New SensaCath Range Designed to Support Discreet and Confident Self-Catheterisation

Clinisupplies has launched SensaCath, a new intermittent catheter range designed to support comfort, discretion and independence for people who self-catheterise.

For thousands of people living with bladder conditions, intermittent self-catheterisation is an essential part of daily life. While it can help people manage their health and maintain independence, many users are looking for products that fit more naturally into their everyday routines.

Healthcare manufacturer Clinisupplies hopes to address that need with the launch of its new SensaCath® intermittent catheter range, designed to support discreet, comfortable and confident bladder management.

Developed with input from both users and healthcare professionals, the new range focuses on practical design features that aim to make self-catheterisation easier to manage at home, at work and while travelling.

Paul Cook, CEO of Clinisupplies, said the company wanted to create products that help people focus on living their lives rather than managing their condition.

"At Clinisupplies, we believe continence products should help people live more freely, not become the focus of their day," he explained to That's Health.

The launch includes two products tailored to different user needs.

SensaCath® Compact for Women has been designed with discretion in mind. Its compact size and neutral appearance allow it to be carried and used more discreetly, while an optional handle can provide additional grip and reach where needed. 

The catheter is supplied ready to use and features a hydrophilic coating designed to support smooth insertion and removal.

For male users, SensaCath® Flex Compact for Men offers a pocket-sized solution intended for use both at home and on the move. The product incorporates a soft, flexible tip designed to follow the natural shape of the urethra, helping to support a more comfortable catheterisation experience.

Beyond the products themselves, Clinisupplies says the range has been designed to support both users and healthcare professionals. Features have been developed to be straightforward to demonstrate during training sessions, while users may benefit from improved confidence and independence when managing their bladder health.

The company has also highlighted sustainability considerations in the design process. The SensaCath range uses recyclable materials where possible and incorporates right-sized packaging to help reduce waste.

As awareness grows around the importance of dignity, independence and quality of life in continence care, innovations such as SensaCath demonstrate how thoughtful product design can make a meaningful difference to everyday healthcare experiences.

For people who self-catheterise, small changes in comfort, convenience and confidence can have a significant impact on daily life.

https://www.clinisupplies.co.uk/

"I'm Not Making This Up!" a new awareness campaign shines a light on nystagmus

The Nystagmus Network has launched its nystagmus Awareness Day 2026 campaign under the theme "I'm Not Making This Up!" 

The slogan is a rallying call for greater understanding of a relatively rare, complex and often invisible visual condition that affects around 2.4 in 1,000 adults and children.

Nystagmus is a little-understood condition that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. Yet one of the most common and painful experiences reported by people living with it is being disbelieved. People are told to "just get their eyes tested", accused of exaggerating or dismissed by professionals who have never encountered the condition before.

Why "I'm Not Making This Up!"?

The theme was chosen to give a direct voice to the nystagmus community. The staff team at the Nystagmus Network hear time and again from the people they support stories of them not being believed. Because the condition is not always visible to others and people who have it look pretty much the same as everyone else, many people spend years, sometimes even decades, trying to be believed and properly supported.

Sue Ricketts, Executive Information and Development Manager at the Nystagmus Network, told That's Health: "People living with nystagmus are some of the most resilient people you will ever meet. They navigate a world that wasn't designed with their vision in mind and they do it every day. 

"What they shouldn't have to do is fight to be believed on top of dealing with their impaired vision. That is what this campaign is about. We want to make sure this doesn’t keep happening."

What is nystagmus?

Nystagmus is a serious, lifelong, incurable form of visual impairment where the eyes constantly move uncontrollably, affecting focus, depth perception and facial recognition. At least 1 in 1,000 babies are born with nystagmus. 

Many other people acquire nystagmus beyond infancy and into later life. Support is needed in the early years, at school, in employment and in everyday life.

Campaign Activities

Throughout Awareness Day, the Nystagmus Network will be running:

A social media challenge inviting people to share their own "I'm not making this up!" moment using #ImNotMakingThisUp

Training sessions for healthcare professionals, educators and employers

A fundraising appeal to support the organisation's vital work across support, awareness and research

How to Get Involved

Visit https://nystagmusnetwork.org/awareness/ to read stories, take part in the campaign, and make a donation. Follow us using #ImNotMakingThisUp.

Trunks Across the Thames: A Colourful Elephant Trail Bringing Communities Together for Thames Hospice

Thames Hospice launches Trunks Across the Thames, a free public elephant art trail featuring 90+ sculptures, community creativity and a special story narrated by Alex Jones.

This summer, a herd of magnificent elephants is set to stampede across Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, and they’re carrying an important message of hope, compassion and community.

Thames Hospice has officially unveiled Trunks Across the Thames, a spectacular free public art trail that will transform towns and public spaces into a giant open-air gallery from 13 July.

The family-friendly trail will feature 30 larger-than-life elephant sculptures, each individually designed by talented artists from across the UK. Alongside them, more than 60 smaller elephants created by local schools and community groups will showcase the creativity and spirit of the communities that support the hospice.

But Trunks Across the Thames is about far more than colourful artwork. At its heart is The Tale of Hope, a specially created story celebrating kindness, connection and the power of community. Adding an extra touch of magic, the story is narrated by popular television presenter Alex Jones, who has generously lent her voice to the project.

Dr Rachael de Caux, CEO of Thames Hospice, described the trail as an opportunity to bring people together while raising awareness of the vital care the charity provides every day.

The project has attracted support from a wide range of organisations, with Amazon and Iron Mountain Data Centers serving as headline sponsors. Additional support has come from Maidenhead Golf Club, along with local authorities including the Slough Borough Council and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

Art lovers will also have the chance to see a sculpture created by internationally renowned artist and author Charlie Mackesy, best known for his inspirational book The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. His specially designed elephant will be unveiled for the first time at the Royal Windsor Flower Show on 6 June before joining the trail later this summer.

The initiative has been created in partnership with Wild in Art, the organisation behind many of the UK's most successful public art trails, which have raised millions of pounds for charitable causes while encouraging people to get outdoors, explore their local areas and connect with their communities.

From a health and wellbeing perspective, projects like Trunks Across the Thames offer more than just entertainment. Walking trails encourage physical activity, spending time outdoors can support mental wellbeing, and shared community experiences help combat loneliness and social isolation.

As excitement builds towards the July launch, residents are being encouraged to keep an eye out for artist reveals, elephant sightings and trail updates.

One thing is certain, this summer, a herd of elephants will be spreading hope, creativity and community spirit across the Thames region, all while supporting the invaluable work of Thames Hospice.

http://www.trunksacrossthethames.co.uk

The Unknowingly Deaf: When Hearing Loss Creeps Up Without You Realising

Hearing loss is often imagined as something sudden, dramatic, or obvious. In reality, for millions of people, it happens slowly and quietly over many years. so quietly that they may not even realise it is happening.

The “unknowingly deaf” are people living with hearing loss without recognising the signs. They may think everyone mumbles these days. 

They may turn the television up louder than everyone else prefers. They may constantly ask people to repeat themselves. 

Some become known as “the loud one” in the family because they speak or shout far louder than necessary without realising it.

In many cases, the problem is gradual hearing deterioration combined with tinnitus, the persistent ringing, buzzing, hissing, or roaring sounds in the ears that only the sufferer can hear.

Tinnitus itself can be exhausting. For some people, it becomes a constant background noise that interferes with conversations and makes it difficult to distinguish speech, particularly in pubs, restaurants, supermarkets, or busy workplaces. 

Over time, the brain adapts in ways that can mask just how much hearing has actually been lost.

One of the biggest warning signs is volume. People with undiagnosed hearing loss often increase the volume of televisions, radios, phones, and even their own voices. Friends and family may notice long before the individual does.

Another common sign is misunderstanding conversations. Someone may answer the wrong question, laugh at the wrong moment, or appear distracted when, in truth, they simply have not heard properly. This can sometimes lead to frustration, embarrassment, social withdrawal, and even anxiety.

The issue is far more common than many realise. Hearing loss is not just an “old person’s problem.” Long-term exposure to loud music, industrial noise, headphones, traffic, machinery, concerts, and even repeated infections can all contribute. Stress and fatigue can also worsen tinnitus symptoms.

Unfortunately, many people delay getting help because hearing loss develops so gradually that it feels normal. Others fear stigma around hearing aids, despite modern devices being smaller, smarter, and more effective than ever before.

The good news is that recognising the problem is the first step. Simple hearing tests can identify early hearing damage, and treatment or hearing support can dramatically improve quality of life. Protecting hearing from further damage is equally important, especially in noisy environments.

If somebody you know constantly shouts, struggles to follow conversations, or keeps asking “What?” there may be more going on than simple distraction. They may genuinely not realise how much hearing they have lost.

Sometimes the people most affected by hearing loss are the last to notice it.

Your GP can organise a referral to the audiology department at your nearest NHS hospital, or you can book an appointment with a private audiologist, or check out the offerings from high street hearing aid centres. Some opticians not only offer hearing aid services they can offer combined spectacles and hearing aids.

The British Academy of Audiologists can be of help https://baaudiology.org 

Google’s “Invisible Year” Is Becoming a Major Threat to New UK Aesthetic Clinics

The UK aesthetics industry is booming. There are now 19,701 registered aesthetic practitioners across the country, the sector is worth an estimated £3.6 billion, and non-surgical cosmetic treatments surged by 23% in 2024 alone.

But according to specialist agency Aesthetic Launch Lab, the biggest threat facing new clinic owners has nothing to do with Botox technique, injectable training or clinic interiors. It is Google.

The agency says thousands of new clinics are unknowingly launching into what it calls a “digital invisibility trap”, where brand-new websites struggle to appear in Google search results for up to a year, even when the clinic itself is fully operational.

That matters because aesthetic patients increasingly search online for treatments such as “Botox near me”, “lip filler Birmingham” or “laser hair removal clinic”. If a business does not rank, it effectively does not exist to potential clients.

Research from Ahrefs, which analysed over two million web pages, found that only 1.74% of newly published pages reach Google’s top 10 results within their first year. Meanwhile, the average page holding the number one ranking position is around five years old.

For a founder who may have already invested tens of thousands of pounds fitting out a clinic, paying staff and buying equipment, waiting 6 to 12 months for Google visibility can become a serious commercial problem.

To tackle the issue, Aesthetic Launch Lab’s Digital Assets Marketplace offers pre-built clinic websites that already hold Google rankings and domain authority.

Rather than starting from scratch, clinics can acquire an existing search-optimised website, rebrand it and begin trading with an online presence that Google already trusts.

The sites are designed specifically for the aesthetics industry, with treatment-focused local SEO, mobile-first layouts and structures intended to comply with UK ASA and CAP advertising guidance.

“Clinical excellence doesn’t pay the rent if patients can’t find you,” said the agency. “The cold-start problem is real, and every month a clinic spends invisible online is revenue it may never recover.”

The timing may be significant. The aesthetics industry is becoming increasingly regulated, with licensing proposals and tighter oversight already emerging across the UK. As more qualified nurses, pharmacists and doctors launch independent clinics, competition for local search rankings is intensifying.

At the same time, paid Google advertising is becoming more expensive, with cosmetic treatment campaigns reportedly averaging £45.66 per acquisition in 2025.

With the UK aesthetics market forecast to reach £5.1 billion by 2028, the race for organic Google visibility could become one of the industry’s biggest battlegrounds.

https://aestheticlaunchlab.com/digital-assets

The Women Left Behind by Gambling Addiction

Lorraine and Claire

For many families, gambling harm is something that happens quietly behind closed doors. 

The financial stress, secrecy and emotional strain often affect far more than the person placing the bets, and new figures suggest millions of people across Britain may be living with the fallout.

According to Public Health England, around 1.5 to 2 million adults in Britain may be directly affected by someone else’s gambling. 

Women are disproportionately represented among those seeking support, yet many suffer in silence for years before reaching out for help.

One of those women was Lorraine Perrons.

The mother-of-two says her world changed after returning home from a family holiday to discover her husband’s hidden gambling addiction had pushed the family to the brink of financial collapse.

During the trip, Lorraine had noticed her husband repeatedly betting during race nights, but she didn't realise the scale of the problem until she walked through the front door at home.

“What I found completely changed my life,” she says. “When I confronted him, he eventually looked at me and said, ‘I think I’ve got a gambling problem.’”

At the same time as dealing with mounting debts and uncertainty, Lorraine was also preparing to lose her terminally ill father, who died just four months later.

She describes the years that followed as “survival mode” trying to protect her children while coping with grief, exhaustion and ongoing financial instability. Following the eventual separation, she endured a difficult divorce and emergency court hearings linked to mortgages and finances repeatedly breaking down.

“I realised later that I’d spent years living like a shell of myself,” Lorraine says.

Much later, she was diagnosed with Complex PTSD.

Her experiences eventually led her into therapeutic work supporting both gamblers and the loved ones affected by gambling harm. Alongside fellow therapist Claire Jones, she co-founded Gambling Recovery Therapy and Gambling Recovery for All CIC.

Together, the pair have launched a free 12-week online programme called Rebuild and Rise: Reclaim Your Life, designed specifically for women affected by someone else’s gambling.

The trauma-informed course combines emotional support, practical coping strategies, hypnotherapy, psychoeducation and peer support to help women rebuild confidence and emotional wellbeing.

“We wanted to create something genuinely trauma-informed,” says Claire. “Not just advice, but a safe space where women feel understood.”

The first online group begins on 9 June 2026, with funded places available for eligible applicants.

Women interested in applying can do so here:

Rebuild and Rise Application Form https://forms.gle/aMA4fJbgDMSpgoTb9

http://www.gamblingrecoverytherapy.com

Gen Z would rather admit to being anxious than lonely, new research reveals

Ten years ago, loneliness was something many people struggled to talk about openly. 

Fast forward to 2026, and while conversations around mental health have become far more common, loneliness is still a feeling many people quietly keep to themselves.

That's why this year’s Loneliness Awareness Week feels especially important.

Running from 15th to 21st June, the awareness week is marking its 10th anniversary with the powerful theme: “Giving Loneliness a Voice.”

Organised by Marmalade Trust, the campaign is encouraging people across the UK to speak more honestly about loneliness and help remove the stigma that still surrounds it.

New research from the charity suggests there's still a long way to go. A survey of 2,000 young adults aged 18 to 29 found that almost twice as many people would rather admit to feeling anxious than lonely. While 45% said they would openly talk about anxiety, only 26% felt comfortable admitting loneliness.

It's a striking reminder that even in a world where we speak more openly about mental wellbeing, loneliness can still feel deeply personal and difficult to admit.

Amy Perrin, CEO of Marmalade Trust, told That's Health that the campaign is about helping people understand that loneliness is a natural human experience rather than something to feel ashamed of. Sometimes simply saying the words out loud can be the first step towards feeling more connected.

Interestingly, the research also revealed that attitudes may be shifting in parts of the country. Londoners appeared more willing to acknowledge loneliness compared with the national average, suggesting that open conversations are beginning to break down old stereotypes.

To celebrate the anniversary year, Marmalade Trust hopes to inspire 10,000 connection activities across the UK. These could be anything from coffee mornings and community lunches to walks, school projects, workplace check-ins or simply spending time with neighbours and friends.

One of the most touching parts of this year’s campaign comes from disability activist and broadcaster Lucy Edwards, who has created a free children’s story called Ella Jones and the Birthday List. Designed for children aged seven and over, the story gently explores what loneliness can feel like and encourages young readers to find the words to talk about it.

And perhaps that is the heart of this year’s message. Loneliness does not always look obvious. It can happen in crowded rooms, busy workplaces or even surrounded by people who care about us. But once we give it a voice, we make it easier for others to understand, support and connect.

For more information about events and resources, visit Loneliness Awareness Week here https://www.lonelinessawarenessweek.org