Latest news with #EastofEngland
BBC News
a day ago
- Health
- BBC News
East of England Ambulance 999 callers to get CPR video help
People calling 999 in the East of England to report a cardiac arrest will be the first in the UK to be offered live video support from advanced the call, staff in the East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) control room will coach them on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) via a video streaming follows a successful trial in Denmark that improved the bystanders' hand position and the speed and depth of Council UK said when resuscitation was attempted following an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, fewer than one in 10 people survived to hospital discharge and EEAST hopes the pilot will improve survival rates. Liam Sagi, an advanced paramedic, said survival had not "really changed in 40 years".EAAST serves Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk and said it carried out resuscitation on 3,500 patients per year and its crews could restart more than 1,000 of the hearts of those patients, but that bystanders were resuscitation immediately could quadruple the chances of survival, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Sagi said the public needed to know what to do."We know that less than half of the public have learnt CPR and for every minute that goes by without getting CPR, your chances of survival drop by 10%," he said. Bystanders do not need to download an app. During the 999 calls, paramedics send a text message to them via the GoodSAM video caller clicks on a link within that message to initiate the video while they are still on the caller and paramedic can see each other them in the two-way video said this allowed the paramedic to assess the situation visually and provide guidance on CPR technique until the ambulance service arrived. Mr Sagi said: "We know that our call handlers do a fantastic chance of coaching people through CPR over the telephone but there are trials internationally that show we can really improve the quality of the CPR delivered."He said they would be looking at things like hand position and chest compression depth."We want to understand if this helps people in really traumatic situations. Does it help confidence? Does it help improve quality of CPR, and does it help the person process things after it's happened?"EEAST said video streaming worked best when there was more than one bystander present, so that one person could hold the phone while the other performed CPR. It said success would depend on video connectivity and the person being familiar with video calls. John Newman, a community first responder from Epping, Essex, said: "Sometimes when we arrive, folk are so nervous they might hurt the person on the floor, they just stand back and watch apprehensively."If they're already lying there, they're already in a life-threatening situation, so they should just get on and do it."Essex and Herts Air Ambulance is helping to provide critical care paramedics for the scheme. Dr Gareth Grier, associate medical director said: "Every day we see cases where high quality CPR has made a life-changing difference to patients."This project will make sure that every patient gets the best chance of a good outcome."NHS Charities Together has funded the scheme with a £142,000 grant. The video stream will also be used to coach bystanders on how to use defibrillators Newman said some people were "very apprehensive" about using one, but that that the quicker they used it, the more likely they were to save a life."The video will overcome the apprehension right at the beginning," he said."Our call handlers will tell you where the nearest defibrillator is. Someone else can go and get it, while you carry on with the chest compressions."The out-of-hospital cardiac arrest desk will run four days a week, from 07:00 to 19:00. Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire or BBC Suffolk.
Sky News
a day ago
- Health
- Sky News
Health warning issued after UK cases of life-threatening condition linked to Botox-like products
Health officials have issued a warning over botulism, a life-threatening condition that causes paralysis, as multiple people in the UK have developed it after having procedures involving Botox-like products. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said "a number of individuals" have presented with symptoms such as breathing difficulties after having cosmetic procedures involving botulinum toxin, which is best known by the brand name Botox. Investigations so far suggest the use of an unlicensed Botox-like product, the agency added. It is understood the practitioners involved are cooperating with the investigation and no longer offering the injections. The latest cases relate to procedures carried out in the East of England and the East Midlands, and do not relate to recent diagnoses in the North East. A total of 38 cases of iatrogenic botulism have been reported in the UK between 4 June and 14 July. The UKHSA is advising the public to make sure they take precautions with cosmetic procedures, such as making sure their practitioner uses licensed products. It has also told clinicians to look out for botulism in people who have symptoms and may have recently had a cosmetic procedure. Dr Gauri Godbole, consultant medical microbiologist at UKHSA, said: "Botulism related to aesthetic procedures is rare, but it can be serious. "It is caused by toxins produced by the bacterium clostridium botulinum. These toxins (but not the bacteria) are the active ingredient in Botox and similar products." "Symptoms of botulism can take up to four weeks to develop," she added. They include drooping eyelids, blurred or double vision, facial muscle weakness, difficulty swallowing, slurred speech and breathing difficulties. Anyone who has had a recent botulinum toxin treatment and is experiencing symptoms should contact NHS 111 for further advice. Treatments, including the use of an anti-toxin, should be administered in hospital, the NHS website states. Professor Meghana Pandit, co-national medical director secondary care at NHS England, said: "When these procedures go wrong, there is a risk of serious infections and permanent scarring, which is why only registered professionals like a doctor, a nurse or pharmacy prescriber should be prescribing these treatments. "If you decide to undergo a cosmetic procedure like Botox or lip fillers, there is advice on the website on the questions to ask, including making sure that the person administering it is trained to do it." A spokesperson for Allergan Aesthetics, the sole trademark owner and manufacturer of Botox in the UK, said the company "suspects that the product administered is counterfeit, further underpinning the importance of ensuring you are acquiring a genuine product through reputable and trusted channels. "Allergan Aesthetics' priority is the health and safety of patients and all reports of counterfeit product are thoroughly investigated by our team."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
La Caisse commits to invest in Sizewell C, a critical asset for economic growth and energy security in the UK
MONTREAL and LONDON, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Quebec based global investment group, La Caisse (formerly CDPQ), today announces its commitment to invest up to £1.7 billion (CAD 3.2 billion) in Sizewell C, a 3.2GW nuclear power station located in the East of England. The investment, which represents a 20% stake in the project, will leverage La Caisse's proven track record in delivering large scale infrastructure projects globally and support the UK's transition to clean power and progress to net zero. Once complete, Sizewell C will provide over 60 years of clean, reliable power to the UK grid, helping to boost the UK's economy, strengthen energy security and help reduce reliance on hydrocarbon sources, avoiding 9 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually. The investment will be made alongside the UK Government, experienced operator EDF, British multinational energy and services company Centrica and investment partner Amber Infrastructure. The project is structured under the UK Government's Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model which helps fund large-scale projects by offering predictability to investors while ensuring value for consumers over the long term. "Our commitment to invest in Sizewell C reflects La Caisse's constructive capital approach, working to deliver optimal financial performance for our clients alongside broader economic and societal progress. La Caisse has a strong track record of bringing private sector expertise alongside governments and industrial players to invest in complex, regulated infrastructure where value-for-money for consumers is key. Sizewell C is a positive development for UK consumers, as it is expected to provide long-term reliable baseload power and low carbon energy to more than 6 million homes across the UK, while contributing to the creation of 10,000 new jobs at peak construction and thousands more in the nationwide supply chain. We're proud to support the UK Government in delivering this landmark project, advancing the country's energy security and economic growth ambitions. Our investment demonstrates our confidence in the UK market – our largest destination outside North America – and aligns with our commitment to the energy transition and decarbonization, enabled by our long-term capital and active ownership," said Emmanuel Jaclot, Executive Vice-President and Head of Infrastructure at La Caisse. "It is time to do big things and build big projects in this country again – and today we announce an investment that will provide clean, homegrown power to millions of homes for generations to come. This government is making the investment needed to deliver a new golden age of nuclear, so we can end delays and free us from the ravages of the global fossil fuel markets to bring bills down for good," said Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband. "We're delighted to welcome La Caisse's investment in Sizewell C. Their decision to take a 20% stake in the project reflects growing international backing for UK nuclear and confidence in Sizewell C. As one of the world's leading institutional investors, La Caisse brings significant experience in sustainable infrastructure and in delivering projects that drive economic growth and long-term value creation. Their involvement reinforces our strong financial base and supports our mission to create tens of thousands of high-quality jobs and 1500 apprenticeships across the country. Sizewell C will boost energy security, cut carbon, and drive regional and national growth for decades to come, and we're proud to have La Caisse on board as part of that journey," said Julia Pyke and Nigel Cann, Joint Managing Directors of Sizewell C. La Caisse is the world's second largest institutional infrastructure investor, currently manages over £20 billion in UK investments and has significant experience in delivering projects that drive economic growth and positive change. La Caisse intends to invest around £8 billion in the UK over the next five years, increasing its asset allocation to the British market by nearly 50 percent. La Caisse has acted as a partner of trust and choice to the UK Government and its business partners for many years and has brought benefits to millions of UK consumers through investments in Eurostar, Heathrow Airport, First Hydro Company and London Array, an offshore wind farm generating 630MW of electricity, enough to power 500,000 UK homes. La Caisse is also deeply committed to sustainable investing and investments supporting climate action. The firm has recently committed to have nearly £220 billion (CAD 400 billion) invested globally by the end of the decade in companies committed to decarbonising their operations as well as in climate solutions. These investments align with La Caisse's commitment to its clients: delivering long-term value while managing risk responsibly. ABOUT LA CAISSE At La Caisse, formerly CDPQ, we have invested for 60 years with a dual mandate: generate optimal long-term returns for our 48 depositors, who represent over 6 million Quebecers, and contribute to Québec's economic development. As a global investment group, we are active in the major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure, real estate and private credit. As at December 31, 2024, La Caisse's net assets totalled CAD 473 billion. For more information, visit or consult our LinkedIn or Instagram pages. La Caisse is a registered trademark of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec that is protected in Canada and other jurisdictions and licensed for use by its subsidiaries. Logo - View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Almost 1,000 night businesses shut in East of England in five years
Almost 1,000 night-time businesses have closed in the East of England in the past five years, according to the Night Time Industries organisation said in March 2020 there were 7,033 bars, clubs and restaurants across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex and Norfolk - but as of June this year that number had dropped to 6, bar Walkabout and nearby Nightclub Popworld in Chelmsford both announced that they were closing their doors permanently, while Mossy's Nightclub in Lowestoft closed for good in Kill, CEO of the association, said: "We are extremely worried, we definitely know that the late-night economy has been hit very hard." Mr Kill said there were many factors to venues shutting, such as rising operational costs, safety, transport and people lacking a disposable added that a work-from-home culture also led to people being less likely to visit pubs or restaurants on their lunch breaks with their colleagues."We have challenges with travel infrastructure post 11 pm, post midnight," he said. "Safety is a real issue; less police are on the street, and there are more concerns, particularly around the safety of women and girls."There are lots of issues, not just fiscal." 'Young people aren't clubbing' Steve Jason, who has run Peterborough nightclub and venue The Met Lounge since 1999, said there was a lack of interest from young people about going said: "The average age of our club night is probably 30, the majority of clubbing should be 18 to 21 year olds."In the past, the venue was filled with young fans of musicians such as Nirvana, Oasis and The Prodigy. But more recently, the club has put on themed events, such as Disney nights, to draw people in."Nowadays there's no such thing as a club regular... Now we have to diversify and think of different nights because nobody goes to a club four weekends running." "You speak to a lot of businesses, and they say 'oh, it's the cost of living', but no, it's not, Mr Jason said."They're making excuses... A youngster who's 18 years old probably has a subscription for this, a subscription for that- it takes away his or her money."He said young people choose to spend their money differently and saved for big events such as festivals over regular nights out. "Now they're paying for them over six months at £50 a month and that's one festival... You haven't got the money then to do anything else," he added. 'Not enough help' Paul Milsom is the managing director of Milsom Hotels and Restaurants - a family-run business since 1952 with venues in Essex and blamed Brexit, Covid and the cost of living on creating "challenging times" since said: "The challenges economically on all of our businesses are very similar."You have got to be positive to be in our game. But politically, we are not getting much help from anyone."I don't think the industry spends a lot of time crying out for more help; what it actually needs is less intervention by government and less tax burden."A HM Treasury spokesperson told the BBC the government intends to introduce permanently low tax rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties from next year."We are a pro-business government that is creating a fairer business rates system to protect the high street, support investment, and level the playing field," they added. 'People drink less' Luke Hinton is the director of Juicebox Live, a music promotion company in business books all the live music at venues such as Hertford Corn Exchange and The Horn in St said: "We've been in a fortunate position that we've actually seen an increase in attendance year on year since Covid, but we've noticed that spend per head has decreased at both our venues. "People are spending less, whether it's a health reason or people are generally spending less when they go out, they may be pre-drinking, but I think there is definitely a change in people's behaviours" In August 2024, fans rallied to save Club 85 in Hitchin from closure and redevelopment into flats after the landlord retired. Although the venue is now open until the end of 2025 while its future is negotiated, Mr Hinton warned that many similar venues have already shut due to town centre developments."There's been development, lots of housing and flats in town centres, which then obviously doesn't translate into a positive for nightlife because then the noise complaints come in," he Hinton remained hopeful that people would return to venues if they saw the important role they played in the said: "It's about going out and being around people. I think that's the thing that humans should do, generally, is be in contact with others and socialise."I think that those places and hospitality places are a hub of that." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
UK thunderstorm maps show 14 regions to be battered by lightning and heavy rain
Brits up and down the nation are bracing for potential flooding and travel disruption as the Met Office has blanketed the majority of the country under yellow weather alerts Yellow weather alerts for thunderstorms and heavy rain have been issued across the UK, putting a brutal end to the country's heat spell. Britain's blue skies and scorching temperatures have quickly been replaced with stark warnings for heavy showers and thunderstorms which could result in travel chaos and even flash flooding. More than a dozen regions have today (Monday, July 21) been included in the Met Office's weather warnings - which include two thunderstorm alerts and two 'rain' alerts. "Rainfall amounts will vary from place to place but 20-30 mm is likely within an hour in a few places, with a small chance of 40-50 mm in one or two locations; this most likely across southern Scotland and northern England," the Met Office states. "Lightning strikes are also likely along with the potential for hail and gusty winds." Speaking exclusively with the Mirror, Jim Dale, the founder and Senior Meteorological Consultant at British Weather Services, says it's hard to predict the exact time the storm will batter Brits due to the erroneous nature of the 'random beasts. "This is very likely the last day of major thunderstorm risk for now," he added. "But within that risk anything goes, including lightning strikes, hail, gusty winds, flash floods, and maybe -just maybe - the odd mini tornado. Most of us will inevitably miss them but if you happen to be in one of them expect any of the above and take cover." Want big news with big heart? Get the top headlines sent straight to your inbox with our Daily Newsletter The first warning (labelled below as 1/2) , which is slated to last from 3am and is in place until 9pm, impacts England's south east, including Greater London, Kent, and Oxfordshire. This warning was updated at 10am and has actually shrunken in size as the Met Office removed parts of southern England from the yellow zone. The second warning (labelled below as 2/2), which started at 11am and is also in place until 9pm, impacts a much larger area of the country. Yellow thunderstorm alert - full list of affected areas (1/2) East of England Bedford Cambridgeshire Central Bedfordshire Essex Hertfordshire Luton Norfolk Southend-on-Sea Suffolk Thurrock London and South East England Bracknell Forest Brighton and Hove Buckinghamshire East Sussex Greater London Hampshire Kent Medway Milton Keynes Oxfordshire Portsmouth Reading Slough Southampton Surrey West Berkshire West Sussex Windsor and Maidenhead Wokingham South West England Swindon Wiltshire Yellow Thunderstorm warning - full list of affected areas (2/2) Central, Tayside & Fife Angus Clackmannanshire Dundee Falkirk Fife Perth and Kinross Stirling East Midlands Derby Derbyshire Leicester Leicestershire Lincolnshire Northamptonshire Nottingham Nottinghamshire Rutland East of England Bedford Cambridgeshire Norfolk Peterborough Grampian Aberdeenshire Moray Highlands & Eilean Siar Highland London & South East England Buckinghamshire Milton Keynes Oxfordshire North East England Darlington Durham Gateshead Hartlepool Middlesbrough Newcastle upon Tyne North Tyneside Northumberland Redcar and Cleveland South Tyneside Stockton-on-Tees Sunderland North West England Blackburn with Darwen Blackpool Cheshire East Cheshire West and Chester Cumbria Greater Manchester Halton Lancashire Merseyside Warrington SW Scotland, Lothian Borders Dumfries and Galloway East Lothian Edinburgh Midlothian Council Scottish Borders West Lothian South West England Gloucestershire Swindon Wiltshire Strathclyde Argyll and Bute East Ayrshire East Dunbartonshire East Renfrewshire Glasgow Inverclyde North Ayrshire North Lanarkshire Renfrewshire South Ayrshire South Lanarkshire West Dunbartonshire Wales Conwy Denbighshire Flintshire Gwynedd Powys Wrexham West Midlands Herefordshire Shropshire Staffordshire Stoke-on-Trent Telford and Wrekin Warwickshire West Midlands Conurbation Worcestershire Yorkshire & Humber East Riding of Yorkshire Kingston upon Hull North East Lincolnshire North Lincolnshire North Yorkshire South Yorkshire West Yorkshire York The Highlands have also been placed under a yellow weather alert for heavy rain. The warning will come into place at 3pm and is expected to last until 6am the following morning. Over in Northern Ireland, an existing yellow warning for rain is predicted to end at 6pm this evening.
