Latest news with #NHSGreaterManchester
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'My daughter died after getting measles as a baby - this is my plea'
Rebecca Archer's daughter Renae died aged 10 after being diagnosed with a rare brain disease A mother who lost her daughter to complications from measles has issued a heartfelt plea to parents to vaccinate their children. The warning comes after a child in Liverpool died from the disease. Rebecca Archer's 10-year-old daughter Renae passed away after being diagnosed with a rare and devastating brain condition known as subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). This progressive neurological disorder, which affects the central nervous system, can be triggered by contracting measles. Renae contracted measles at just five months old, a time when she was still too young to receive the vaccine. Rebecca is now urging parents to ensure their children receive their vaccinations, firmly believing that if more children had been vaccinated, her daughter would not have contracted measles as a baby, and ultimately, would still be alive today. Rebecca said: "Renae hadn't had the MMR because she was under 12 months old. If there wasn't an outbreak and more kids had their vaccinations, then she wouldn't have got the measles in the first place. And it wouldn't have ultimately ended her life. "It's like a nightmare, it's still hard to believe that's why Renae's not here anymore. Because of having the measles ten years previously." Rebecca recalled that after the initial bout of measles, Renae had been unwell for only a few days before returning to full health, making the eventual outcome all the more devastating. A decade following a bout with measles, young Renae suffered seizures at school, leading to the devastating diagnosis of SSPE. Renae's condition declined gradually, until Rebecca, from Salford, Greater Manchester, faced the heartbreaking situation last September: it was time to switch off her daughter's life support. First speaking a year ago, Rebecca said: "She had one every week and then I think it was the third seizure where they did an MRI. Then that's when they discovered there was some swelling on her brain. "Her motor functions started to deteriorate – she just slowly couldn't speak or eat. When she went into ICU, they didn't know what was actually causing it. "It was actually the measles and it was SSPE. And that's when they told me it was going to be fatal. And then we had to make a decision to turn the machines off." Dr Manisha Kumar, chief medical officer for NHS Greater Manchester, has expressed hope that sharing Rebecca's traumatic ordeal would 'encourage' others to verify their children's immunisation records. Dr Kumar said: "Rebecca's story is one example of many, that illustrate why we need to urgently reverse the decline in the uptake of childhood vaccinations, in order to protect not only ourselves and our families, but our wider communities. We hope that through brave people like Rebecca coming forward with their personal stories. "Combined with the multi-media campaign, it will serve as a reminder that these diseases have not gone away. It will encourage parents and guardians to check their children's vaccination status and book appointments if any immunisations have been missed. "Two doses of the MMR vaccine are needed to get lifelong protection against measles, mumps and rubella. Simply by ensuring you have both doses you not only protect you and your family against the illness, but also those who you come into contact with who may be vulnerable."
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Health
- Wales Online
Mum who lost daughter to measles has one message for every parent
Mum who lost daughter to measles has one message for every parent There has been a decline in vaccine uptake Rebecca Archer with daughter Renae (Image: NHS Greater Manchester/SWNS ) The mother of a girl who died of complications from having measles as a baby has urged parents to get their children vaccinated. The warning comes as news emerged of the death of a child in Liverpool from the disease. Rebecca Archer's daughter Renae, 10, died after it was discovered she had a very rare brain disease called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). The condition is a progressive neurological disorder that affects the central nervous system and can be caused by catching measles. Renae caught measles when she was five months old, but she was too young to have the jab then. Rebecca urged parents to give their children their vaccinations, as she believes that if more kids had the jab, then she wouldn't have had measles as a baby. She said: "Renae hadn't had the MMR because she was under 12 months old. If there wasn't an outbreak and more kids had their vaccinations, then she wouldn't have got the measles in the first place. And it wouldn't have ultimately ended her life." Rebecca added: "It's like a nightmare, it's still hard to believe that's why Renae's not here anymore. Because of having the measles ten years previously. "She was poorly for a few days. After that, everything went back to normal - she was fit and healthy." Article continues below A decade after having measles, Renae started having seizures at school, which is when she was diagnosed with SSPE. The youngster slowly lost the ability to speak or eat and Rebecca was told in September last year that they needed to turn her life support machine off. Rebecca Archer with daughter Renae (Image: NHS Greater Manchester/SWNS ) First speaking out a year ago, Rebecca, of Salford, Greater Manchester, said: "She had one every week and then I think it was the third seizure where they did an MRI. Then that's when they discovered there was some swelling on her brain. "Her motor functions started to deteriorate – she just slowly couldn't speak or eat. When she went into ICU, they didn't know what was actually causing it. "It was actually the measles and it was SSPE. And that's when they told me it was going to be fatal. And then we had to make a decision to turn the machines off." Dr Manisha Kumar, the chief medical officer for NHS Greater Manchester, hoped Rebecca's story would 'encourage' people to check their child's vaccination status. Rebecca Archer (Image: NHS Greater Manchester/SWNS ) She said: "Rebecca's story is one example of many, that illustrate why we need to urgently reverse the decline in the uptake of childhood vaccinations, in order to protect not only ourselves and our families, but our wider communities. We hope that through brave people like Rebecca coming forward with their personal stories. "Combined with the multi-media campaign, it will serve as a reminder that these diseases have not gone away. It will encourage parents and guardians to check their children's vaccination status and book appointments if any immunisations have been missed. Article continues below "Two doses of the MMR vaccine are needed to get lifelong protection against measles, mumps and rubella. Simply by ensuring you have both doses you not only protect you and your family against the illness, but also those who you come into contact with who may be vulnerable."
BBC News
19-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Plan to cut free IVF to one-cycle across Greater Manchester
The number of NHS-funded IVF cycles available in parts of Greater Manchester could drop to one under new plans for a "consistent approach" across the cycles are currently available for women in Tameside, while two are on offer in Salford, Wigan and remaining six boroughs - including Oldham where the first "test tube baby" Louise Brown was born due to in vitro fertilization (IVF) in 1978 - already only offer one cycle for region's residents are being urged to take part in a six-week public consultation on the proposed changes, which the NHS said would make it "fair for everyone" and "affordable" for the health service. NHS Greater Manchester is proposing one full IVF cycle to eligible women aged 39 and under - plus an additional attempt if the first cycle is cancelled or said the "inconsistency stems from historic commissioning arrangements" and it was reviewing the policies to "ensure a consistent and fair approach for everyone, regardless of where they live".The planned measure was "affordable for the NHS now and in the future", it added. 'Deeply personal' There are no changes planned to the eligibility criteria or the current offer of one cycle for women aged Sheerin, chief commissioning officer at NHS Greater Manchester, said "fertility is a deeply personal and often emotional topic, which is why this consultation is so important"."Whether you've had experience with IVF, are considering fertility treatment, or simply want to share your perspective, please take part and share your views."The consultation is available online and sessions will be held locally until the consultation ends on 29 July. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
11-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Top performing children's hospital gets £4m bonus for A&E turn arounds
A children's hospital has been given a £4m bonus after being recognised as one of the top performing NHS trusts in England for seeing A&E patients within four Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool came second in national rankings, with 89.3% of patients seen within the target, and it had the second lowest number of patients waiting more than 12 NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board and NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board have been handed £5m for having the best ambulance response times in cash is handed out by NHS England from a £150m pot to the best performing and most improved hospital trusts in 2024-25. The urgent and emergency care capital incentive scheme awards trusts who see and discharge most A&E patients within the NHS target of four also recognises those who have cut the number of 12-hour waits in emergency departments and improved ambulance response time. 'More to do' Alder Hey in Liverpool was also in the top five trusts with the highest four-hour performance when comparing March 2024 to March Greater Manchester had an ambulance response time of 23 minutes 57 seconds to category 2 callouts, which include patients suffering burns, epilepsy and strokes or chest NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria, that response time was 26 minutes 20 in the north west of England, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust and Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Trust all received £ cash was for improving on their 12-hour wait times in March 2024 until March 2025. Five other NHS organisations in the region have all received £1m for improving A&E waiting include trusts in Bolton, Tameside and Glossop, and Stockport, alongside the Countess of Chester Hospital, and Manchester University NHS Foundation Michael Gregory, regional medical director for NHS England, said staff had worked "incredibly hard to deliver high quality urgent and emergency services".He said that was reflected in the achievement of being named as some of England's best performing trusts."We recognise there is more to do and we are committed to working with NHS organisations in the North-West to continue this journey of improvement", he added. Read more stories from Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X.
BBC News
11-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Calls for new diagnostics centre in Altrincham after unit shuts
Calls are being made for a new diagnostic centre to be based at a Greater Manchester hospital following a controversial move to permanently close its minor injuries and local politicians opposed the closure of the unit at Altrincham General Hospital, which was confirmed in unit was shut during the coronavirus pandemic because of staff shortages and specialist nursing staff were deployed to other sites like Wythenshawe Hospital, where residents in south Trafford must now go to get and Sale West MP Connor Rand said he was now in "active discussions" with the government to boost services offered in Altrincham. Rand said: "I consistently opposed the closure of the minor injuries unit. "But since the disappointing decision to close it was confirmed, I have been in active discussions with the government."We need new services at Altrincham Hospital that will reduce pressure on Trafford General and Wythenshawe Hospital and save local residents unnecessary journeys."A diagnostics centre would do this. I'll continue to press for this in the weeks and months ahead." 'Spiralling waiting lists' His call followed comments by Trafford Council's Liberal Democrat spokesman for health, Councillor Simon Lepori, who is also a health professional, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said the decision to permanently close the unit had left "unanswered questions about the future of local health services in south Trafford". He continued: "How are we going to tackle spiralling waiting lists at Trafford General and Wythenshawe Hospitals? How can we support people who are struggling to access GP services? "What will the three empty rooms that housed the unit be used for now?"Trafford Liberal Democrats are calling on the Labour Party and NHS Greater Manchester bosses to establish a permanent diagnostic centre at Altrincham."A statement from NHS Greater Manchester said it was "committed to ensuring local residents have access to the right healthcare when they need it".It added: "We are exploring how to make the best use of the space within Altrincham Hospital as part of wider plans to improve healthcare across Greater Manchester." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
