Boy, 4, hospitalised after contracting parasite at petting farm
Gareth Carpenter and Kate Wiejak, from Bridgend, said their son Michael started to feel unwell after he visited Cowbridge Farm Shop, at Marlborough Grange Farm in the Vale of Glamorgan on April 11.
The family was on holiday in Malaga, Spain, three days after going to the farm, when Michael started getting symptoms of a cryptosporidium infection. He experienced a raised temperature and diarrhoea.
Wiejak told the BBC that the boy's grandmother blamed herself for taking him to the farm, but said she wished more information had been given about the potential risks to people attending
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Daily Mail
19 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Brits shouldn't be signed off work for anxiety and depression, says former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt
Former health secretary Sir Jeremy Hunt fears society is 'over medicalising' the impact of normal traumatic events – and warned against signing people off work with anxiety and depression. The Tory grandee, who held the role between 2012 and 2018, spoke out as the Government has faced stiff opposition from its own MPs against welfare reforms. People with mental health conditions are believed to account for around half of the rise in working age adults claiming disability benefits in England and Wales since the pandemic, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies. The number of working-age adults in England and Wales paid disability benefits rose by nearly 1million people to 2.9million between 2019 and 2024, with 7.5 per cent of 16- to 64-year-olds claiming. In a report in March, the Institute for Fiscal Studies calculated that about 500,000 of the rise is from mental health claimants. Sir Jeremy said that 'in some ways it's rather positive' that people talk openly about mental health issues. But he said: 'I do worry we are sometimes over-medicalising it. Everyone has trauma – bereavements, sometimes losing their jobs. That is not the same as mental illness. 'I think it's immoral we are signing off 3,000 people a day saying they don't have to look for work. The Tory MP, most recently Chancellor under Rishi Sunak (pictured) and who narrowly held onto his seat by 819 votes at last year's General Election, said: Everyone has trauma – bereavements, sometimes losing their jobs. That is not the same as mental illness' 'The majority of those have anxiety and depression and the one thing they need is social contact. If you sign them out of the world of work, their anxiety is going to get worse rather than better.' Sir Jeremy, speaking at the Buxton Literary Festival, Derbyshire, said the focus should be on supporting people with anxiety or depression so they can continue to work and lead their lives. The Tory MP, most recently Chancellor under Rishi Sunak and who narrowly held onto his seat by 819 votes at last year's General Election, added: 'What we should be doing is increasing mental health provision on the NHS. 'For that individual, it's far better but it's also better for Rachel Reeves when she's trying to make the numbers add up for her budget.' During the talk, Sir Jeremy backed current Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, saying his beleaguered party should not undergo another leadership change to improve its fortunes. He said: 'I don't think anyone else would have done much better. We've had four leaders in four years. If changing leader was the answer, we'd be doing much better in the polls than we are doing. 'We had the worst defeat in our history a year ago and it's going to take time for the country to give us a hearing again.' He urged Ms Badenoch to 'move on from contrition' to 'offering solutions' to Britain's problems. Sir Jeremy said: 'There's a football pitch-sized hole in politics for a party offering solutions. Labour is ducking decisions; Reform is not credible. 'I hope she [Kemi] turns things around but I recognise there's still a lot to do.' The MP, who represents Godalming and Ash, Surrey, ruled himself out of a return to frontline politics any time soon. He said: 'I made it clear to Kemi that I didn't wish to serve [in a front bench post in opposition] but if she wanted to bring me back before an election and if it would help, I would be around.' Jokingly, Sir Jeremy revealed being photographed more often with his pet labrador Poppy may have improved his poll ratings. The pet was pictured with the MP, his wife Lucia and their three children as they left 11 Downing Street for the final time following last July's election defeat. He said: 'Someone tweeted 'God, he's got a labrador, can I change the way I voted?'. That's the British public!'
Times
a day ago
- Times
Police verdict on their uniforms: poor design, ill-fitting and painful
Police officers have complained of crushed testicles, cuts and musculoskeletal damage caused by ill-fitting, uncomfortable uniforms. Officers responding to the first national uniform and equipment survey across all 43 forces in England and Wales reported symptoms so severe that some had to have operations. Ill-fitting trousers were highlighted as the most problematic and challenging item of clothing. The cargo trousers, worn by more than 12,000 officers, were described as potentially dangerous, creating health problems and injuries, such as crushed and cut genitals. The study was led by Camilla De Camargo and Stephanie Wallace of Lancaster University Law School, working with the Police Federation of England and Wales and the National Police Chiefs' Council. In the survey, which was carried out last year, 56 per cent of respondents reported having had a negative experience with their uniform. More than 60 per cent said their uniform restricted their movements or effectiveness. Only 20 per cent said they had a positive experience with the uniform. The standard-issue cargo trousers were the prime suspect for unhappy staff, as 69 per cent of respondents viewed them as problematic. • Only 1 in 20 muggings in London were solved last year 'They're not practical to search house[s] in and carry out stop searches when bending to floor/restraining someone on the floor,' one officer said. 'They teach us all these good restraints and moves in public safety training but I can't do half of them in these trousers.' Some respondents said their police uniform had contributed to physical health problems. The most common complaint for men was musculoskeletal pain affecting joints, bones and muscles. Almost 400 comments listed back pain, injuries and spasms and many attributed their pain to body armour or equipment. 'The poor design and restricted movement of the force-issued trousers, coupled with the weight and poor design of the cheap body armour, placed increasing load on my lower back and prevented me from bending at the knee properly,' one officer said. 'This led to a herniated disc and resulted in several months of sick leave … requiring extensive treatment.' • First force to face bankruptcy may have to cut 'bedrock of policing' Female officers reported problems with their uniforms, the stomach being an area of concern. The survey found the ill-fitting trousers were also restrictive in the hip, groin and upper-thigh areas for women. Many reported the trousers digging in at the crotch and in some extreme cases leading to blistering, swelling and cuts to their genitals. 'Honestly, if I left my job these [trousers] would be the number-one reason,' one respondent said. De Camargo said the researchers were 'shocked by the results but, unfortunately, not surprised'. She added: 'It is important to be able to highlight these issues on such a large scale. We hope this evidence can lead to impactful changes that improve the lives of uniform wearers.' Belinda Goodwin and Zac Mader, national board members of the Police Federation who worked closely with the researchers, said police chiefs needed to focus more on the comfort of their staff and that restrictive uniforms were stopping officers from keeping their communities safe. 'We ardently appeal to our employers and the government to wake up and take cognisance of the independent evidence obtained by this pioneering study to immediately devote resources to provide our officers with uniform that is fit for purpose and fit for all,' they said.
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
I was too fat for my FEET and had to be picked up after walking 100ft – now I've lost 16st after horror wake-up call
TIPPING the scales at 27st, Diane Blackmore was beset by health issues, ranging from the painful to the life-threatening. The 51-year-old struggled to walk more than 100ft and was devastated when she couldn't cuddle her baby niece. But a terrifying realisation about her own funeral proved the wake-up call she needed to transform her life and lose weight. 13 Her diet consisted of two breakfasts totalling around 2,000 calories, a plate piled up with pasta for lunch, and six main takeaway dishes with sides and starters for dinner. She and her husband, Peter, 55, would gorge on curry, rice, chips and poppadoms, indulging at the local all-you-can-eat buffet, scoffing three plates of starters, three mains and at least two rounds of dessert. Charity worker Diane, from South Wales, easily ate over 5,000 calories a day and it was severely impacting her life. She tells Sun Health: "I had so many medical conditions, including high blood pressure (on medication for 18 years), high cholesterol, borderline diabetes, plantar fasciitis, long term undiagnosed cough, skin conditions, anxiety and depression, long Covid and mobility issues." The great auntie could not do normal things, like put her baby niece on her lap, because her stomach was so overhanging. She was so fat she had to phone someone to pick her up in the car after walking 100ft. "At my heaviest there was very little I could do, I wasn't moving very much at all," she says. "I could barely walk 50 metres - I was walking with a stick. "I would sit in my car and wait for a car parking space to become available - even if it was for half an hour with the engine running. "The bigger I got - I got even lazier. I would do online shopping, sit at my computer to work and do no physical activity at all. Towie star Saffron Lempriere reveals how she lost 12 pounds in 4 weeks - without fat jabs "Really bad habits came into play and I had no movement whatsoever." Diane did not walk to the shops in her village for 21 years and had to put her feet in an ice bath every night and keep wet towels in the freezer to soothe them. It got to the point that she couldn't walk her dogs and the doctor suggested surgery or injections in her feet, which could not carry her weight. Three years ago, Diane decided enough was enough and began her weight loss journey. The final straw was that she felt like she would die soon because of her health, and was filled with dread that her family would not be able to carry her coffin. She had seen it happen at a funeral before and did not want to be remembered that way. After slimming down, Diane, who now weighs 11st and wears size 12 clothes, says: "It has been totally life changing for me. "I couldn't even walk more to the end of my road at the start of my journey without being out of breath. "I am now medical condition free, taking no medication whatsoever and to be honest, this is more important to me than the weight I have lost." Diane has been battling her weight since she was a teenager. She says: "I would lose weight and put it on. Every time I slimmed down, I put on a bit more. "I had the wrong idea about food - I had tried to get rid of carbs." 13 13 Three years ago, Diane came across a healthy eating plan on Instagram. "It taught me that everything was OK in moderation," she says, adding that she lost weight by: Cutting out snacking completely Filling up on three meals a day Prioritising home cooked meals Eating very few processed foods Focusing on protein After two years on the plan, having lost 8st, Diane's weight loss plateaued, and she looked for a new challenge. In the summer of 2023, Diane joined her local gym, Snap Fitness, where she found a supportive community that propelled her fitness journey to new heights. With the guidance of personal trainers and participation in extensive group exercise classes, Diane lost a further 8st. She has since become a powerlifter - she can leg press an astounding 445kg and perform lunges with 50kg dumbbells. 'It's saved my life' "The trainers and other gym members have been incredible," she says. "I've made friends with teens through to people in their 70s because we all share a common goal and enjoy exercising. "Their support has made all the difference and kept me going on this journey." Her achievements have not gone unnoticed with other gym members who are in awe of her progress. The 5 best exercises to lose weight By Lucy Gornall, personal trainer and health journalist EXERCISE can be intimidating and hard to devote yourself to. So how do you find the right workout for you? As a PT and fitness journalist, I've tried everything. I've taken part in endless fitness competitions, marathons and I maintain a regime of runs, strength training and Pilates. Fitness is so entrenched in my life, I stick to it even at Christmas! The key is finding an activity you love that can become a habit. My top five forms of exercise, especially if you're trying to lose weight, are: Walking Running Pilates High-intensity interval training (HIIT) Strength training Diane says: "Being an overweight middle-aged woman entering a gym is extremely daunting but I was greeted by lovely smiles; everyone was very reassuring, knowledgeable and helpful too. "I knew I needed a PT to help me, and to be honest, I'd rather spend money on my fitness than buying a Chinese, Indian or pizza takeaway regularly like the old me. "My trainer, Christian Cox, has pushed me to do things I would never have dreamed of. "He has been absolutely amazing; he genuinely cares and I wouldn't be doing this without people like him in my world. "It's like a gym family and it's a beautiful community. "People often ask me how I afford a PT, I answer back in many ways. "'How can I afford not to? It's saved my life, it's changed my life'." 13 13 13 13 13 The best sources of protein PROTEIN is found in everything from tuna to baked beans. As a guide, the NHS says the following foods contain: Beef mince (140g) - 28g Battered cod (180g) - 25g Tinned tuna in oil (100g drained) - 25g Salmon (100g) - 23g Lamb chop (70g) - 20g Tofu (80g) - 19g Quorn (100g) - 13g Roasted peanuts (50g) - 13g Chicken breast (40g) - 11g Cheddar cheese (40g) - 10g Cow's milk (half pint) - 10g Soya milk (half pint) - 9g Baked beans (150g) - 8g Yoghurt (125g) - 7g Egg (one) - 7g Peanut butter (25g) - 6g Green lentils (40g) - 4g
