in LA since leaving England almost a decade ago.
He has been winning titles in Spain and the US, a physical league with lots of young players.
He is still a brilliant passer of the ball and lethal at set-pieces but he also brings those intangible but invaluable qualities: experience, leadership and a winning mentality.
And - shock horror - he is passionate about playing for Great Britain. I am sick of unspectacular footballers turning their backs on international duty out of some misguided sense of their own importance.
Hometown hero: Beckham is set to star in London
If you are lucky enough to be picked, you play. And Beckham desperately wants to represent his country, even if it would have been a lot easier just to walk away.
'Legacy' is the watchword of these Games and Beckham's involvement gives Olympic football the chance to reach out to so many - not just here but around the world. Without him, the men's football competition was in danger of limping along from a British perspective.
A manager overlooked by England in charge of a team only one of the home nations wanted in a tournament many do not believe should even be included in the Olympics. But with Becks in the mix, things suddenly feel a lot different.
Classic cars: Vauxhall Chevette HS - Gulf News
Did your father have a Chevette too? Probably. It was the quintessential ‘dad' car back in the day, as was the Astra and the Nova, which followed. These Vauxhalls were built really just to take you from A to B with minimal fuss. And the Chevette did that brilliantly. It looked attractive enough and was actually aimed at younger buyers, but dads all over the UK snapped them up. I found it hard to get really excited over them, especially as I was spoilt rotten from watching the General Lee and KITT leap through the air on prime-time TV. The Chevette didn't compare.
But, it is just one of many cars from yesteryear that looks much better today. I wonder why that is. Perhaps now, cars are so bad that these relics look the part? It could be. It's probably more to do with the fact that when I was a child and the Chevette was in our drive, our neighbour had something far more attractive in his — a BMW 530i. But, credit where it's due, not once did I see our little three-door with its mouth wide open and my dad peering down into it wondering what had gone wrong. And that's because nothing ever did go wrong. My neighbour, however, always had grease on his hands. His BMW gave him hell. He flogged it and bought a 1979 Cavalier coupé mark 1, a very nice car indeed. I loved its short back and long front and in fact, thanks to that car, it made me look at our own Vauxhall, built on parent company GM's T-platform between 1975 and 1984, in a new and favourable light. Our supermini, with a peppy 1.2-litre motor and four-speed manual, was more common than a rainy day. A good old car no doubt, but when the Chevette HS, a works rally version, was launched in 1976, I fell head over heels for this sporty number.
It had a bigger 2.3-litre 16-valve, twin-cam slant four, fatter wheels and a chunky body kit including a large air dam and a rear spoiler. It was more than a match for the Ford Escort RS or the Fiat the 131 Abarth of the same period. The HS borrowed the axle, brakes and suspension from the Opel Kadett C GT/E while the five-speed gearbox and the alloys were donated from the Chevy Vega. What a transformation. It was like watching mild-mannered Bruce Banner turn into the rampaging Hulk. It was a far more powerful car and one worthy of a second glance, if you could turn around quick enough. Because with 135bhp, chances were you'd miss it. It was fast, handled great and you could have one in any colour — as long as it was silver. The HS won the British Open Rally Championship for Drivers in 1979 and the manufacturers' title two years later. It cost around £5,000 (just under Dh30,000) new and only 400 were ever built. You'd be hard pressed to find one today, but if you did, then expect to pay ten times as much. But, it'd be money well spent.
Article continues below
London 2012: Flame touches down in Dublin – and on Planet Jedward - The Sport Review
Sonia O’Sullivan, hurling’s equivalent of Wayne Rooney and pop duo Jedward were among an eclectic mix of torchbearers as the Olympic flame made an historic visit to Dublin.
London 2012 organisers had to get special dispensation from the International Olympic Committee to take the relay across the border, after international stops were banned following protests that marred the build-up to the Beijing Games.
The flame was passed during a symbolic border crossing between Olympic boxers Wayne McCullough and Michael Carruth, watched by local schoolchildren.
Henry Sheflin, widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers of all-time, later carried the torch at Croke Park, the 83,000 capacity home of the Gaelic Athletic Association.
Special Olympics volunteer Alva Nolan took the flame to visit the Irish Taoiseach Enda Kerry while other torchbearers in Dublin included Michael Carruth, a gold medallist boxer at the 1992 Olympics and international rugby players Shane Horgan and Denis Hickie.
John and Edward Grimes, who finished sixth in X-Factor, eighth and 19th in Eurovision but claimed bronze in Celebrity Big Brother, also ran while O’Sullivan, the Irish team’s chef de mission for London 2012, lit a special cauldron at St Stephen’s Green, Dublin.
“This is a historic moment for us in Olympic sport,” said Patrick Hickey, president of the Olympic Council of Ireland.
“The Olympic flame coming south to Dublin shows the importance of sport in building bridges for peace and a recognition of the all-island composition of Team Ireland as it goes for gold at the London Olympic Games.” 
© Sportsbeat 2012
Wrexham FC to visit Vauxhall Motors for friendly on July 21 - Daily Post
London 2012: 50 days to go until Olympics - Newham Recorder 24
Sarah Shaffi, Olympics editor (news)
Thursday, June 7, 2012
8:43 AM
Today marks just 50 days until the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
To celebrate the occasion London 2012 has published a list of 50 ways to join in with the Games.
Ideas for London include getting your photo taken with the Olympic Countdown Clock in Trafalgar Square, watching Damon Albarn in his opera Dr Dee at the national Opera House as part of the London 2012 Festival, and sending a message of support to Team GB’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes via www.ourgreatestteam.com.
People are also encouraged to consider training to become a referee, official or coach in a sport that interests them, visit the giant Olympic Rings at St Pancras International Station, and view the Tate Britain’s exhibition of Olympic and Paralympic posters.
Seb Coe, chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), said: “The Jubilee celebrations and the incredible welcome given to the Olympic Torch Relay have shown the great community spirit of British people and their enthusiasm to get involved with big events.
“By releasing this list, we want to demonstrate that whatever your interests, there is a way for you to be part of London 2012. We are urging the UK public to join in, and to keep their bunting and flags ready to mark what will be an unrivalled summer of sport, culture and celebration.”
London 2012 is also encouraging people to become a Local Leader - a person in the community who organises events to celebrate the Games.
There are currently more than 14,000 Local Leaders across the country for London 2012 who have already hosted or are planning events.
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “With a mere 50 days to go, we are keeping our foot on the pedal to make sure everything is in place for a smooth and successful Games. We will learn any lessons from the spectacular celebrations of the Diamond Jubilee and will make sure the capital is buzzing as we roll out a huge programme of events and festivities for everyone to enjoy.
“So whether it’s watching the sporting spectacle at our live sites or being inspired to take up a new sport, joining in the free arts extravaganzas going on across the city or just enjoying the shopping, theatre and restaurants that make this the best big city in world, London is the place to be.”
London Welsh appeal date set for June 21 - sportsmole.co.uk
Sign in to leave your comment
0 comments