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HEALTH&HABITAT

Oct/Nov 2011 www.esb.ie/em

NEW FLU VACCINATION PROGRAMME

Every year ESB Health Services provides a flu vaccination programme

HEALTH SERVICES UPDATE

ESB Health Services in conjunction with the EAP Officers provides a Flu vaccination programme to all active/VSS/retired staff and their spouses/civil partners every year.

The process up to now has been carried out by both external and internal Doctors and Nurses at designated ESB sites on specified days. This usually occurs between the months October – November.

This year, ESB Health Services aims to encourage more people to avail of this programme and has teamed up with Boots pharmacies to provide this services using a voucher based system.

A staff member can request up to two vouchers, one for themselves and one for their spouse/civil partner. This service is free to active/VSS/retired staff. Spouses/civil partners are charged €25, which is deducted from the ESB’s staff members salary.

N.B For any staff vouchers that have been requested but not used, there will be a charge of €16 which will be automatically deducted from the staff member’s salary.

This service will be available until the end of January 2012.

If a staff member does not wish to attend Boots pharmacy, they can attend their local GP and submit a receipt for a refund of €25. Spouses/civil partners are not eligible for this refund.

How do I apply for a voucher? Staff in Head Office, Clanwilliam House, Osprey House, Merrion sq, Fleet Street, Stephens Court and VSS/Retired staff can contact ESB Health Services to request a voucher by emailing: esbhealthservices@esb.ie or calling a designated phone line (01) 702 6261.

For all other ESB locations staff members can email/or phone their local EAP Officer to request a voucher. To access your EAP Officers contact details logon to: http://esbnet/sharedservices/health/eap/eap_contact.shtm

What do I do once I receive a voucher? Staff have access to this service by either making an appointment or by a “walk in” service. Boots will strive to accommodate all “walk in” attendances, however it may be best to arrange an appointment to avoid disappointment. Each appointment will last approx 10 minutes. It is important that you bring your staff ID with you on the day. Spouses/civil partners must have some form of ID and know their ESB partner’s staff number.

Where can I find a Boots store? Currently Boots have 53 stores throughout Ireland. To find your nearest store log onto: http://esbnet/sharedservices/health/health_ promotion/flu_immunisation.shtm

What is Influenza (Flu)? Influenza is a highly infectious acute respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. Influenza affects people of all ages. Outbreaks of influenza occur almost every year, usually in winter and hence it is also known as seasonal flu. Whilst most people recover within a week flu can cause serious illness and death, especially in the very young and in the elderly and in those suffering with certain chronic medical conditions.

How can flu be prevented? Flu can be prevented by Influenza vaccination. Influenza vaccination is an effective way to help prevent influenza infection, avoiding hospitalisation, reducing influenza related deaths and illnesses. Between 80 – 90% of deaths resulting from influenza occur in the elderly population.

Do I need flu vaccination every year? Yes, the World Health Organisation monitors the strains of influenza circulating every year. Annual vaccination with the most recent strains is recommended. The 2011-2012 flu vaccine will protect against the three influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the season.

Will the Influenza vaccination give me the flu? No, influenza vaccine will not give you the flu – it can’t, as there is no live flu virus in the vaccine.

Who should not be vaccinated? The vaccine should not be given to persons with known severe allergic reaction to eggs or to some people who have had previous reactions to vaccinations. It should also be postponed in individuals who are suffering from a high a temperature.

For further information on the seasonal Flu visit: http://esbnet/sharedservices/health/medical_cond/influenza.shtm. Your health is important to us

One-Parent Family Payment

EAP NOTICEBOARD

One-Parent Family Payment is a payment for men and women who are bringing up a child without the support of a partner. It is paid by the Department of Social Protection.

To qualify for this payment you must:

• Be the main carer (the parent, step-parent, adoptive parent or legal guardian) of at least one qualified child and that child must live with you. One-Parent Family Payment is not payable if two parents have joint equal custody of a child or children.
• Have earnings of €425 or less per week.
• Satisfy a means test.
• Not be living with a spouse, civil partner or cohabiting.

If you are separated, divorced or your civil partnership is dissolved you must:

• Have been living apart from your spouse/civil partner for at least three months.
• Have made efforts to get maintenance from your spouse or civil partner where your civil partner is the parent of the child or children.
• Be inadequately maintained by your spouse or civil partner where your civil partner is the parent of the child or children.

Payment Rates for 2011

Your payment is made up of a rate for yourself and extra amounts for any dependent child. Currently the maximum weekly rate of payment is €188, plus €29.80 for each eligible child.

The amount of payment you receive depends on your weekly means. The first €146.50 of your gross weekly earnings is not taken into account. This means that you can earn up to €146.50 per week and qualify for the full One-Parent Family Payment.

Half the remainder of your gross earnings up to €425 per week is assessed as means. If you earn between €146.50 and €425 per week you may qualify for a reduced payment.

Social insurance contributions, superannuation/PRSA contributions and trade union subscriptions are not taken into account in the assessment of earnings. However, your gross earnings must be below €425 before these deductions are allowed.

Personal and child maintenance payments are assessed as means. However, your rent or mortgage repayments, up to €95.23 per week, may be offset against maintenance payments. Half the balance of maintenance payments is then assessed as means.

One-Parent Family Payment is payable for as long as you satisfy the qualifying conditions.

For further information contact: Department of Social Protection Social Welfare Services College Road, Sligo, Ireland Tel: 071. 9157100 Locall: 1890 500 000 www.welfare.ie

The Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is a confidential service provided to ESB Staff and Pensioners.

For further information on this or any related matter contact your local EAP Officer.

Treating Flu with Elderberry

MIRIAM MCDONALD

NATURAL HEALTH

As winter approaches so too, unfortunately, does the flu season and the need to take extra precautions at a time when infections can spread most rapidly. The traditional way to combat the flu is the flu injection, but you may be surprised to learn that the elderberry offers a viable alternative.

Elderberry, or to give it its latin name Sambucus Nigra, has been used for many years in the treatment of colds and flu. Like many blue/red berries it is high in antioxidants and anthocyanins. The antioxidants stimulate the immune system to combat any foreign bodies it perceives as a threat to health and the anthocyanins are antiinflammatory. They can thus help in reducing the effects of typical flu symptoms such as fever and aches.

This doesn’t mean you should all stock up on elderberry wine or jam before the winter! Nor can you start having glasses of the Italian liquour, Sambuca as a flu remedy! It is the extract of Sambucus Nigra that has been shown to have an anti-influenza effect and not the full elderberry.

These findings are the results of a study carried out in Norway in the 1999/2000 flu season. Admittedly relatively small, the study involved 60 people who had flu symptoms for two days or less. Half the group was given 15 millilitres of elderberry extract and the other half was given a placebo. At the end of the trial, 20% of those taking the elderberry extract, six out of 30 people, experienced significant improvement of their symptoms (fever, aches, pain etc) within 24 hours and a further 73% within 48 hours. Almost 90% of patients had a complete cure within two to three days. In contrast, the placebo group took at least six days to recover. In a second similar trial participants had their symptoms relieved on average four days earlier than the control group.

Sambucus Nigra is available at your local health store in tincture format and is something you should consider having in your medicine box for the cold and flu season. For most effect, it must be taken at the first signs of a cold or flu as it will have less effect if taken in ’mid-flu’ stage. Remember though how you take tinctures is important. These are often absorbed through the mucus membranes in your mouth. For this reason do not eat 15 minutes before you take the Sambuca and 15 minutes after you have taken it. This allows the tincture properties to be absorbed without any conflict with competing nutrients.

Miriam McDonald is a Nutritional Consultant & Practitioner (CANNP). For any queries on nutrition please email her at miriam.mcdonald@freshperceptions.com