Help is just a phone call or email away Samaritans listen and offer confidential support when things are getting to you. Call 08457 909090, email jo@samaritans.org or find the details for your local branch at... www.samaritans.org Help and advice For advice on health and safety, call the council’s consumer and business regulations service on... 7364 5008 News News in brief Pledging support A BRANCH of the Samaritans, which provides confidential support to the public, has launched a campaign for December, encouraging businesses to support the work of the charity’s volunteers. Samaritans is there for people who need to talk, round the clock, every single day of the year, including throughout the Christmas period, which can be a particularly difficult time. Volunteers give people the time and space to talk through whatever is getting to them, over the phone, face-to-face in the branch, via email and text. The central London branch of the charity, which covers Tower Hamlets, receives close to 100,000 calls a year. It costs the branch, the largest of the charity’s 201 groups, around £1,250 per day. The branch is asking for donations of £1,250 from local companies or individuals to help them to cover their costs for every day during December. If you or your company are interested in pledging a day in December to Samaritans Central London, contact Rob Clarke, fund-raising manager, at r.clarke@cls.org.uk or call 07815 182516. Changing lives EAST London NHS Foundation Trust is among three NHS organisations in London that have been awarded £128,0000 in total, to help change patients’ lives and improve care through innovation. The trust received £75,000 from the Regional Innovation Fund to develop films and storytelling techniques to raise staff awareness and skills in three areas: dementia, postnatal depression and end of life care. Top tips on staying safe at Christmas ACCIDENTS can happen, in the excitement of Christmas caused by anything from children’s toys, Christmas tree lights and carelessness when cooking food. Here are some simple tips from the council’s food safety and trading standards team to help Christmas run smoothly: When you buy toys for children, make sure they are for the correct age group and from reputable sources. Do not buy counterfeit toys or gifts – production of these goods is unregulated which means the quality is often low. They are also potentially dangerous. If your tree lights are old, consider buying new ones as these will meet higher safety standards. Turn them off when leaving the house or going to bed. Don’t forget about food safety when you are cooking. Bacteria are often present in raw foods so make sure you fully cook meats and poultry. Don’t leave your turkey or joints of meat out at room temperature for long periods of time after they are cooked. Try to serve quickly, or cool rapidly and put in the fridge. Wash hands frequently, and make sure your children do the same. Always keep raw foods and cooked foods separate, and use separate utensils when preparing them. If you require consumer advice or would like to report a trader believed to be selling fake goods call Consumer Direct on 0845 404 0506. For more on food safety call the council’s consumer and business regulations service, food team on 7364 5008. CHRISTMAS came early to children at The Royal London Hospital, as Santa beamed in live by video from the North Pole to make sure children were able to let him know their Christmas wishes. With a little help from the elves, children entered the children’s hospital healing space on Tuesday, December 9, to find it transformed into a winter wonderland, where they were welcomed by Santa as he appeared on a giant floor-to-ceiling TV to speak with each child, just as if they were in a regular Santa’s grotto. Tara Shea, play team leader at Barts Health NHS Trust, said: “Being in hospital at this time of year often means that children miss out on some of the magic of Christmas, and that includes visiting Santa. “Thanks to Cisco’s Connected Santa programme this tradition will continue, and our young patients will be assured that Santa’s reindeer know exactly how to get to them on Christmas Eve.” Pictured is Sabine with her father Russell Talerman opening her present from a festive elf. Serve up a festive feast BY SARAH MCLAUGHLIN CHRISTMAS won’t be a turkey this year if you follow some simple advice on preparing poultry from the council’s food safety team. Whether cooking for one or one hundred, by following the basic tips, people can prevent food poisoning during the festive season. Defrost your turkey in a large dish in a cool, clean place (ideally at the bottom of the fridge) and ensure it doesn’t touch other foods. Pour away any liquid regularly to stop it overflowing and spreading bacteria. Giblets are raw meat, so cook them immediately or store in a sealed container in the fridge. Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw meat. If your turkey is frozen, make sure it’s properly defrosted before cooking otherwise bacteria may survive the cooking process. For defrosting in a fridge at 4ºC (39ºF), allow about ten to 12 hours per kg. In a cool room (below 17.5ºC, 60ºF) allow approximately three to four hours per kg, longer if the room is particularly cold. Always ensure poultry is properly cooked. The meat should be piping hot all the way through, and none of the meat should be pink. You can check by cutting the thickest part of the bird. All juices should be clear. As a general guide to cooking a turkey, if it’s under 4.5kg allow 45 minutes per kg plus 20 minutes; for one weighing between 4.5kg and 6.5kg 40 minutes per kg; and for those over 6.5kg 35 minutes per kg at 180ºC, 350ºF, gas mark 4 (after the oven has preheated). If the turkey is stuffed, allow extra time for cooking. Keep cooked meat and poultry covered and in the fridge, otherwise food poisoning bacteria can grow and multiply. When serving cold meat, take out only as much as you’re going to use and leave the rest in the fridge. Don’t leave a plate of cold meats out all day. If you’re reheating leftover food, always make sure it’s piping hot all the way through before you eat it. And don’t reheat more than once. For further information on food safety call the council’s consumer and business regulations service, food team on 7364 5008. 22 DECEMBER 2014 – 11 JANUARY 2015 N E W S F R O M T O W E R H A M L E T S C OUNCIL AND YOUR COMMUNITY 15
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