Author | Lightnews

Balsam @drbalsamahmad.bsky.social · 29d

The very best end of a September when I got to listen not once but twice to one of my gurus in Public Health Sir Michael Marmot first at #Healthworks30 and later at #NewcastleUniversity #Insights #Lectures Today I have had a dose of #hope that will last for a long time.

Balsam @drbalsamahmad.bsky.social · Sep 17

Thank you

Balsam @drbalsamahmad.bsky.social · Jul 6

#GreatNorth10K My 1st. Only ever did #ParkRun & #WingsForLife solo runs. For a long time I’ve had low confidence. Standing in the 1st wave among competent runners a moment of self doubt creeped but I brushed away.Today I proved a lot to myself & my time was better than I ever imagined #selfbelief

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Balsam @drbalsamahmad.bsky.social · Jun 28

Baking at almost midnight. My cat watched and watched over me. He has wisely decided to give in or give up and go to sleep 😴

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Balsam @drbalsamahmad.bsky.social · Jun 21

After more than 10 years my Jasmine tree is finally in full bloom. I have always kept faith and hope that one day it will thrive and have kept on doing all I can for this happen. #Hope #Perseverence #Faith #nevergiveup

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Balsam @drbalsamahmad.bsky.social · Jun 19

#Type1Diabetes #CGM #CYP #Inequalities
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

Equity of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Children and Young People With Type 1 Diabetes: A Systematic Review

Background: Socioeconomic status (SES) and ethnic inequalities in type 1 diabetes (T1D) outcomes are well-established. There is concern that unequal access to technologies, including continuous gluco....

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

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Balsam @drbalsamahmad.bsky.social · Jun 10

new.basw.co.uk/about-social...

Reform councillors aged 19 and 22 in charge of children’s and adult services at local authority

Social workers raise questions over clash of values and lack of experience of new lead members at Leicestershire County Council

new.basw.co.uk

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Balsam @drbalsamahmad.bsky.social · Jun 8

“I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.”- Mother Teresa

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Balsam @drbalsamahmad.bsky.social · Jun 7

“Digging deep”, an article my son wrote in the SIA Magazine Summer edition. This is a reflection of a trip of a lifetime to Southeast Asia last year & what he learnt as a young person with a recent spinal injury.

#SpinalCordInjury #Accessibility #Travel #WheelchairUser #SelfDiscovery #LifeLessons

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Balsam @drbalsamahmad.bsky.social · Jun 5

I ordered your book and picking it from my local Waterstones this Saturday. I can’t wait to read it. Congratulations

Balsam @drbalsamahmad.bsky.social · Jun 5

The fact this is a decision by #AccessToWork is shocking #Touretteshero artistic work gave many opportunities to other disabled artists, my son included. I am saddened and angered to read this.

Touretteshero @touretteshero.bsky.social · May 23

I’m profoundly sad to say that as of today, I’ll no longer be able to do my job as co-artistic director of #Touretteshero because of a recent decision by #AccessToWork to cut my support by 61%. Read & share this post, the hardest I've had to write: www.touretteshero.com/2025/05/23/a... 1/4

A photo of Jess Thom, a white, wheelchair using woman looking into the camera with a serious expression. She is wearing a blue and green hoodie, black padded gloves and is pictured in from of a brick wall

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Balsam @drbalsamahmad.bsky.social · Jun 5

I am deeply saddened to read this. I know how much the work means to you but also the impact it has had on other disabled artists. So sorry & what a sad world we live in

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Balsam @drbalsamahmad.bsky.social · Jun 1

It is. A friend advised me to fly to Poland from Newcastle on a cheap airline and then from there to London. She worked it out as cheaper. We aren’t flying for various reasons including mainly the environmental.

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Balsam @drbalsamahmad.bsky.social · Jun 1

Yup. The carbon footprint of having to pursue an alternative course of action that is financially attainable is ridiculously high. We all know this is a financial rip off & the reasons: greed & lack of political commitment to change the status quo. If other countries can do it why can’t the UK?

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Balsam @drbalsamahmad.bsky.social · May 31

As a country we can’t be serious about addressing climate change if prices of travel on public transport, especially trains, continue to soar exponentially. These👇are discounted return prices for 2 adults (disabled person card) travelling between Newcastle to London in late July. Unethical!

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Reposted by Balsam

Dr Steve Taylor @drstevetaylor.bsky.social · May 11

Ending visas for overseas Care Workers will likely result in Care Homes being unable to recruit & poor care for their residents. This might be you, your relatives or your friends.

Unless @teamlabouruk.bsky.social is prepared to increase payments to homes at the same time. Somehow I doubt that.

Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · May 11

“Can you see a day when you say no care workers should come in from abroad?” - Laura Kuenssberg

“Yes we do and we’re going to change the rules this year to prevent a care worker visa being used to recruit from abroad” - Home Secretary Yvette Cooper

We already have a desperate shortage!

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Balsam @drbalsamahmad.bsky.social · Apr 30

“Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better” Albert Einstein

Stunning sunset at Paddy Freeman, Newcastle upon Tyne

Balsam @drbalsamahmad.bsky.social · Apr 27

A memory from four years ago when my son was an inpatient in hospital. He wrote this note & the play specialist in the ward laminated & attached on curtains around his bed in a bay. Evidence suggests that protecting patients’ #privacy during hospitalisation is an important element of #dignifiedCare

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Reposted by Balsam

Dr Gary Fuller @drgaryfuller.bsky.social · Apr 18

Where are all wood burners in England & Wales?

Urban areas outside major cities are likely to have the worst #airpollution from wood burning.

New mapping highlights #Worthing, #Norwich, #Reading, #Cambridge & #Hastings.

Study led by @ucl.ac.uk. Story by me.

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Map reveals residential wood-burning hotspots in England and Wales

Researchers analyse energy performance certificate data to identify areas with potentially high particle pollution

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Balsam

Greg Fell @felly500.bsky.social · Apr 21

Vaccine Disinformation
Dismantling of Public Health
Very limited primary care infrastructure
Falling routine vaccination

= Measles Resurgence

And an outbreak that will be very difficult to stop

www.milbank.org/quarterly/op...

The Perfect Storm: Measles Resurgence in an Era of Vaccine Disinformation and the Dismantling of Public Health | Milbank Memorial Fund

In 2024, we warned about the potential for measles resurgence in the United States, due to declining vaccination rates and growing religious and other

www.milbank.org

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Balsam @drbalsamahmad.bsky.social · Apr 13

Important & timely paper #AMR #ArmedConflict #Displacement #ClimateEmergency #Disasters #Poverty

www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Unravelling the linkages between conflict and antimicrobial resistance - npj Antimicrobials and Resistance

The compounded impacts of conflicts, natural disasters and climate change increasingly fuel the development and spread of drug-resistant organisms while weakening mitigation efforts through failed gov...

www.nature.com

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Balsam @drbalsamahmad.bsky.social · Apr 12

A gorgeous morning more so as my marshalling volunteering position in Parkrun could not have been more perfect: I was in a sunny spot opposite the picnic field & next to a field of wild garlic. Being here I get a positive dose of hope & energy that will last for a week.

Wishing all a joyful Easter

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Balsam @drbalsamahmad.bsky.social · Apr 11

Ah that is lovely!
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/foo...

Michelin-starred chef to host luxury five-course meal benefitting disabled kids

Chef Kenny Atkinson will be cooking up a huge fundraiser with the team at Smile For Life Children’s Charity

www.chroniclelive.co.uk

Balsam @drbalsamahmad.bsky.social · Apr 10

“It makes complete sense [to treat it like defence], particularly as we have various state actors engaged in grey zone hostile activity. A good example of that is antibiotics. We don’t make any antibiotics in the UK: that’s not a resilient situation to be in.”

www.independent.co.uk/news/health/...

85% of NHS medicines could be at risk due to tariff trade friction, ministers warned

Ministers must treat medicines supplies as a ‘defence’ issue as it faces ‘hostile activity’ over the brewing trade war

www.independent.co.uk

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Reposted by Balsam

The King's Fund @thekingsfund.bsky.social · Apr 9

Integrated care board cuts – what does it all mean?

Is the complete overhaul of the function and purpose of ICBs a seismic shift or a trivial tweak? We asked our policy experts how the cuts to ICB running costs might play out in reality.

Read the full blog. buff.ly/Y8Kebp3

Integrated Care Board Cuts – What Does It All Mean? | The King's Fund

A seismic shift or a trivial tweak? We asked our policy experts how the cuts to integrated care board running costs might play out in reality.]

buff.ly

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