Pensioners warned of scam

This article appeared on http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk

VULNERABLE residents are being targeted by a rogue company offering mobility aids.

Elderly people have paid out thousands of pounds after being cold-called by an organisation claiming to be linked to social and health services in Stoke-on-Trent.

Representatives are even taking pensioners directly to the bank as they look to make a sale.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council's Trading Standards department has been receiving up to three complaints a day about the company and its "aggressive" sales practices since becoming aware of the problem two weeks ago.

And it has now teamed up with Staffordshire Police and NHS North Staffordshire to warn residents they could be paying over the odds for unnecessary products.

An investigation has now been launched into the company – which has not been named at this stage by the authorities – and its practices.

Trading Standards advice manager Val Edmonds said: "We think they are moving about, but they are targeting Stoke-on-Trent at the moment."

It is believed the firm, which is not local, moves from area to area, having obtained phone contact details for vulnerable people. Last week, calls were concentrated around Bucknall, but the problem has now spread city-wide.

After phone contact is made, the caller asks questions about benefits received, if the person is living alone and sometimes claims to be acting for Social Services. Residents are then being offered a mobility assessment and a sales visit is arranged.

During that appointment, an attempt is made sell expensive and unnecessary mobility products, including stair and bath lifts.

Ms Edmonds advised people never to give out personal information over the phone and said the proper authorities will always arrange a meeting.

She added: "If a contract is signed at home, the customer has seven days in which to change their mind and have their deposit refunded. But one person was told they must not cancel or the salesman would get into trouble. People are also being given the offer of going to the bank."

Derek Pamment, associate direct of operations at NHS North Staffordshire, urged residents not to agree to any visits from these companies.

He added: "NHS staff will always show their identification badge before entering a person's home and are happy to have their identity verified."

A Staffordshire Police spokesman said the force had received a number of calls about the company.

He said: "We are working with Trading Standards officers and urge anyone who is contacted by a company offering mobility products – even if they have made an appointment – not to allow them in.

"Residents should seek support from family or neighbours and, as always when anyone calls unexpectedly, keep the chain on. If you still need help, call the police immediately."

If you have recently received a similar phone call or visit from a mobility company, you can call Stoke-on-Trent Trading Standards on (01782) 232065 or Staffordshire County Council Trading Standards on 07773 792252. Staffordshire Police's non-emergency contact number is 0300 123 4455.

Reconditioned Stairlifts

Dolphin Stairlifts will supply and install straight reconditioned stairlifts for £900.00, including a 2 year parts and labour warranty (Office Hours Service). You usually only get 12 months on a new stairlift. The price does not include power point or options such as hinged rails. Click on the links below for more details.

Reconditioned Meditek Stairlift
Reconditioned Stannah Stairlift
Reconditioned Minivator Stairlift

The following options will incur further charges of:

Power Point - £90
Reconditoned Powered Hinge Straight - £100.00
Reconditoned Powered Swivel Straight - £50.00

For more information call Dolphin on 0800 9800 126.

Prism Medical Announces Acquisition of Distributor of Moving and Handling Products

VAUGHAN, ONTARIO /PRAvenueNW/ -- PRISM MEDICAL LTD. (TSX-V: PM) ("Prism") today announced that it has completed the acquisition of a distributor of moving and handling products for the mobility impaired effective April 17, 2009. The acquisition cost was approximately $1.936 million which was satisfied by a cash payment of $1.086 million and a vendor take-back promissory note in the amount of $0.85 million. The note is payable in three equal annual installments together with interest at 8% over a term of three years. In addition to the purchase price, the vendors are entitled to an earn-out amount based on the performance of the acquired business over the next 5 years.

The distributor has been in operation for 12 years. It distributes a variety of non-mechanical safe patient handling and movement products. The products include ceiling lifts, floor lifts, tubs, beds and repositioning aids. Products are sold for use in institutions and homecare.

The acquisition is an arm’s length transaction. The former shareholders of the distributor have entered into employment contracts and will continue to be responsible for day-to-day operations.

Andrew A. Mclntyre, Chairman and CEO of Prism stated, "The acquisition marks another step in the strategic expansion of our geographic and institutional client base. In addition it will strengthen our management and sales team and is anticipated to be accretive to earnings in the current fiscal year."

Forward-looking Information

Certain statements in this release may constitute forward-looking statements. Such forwardlooking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

About Prism

Prism Medical Ltd. is a provider of durable medical equipment and related services to the mobility disadvantaged in Canada, the U.S.A. and the United Kingdom. While Prism's history dates back to 1996, Prism's subsidiaries and divisions have been servicing the mobility disadvantaged since the mid 1980s in their homes, long-term care facilities and acute care facilities. Prism includes Waverley Glen and ErgoSafe Products, North America's premier lifting & handling equipment and repositioning aid manufacturer with distribution across Canada and the U.S., Westholme and Care Free Lifting & Handling, leading distributors of moving and handling products in the UK, and Freeway Health Care, a UK-based manufacturer of ceiling hoists and shower chairs. Please visit http://www.prismmedicalltd.com for more information.

Accessories for Oxford Hoists

Weigh Scale (Pro Series)

The controls are simple and straightforward to use. The Oxford/Hoyer Digital Scale is powered by an inexpensive 9 volt disposable battery, which will provide approximately 3000 weighing operations before replacement will be necessary.

Joerns Healthcare accessories for Oxford Hoists

Weigh Scale (Steel)

The Oxford Digital Scale is a technologically advanced, microprocessor controlled, digital weighing device. It features a large, easy to read, Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) that can be set to show the patient's weight in kilograms. The controls are simple and straightforward to use. The Oxford Digital Scale is powered by an inexpensive disposable battery, which will provide thousands of weighing operations before replacement becomes necessary.

Three men in a boat (or is that canoe?)

100-mile charity effort in aid of motor neurone disease

Three men in a boat plan to paddle more than 100 miles for charity despite the fact that none of them have any experience on the water.

Friends Cliff Elbourne, 42, Rob Hammond, 33 and Dave Simm, 26, plan to set off in a tiny Canadian canoe from Buckingham on April 25 and follow the River Great Ouse down through Bedfordshire, across The Fens and out into the North Sea through The Wash in Norfolk.

None of the men have ever stepped into a canoe before, but are willing to rough the choppy spring waters in order to raise £5,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MND).

Mr Elbourne, landlord of Ye Three Fishes pub in Turvey, said: "We have no previous experience in a canoe, but we are spending the month before we set off practicing.

"It's still quite daunting, but we can all swim and we have life jackets."

The trio chose to raise money for the MND Association after their friend Colin Knight was diagnosed with the condition a few years ago.

Mr Elbourne added: "I have a very good friend in the village who has Motor Neurone Disease and it has really been brought to my attention.

"Two or three years ago before it happened to him I would not have known anything about Motor Neurone Disease so this is about raising money and awareness too.

"We are aiming for £5,000, as that would buy two stairlifts for somebody. The hardest thing is sufferers are still the same mentally but they lose mobility, which when you are used to doing something is really hard.

"This will be a task for us, but because we are physically able, we should give it a go."

The trio plan to complete the adventure in five to six days, stopping off at Ye Three Fishes on April 25 for a fundraising bon voyage party.

As well as the hog roast, live music and a raffle, the pub has organised a charity auction with lots including goodie bags from record label EMI, signed Radio 1 merchandise and Bodyflight experiences.

The canoe will also be auctioned off after the fundraising adventure is complete.

Anyone who would like to sponsor the trio can do so by visiting www.justgiving.co.uk/canoetheouse

Facts about MND:

1) MND is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks the upper and lower motor neurones and weakens the muscles.

2) It can affect the use of your arms, legs, speech and respiratory system as bodily functions disintegrate, with the nerve cells being destroyed.

3) Approximately three people a day die of MND in the UK.

4) Approximately 5,000 individuals in the UK live with MND.

5) Approximately three people in the UK are diagnosed with MND every day.

By Paul Fisher http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk

Swimathon April 2009

Swimathon is the World's largest swimming fundraising event and has raised in excess of £30million in the last 21 years! Swimathon 2008 will be held between 17-20 April 2008. Call 0845 36 700 36 for more details.

Changing Places

The Changing Places Consortium has launched a campaign on behalf of the thousands of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities and their carers, and the many other disabled people who cannot use standard accessible toilets.

They need Changing Places toilets. These are toilets with enough space for disabled people and their carers, and the right equipment, including a height adjustable changing bench and a hoist.

There are almost no public Changing Places toilets in the UK. Providing these toilets in public places would make a dramatic difference to the lives of thousands of people who desperately need these facilities. Sometimes you just need to change one thing to open up a world of possibility.

The time for change is NOW.

For more information on the campaign go to http://www.changing-places.org/

AXS Pool Lift - Actuator Video

Available in the UK from Dolphin Lifts the current retail price is £4038 excluding transport costs, installation and VAT. For more information contact Dolphin on 0800 9800 126.

DHAIS Plc - Acquisition - Keep Able Retail

Acquisition, Keep Able Retail

Third mobility business acquisition solidifies position in retail

Further to the announcement on 2 March 2009, DHAIS Plc, ('DHAIS') a UK leader in the marketing and retail of hearing and mobility products, announces the completion of the acquisition of Keep Able Retail from Keep Able Limited, a national mobility centre company in administration. Keep Able Retail comprised 13 mobility centres across the UK which provided disability aids and mobility products together with home assessment services. Based in the West Midlands, Keep Able Retail also operated a relatively small online store and mail order business.

The acquisition consideration was GBP 220,390 payable in cash of which GBP161,300 was for stock.

Goodwill of GBP 19,090 was included in the acquisition price, and GBP 40,000
paid for fixtures, fittings, equipment and customer records. The funding of this acquisition was by way of existing cash reserves and was undertaken via DHAIS's wholly owned subsidiary Hearing Health and Mobility Ltd.

Keep Able Retail achieved turnover of GBP 2.8 million in the year to 30 September 2008 but suffered a loss of GBP 300k. The Directors believe that following the acquisition, a restructuring programme under the DHAIS formula will rejuvenate the business and return it to profitability.

Moreover, DHAIS is confident that through group integration this acquisition will prove to be earnings enhancing given the anticipated synergies going forward.Mark Moss, Chairman, commented: 'While DHAIS has historically operated as a freelance marketing company, we are of the opinion that our sales lead generating capabilities are well suited to the mobility and health sectors and we are actively expanding in these areas.

'Furthermore, over the past few months we have completed three acquisitions inthe retail health sector and solidified our position firmly with our hearing and mobilitycentres based throughout the UK. We are committed to building a diversified business with our focus on shareholder value.'

30 March 2009
Enquiries: DHAIS Plc 029 2066 6888
Amin Kiddy, Finance Director
Haggie Financial LLP 020 7417 8989
Nicholas Nelson/Kathy Boate
PLUS Advisor: 020 7251 3762
Alfred Henry Corporate Finance Ltd
Jon Isaacs/Nick Michaels

The Directors accept responsibility for this announcement.