What to know about liver cirrhosis and ascites
Liver cirrhosis is the scarring of the liver due to long-term damage. This damage can be caused by:chronic alcohol usehepatitis B or Cfatty liver diseaseother liver conditionsAs scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue, the liver can no longer function properly.Ascites is the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, causing swelling and discomfort. It's a common complication of cirrhosis. Cirrhosis causes increased pressure in the portal vein (called portal hypertension) and reduces the liver's ability to make proteins like albumin, which help keep fluid in the blood vessels. As a result, fluid leaks out of the blood vessels, collects in the abdomen, and leads to ascites. Symptoms of ascites include: a swollen abdomenweight gainshortness of breath feeling full quicklyfatigue and discomfortDoctors can diagnose ascites with a physical exam, ultrasound, CT scan, or paracentesis, where a needle draws out fluid to test for infection or cancer. Having liver cirrhosis increases the risk of developing liver cancer. Treatments for liver cirrhosis and ascites include: low sodium dietdiuretics paracentesis for large or painful ascitesalbumin infusions in some casesTreating the underlying liver disease is essential. A liver transplant may be needed in severe cases.
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BBC News
36 minutes ago
- BBC News
New providers announced for East Midlands prison health contract
New healthcare providers have been announced for prisons in the East Midlands after Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) said it would withdraw from a contract to provide has been criticised for making a series of errors over the care of paranoid schizophrenic Valdo Calocane, who killed three people in Nottingham in June In a letter to staff, seen by the BBC, the trust said it had taken the "difficult" decision so it could focus on making improvements in other areas after a damning Care Quality Commission (CQC) Practice Plus Group and Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust will take over the care. Ifti Majid, chief executive at NHFT said the trust is making "clear progress" in areas such as risk assessment and discharge procedures following previous reports. Under the current contract, the trust cares for inmates at HMP Nottingham, HMP Ranby and HMP Lowdham Grange in contract also covers HMP Fosse Way in Leicestershire, HMP Morton Hall, Swinderby Immigration Centre, HMP Lincoln and HMP North Sea Camp in 1 July, the provider Practice Plus Group, will take over the healthcare of inmates at HMP Fosse Way, in Glen Parva, NHS England body confirmed the new healthcare provider for Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire prisons will be Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation are in place to transition healthcare services starting with HMP Lowdham Grange in mid-July 2025, according to NHS England. Last year, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) published a review, known as a Section 48, criticising the trust, which had been responsible for the care of paranoid schizophrenic Valdo Calocane, who killed three people in Nottingham in June CQC ordered the trust to make improvements after identifying "a series of errors, omissions and misjudgements" by mental health services over Calocane's its letter to staff, the trust said: "The board felt that we were unable to maintain the quality improvements we have made, in part due to our need to focus capacity and resources on the Trust's improvement journey following the Section 48, CQC and homicide report recommendations."It added: "We have also had difficulty recruiting into these services on a sustainable basis, and the consensus was that a specialist provider might have more success with this." 'Working closely' According to a report published by NHFT, in May, the CQC gave the trust a 'notice of proposal' in relation to concerns at HMP Lowdham Grange. A 'notice of proposal' from the CQC means the watchdog was considering a change to a registered provider's registration, such as adding conditions, suspending, or cancelling response to the 'notice of proposal' the trust implemented a range of actions at HMP Lowdham Grange related to staffing, governance and waiting lists . The trust's chief operating officer Becky Sutton previously said NHFT would be "working closely" with affected colleagues, NHS England and prison services to support a "smooth transition" of trust said the decision did not affect Rampton Hospital, in Nottinghamshire, where it is responsible for the care of prisoners at the secure mental health unit. Mr Majid said: "We are already making clear progress in relation to the recommendations of previous reports, in areas such as risk assessment and discharge processes."We are improving the way we listen to and engage with patients, families, our colleagues, and local partners - to make sure concerns are acted on as quickly as possible."
BBC News
41 minutes ago
- BBC News
Mum to run Derby half-marathon while pushing daughter
A mother is set to run a half-marathon while pushing her 24-year old-daughter who has a rare and life-limiting Lee, from Alfreton, Derbyshire, was born with a CASK gene mutation, a condition that cannot be treated or cured and causes her to have epilepsy, severe visual impairment and no ability to eat or Lee hopes to complete the 13.1-mile (21km) Derby Ramathon on Sunday, with Alice in a running wheelchair, to raise money for a charity dedicated to finding a cure for her daughter's condition."We know there's no fix for Alice but halting or slowing the loss of skills could make all the difference," the 51-year-old said. CASK is the name of a gene that is essential for healthy development of the brain, said the CASK Research Foundation, and mutations can cause a range of disorders affecting brain function. Alice was 12 when her condition was diagnosed and Joanne said she had decided to stop working so she could focus on looking after her full-time."Since she was little, she has lost skills such as walking and we don't know how long her life would be, so I decided I wanted to finish work," she move has enabled Joanne to run with Alice four times a week while pushing her in a special running wheelchair costing £4,500. 'Place she belongs' Joanne said her daughter was the reason she started running and they both loved their new hobby."I needed to stay fit to be able to lift her and give her the life she deserves, but I also wanted something we could do together that fit around full-time work," she said."We started running when Alice was 16 and I never imagined how much she would love it, or how incredibly welcoming the running world would be."In a world where inclusion for adults with complex needs is pretty rubbish, running has given Alice a place where she belongs and is now a part of a community that sees her, welcomes her, and cheers her on every step of the way."Loking forward to the race on Sunday, Joanne said: "I'll be pushing Alice every mile of the way, for her, and for a future where others like her don't have to face this alone."We need to find something before it's too late."
Glasgow Times
43 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Bereaved urge ‘truth' as Covid inquiry shifts focus to care homes
Grieving relatives will give evidence this week as the module looking at the adult social care sector begins. The first week of what is to be a five-week module will also hear from former health secretary Matt Hancock. Former health secretary Matt Hancock has given evidence to the Covid inquiry multiple times (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Mr Hancock, who resigned from government in 2021 after admitting breaking social distancing guidance by having an affair with a colleague, has given evidence to the inquiry multiple times. He will return on Wednesday for a full-day session to face questions specifically about the care sector. In 2023 he admitted the so-called protective ring he said had been put around care homes early in the pandemic was not an unbroken one, and he understood the strength of feeling people have on the issue. At a Downing Street press conference on May 15 2020, Mr Hancock said: 'Right from the start, we've tried to throw a protective ring around our care homes.' Bereaved families have previously called this phrase a 'sickening lie' and a 'joke'. When the pandemic hit in early 2020, hospital patients were rapidly discharged into care homes in a bid to free up beds and prevent the NHS from becoming overwhelmed. However, there was no policy in place requiring patients to be tested before admission, or for asymptomatic patients to isolate, until mid-April. This was despite growing awareness of the risks of people without Covid-19 symptoms being able to spread the virus. The Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice (CBFFJ) campaign group said people want answers about decisions made 'at the highest levels of government'. From Monday, module six of the inquiry will look at the effect the pandemic had on both the publicly and privately funded adult social care sector across the UK. Among the issues to be examined will be decisions made by the UK Government and devolved administrations on moving people from hospitals into adult care and residential homes in the early stages of the pandemic. The module will also consider how the pandemic was managed in care and residential homes, including infection prevention and control measures, testing for the virus, the availability and adequacy of personal protective equipment (PPE), and the restrictions on access to such locations by healthcare professionals and loved ones. Charlie Williams' 85-year-old father, Vernute, died at a care home in April 2020. The latest module will focus on the care sector (Alamy/PA) Mr Williams, a member of CBFFJ, said: 'We have been waiting years for this moment. What happened in care homes during the pandemic was not a tragic accident, it was the result of decisions made at the highest levels of government. 'Covid-positive patients were knowingly discharged from hospitals into care homes. There was no testing, no PPE, and no plan to protect the most vulnerable. 'Those in care were left to die. Bereaved families deserve to know who made those decisions and why.' The CBFFJ group has written to inquiry chairwoman Baroness Heather Hallett, to express their concern at some 'key decision-makers' not expected to be called in this module, including former prime minister Boris Johnson. Mr Williams said not calling Mr Johnson and other senior figures was 'shocking', adding: 'They were at the centre of government when these choices were made, and the inquiry's decision to exclude them is baffling and deeply damaging to any sense of justice.' He said: 'This is the moment for those responsible to finally tell the truth. We want answers. We want accountability. We want justice.' Members of bereaved groups from across the UK will give evidence on Tuesday, while representatives of the National Care Forum and Royal College of Nursing will give evidence on Thursday. Public hearings for the care sector module are expected to run until the end of July.
