News

Giving blood at Manchester Donor Centres remains essential for the NHS during lockdown

The Manc The Manc - 6th November 2020

Blood donors in Manchester and surrounding areas are being urged to keep donating as normal if they are fit and healthy.

Giving blood is classed as essential travel and both Manchester Donor Centres will stay open with appointments remaining as normal. NHS Blood and Transplant is issuing a reminder of the exemption to donors as the strictest Covid-19 restrictions are put into place across the UK.

Peter Baughan, Head of Blood Donation for the North at NHS Blood and Transplant said: “We have seen a fantastic response from blood donors so far in the pandemic and blood stocks have remained good.

“With these updated Covid-19 measures coming into effect in the community, it’s important for anyone in the area who has an upcoming appointment to donate blood to please stick to it if you can, as blood donation remains essential for NHS and patient care and is exempt from travel restrictions.

“Blood saves lives and donating is something you can do to help the NHS at this time. Extra safety measures are in place on session and our doors are very much open.”

Liverpool Donor Centre Dale Street. Staff highlighting the measures being taken to keep everyone safe from Coronavirus. Picture by Gareth Jones

Both Manchester donor centre’s appointment fill rates for the next four weeks currently average around 30% full. New and existing donors are encouraged to book appointments now to ensure there is enough blood available to supply hospitals in the coming weeks and months.

Extra appointments have been made available in Manchester and elsewhere to help meet the rising demand for blood from hospitals over the coming weeks as elective surgery continues to resume.

Since the Covid-19 outbreak, extra safety measures have been introduced across all blood donation sessions. All donors are triaged with a temperature check on arrival as an additional measure to protect staff and donors. If a donor has a temperature of 37.5 or above – which is a Covid-19 risk factor – they will not be able to donate or enter the session.

The NHS state: “When entering, hand gels and hand washing facilities are available, donors are spaced apart and staff are doing extra cleaning. Staff are wearing face masks and donors are required to wear a face covering and keep it on throughout their time on session, removing it only for refreshments.

“Please follow all relevant Government transport guidance when making a journey into, within or out of any affected areas, and it is a requirement to wear a face covering on public transport and in taxis.”

Around 5,000 units of blood need to be collected by the NHS each day.

Blood is used for treating trauma, cancer, blood diseases, bleeds in childbirth, and much more. Each donation can save up to three lives.Manchester has two permanent blood donor centres:

Book appointments and check the latest guidance on Covid-19 and giving blood by calling 0300 123 23 23, downloading the NHS Give Blood app, or visiting the website blood.co.uk.

News

You can stay in an aircraft, helicopter or old school bus at this glamping pod near Manchester

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia Cool glamping spots near Greater Manchester

There’s a glamping retreat near Manchester offering extraordinary stays in an aircraft, helicopter, old school bus and more.

Over in Blackpool at Manor House Glamping, there is a range of static vehicles that you can have an overnight stay or two in, and according to the pictures on its website, there’s even a resident emu.

You can stay in various modes of transport, such as an aircraft, an iconic yellow school bus, a campervan or a military green truck.

Each has its own perks ranging from a hot tub, outdoor bath, fire pit, sandpit and more. Whatever type of getaway or retreat you’re looking for, you’ll find everything you need right here.

glamping blackpool
sleep in a school bus north west
Credit: Manor House Glamping

The most eye-catching of the company’s stays is certainly the aircraft, which has kept its original cockpit features, although it’s safe to say the interior has definitely had a makeover.

There’s no such thing as a bad in-flight experience with this guest house, as you can get cocktails delivered to the cockpit after taking a dip in your own personal hot tub – not too shabby, eh?

With the bright and unmissable yellow school bus, there are plenty of decorations that help continue this theme in the form of various American road signs, one of which acts as your headboard for the night.

If you’re after a more toned-down chance to unwind, you can step into a pale-white camper van with cosy cushions and a snug haystack-turned-sofa adorned with some gorgeous blankets.

Say less.

staycation in an aircraft
glamping north west
You can see the full gallery HERE.

And if you’re looking at going all out, then your Manor House Glamping accommodation of choice has to be the chopper, which was once used by the Royal Navy.

Worried this option might be a tad nippy? Fear not, because this helicopter is fully kitted out to suit your glamping needs with two fluffy-lined cushions on each seat of this vintage heli.

This glamping company has even been recommended by one of the most trusted hotel review sites around, Tripadvisor, which awarded the increasingly popular site with their coveted Travellers’ Choice Award earlier this year.

Besides a big screen and lawnchairs, you could argue there’s also some other alternative entertainment.

Read more:

Anyone who experiences cabin fever, fear not, because all the aircraft and vehicles are static and aren’t planning on making a long-haul journey anytime soon, you’ll still be able to keep your feet firmly on the ground.

Manor House Glamping has a variety of vehicle-themed guest houses, both old and new, for you to stay in overnight and if you’re interested or after any further information.

You can find everything you need HERE.

If you fancy staying within the boundaries of Greater Manchester but still fancy getting the feel for a cockpit, though, there’s a very fun day out over at Barton’s City Airport.

You can now feel what it’s like to pilot a 747 at Barton Aerodrome’s incredible flight simulator
You could always consider this a test flight of sorts before potential glamping near Manchester.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images – Supplied via Manor House Glamping

News

More than 100 ‘unsafe’ counterfeit Labubus seized in Oldham

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson 104 counterfeit Labubus have been seized

More than 100 counterfeit Labubus and accessories have been seized in Oldham, the council has announced.

The Labubu dolls – a plush collectible with giant smiles and bunny ears – have been seized because they are fake, and unsafe.

The haul of 104 Labubus has been given a street value of between £800 and £1000 – but if they were the real deal, they’d be worth more than three times as much.

The poorly-made figures were being sold for a fraction of the price of a real Labubu, which are manufactured by Chinese company Pop Mart (it’s set to open its second Manchester store in the Trafford Centre next week).

Oldham Council’s Trading Standards team said it seized the counterfeit Labubus from local businesses and found that they were unsafe and poorly made.

Officers raised concerns about the safety of the dolls, which had small parts such as eyes, hands and feet broke off easily, creating a choking hazard.

What a genuine Labubu should look like. Credit: The Hoot Leeds

They were also missing legally required safety marks such as the CE or UKCA labels, and lacked the name and address of a UK supplier, which is another legal requirement.

Councillor Elaine Taylor, Oldham Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Licensing, said: “Oldham Trading Standards carries out regular checks to help keep unsafe products off the shelves. In this case, these counterfeit toys failed safety standards and have now been removed from sale.

“We know it can be tempting to buy toys that look like a bargain, but parents need to be extra careful. Fake toys like these may be cheaper, but they can put children in real danger if they’re not made to strict safety standards.

“If anyone has concerns about toys they’ve purchased, or if they see unsafe products on sale locally, we’d encourage them to get in touch with Trading Standards through the Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133.”

Read more

Featured image: Oldham Council

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