
Woman's death exposes need for ME care reforms
This commitment follows the death of 27-year-old Maeve Boothby-O'Neill, who died from severe malnutrition due to ME, prompting a coroner to highlight systemic issues.
The inquest into Miss Boothby-O'Neill's death revealed a critical lack of specialist beds, 'extremely limited' training for doctors, and insufficient funding for ME/CFS research and treatment.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is set to publish a new plan outlining steps to improve patient care, including new training for NHS staff and investment in research.
While public health minister Ashley Dalton welcomed the plan, the charity Action for ME criticised it for not going 'far enough,' advocating for a dedicated, funded research hub to find treatments and cures.

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BBC News
16 minutes ago
- BBC News
One in six South West children 'bitten by a pet'
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Daily Mail
16 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Mysterious condition reappears as Trump visits Scotland amid concerns over his chronic diagnosis
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The makeup covering those bruises has been visible in multiple press photos throughout Trump's trip. Once again, the president appears to be using a lot of concealer to keep the bruise from showing up when he announced a new trade deal with the EU. The makeup appeared to be concealing a raised circular area of skin that Trump's team may have been eager to hide. Earlier this month, in a surprise statement from the podium during a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the president was checked out by his doctor after noticeable 'swelling' and revealed that Trump has been diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency.' The splotch has been visible on other occasions throughout the past month, sparking a new round of questions about the cause. The makeup appeared to be concealing a raised circular area of skin. Leavitt said during her rare medical update that the president recently ' noticed mild swelling in the lower legs' and 'in keeping with routine medical care and out of the abundance of caution,' he was evaluated by the White House medical unit. He underwent a 'comprehensive examination' which included 'diagnostic vascular studies.' 'Bilateral, lower extremity ultrasounds were performed and revealed chronic venous insufficiency,' Leavitt stated. She said it's a 'common condition' in individuals over the age of 70 and there was 'no evidence' of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease. 'The president remains in excellent health,' Leavitt said overall. 'Importantly, there was no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease,' she added. Leavitt said in response to a question that there was 'no discomfort from the president at all.' She then pointed to his daily activities. 'And you probably all see that on a day-to-day basis, he's working around the clock. As for the treatment, I can defer to the president's physician,' she said. The letter released by White House Physician Sean Barbarella, DO, references 'mild swelling' in Trump's lower legs, and states the diagnosis emerged after a series of vascular studies. Neither Leavitt nor the letter addressed whether Trump would have to modify any of his routines, which include frequent golfing at his private courses on weekends, and his trademark dance moves to 'Y.M.C.A.' when he addresses rally crowds. Leavitt said there was 'no discomfort' for the president at all. Officials have previously mentioned Trump's frequent handshaking – Trump regularly interacts with a large number of people at White House events and when he travels – as the cause of the bruising, but have not previously identified the aspirin issue. The bruising had stayed with Trump from the presidential campaign through his return to the White House. It had even been spotted during Trump's Manhattan court fight in the Stormy Daniels case. According to the Cleveland Clinic, chronic venous insufficiency occurs when leg veins are damaged, making it more difficult for blood to return to the heart. It 'causes blood to pool in your leg veins, leading to high pressure in those veins.' The condition is fairly common, affecting one in 20 adults, and the risk increases with age. It can lead to achy legs, a feeling of 'pins and needles,' cramping, swelling and itching, as well as 'Leathery-looking skin on your legs.' Up to half the people who have had deep vein thrombosis later develop post-thrombotic syndrome within a year or two. That relates to scar tissue that can develop after a blood clot. Trump was the oldest person to take the Oath of Office when he was sworn in in January at age 78. He has said repeatedly that his predecessor Joe Biden, 82, had no idea what he was doing and this week opened a probe into an alleged 'cover-up' through his use of an autopen for a series of commutations. Trump reposted an item in May calling Biden a 'decrepit corpse,' days after Biden got a prostate cancer diagnosis. Trump has made a point of demonstrating his own physical and mental vigor – taking question after question from reporters inside the Oval Office, sometimes speaking for up to an hour.


BBC News
16 minutes ago
- BBC News
Norfolk family's anger at disabled parking badge refusal
A woman said she could not understand why her mother had been repeatedly denied a blue badge, despite severe mobility Williamson from Hilgay, Norfolk, said her 87-year-old mother had several health issues and needed the disabled parking badge following three hip case was being supported by MP Terry Jermy, who said "significant concern" had been raised about Norfolk County Council's processing of blue badge council said it followed national guidance issued by the Department of Transport (DfT) and it was "unable to issue badges based purely on a diagnosed condition". Mrs Williamson said the family had applied for a Blue Badge for Jean Hewitt on four occasions, but had been rejected each time: "She's had three hip replacements in the last 20 years - obviously with her age they're deteriorating again."She walks with a limp because of her hips and she has to have a mobility aid for walking." Mrs Williamson said that when she took her mother into town for shopping, she would have to drop her off in the street – then find a parking space before returning to guidance states that you may be eligible for a badge if you find walking very difficult due to pain, or if you rely on mobility aids."It just makes us feel very angry – that when you get to that age and you've worked all your life and not claimed for a single thing - then you ask for one thing to help and you're being refused," said Mrs badges - which allows their holders to park in places other people cannot – are in high demand, with about 15,000 issued in Norfolk every county council said it employed "dedicated investigators" to ensure the system was not abused. Jermy, the South West Norfolk Labour MP, said dozens of his constituents – with serious and long-term medical conditions - had been rejected: "People who are seriously ill are not getting the help they need."This is even more important for people living in rural areas like ours where the lack of public transport compounds issues."A spokesman for the council said it did not comment on individual cases but it followed the government's guidance on blue badge requests and "any changes in how these assessments are carried out would need to come from central government"."We sympathise with the hardships faced by those applying - many of whom have complex and challenging medical concerns."Unfortunately, the guidance dictates that we are unable to issue badges based purely on a diagnosed condition."The DfT was asked for comment. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.