Please read the posts for the month of April 2009 where updates and information relating to Mediwatch the company along with the field of Urology are stored.
(EDIT 2013-A LOT OF UPDATING IS REQUIRED)
This blog is set-up mainly to gather information relating to Mediwatch along with the sector they are involved in and IS IN NO WAY A
RECOMMENDATION TO BUY SHARES IN THE COMPANY!
The Prostate Cancer Charity comments on figures released by the Office for National Statistics which show men in Wales have a 17 per cent higher incidence rate of prostate cancer than the UK average.
The Prostate Cancer Charity's Head of Policy and Campaigns, Dr Sarah Cant, said: "These new statistics show a larger than average incidence of prostate cancer in men in Wales, compared to the rest of the UK. However, the prostate cancer mortality figures are the same as the UK average.
"Although the risk of prostate cancer increases with age, it is unlikely that the age of the Welsh population will account for this difference in incidence of the disease. This is because the rates are age-standardised, which means they take into account the age profile of each population and are calculated so that they can be compared with those of any other country in Europe.
"Although there is no concrete evidence to suggest this, the higher incidence in Wales could be due to increased detection of early prostate cancer. For example, more men in the country may be deciding to have a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test, a simple blood test that can be used to indicate a problem with the prostate. If the majority of cancers found as a result are non-aggressive and diagnosed at an early stage it is unlikely that they would lead to a greater number of deaths from prostate cancer due to the treatment options available.
"There is not any evidence that we are aware of that we can use to compare the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer in Wales compared to the rest of the UK. The guidance on PSA testing has been shared across the UK and many of the clinical treatment guidelines are used in both England and Wales. It would be interesting to find out whether there are differences in the way Welsh prostate cancer services are delivered and to explore any examples of ‘Gold Standard’ care that could be shared."
Comedian David Schneider has put the skills he showcased in such legendary television as BBC1’s I’m Alan Partridge into a hilarious spoof video for The Prostate Cancer Charity.
Schneider is one of a number of celebrities, including Olympic Gold medallist Daley Thompson, set to take part in the Charity’s Tour Ride in the South West. The actor has opted to take on a gruelling 70km challenge distance in the event, which offers participants the unique opportunity to ride on the same route as the professionals in The Tour of Britain.
In a bid to encourage people to sponsor him in his feat, the actor and writer has created a three minute video, in which he offers tips, including how to effectively pad Lycra cycling shorts in all the right places, as well as to become more aerodynamic by wearing a cropped jersey.
The writer and actor, who also appeared in BBC2 sitcom Gimme, Gimme, Gimme and films including A Knight’s Tale roped in leading professional cyclist Dean Downing for the shoot, and attempted to convince him of his expertise on two wheels by challenging him to a cat and mouse chase around London’s Herne Hill velodrome.
David said of the film, which is set to become a You Tube hit: “I'm really looking forward to doing this cycle ride for The Prostate Cancer Charity - if ‘really looking forward’ also means ‘slightly bloomin' dreading it’. I ride a lot in London but have never really cycled in the countryside, where apparently there are green fields and also things called hills and nice views. I've always meant to do something like this and now The Prostate Cancer Charity Tour Rides are giving me the chance to take on a stretch of the Tour of Britain and raise awareness of prostate cancer.
“I also thought I would make an awareness-raising comedy video as my slender skills base includes making comedy. The hope is that it will also get people to watch the funny and donate some money.
“I am going to be training in earnest over the next few days and I am looking forward to the big day itself. If I - an urban middle aged man who thinks physical exercise is stroking a cat - can take on a challenge like this, anyone can, so I would urge people whatever their ability to put their name down for The Prostate Cancer Charity Tour Rides today.”
Dean Downing, a member of the Rapha Condor Sharp team, said: “I am not quite sure that I will be taking on all of David’s tips, but I had a lot of fun making the video. David is clearly a new cycling talent to look out for! The beauty of the Tour Rides is that there is a distance to suit everyone, between 1 and 175km. I hope as many people as possible will join us.”
David will be joined at The Prostate Cancer Charity Tour Ride, which cuts a scenic but tough route across Devon and Somerset, on Sunday 5 September, by athlete Daley Thompson. The pair recently put in a training session for the big day, at London’s Richmond Park. Once again, the comedian, who has a huge following on social networking site Twitter, attempted to show his cycling prowess as the pair hit a tandem.
Daley said: "I thoroughly enjoyed taking part in The Prostate Cancer Charity’s London Ride last year. It was a really great day cycling past some of the capital’s most iconic sights. I wanted to step it up this year and do a longer ride and therefore decided to take on the full distance in the South West. I am looking forward to taking on something fresh. Being a decathlete, I am used to turning my hand to a number of sports and am devising my own training plan which I am confident will get me up those hills.”
The Charity is staging three events across the UK, this September, as part of its ‘Unite ByCycling’ initiative, which aims to raise awareness of prostate cancer, the most common cancer in men in the UK, as well as to raise funds to fight the disease. As well as the South West, people will be able to take to two wheels for an official stage of The Tour of Britain route, in Stoke-on-Trent and London.
People can go the full distance and take on the full route, of around 160km a shorter challenge distance, around 70km or a family ride, of between 1km and 25km.
The Prostate Cancer Charity's Head of Community Fundraising, Claire Walsh, said: "We are delighted that David, Daley and Mark will be joining us in the South West for the Charity's Tour Ride and we are very excited about David's video - it is really very funny and is already proving a big hit on the internet. The Tour Ride is coming up very soon and we are hoping to fill our last few places in the lead up to the event. There are three routes available, for cyclists of all abilities. Anyone who wants to pit themselves against the professional cyclists or who is looking for a fun day out with their family is encouraged to sign up soon."
Places are filling up fast, so people are encouraged to join David and sign up as soon as possible, at www.tourride.co.uk.
A DEDICATED men’s health clinic would save lives, says Tendring councillor David Rutson.
He has been pushing for such a centre at the Fryatt Hospital, Harwich, since he was diagnosed with prostate cancer four years ago.
Despite repeated calls for such a facility, and meetings with charities and councillors, NHS North East Essex chief executive Paul Watson insists there is no need for it His stance has angered Mr Rutson, pictured left. He said: “I think it’s a disgrace when we have a building where it could be based.
“The people of Harwich deserve better than that. It would not cost the trust a penny.
“The clinic has support from Tendring Council, Harwich Town Council, MP Bernard Jenkin, the Fellowship for the Sick and the public.
“But I won’t leave it, I will keep pushing this. It would save lives. If they hadn’t found the cancer in in me, I would be dead now.”
If the trust agreed to allow the hospital to be used, the clinic, would screen for prostate, bowel and testicular cancer and other illnesses. Funding has already been promised for the first two years.
But trust boss Dr Watson’s view is simple: That a dedicated centre isn’t needed because men’s health is already well catered for.
Back in March, he promised Harwich Town Council he would look into the issue.
Now he says: “I have written to councillors updating them on the decision regarding a proposal for a men’s health clinic at the Fryatt.
“There are already many very good services supporting men’s well-being in the town. Harwich GPs offer later opening times to make their services more accessible to patients with concerns and those who work.
“Specialist nurse and consultant-led urology services currently operate from the Fryatt.
“We felt the proposal duplicated the excellent range of services currently being provided.
“NHS North East Essex is also offering health checks to all people in Harwich, not just men. We are extending the national programme, locally, to ensure everyone between 40 and 84 gets these health MoTs.
“We are looking at making greater use of the community hospital and working with the council on this. We will come forward with proposals in September.
“We have welcomed discussions with local councillors, Fellowship for the Sick and local people before making this decision.”
The hospital, in Main Road, Dovercourt, has been the centre of controversy since its behind-schedule opening in 2006 – problems with flooring were blamed for the delay.
Residents have criticised the building, which they say is underused and fails to offer the services the town needs.
It has suffered problems with catering, the narrowness of its internal doors and delays in moving GPs into the Mayflower Medical Centre, which is part of the hospital.
MP Bernard Jenkin described Dr Watson’s response as “very disappointing”. He added: “We have the Fryatt Hospital, which is an underused asset “This is a positive idea which would provide a service for the whole of north-east Essex, offering preventative health care for men, something which is much needed.
“It would have to survive on its own merits, but if this scheme is not to be backed, then what better ideas are there?”
Let mediwatch help you expand your clinical offerings with a service to beat all services, a one-stop shop for all your Urology Diagnostic needs.
This exclusive online platform is designed to be easy to use, and allows you to schedule your patients for a range of procedures, which are performed by experienced clinical professionals using top-of-the-line equipment.
The mobilewatch clinical services package is only available in the USA at present.
To view the full list of mobilewatch features click here to download the latest information sheet.
Something rather interesting has happened to the Promedia website in that it's split into two parts,well as far as Mediwatch and their product line are concerned.
This is a rough translated section from the original website:
Urologic function diagnosis
Forward-looking solutions for urological diagnostics function provides Promedia with the products of Mediwatch UK.
The measuring stations, equipment and consumables for the study methods, from Uroflowmetry to comprehensive urodynamic function testing have set standards in this field.
The series with the newly developed processing software "Sensic" combines all the advantages of modern computer applications with all necessary diagnostic forms. Through targeted set of desired examination protocols, both in clinical use and in the professional practice, an optimal device configuration is possible.
With the new "High energy advanced" to Uroflow data can be very easy and patient-GB Determine. The integrated Bluetooth Real-time data allows for a discreet and modern investigation. Mobile use possible with data on 100 investigations, medical reports, including individual patient questionnaires are just some of the many advantages of this system.
For this area Promedia nationwide sales and service.
Extensive urodynamic function diagnosis with versatile analysis modules.
As a non-invasive, simple screening method is the urodynamic function testing is an important diagnostic procedure for investigation of bladder dysfunction and one of the most common tests for urologists. All urodynamic systems from mediwatch stand for:
.Accuracy and reliable diagnosis .Easy to use .Simplified urodynamic applications with analysis and evaluation .Easy user interface .Network capability
A couple of Youtube videos the first of which features Dr Hal Myers President of Thought Technology Ltd and his brief view on the Mediwatch partnership.
and the second again with Dr Hal Myers on Thought Technology the company,from 2008.
Mediwatch must rate this partnership by the look of their 'In the Media' section:
Mediwatch plc ("Mediwatch" or "the Company", AIM: MDW), the innovative urological diagnostic manufacturing company, and Thought Technology Ltd., the worldwide leading expert in biofeedback, have entered into an OEM agreement to integrate their technology onto the Mediwatch pelvic floor diagnostic platform.
The agreement provides for collaboration between the two groups to offer a range of pelvic floor rehabilitation systems under the Mediwatch "Venus" brand. The new range of products will be sold worldwide by Mediwatch through its direct channels in the USA, UK and its distributors throughout the rest of the world.
Pelvic floor rehabilitation equipment is yet another component of Mediwatch's strategy to develop a "One Stop Shop" approach to the provision of urologic care equipment.
Philip Stimpson, Mediwatch Chief Executive commented:
"This OEM agreement provides Mediwatch with an immediate entry into this expanding marketplace. We continue to look at ways to develop, extend and enhance our One Stop Shop offering for diagnostics all with the aim of providing excellent patient diagnosis and care solutions."
The 'Clinic Directory' part is not working at the present time and the 'Sitemap' indicates- 'Last updated: 2010, August 3' which is probably when this site was built.
The PSA test as used by New Zealand doctors is a valuable procedure in helping assess the health of a prostate. By itself it does not diagnose prostate cancer, but if used properly it gives doctors an indication of what might be happening with the prostate.
A story sourced from Washington DC by AFP quoted a commentary from the New York Times that said Richard Ablin, who developed the test that detects PSA in the blood, now queried the way it is used in the United States.
"While the test may be misused in the United States this is not the case in New Zealand," said the president of the New Zealand Prostate Cancer Foundation, Barry Young.
"New Zealand doctors use the test sensibly as one of the first indicators that something might be putting the prostate under stress. This could be caused by an infection, enlargement of the prostate or even the effect of recent sexual intercourse.
"The important thing about the PSA test is the velocity of increase between one test and the next. This is what doctors watch and, having also done the digital rectal examination (DRE) of the prostate, make their assessment of whether further action might be needed," said Mr Young.
"It is misleading to say that the PSA test diagnoses prostate cancer. It does not. Prostate cancer is diagnosed after a pathologist analyses tissue taken from the prostate during a biopsy.
"We should also not lose sight of the fact that in its early stages prostate cancer does not usually exhibit symptoms so men can be walking around with the disease developing within their bodies and not know about it. When symptoms do occur then it can frequently be too late for effective curative treatment.
"This is why the PSA test is so valuable. It is a first indicator that something might be going wrong with the prostate," said Mr Young.
He explained that PSA stood for prostate specific antigen, a protein produced by the prostate. When the prostate is under stress it produces more PSA and this leaks into the blood.
Here are links to the two main divisions of Device Technologies who both offer a range of Mediwatch products:
I checked this company out last year with no sign of Mediwatch products but now they are showing the Urodyn 1000,Duet LOGIC G2 and Sensic amongst other products along with a new and updated website.
(Sorry about logo size but best I can do at moment)
Long-term investor.
I set up this blog to gather information about MDW and the sector in general.
Please,PLEASE DO NOT USE my posts as a reason to buy shares in MDW! I am happy to hold and add to my investment and can afford to lose it all if things go wrong as nothing is certain in this world!
I do hope this blog will aid to any investment decissions though and more importantly it may be of use for anyone wanting to gather information for non-financial reasons!
