Study investigates how to support grieving families
The group of hospices said it was one of only two in the country to have created a specialist bereavement service for families whose child had died suddenly or unexpectedly.Nick described the support from the hospice's counselling programme as "phenomenal".Now the £1.2m-study from Shooting Star, called Quinet, will see researchers run a national survey of bereaved parents.The team will also interview health professionals and other caregivers as part of the study that involves the universities of Surrey, Central Lancashire and Birmingham.
Anne-Sophie Darlington, co-lead investigator for the study, said: "Surprisingly little is understood about the very complex needs of families when they experience the deep trauma of the sudden death of a child and it is crucial that we gain evidence about their care needs and what helps them cope in the longer term."The study will make recommendations for change in 2027.
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Daily Mail
12 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Mother was 'stuck in hell' as NHS hospital staff refused to wash her while she lay in bed with broken back
A mother who was paralysed in a freak fundraising accident was left to fester in her own faeces for days after hospital staff refused to clean her. Cheryll Rich, 38, broke her back after tumbling into a canal lock last summer and was unable to move anything from the waist down. She was sent to St Mary's Hospital in London for emergency spinal surgery before moving into Basildon University Hospital's 'notorious' Linford Ward to recover. But while here, Ms Rich said medics 'dehumanised' her, refusing to wash her, change her heavily soiled hospital gowns, replace her water for five days or answer her desperate cries for help. Her horrified partner, Jack Barnes, 51, was forced to clean the mess off his stricken lover himself after hospital staff 'handed him a bowl of water and told him to go do it'. The hospital's director of nursing has since issued an apology to Ms Rich for the 'distress' and 'unacceptable' treatment she received during her nightmare five-day stay on the ward, last September. Speaking out for the first time about her ordeal, wheelchair-bound Ms Rich told the Daily Mail: 'I felt like I wasn't a human. I felt dehumanised and demoralised. I felt the lowest point I possibly could have been. 'I was on my monthly cycle and my other half had to clean me when I was not only covered in faeces but in blood too. From the bottom of my back and up to my bum – all over my stitches and everything – it was covered in faeces. 'My catheter hadn't been changed for days; they didn't change my water jug for five days - I wasn't even worthy of water. You've gone from being physically able to absolutely helpless. 'You look at the NHS and its staff as someone there to help you. But I felt I had done something really wrong, like I was in the way, like I was a burden.... It's like I had done a really horrific crime. They treated me like a criminal. 'I felt like I was stuck in hell.' Cheryll's nightmare started on August 8, last year. She had been helping her partner as he kayaked from Liverpool to London to raise money for Little Havens children's hospice, in Essex. She was in a support kayak with her daughter, Misty, 12, and was opening the lock when a platform gave way and she tumbled 7ft to the ground, breaking her spine. She was rushed to A&E in Watford before she was transferred to St Mary's for an emergency spinal operation, and after six days - which included three in intensive care - she was moved to Basildon to recover. But here she says staff on the Linford Ward treated her with disdain, 'rolling their eyes' when she asked for help, while vaping, playing loud music, and eating takeaways in the ward at night. She needed to be turned every two hours to prevent bedsores but she was unable to do this herself due to her injury. However, she claimed hospital staff treated her 'roughly' when they needed to do the procedure before then leaving her to try and do it herself. On one occasion, Ms Rich says she used a buzzer to call for help before being greeted by a male medical assistant who 'burst into the room with such an angry look'. 'I was petrified. He walked in and threw the buzzer over the back of the bed. Then he stormed off,' she said. When Ms Rich used her phone to call the ward, she said staff laughed at her and told her they 'couldn't believe you had to ring us'. 'I felt completely humiliated and helpless,' she added. Ms Rich claims her room had no curtain and that when she was eventually changed, it was in 'full view' of the public outside. Speaking of how staff allegedly refused to wash her, she said: 'I was left feeling scared, unclean and desperately in need of washing. Despite expressing my concerns about body odour and the state of my hygiene, my requests were ignored.' In a letter to the hospital - seen by the Mail - she wrote: 'My partner offered to come and help wash me. When he arrived, it became evident I had soiled myself due to the lack of care. A staff member handed him a bowl and cleaning sachet without providing proper assistance and said to him 'help yourself'.' Ms Rich's partner Jack said he was appalled by what Cheryll had to endure, adding it left him in 'floods of tears'. 'Her dignity means something, and she lost of all that. She was covered in faeces and crying her eyes out. It was so embarrassing,' he told the Mail. 'To see her like this and not being able to do something, it was heartbreaking.' He added: 'I had to stay strong and shield my emotions and feelings. But the emotions I felt were indescribable. I was sick, disgusted, and shocked. 'When I got home, I was in floods of tears in the living room and thought my whole life was breaking down.' Ms Rich was later moved to the Horndon Ward, where she said staff were 'appalled' at her treatment in Linford Ward. Jen Craft, Labour MP for Thurrock has been assisting Ms Rich and was horrified by her treatment. 'The standard of care Cheryll received is completely unacceptable. It is deeply concerning that while in pain and discomfort, her needs were ignored,' the MP told the Mail. 'I'm glad the trust has listened to her terrible experience at the hospital and rightly apologised. It's vital that there are now clear steps taken to prevent this happening again, as part of broader improvement work at Basildon Hospital.' In a letter to Ms Rich, Emma Sweeney, director of nursing at the hospital, apologised for the 38-year-old's treatment and insisted the centre would 'learn from it'. Ms Sweeney wrote: 'I am sorry that your requests for assistance with personal hygiene were not responded to appropriately, and that your husband had to step in to help you wash. 'It was unacceptable that staff failed to provide the necessary support and instead handed you a bowl without offering further help. 'This matter has been addressed with the team, and all staff have been reminded of the importance of delivering personal care with dignity, respect, and compassion at all times.' However, despite her treatment, Ms Rich says no staff members have been formally punished for their actions, which she described as 'shocking'. 'Someone should be held responsible. But no-one has... I could have got sepsis. One day someone will die there,' she added. James McMurdock, MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, said he would be writing to the hospital's chief executive 'personally' to demand answers. He told the Mail: 'I know Basildon Hospital well. My children were born there. If my family or myself fell ill it is Basildon Hospital I would put my trust in to make us well, but this is a terribly sad account of the standards on the ward. 'Given the gravity of some of the complaints raised I am not satisfied with the statement that no staff member could be identified. That indicates a lack of control. A lack of control indicates low standards. Low standards in a hospital are unacceptable. 'It is also concerning that it took a complaint from a badly injured patient to prompt the replacement of a window blind. Not to mention accusations of vaping, mockery, and abuse.' Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust refused to say whether any staff had been reprimanded over the 'unacceptable' level of care Ms Rich received, when approached by the Mail. In a statement, Diane Sarkar, chief nursing and quality officer at the trust, said: 'Ms Rich's care did not meet the standard we would expect and we have sincerely apologised for her experience. 'After looking into the concerns raised we have reassured her that we've spoken to the ward involved to make sure learning and actions are taken from this and addressed.'
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Almost one million NHS ‘free passes' handed out to asylum seekers
ALMOST one million NHS 'free passes' have been handed to asylum seekers in five years, stats reveal. Some 920,199 HC2 certificates — granting free prescriptions, dental care, eye tests, wigs and travel to appointments — were issued. That is 59 per cent of all HC2 forms dished out from 2019 to 2024, despite asylum seekers making up less than one per cent of the population. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'No wonder illegal immigrants from across Europe are flocking here.' The certificates include up to £233 for specs and unlimited dental work. Anyone can apply if they have little or no income. Asylum seekers automatically receive one if they qualify for Section 95 support, which covers housing and financial help. An NHS spokesman said: 'The NHS is legally required to provide healthcare services to asylum seekers, including access to help with health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme.' A Government spokesman said most were issued 'under the previous administration'. The figures were uncovered via a Freedom of Information request to the NHS Business Services Authority. 25K migrants have arrived across the Channel so far this year despite Labour's promise to crackdown 1
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Mums demand answers over sodium valproate drug that harmed babies
"You can never forgive yourself."Tomas Cozens, 25, is one of about 20,000 people who were left disabled at birth by epilepsy medicine which was given to pregnant evidence dating back to the 1970s that sodium valproate, used to control seizures, could harm her unborn child, his mum Jo, from Caerphilly, was never told and that evidence was withheld from patients across the years since the publication of the Cumberlege Report, which concluded that the UK government should give compensation to those affected, ministers have said they are still considering its findings while victims are still waiting for answers. Jo first noticed something was different with Tomas when he failed to meet some of his was later given a diagnosis of high functioning autism, among other physical and neurological disabilities. But it was not until 2014 when Jo's father drew her attention to an article on how another child had been affected by sodium valproate that she drew the after, Tomas was diagnosed in Australia with valproate developmental effects after being exposed to valproate in the womb."It was like a double-edged sword," said Jo."It was nice to put some form of a label on it and have somebody finally acknowledge it, but then it really upset me to the core."I felt as though I was going to crawl into a ball and just never stop crying." Jo started to learn about other families who had been affected and began campaigning for the UK government to take accountability, saying she and thousands of other mothers deserve answers so they can be freed from the guilt they feel."You know, you can never forgive yourself. Because the medicine you took has harmed your baby," she Tomas, his disabilities have resulted in various surgeries while also leaving him struggling socially and said: "Any kind of public response wouldn't be enough for the damage that has been caused."I've received absolutely no financial aid for the problems growing up and still now for my future, absolutely nothing."I have to struggle, I have to try to earn, to try to learn. Even though I'm a little bit slower, probably a lot slower." Becci Smart, from Bridgend, is another mother who was not warned of the risks of sodium had already lost two children while taking the epilepsy medication topiramate and when her son Zak was born she was told he had sepsis, but this was later revealed to be valproate withdrawals, passed through the said she still felt dismissed by doctors."I can go to the doctor and Zak can be sat with me and he can be in agonising pain - physically, emotionally, mentally," she said."All the doctors will sit there go 'well you took sodium valproate, what do you want us to do'?"Zak, 17, has Autism Spectrum Disorder, along with social anxiety, global developmental delay, and social and communication struggles to cope in school and sometimes has suicidal thoughts. Becci provides round-the-clock care for him, which she said has affected her ability to earn and progress in her for her, accountability is more important than compensation."Someone has to hold their hands up and say we take responsibility for this," she said."All the time someone's not doing that, we as parents are living with that guilt - and it's silly because it's not our guilt to live with."Since the harmful effects of sodium valproate came to light, new measures have been put in place to mitigate the risks it poses to unborn children, including:Ensuring women of childbearing potential are on a reliable form of contraceptionAnnual reviews with a specialist to ensure they are on contraception and that sodium valproate is still the best medication for them and signing a risk acknowledgement formNobody being prescribed the drug without two specialists signing a risk acknowledgement form agreeing no other medication is better suited for themDiscussions and an information leaflet on the risks of pregnancy while on the medication Despite the issues that have emerged, sodium valproate is still an effective anti-seizure medication for many with epilepsy. Consultant neurologist Owen Pickrell said it was now used as a last resort but, for a minority number of patients, it was still the best option."Other seizure medications don't work for some people," he said."Valproate can help them and it enables a far better quality of life for them."He also warned people to always consult a doctor before coming off any form of medication because, although rare, "people can get serious injuries during seizures and people do even die".The Department for Health and Social Care said: "Our sympathies are with those affected and we are fully focused on how best to support patients and prevent future harm."This is a complex area of work and the government is carefully considering the patient safety commissioner's recommendations in full and we're committed to providing an update."
