Latest news with #MorecambeBay
Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Times
Times letters: Failure to follow basics of maternity care
Write to letters@ Sir, Alice Thomson's article on the 'dire state of maternity care' in the UK is to be welcomed ('Too many women see childbirth as traumatic', comment, Jun 25). I am an obstetrician who has worked in the UK, New Zealand (under a no-fault system) and Australia (with litigation). A no-fault system has appeal given the astronomical costs of maternity litigation in the UK. However, I disagree that 'a no-fault policy would encourage the medical profession to open up about their mistakes'. A 'mistake' is when a doctor or nurse gives an incorrect dose of a medication. Most of the tragedies in Morecambe Bay, Shrewsbury and Telford were not 'mistakes', they were failures to enact the basics of maternity care (failure to listen to women, failure to recognise risk factors, failure to escalate care appropriately, inappropriate attempts to achieve vaginal births and delays in performing emergency caesareans). These failings have been compounded by NHS trusts covering up errors, blaming victims and, now, destruction of records. A no-fault system will, by definition, minimise the consequences of the actions I have described at a time when women and society are seeking transparency and Rob BuistBondi Junction, New South Wales Sir, The basic truth is that the technical skill levels of those delivering babies are poor. Until that is addressed tinkering will not make much difference. The insertion of local anaesthetic into the perineum, and a carefully performed episiotomy (a surgical incision in the perineum) with a surgically accurate repair afterwards, should be the minimum standard expected of anyone delivering babies. Leaving the mother to strain and then rip her perineum is barbaric. Wes Streeting needs to listen to a wider range of opinion and devise additional training and monitoring of practices, whether by midwives, medically qualified practitioners or even a new 'birthing technician'. Perhaps that could be a meaningful role for physician associates, those non-qualified physician assistants that are being Piper, FRCSDartmouth, Devon Sir, Wes Streeting has announced a national investigation into maternity services owing to repeated failings, yet often there is a recurrent theme of women and their partners not being listened to when they feel there is a problem. Nearly 40 years ago, when my wife was in labour with our first-born, we overheard her being quickly labelled as the young female doctor making a fuss. She was given strong injections of painkillers and sedatives, one of which was used to treat schizophrenia at the time, and only then examined to reveal she was ready to push. Our daughter was delivered rapidly, flat and barely breathing. With no paediatrician in sight I was asked to give her the antidote injection. I dread to think what would have happened had I not been medically trained. Until 'attitude to patients' is given the highest priority in the training curriculum and in continuing personal educational development, I can see the same headlines in another 40 years' David MaddamsRet'd GP and GP trainer, Ware, Herts Sir, Resident doctors may be 'excited' or even 'energised' by the prospect of strike action but they appear to have lost sight of the fact that many of them are trainees ('Medical union 'excited' about walking out again', Jun 25). Are they really 'excited' to lose valuable training time, and risk damaging their exam results and harming their opportunities to achieve promotion to the higher grades? One does not learn by standing on picket Hoile, FRCSRet'd consultant surgeon, Hempstead, Kent Sir, The belligerence of the BMA and junior doctors horrifies me. The claim that they are 'excited' at the prospect of further strike action is both sad and misdirected. These newly qualified doctors need to remind themselves why they chose to study medicine. One would hope it was because they wanted to be part of our NHS, striving to cure the sick, rather than wanting mega salaries. The biggest reward is surely grateful FabriciusUpper Clatford, Hants Sir, To fund the government's pledge to spend 5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2035 (Jun 24), a 'defence bond' should be issued immediately. This would have a maturity of ten years and carry no interest. The subscribers to the bond, which would itself be non-negotiable, would benefit in terms of inheritance tax due upon their death: the bond would have 2x the value of the bond as a credit against their IHT bill. To ensure that the Treasury remained supportive of this IHT credit, the multiple of 2x the face value would be reduced for those subscribers who died before the ten-year period was completed. Many British citizens, like me, would consider this unusual investment a way of increasing the safety of our William CastellFormer chairman of the Wellcome Trust; Oxted, Surrey Sir, I agree with Robert Duffield's recommendation of a crackdown on fraud and error (letter, Jun 25) as the way to fund the £40 billion needed for our security, but many previous attempts at this have produced limited returns. We should be bold and introduce the publication of tax returns: the honest have nothing to fear; the dishonest will be caught out by their neighbours, and be forced to pay up, by HMRC and peer HaywardLlandrindod Wells, Powys Sir, I wholeheartedly agree with your leading article ('Battle of the Bulge', Jun 24) on the benefits of prescribing Mounjaro to a broader cohort of patients in need. I work in primary care and have seen astonishing results in patients paying to take this medication: it is beneficial not only in reducing the chronic illness often associated with obesity but also in the psychological wellbeing of this group. Unfortunately our local integrated care board does not share this enthusiasm and has issued a directive to all GPs in Suffolk and northeast Essex advising that GPs should not provide these medications directly for weight loss. Instead, the local NHS has chosen the community outreach service model. This means that access is available only through a specialist NHS weight management service — which is not operating at present. It would seem that those most clinically in need are subject to a postcode lottery of ShirleyNurse practitioner, Nayland, Suffolk Sir, Your editorial suggests that you agree with Wes Streeting's view that making Mounjaro widely available on the NHS will cure the country's economic ills by enabling patients to return to work and reducing demand on the NHS. Although there may be some people in whom a 25 per cent reduction in body weight will prompt a return to work, I suspect this will not be the case for most. This is because obesity per se does not stop you from working, and many of the psychological and social factors leading to people becoming obese are also the reasons that stop people from working. A more likely scenario is that by prolonging life expectancy these medications will lead to increased demand on the NHS and social services at a later date, with an associated and unbudgeted increase in cost to the Oliver DukeConsultant physician (ret'd), London SW2 Sir, I fear Polly Mackenzie is being rather fanciful in her idea that the government can persuade benefits claimants that finding a job would be good for them ('This is how you get the sick back to work', Jun 25). I am sure there are some people who, given the appropriate support, would welcome the chance of employment — but there are many more for whom a life on benefits is always going to be preferable to getting out of bed every morning to go to a job that is likely to be thankless, tedious and not even financially beneficial. Unfortunately the appeal of a life on benefits over the drudgery and low pay of employment has been increasing for decades. This attitude has now become baked in and will take more than gentle persuasion and platitudes to WardIpswich Sir, Steven Morris (letter, Jun 25) states that 'two in five disabled people with complex needs will struggle financially if these cuts go ahead'. This appears to be the key to the conundrum: how does the government reform the benefits system such that the target is the three in five disabled recipients of personal independence plans who would not struggle financially?Andy ThorpLittle Canfield, Essex Sir, I applaud James Marriott for reminding us of Joan Didion's motto 'I write to find out what I am thinking' ('Not reading or writing would be unthinkable', Jun 24). The problem predates AI. I taught A-level pupils for several decades and always insisted on handwritten essays, although once these were composed students were welcome to type them out if they chose. Note-taking, planning, structuring and ordering one's ideas and then writing them — with careful choice of words so as to communicate precisely the points one wants to convey — can be done competently on a computer by few seasoned writers. Many undergraduates who write directly on computers find their essays returned with low marks because they are unstructured, poorly expressed and replete with unconnected points. AI only compounds the HamlynLondon W5 Sir, I concur with Henry Mabbett (letter, Jun 25) about there being too much sport, but for more personal reasons. Whenever I look at my dear husband, he has his eyes glued to his iPhone or the television. My life is constrained by the near-constant cacophony of commentary on darts, tennis, rugby, football and cricket, whereby homely marital communication is ebbing away. I have to wait for breaks in play if I want to catch his attention. What a life!Jan NorrisBroadwas-on-Teme, Worcs Sir, India's home minister, Amit Shah, says the day is coming when Indians who speak English will feel ashamed to do so ('Modi minister tells Indians it is shameful to speak English', Jun 24. Shah might be reminded that when Jawaharlal Nehru delivered his maiden speech on becoming prime minister in 1947, he addressed the nation in English and championed it as a vital language for India's StewartLondon W11 Sir, I have often been impressed by the comments of Matthew Parris (Notebook, Jun 25). Now I learn he can spot an Englishman among the 'pixels' of 10,000 faces; no Welsh, no Scots, no Irish, no white Europeans, just Englishmen. What a BryantWinscombe, Somerset Sir, I rather like Matthew Parris's attempt to link Jarvis Cocker with the ardour, longing, irony, tenderness and passion of another five white Englishmen. May I suggest as an alternative five Gerald Finzi, Edward Thomas, Eric Ravilious, and both Mole and Mr Toad from The Wind in the Willows?Stephen PollardTunbridge Wells, Kent Sir, My mother would have agreed with Victoria Hawthorn's mother (letter, Jun 25) that a gentleman should wear well-polished shoes, but would also have insisted on a snowy white handkerchief in his CowieShandon, Argyll & Bute Write to letters@
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Lancaster and Morecambe foodbanks seeing drop in donations
Food banks across the Lancaster district have said they have seen a "drastic drop" in food donations despite "more need".Volunteers and community leaders are now appealing to the public to continue to support foodbanks with regular donations if they are able Phipps, from the Lancaster District Food Justice Partnership, a non-profit organisation that works to reduce food poverty across the district, said it supported more than 1,600 households each month."Even a donation of one item would make a massive difference," she said. 'Squeeze on income' Foodbanks are seeing "a bit more need" and "quite a drastic drop" in donations, she said."Food prices are high, so we do understand that it's really difficult for people. And we are incredibly grateful for the donations and support that the foodbanks receive in our collection bins in the supermarkets."Briony Scott, foodbank manager at Morecambe Bay Foodbank, said: "We are extremely grateful for all the donations of both food and money, especially at this time of rising food prices and the continued squeeze on income from the wider cost of living pressures."We are using our financial donations to purchase food to make up this shortfall but any additional food donations would be really appreciated."In the first four months of 2025, Morecambe Bay Foodbank sent emergency food parcels to 1,415 adults and 834 food parcel feeds people for four to five days to help them through a time of Mann, project manager at The Olive Branch foodbank in Lancaster, said the charity was currently seeing a high level of need that had risen over said: "From January to April this year, we have been averaging 324 food parcels per month."This amounts to around 45,000 food items given out."However, donations of food for this period are 9% lower than the same months last year and 33% lower than in 2022." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
The Guardian view on maternity care failings: Wes Streeting's new inquiry must learn from past mistakes, not repeat them
The announcement of a new inquiry into maternity care failures in England, including the shockingly higher risk of mortality faced by black and Asian mothers, indicates an overdue recognition that improvements are needed. From the devastating 2015 review of a decade of failure at Morecambe Bay, to last year's birth trauma report from MPs, there is no shortage of evidence that women face unacceptable risks when giving birth on the NHS. The question is whether a review chaired by Wes Streeting himself can achieve what previous ones have not. His role as chair is not the only novel aspect of this inquiry. A panel including bereaved parents will share their experiences and knowledge, alongside expert evidence. This format should focus minds on the human consequences of systemic failures, including mother and baby deaths, and on the need for accountability when things go wrong. But while the ultimate goal is a 'national set of actions', there is no getting away from local variations. Part of the impetus behind this review comes from campaigners in Sussex and other areas where maternity services are currently causing serious concerns. Ten of these will now be scrutinised in the inquiry's first stage. Past inquiries have generally pointed to a combination of resource and cultural factors, including poor leadership, in seeking to explain why and how things have gone wrong. Such findings have not been limited to the hospitals themselves, and have included regulators. But the reality is always complex and not reducible to soundbites. For example, poor relationships and communication between nurses and doctors are known to cause problems in maternity settings. Where such conflicts have been uncovered, they have generally had an ideological aspect, relating to differing attitudes to vaginal versus caesarean deliveries. But they can also be connected to wider questions about the level of skill and investment in the workforce. In his seminal review of care failures in Mid Staffordshire, Sir Robert Francis asked the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to examine the evidence about staffing ratios and patient safety, and to make recommendations. But in 2015, as Prof Anne Marie Rafferty and Prof Alison Leary noted in an article on that report's legacy, this work was suspended. They believe this decision was motivated by the Conservative government's anxiety about potential cost implications. Mr Streeting says he is horrified by what he has heard about maternity care failures, particularly the lack of compassion shown to families after life-changing losses. Hence his decision to make this issue a 'litmus test' for the government. But raising standards in the context of tight funding settlements, high levels of unmet need and ongoing staffing difficulties will be an enormous challenge. Judge-led public inquiries should not be the only means for people who have been failed by the state to seek redress. Mr Streeting's maternity review looks like a worthwhile attempt at developing an alternative – and he deserves praise for explaining this. With a pledge to present findings at the end of the year, he hopes to avoid one of the flaws with inquiries – that they take too long. The problem of how to deliver the accountability that affected people want is more intractable. Hardest of all, judging from past experience, is turning the findings of such inquiries into viable plans for real service improvements.
BBC News
17-06-2025
- BBC News
Eden Project Morecambe now in 'delivery mode' after delays
The Eden Project in Morecambe is now in "delivery mode" after "a period of pause and delays", the project director has project, led by Lancaster City Council, Lancashire County Council and Lancaster University, has faced several delays due to week it was revealed work will start at the seafront site next year, with an opening date of late director John Pye said about 500 jobs would be created around the construction of the eco-attraction, plus about 150 full-time jobs when it was in operation. He said the £100m project would bring about £10m in investment to the town each Pye, formerly the head of estates for the Royal Horticultural Society in the north, said its theme "will be about the rhythms of Morecambe Bay and the tides".He added there would be two main areas - Realm of the Sun "a cathedral-like nod to Eden's traditional horticulture" and Realm of the Moon "an immersive darker environment, explaining how humans interact with the rhythms of the earth."The shell-inspired structure, sister site to the original Eden Project in Cornwall, has been projected to attract thousands of people to the Lancashire town when it will be built on the promenade where Bubbles leisure complex used to be sited, with the Grade II listed Winter Gardens and Midland Hotel its near week new images of the "global garden" were released with the project team saying the structure would be "instantly recognisable" as an "emblem of sustainability". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
11-06-2025
- BBC News
Eden Project Morecambe set to open by winter 2028
The Eden Project Morecambe is set to open in 2028, it has been revealed. John Pye, the new project director for the eco-visitor attraction set for Morecambe promenade, said the aim is to open towards the end of that said by next summer a main contractor is expected to be appointed and the main construction set to news comes after new images were released showing what the shell-inspired structure - the sister site to the original Eden Project in Cornwall - might look like. Described as a "global garden", the attraction will feature three large shell-shaped pavilions overlooking Morecambe Bay, "inspired by the natural geometries, beauty and efficiency of seashells".The former head of estates in the north for the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) gave the updates at the latest Eden Project Morecambe community conversation at Morecambe Football Club, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said by this summer the concept design stage should be finished and a start made on detailed designs for the attraction on the former Bubbles leisure complex land. Site investigations are expected this autumn, with some planning amendments this early on-site activity could start summer 2026 the main contractor will be appointment and the start of main construction work. Mr Pye said the new building's "shell" should be up by mid-2027 and major building work done by winter 2027. The internal fit-out will be done through 2028. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
