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Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Hospital bus link 'saved' as MSP hails U-turn by NHS bosses
The 340 service, an NHS-funded service which has linked Helensburgh and the Vale of Leven Hospital (VoLH) with the Royal Alexandra Hospital, ended on June 28, leaving visitors without a direct route between facilities. The service previously run by McColls ended on Saturday, and a new NHS-run bus, which has been running for two days, was to be made available for patients and staff only. However, at crunch talks today (Monday), NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's Chief Executive, Professor Jann Gardner, agreed that visitors would now be permitted to travel on the bus. The board had been citing costs and lack of passenger numbers as their reasons for axing the 340 service; however, their move to short-term contract extensions had pushed up costs. Baillie said: 'I am over the moon that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC) have made changes to their plans. 'I am clear that it is essential that everyone in our community has easy access to the Royal Alexandra Hospital, and this cannot be achieved by existing public transport links. 'Albeit an eleventh-hour decision, I am overjoyed that the health board has listened to reason.' (Image: Images taken by Colin Mearns, Newsquest) We previously reported how members of the Vale of Leven Hospital Watch called the axing of the service a "betrayal of trust." A NHS GGC spokesperson said: "A new, free transport link between the Vale of Leven Hospital and Royal Alexandra Hospital has been expanded in response to feedback from the public. "The link, which replaces the underused service provided by a bus operator, will now be available to staff, patients and visitors. "It will be more frequent than the previous service, and will be significantly more cost-effective for NHSGGC. "While the bus runs directly between the two hospitals, if a patient requires transport from another location, such as Helensburgh, the Board's transport policy can provide financial support, if appropriate, to help them attend an appointment. "We would like to thank all those who have engaged with us about the launch of this new service."
Glasgow Times
6 days ago
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Dumbarton residents say axing of 340 bus is 'betrayal'
The Hospitalwatch group – made up of Dunbartonshire locals and led by chairman Jim Moohan – has long been campaigning against the axing of McColl's 340 bus, an NHS-funded service which has linked Helensburgh and the Vale of Leven Hospital (VoLH) with the Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH) in Paisley since 2009. However, it was announced back in May that the route would operate for the final time on June 28 after the Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC) board pulled the contract. Picture by Colin Mearns, Newsquest (Image: Pictures by Colin Mearns, Newsquest.) Jim said: 'We've had a good working relationship with the hospital board for the last 15 years, so this is a complete breach of trust, and it is very short notice to announce they're taking away this transport provision. 'There was no consultation or discussion about how we could go about keeping the service running. The community thinks this is disgraceful and they have been let down." The service was introduced after the A&E at the VoLH was cut in 2004 – which also led to Hospitalwatch's formation as they pushed to ensure that the services in Alexandria remained. Through the years, the group has managed to retrieve some services and recruit more staff into the VoLH through demonstrations, meetings with management, visiting parliament and holding 24-hour vigils. Jim said: 'When we lost the A&E in 2004, that really took away the main artery of the hospital. We then got this 340 bus provision to try and help the community and it's been there for nearly 20 years, and it's been a very good service throughout that time. 'For that to now be removed, it's just totally unacceptable. The community is not happy about it. They're angry and rightly so.' (Image: Pictures by Colin Mearns, Newsquest.) (Image: Pictures by Colin Mearns, Newsquest.) READ NEXT: Alexandria residents say re-routing of bus service is 'joke' As of June 29, the 340 will no longer be for public use and will only transport NHS staff and patients between the two hospitals. Patients will have to provide proof of an appointment to access the service. It means visitors to the hospital will no longer be able to use the service and will instead have to travel longer to visit their loved ones. The journey is now expected to require at least two changes and can exceed 90 minutes off-peak, making evening and weekend visiting impractical for many families. Jim said: 'This bus is important to people. We will be demanding it is returned for the community to use. When the bus is removed, people will have to get other buses and trains. This is just pure disruption. 'The bridge gets closed during the winter period and we've got road works all year round. How are people supposed to get to the hospital? They're cutting off people from their families who are in the hospital recovering. 'People feel enough stress when visiting unwell relatives, without this additional burden being placed on them. To take this away from the communities is so wrong." (Image: Pictures by Colin Mearns, Newsquest.) Jim vowed that Hospitalwatch would put their heads together to try and get the bus route back into public use. Dumbarton MSP, Jackie Baillie, has previously spoken out about the "appalling" decision. Baillie said: 'The 340 service is of vital importance and simply must continue. 'It is unthinkable to leave these communities with only an infrequent link and leave visitors out in the cold and unable to see loved ones in the hospital. To axe the current standard of provision is a betrayal to our communities." (Image: Pictures by Colin Mearns, Newsquest.) NHSGGC said the service was significantly underused, with passenger uptake ranging between 33% to 35% across most scheduled journeys. A spokesperson added: "It is a more cost-effective approach as the costs of the service provided by the bus company have increased markedly, rising to over £174,000 annually in 2025/26. Charitable funding that was previously available to NHSGGC to support this service has also ended. The new free service for staff and patients will use our own 18-seater minibus, which remains accessible for wheelchair users and will be suitable for prams and buggies. In making this decision, we sought the views of those using the service run by the bus company through a survey which was advertised on the bus itself, and at bus stops at both hospitals." (Image: Vale of Leven Hospital, pictured by Colin Mearns of Newsquest) A spokesperson for McColl's said: "McColl's was not consulted in advance of the decision and learned of it only when the Health Board issued its public announcement. "We understand the concerns expressed by Hospitalwatch and other community representatives. "The current timetable provides five return journeys Monday to Friday and two on both Saturday and Sunday, giving residents a single-bus option between Helensburgh, the Vale of Leven Hospital, Dumbarton and the Royal Alexandra Hospital. "Once the 340 is withdrawn, that journey is expected to require at least two changes and can exceed 90 minutes off-peak, making evening and weekend visiting impractical for many families."
STV News
7 days ago
- Health
- STV News
One child in every school class born as a result of IVF
The equivalent of almost one child in every classroom in the UK is now born as a result IVF fertility treatment, new figures suggest. Almost 21,000 babies were born from IVF in 2023, compared to 8,700 in 2000, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) said. The authors of the fertility regulator's latest report wrote: 'IVF births are making up a higher proportion of all UK births over time, increasing from 1.3% in 2000 to 3.1% in 2023. 'This means around one in 32 UK births in 2023 were via IVF – roughly one child in every classroom – compared to one in 43 in 2013.' The HFEA said that its latest figures show the 'changing landscape' of fertility care in the UK. Overall, 52,400 patients had ,ore than 77,500 in vitro fertilisation (IVF) cycles at UK fertility clinics in 2023. Some 11% of births to women aged 40-44 were a result of IVF, increasing from 4% in 2000 and accounting for 0.5% of all births, HFEA said. The data also reveal a rise in the proportion of women freezing their eggs – a rise from 4,700 in 2022 to 6,900 in 2023 – but the HFEA said that the number of patients using their stored frozen eggs in treatment remains 'low'. Meanwhile the HFEA also said that in 2023, around 820 babies were born following donor insemination (DI) treatment. The figures also show a reduction in the number of IVF treatments funded by the NHS. The proportion of NHS-funded IVF cycles declined from 35% in 2019 to 27% in 2023 in the UK, decreasing most in England, the HFEA said. More than half (54%) of IVF cycles in Scotland were funded by the NHS in 2023, compared to 49% in Northern Ireland; 33% in Wales; and 24% in England. The HFEA also raised concerns about racial disparities in IVF. It said that in recent years, Asian and black patients have had lower birth rates compared to white patients and those from a mixed ethnic background. Julia Chain, chairwoman of the HFEA, said: 'IVF is helping more people have babies including patients of different ages and family types. 'One in 32 of all UK births are from IVF and 11% of all UK births are to women aged 40-44 who had IVF. 'We are also seeing more single patients and female same-sex couples having IVF. 'These findings highlight the changing landscape of the UK fertility sector and how it could develop in the years to come. 'However, we are very concerned to see that black and Asian patients continue to have lower IVF birth rates compared to other patient groups, and our recent survey found that Asian and Black patients are less likely to report being satisfied with their fertility treatment.' Data from the Office for National Statistics show that the fertility rate in England and Wales in 2023 was 1.44 children per woman – the lowest level on record. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Woman told 'lumpy boobs' were normal but it was cancer
Lea Hughes was first reassured after spotting a small lump on her right breast aged 29 A woman was diagnosed with incurable stage 4 breast cancer after her tumour was dismissed as 'lumpy boobs' for two years. Lea Hughes, 38, first noticed a small lump on her right breast at the age of 29 but was reassured that her 'lumpy boobs' were merely hormonal. However, two years later, she noticed the lump had developed into a 'dimple'. On this occasion, doctors immediately referred her for a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy. She was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer, which had spread to her liver and bones during the years it went undetected. Faced with an 'incurable' diagnosis, Lea pursued medications, therapies, and treatments to stabilise the disease and prevent further spread. But in August 2024, a scan revealed the cancer had reached her brain, and by March, it had also invaded her lungs. Lea, originally from the Wirral but now residing in Leytonstone, East London, has exhausted all NHS-funded treatment options and is now fundraising for private care. The former-fashion and retail marketer recalled: "When the doctor first told me I had lumpy boobs, I'd never heard of it before. But years on, I saw the lump had grown when I was putting a bikini on and I spotted a shadow caused by the lump. "Within weeks, I was diagnosed with stage four incurable cancer aged 31. Treatments contained it - until August 2024 - and now it's in my brain and lungs too. "I know the doctors and nurses so well now, after seven years at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London. It's longer than any relationship I've ever had." Lea first spotted a small lump on the front of her right breast in 2015 and quickly sought medical advice. However, she was initially dismissed with the explanation that she simply had 'lumpy boobs' and at 29, without a family history, she wasn't eligible for further tests. Despite her attempts to get the issue addressed, it wasn't until a holiday in early 2018 that doctors took notice. She recalled noticing a shadow and a dimple while wearing a bikini, which led to an immediate referral to the hospital when she reported it over the phone. She underwent a series of examinations: "I went for a mammogram and an ultrasound, then a biopsy. When it came back as cancer, they did a breast MRI scan and noticed a shadow on my liver in the corner." Further investigations revealed the extent of her condition: "So they did full body scans - MRIs, PETs and bone scans - and learned it had spread to my liver and bones." Lea received a grim diagnosis of stage four incurable cancer in April 2018, coincidentally on Friday 13th. Treatment commenced at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, aiming to stabilise and contain the cancer. In June 2022, she underwent a single mastectomy. Unfortunately, one of the oral treatments proved too much for her body, resulting in hospitalisation in August 2023 due to severe side effects. She shared the harrowing experience: "I had hypercalcaemia - high calcium levels in the blood - and needed multiple blood transfusions. "It felt very real - I realised that this illness really could take me out." After opting for IV chemotherapy for 10 months, doctors successfully brought her cancer under control, allowing her to finish the treatment in May 2024. However, a routine scan in August 2024 revealed that her liver tumours had started to progress again, prompting a full-body scan to evaluate her eligibility for a new clinical trial. Unfortunately, this same scan uncovered that the cancer had also invaded her brain. Lea reflected on the discovery, sha ring: "It's one of those things, with stage four breast cancer, you know it can spread to the brain and you do worry. But I didn't expect it then, because I had no symptoms at all." Come September 2024, Lea began whole-brain radiotherapy before undertaking another series of IV chemotherapy treatments. Following this was radiotherapy targeting her spine, but by December 2024, her physical strength waned significantly as her body started to "give up". She recounted: "I'm 5ft 10ins and I went down to 7st. I was too weak to hold myself up - I was watching myself waste away. "I had to shave my head when I started losing my hair too. I didn't recognise myself and seeing those changes was very confronting." A brief period of improvement came in January 2025, but complications arose in March when she experienced serious breathing difficulties. The cancer had spread to her lungs, from which 4.5 litres of fluid were drained. Lea is now undergoing her sixth round of chemotherapy and has started fundraising efforts to access Enhertu, a targeted cancer therapy. Despite its availability on the NHS for certain types of breast cancer, Lea's extensive spread of the disease, including to her brain, leaves her ineligible for NHS-provided access to this particular drug. She holds onto hope that the drug, Enhertu, could be a game-changer for her brain cancer too as it's known to cross the blood-brain barrier – a rare trait not seen in many chemotherapy treatments. According to results gleaned from the DESTINY-Breast12 trial by creators AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo, Enhertu revealed promising outcomes with a 61.6% one-year progression-free survival rate for patients who had both brain metastases and breast cancer. Yet, the steep cost of over £10,000 per cycle stands as a significant hurdle without NHS funding. Lea said: "I always try to lean into the positive - accepting how sh***y this is, but also not giving in. Yet the harshness of reality hits hard when treatments fail." Reflecting on her ordeal, she expressed disbelief: "I can't believe everything I've been through - you don't realise until you sit back and reflect. But I have no choice just to get on with it and keep fighting." Click to support her journey via fundraising here.
ITV News
25-06-2025
- Health
- ITV News
One child in every school class born as a result of IVF
The equivalent of almost one child in every classroom in the UK is now born as a result IVF fertility treatment, new figures suggest. Almost 21,000 babies were born from IVF in 2023, compared to 8,700 in 2000, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) said. The authors of the fertility regulator's latest report wrote: 'IVF births are making up a higher proportion of all UK births over time, increasing from 1.3% in 2000 to 3.1% in 2023. 'This means around one in 32 UK births in 2023 were via IVF – roughly one child in every classroom – compared to one in 43 in 2013.' The HFEA said that its latest figures show the 'changing landscape' of fertility care in the UK. Overall, 52,400 patients had ,ore than 77,500 in vitro fertilisation (IVF) cycles at UK fertility clinics in 2023. Some 11% of births to women aged 40-44 were a result of IVF, increasing from 4% in 2000 and accounting for 0.5% of all births, HFEA said. The data also reveal a rise in the proportion of women freezing their eggs – a rise from 4,700 in 2022 to 6,900 in 2023 – but the HFEA said that the number of patients using their stored frozen eggs in treatment remains 'low'. Meanwhile the HFEA also said that in 2023, around 820 babies were born following donor insemination (DI) treatment. The figures also show a reduction in the number of IVF treatments funded by the NHS. The proportion of NHS-funded IVF cycles declined from 35% in 2019 to 27% in 2023 in the UK, decreasing most in England, the HFEA said. More than half (54%) of IVF cycles in Scotland were funded by the NHS in 2023, compared to 49% in Northern Ireland; 33% in Wales; and 24% in England. The HFEA also raised concerns about racial disparities in IVF. It said that in recent years, Asian and black patients have had lower birth rates compared to white patients and those from a mixed ethnic background. Julia Chain, chairwoman of the HFEA, said: 'IVF is helping more people have babies including patients of different ages and family types. 'One in 32 of all UK births are from IVF and 11% of all UK births are to women aged 40-44 who had IVF. 'We are also seeing more single patients and female same-sex couples having IVF. 'These findings highlight the changing landscape of the UK fertility sector and how it could develop in the years to come. 'However, we are very concerned to see that black and Asian patients continue to have lower IVF birth rates compared to other patient groups, and our recent survey found that Asian and Black patients are less likely to report being satisfied with their fertility treatment.' Data from the Office for National Statistics show that the fertility rate in England and Wales in 2023 was 1.44 children per woman – the lowest level on record. Commenting on the HFEA data, a spokesperson from the fertility charity Fertility Network UK said: 'This important report from the HFEA reflects how essential fertility treatment has become for growing families in the UK and underlines not just the scientific advances in fertility care, but also the profound social impact of helping people realise their dreams of parenthood. 'Delays in accessing treatment — whether due to long GP referral times or inconsistent NHS funding — can have a devastating emotional and biological impact. We call for fair and timely access to fertility services for all, wherever they live and whatever their background.'
