Free Vitamin D pills will be distributed to over 2.5 million people in England this winter
From January, over 2.5 million citizens will have access to four months’ worth of supplements - including those considered extremely vulnerable and/or in care home facilities.
Free Vitamin D pills will be distributed to over 2.5 million people in England this winter, the government has confirmed.
From January, certain citizens will have access to four months’ worth of Vitamin D supplements – including those considered ‘extremely vulnerable’ and/or in care home facilities.
Health professionals say that Vitamin D is necessary to maintain healthy muscles, teeth and bones.
The vitamin is ordinarily obtained naturally from sunlight, but many have spent their days shielding indoors since the start of the pandemic.
These tablets are intended to give people their required dose of the vitamin through the darker days.
ADVERTISEMENT
The free supply is being sent out to residences and facilities in the new year.
Pxfuel
Dr Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at Public Health England, said: “We advise that everyone, particularly the elderly, those who don’t get outside and those with dark skin, take a Vitamin D supplement containing 10 micrograms (400IU) every day.
ADVERTISEMENT
“This year, the advice is more important than ever with more people spending more time inside, which is why the government will be helping the clinically extremely vulnerable to get Vitamin D.”
People on the ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ list will receive a letter inviting them to opt-in for Vitamin D pills.
Those in the ‘extremely vulnerable’ category include:
solid organ transplant recipients
those with specific cancers
those with severe respiratory conditions (cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
those with rare diseases that significantly increase the risk of infections (such as severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), homozygous sickle cell disease)
those on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection
adults with Down’s syndrome
adults on dialysis or with chronic kidney disease (stage 5)
pregnant women with significant heart disease, congenital or acquired
other people who have also been classed as clinically extremely vulnerable, based on clinical judgement and an assessment of their needs. GPs and hospital clinicians have been provided with guidance to support these decisions
Greens hasn’t shared as much detail about its Sale closure.
Simon Rimmer’s Greens restaurant in Sale has announced its immediate closure. Credit: The Manc Group
They wrote: “It is with deep regret that the board of directors and shareholders have decided to close the doors permanently on Greens Sale with immediate effect.
“We’ve done everything possible to make this work, but it is now clear the business is untenable.
“We’d like to thank everyone, team members & guests, who have been on the Greens journey with us.”
It’s another blow to the Manchester’s famous vegan and vegetarian restaurant scene, which has lost the likes of Wholesome Junkies, Vurger Co, and V Rev all shutting down in the last couple of years.
Wholesome Junkies shut down because of ‘skyrocketing costs’, writing at the time of their closure in July: “The figures just don’t add up, it’s no joke and it’s devastating the hospitality industry.”
Northern blocks access to dating apps and websites on-board trains
Emily Sergeant
Access to dating apps and websites is now blocked on-board trains travelling across the north, it has been revealed.
Northern says there’s “good reason” for taking this decision.
This is because the WiFi provided by the train operator on-board its services travelling across the north of England is delivered under the ‘Friendly WiFi’ scheme, which blocks access to certain categories of content – including those associated with dating.
Websites and apps related to video streaming, gambling, alcohol, adult content, pornography, and nudity are also blocked.
Northern has blocked access to dating apps and websites on-board its trains / Credit: Northern
The company says ‘Friendly WiFi’ – which it has been signed up to since 2017 – ensures its on-board internet service meets “minimum filtering standards” given the fact that children could be present around passengers at all times.
The decision to ban dating apps and websites comes after Northern also urged passengers to stop viewing content that’s “not suitable for work” on its trains and stations in Greater Manchester and beyond, and pleaded for them to “wait until you get home” instead.
Content that Northern considers ‘NSFW’ can range from inappropriate jokes and bad language, right through to offensive topics and explicit material.
The train operator has explained the “good reason” for its decision / Credit: Northern
Northern’s Chief Operating Officer, Matt Rice, said access to “safe and reliable” internet is part of passengers’ expectations.
“Whilst some dating websites and users will operate with appropriate levels of self-moderation, some might not and it’s important that content not suitable for everyone to see or hear, particularly children, isn’t viewed on our trains,” Mr Rice explained.
“It’s simply about ensuring that there is sufficient bandwidth for all our customers to use while they’re on the go.
The Manc -
30th November 2020 
