Sovereign Health Care news feed

53% of Yorkshire workers more stressed than they were 18 months ago

27% of the region’s employers do not recognise that staff are suffering from stress New research has revealed that 53% of employees in Yorkshire and Humberside are more stressed than they were 18 months ago, due to the economic climate causing greater workloads and increased pressure in the workplace.

Tough spending decisions ahead as pressure on family budgets increase

In the next two years, the average Yorkshire household will be over a thousand pounds worse off. Higher taxes, national insurance, mortgage payments and inflation will all eat into the average family's disposable income, leaving them with far less to spend on essentials such as health care treatment.

Sovereign Health Care donation funds summer workshops for local children

Skipton Extended Learning For All (SELFA) - which supports local disabled, disadvantaged and vulnerable children - was awarded £6,780 by the Sovereign Health Care Charitable Trust, after the Trust’s board became aware of the charity’s needs.

Yorkshire firm helps keep ambulances in the air

Yorkshire based Sovereign Health Care has donated £25,000 to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA), taking the total amount that the firm has donated over the last ten years, to in excess of £320,000.

Wish they were here

UK workers set to embark on the most stressful period of the year This weekend will see the greatest number of UK workers embarking on their summer holidays , leaving colleagues back in the office facing the most stressful period of the corporate calendar.

Important information effective from 1 July 2011

Transfer of policy administration from ‘Sovereign Health Care’ to 'Sovereign Health and Insurance Services Limited’ In order to improve our company processes and meet regulatory requirements we have created a new subsidiary company, Sovereign Health and Insurance Services Limited (SHISL). SHISL is wholly owned by Sovereign Health Care and has the same management structure.

Alzheimer's Research UK benefit from £1500 donation

Alzheimer’s Research UK, the UK’s leading dementia research charity, has received a boost of £1,500 from the Bradford-based Sovereign Health Care Charitable Trust. This generous donation will be used towards pioneering research to find ways to diagnose, prevent, treat and cure dementia.

Healthy donation for Hollybank Trust from cash plan provider

A charity which works with some of the most vulnerable members of society is set to benefit from a donation of £15,000, which will be used to provide specialist assisted-living equipment in a new £3m residential development in Mirfield.

5 a day way to heart and bowel health

April is Bowel Cancer Awareness month it’s the perfect time to make you aware of what you can do to reduce your risk of developing this disease as well as other types of cancer and heart disease. Bowel cancer is the second most common cancer in women and the third most common cancer in men.

Cancelled dental appointments rise

More people are risking severe oral health problems by cancelling or deferring dental appointments, according to research by the British Dental Association (BDA). Commenting on the findings, Russ Piper, Chief Executive at Sovereign Health Care says that ignoring your oral health is not only unhealthy, but potentially more expensive in the long run.

Jewels cheer at sponsorship deal

A troupe of cheerleaders with learning disabilities has secured a sponsor to allow it to compete in the world championships in the US. Bradford health company Sovereign Health Care has agreed to be corporate backers of The Jewels, which was set up by Bradford District Care Trust.

Heart Healthy Valentine’s Day

Don’t let your Valentine’s Day cause you a headache or heartache, use your pennies wisely and discover the joys of an ‘in house’ Valentine’s evening to keep your loved one’s heart in shape and beating just for you.

Don't let stress break your heart

Stress is one of the most common known causes of heart problems. With this in mind, Sovereign Health Care has teamed up with the Bradford Bulls Rugby Club to support National Heart Month and urge people to stop stressing and start exercising for a healthy heart.

Stress Down Day

We’ve all experienced stress at some point in our lives and Friday 4 February is Stress Down Day which is a good time for us all to put our personal wellbeing first. Around 400,000 people in the UK admit to experiencing work-related stress and, whilst some levels of stress can be tolerated, prolonged periods of stress can increase the risk of developing heart disease.

Sickies soar in January

It’s isn’t just Blue Monday that sees the number of sickies soar. A new poll has revealed that more people will take an unwarranted day off work this month than any other, with women being the most likely sex to ‘pull a sickie’, often giving an embarrassing reason for doing so to avoid any unwanted questions.

Sovereign Health Care urges people to gain an understanding of obesity

As obesity rates in Britain continue to rise and related illnesses soar, Sovereign Health Care is urging individuals to understand and tackle this issue more, in support of National Obesity Week (Mon 17th January – Sunday 30th January).

The Shay see Siddal soar to victory

The third match in the Sovereign Health Care 5-a-side Schools Tournament ended in a 5-0 win to Siddal Primary School on Saturday 20th November. The victorious team were playing Holywell Green at The Shay at half time during the Halifax Town v North Ferriby United match in front of a 1,600 strong crowd.

Keighley Cougars' community programme proves a roaring success!

Hundreds of schoolchildren are benefitting from an inspirational community programme delivered by the might of rugby league club Keighley Cougars. Club charity – the Community Cougars Foundation – uses the power of sport to inspire, educate and motivate youngsters from across Keighley and Craven.

Harrogate and District NHS Trust Foundation donation

Bradford based cash plan provider Sovereign Health Care recently donated £3,500 to the Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust. Sandra Dodson chairman of the Trust accepted the donation, which will be used to purchase medical equipment and for nurse training.

Beat those winter blues

Winter is closing in and the darker gloomier days threaten to dampen our spirits. Without daily sunlight exposure, the winter blues can easily set in and 1 in 15 of us in the UK will suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, (SAD Syndrome), a condition that can lead to depression, fatigue and, sometimes, craving for carbohydrate or sweet foods, which then leads to weight gain.

New hands-on learning park proves a hit with primary youngsters

Hundreds of schoolchildren across Bradford are to benefit from a special outdoor classroom which delivers lessons with a twist. Lower Fields Primary School has opened a £50,000 ‘Kinaesthetic Adventure Park’, the first of its kind in a UK primary school. The park offers pupils hands-on experiences through a range of activities that focus on a number of cross curricular subjects.

Bradshaw Primary School secure 6-0 win

Bradshaw Primary School secured victory against Savile Park Primary School last night in the second match of the Sovereign Health Care 5-a-side Schools Tournament. The game, which took place at the Shay during halftime of Halifax Town’s home match against Bradford Park Avenue, finished 6-0 to the school from Bradshaw.

An apple a day kepps the doctor away

On October 21st the UK will be celebrating one of the nation’s greatest fruits. We produce nearly 148,000 tonnes of apples each year and with hundreds of varieties available, there’s no reason not to eat this nutrient rich food.

A win for Withinfields Primary School

The first match in the Sovereign Health Care 5-a-side Schools Tournament kicked off on Saturday 9th October with a win for Withinfields Primary School. Withinfields were playing Rawson Primary School in the 10 minute match and took the lead after the match went to sudden death penalties. The final score was 2-1 to the school from Southowram, Halifax. The first match in this season long tournament was well received by both schools that took part.

Company health insurance - heart of the matter

A company’s workforce is its biggest asset so what better way to reward your employees than with a healthy heart check. Sign up to Sovereign Health Care’s corporate health care cash plan, go-active and you can do just that!

Asthma UK receives £5,000 boost from Sovereign Health Care

Asthma UK – the charity dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of the 5.4 million people in the UK whose lives are affected by asthma – has received a £5,000 donation from Bradford-based health care specialists Sovereign Health Care to help fund its vital work.

Dental health care - Too busy to brush?

A recent poll on Sovereign Health Care’s website has revealed that 80% of people questioned put off going to the dentist because they were worried about the cost. It’s not just those visiting Sovereign Health Care’s website that don’t care for their teeth properly, research commissioned by The British Dental Health Foundation also found that an astonishing one in three adults in the UK do not brush their teeth properly.

British boil a billion eggs

Whether you like them scrambled, poached, fried or boiled, it’s all about eggs this month. Figures released to mark British Egg Week (4-10 October) estimate that we will eat more than a billion eggs this October, as it fast becomes the month to rival Easter for the volume of eggs consumed.

Healthy heart packed lunches

The kids are back at school and many parents may have fallen into the easy routine of sending their children with basic sandwiches, crisps, chocolate bars and fizzy drinks. Packed lunches don’t have to be boring and unhealthy, with some imagination you can make them tasty and good for hearts and bodies.

Know your numbers

There are no symptoms to indicate you may have high blood pressure so it’s important to get yours checked regularly and keep it under control. An ideal blood pressure reading is 140/90 or below and, because high blood pressure adds extra strain on your arteries, this can increase your risk of heart disease, angina or even a heart attack

Unsung heroes receive recognition they deserve

Unsung heroes working in Bradford’s health service stepped into the spotlight to be crowned winners of the Hospital Oscars & Team of the Year awards

Budding footballer's chance to play at FC Halifax Town

FC Halifax Town and Sovereign Health Care are calling on Primary Schools in Calderdale to take part in the inaugural Sovereign Health Care 5-a-Side Tournament. The tournament, which will take place throughout the 2010-2011 football season, is free to enter and is open to all primary schools in Calderdale and is for girls and boys age 7 – 11

FC Halifax Town names Sovereign Health Care as sponsor for 2010-2011 season

FC Halifax Town has announced Sovereign Health Care’s continued support as one of the club’s official shirt sponsors for the 2010-2011 football season. Bradford-based Sovereign Health Care has sponsored the club for the last three seasons and the new deal allows the company to continue to support the club by featuring on the back of both the home and away shirts.

Young carers take time to tee off

It looks like Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood might have competition for their Ryder Cup places as a group of eight Kirklees young people tee off at Bradford Golf Club.

Sovereign Health Care backs One in a Million

One in a Million has organised a footballing extravaganza to rival South Africa 2010. The charity, which is based at Valley Parade and is committed to improving the lives of children and young people from the most disadvantaged background, is hosting the England Homeless World Cup team Vs their very own Celebrity 11 team.

Dark chocolate the way to a woman's healthy heart?

Many of us love chocolate and up until now we all thought that we had to stay away from it to stay healthy. Most of us like to treat ourselves and the good news is that recent research suggests that a moderate intake of good quality chocolate containing a high percentage of cocoa solids of 70% or more, may help prevent heart failure in older women.

Listen to your gut - Love your heart

Life can often be very hectic and certain lifestyle factors like stress and our food choices can lead to an unhappy gut, bloating and constipation and, if you’re not looking after your gut then your heart might take a knock too. Gut Week is the perfect time to make some changes for an overall healthier you.

Quit now and save your heart

As the Government no longer plans to extend the smoking ban and protect children in public places and vehicles from the dangers of passive smoking, it’s time to take responsibility and stub that nub

Disabled young athletes receive a £5,000 cash boost

Young disabled athletes broke off from a mini-Olympics tournament at Titus Salts School in Baildon to accept a donation on behalf of the group that supports them, Bradford Disability Sports and Leisure (BDSL).

Health care company puts city in the pink

Bradford based health care specialists, Sovereign Health Care have stepped in to help Bradford City FC by funding the provision of additional medical equipment. As City director, Roger Owen explained, “We have moved our reserve team games to Eccleshill for the coming season and the Eccleshill staff have gone out of their way to help the transition by funding improvements to Plumpton Park.

Dig your way to a healthy heart

Did you know that one hour of gardening can burn off around 290 calories? That is equivalent to having a piece of chocolate cake. Simple lifestyle changes such as eating healthily, reducing salt intake, exercising and not smoking, can help reduce our risk of heart disease which remains the biggest killer in the UK.

Scrumptious hearty salads

Whilst the sun is shining now’s the perfect time to go al fresco with a heart-healthy picnic. Salads are at the heart of every picnic and make a scrumptious and refreshing way to top up your 5-a-day and stock up on heart-healthy vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Double appointment at Sovereign Health Care

Bradford based Sovereign Health Care has appointed Mike Bower as the organisation’s new chairman of the board. Mike takes over from outgoing chairman Mark Hudson.

TV donation at Starbeck School

Pupils at Springwater School in Harrogate have taken delivery of a brand new 32" Sony flat screen television. The TV, which was donated by Bradford based health care cash plan provider Sovereign Health Care, will be the star raffle prize at the school's summer disco in July.

Sovereign Health Care increases profit and turnover

One of the oldest companies in Bradford is predicting sales growth of up to 30% in 2010. Health care cash plan provider Sovereign Health Care, established in 1873, had a turnover of £10.8m in 2009, with an operating profit of £800,000. It also increased the number of new customers by 4,733. Now the not-for-dividend organisation, is aiming to increase its customer base from 70,000 to 100,000 over the next five to seven years.

Sovereign staff fit for fun

Big hearted employers Sovereign Health Care made sure their staff were feeling fighting fit for the Christmas festivities by organising on-site heart checks by lifestyle consultants at Heart Research UK.

Sovereign spreads some Christmas cheer

The first Christmas donations gifted by Sovereign Health Care have been presented to the region's community and health-related charities

Hoggard swings in to specialist sports school

Students from Haycliffe specialist sports college in Bradford were bowled over to receive the gift of a professional cricket lesson and match with top Yorkshire cricketer Matthew Hoggard.