Latest news with #ClactonOnSea
BBC News
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Bereaved Clacton mum praises Blumenthal for bipolar film
A bereaved mother who took part in Heston Blumenthal's documentary about bipolar disorder has praised the "super brave" celebrity chef for wanting to end the stigma on mental opened up about his illness and spoke to others about their experience for the BBC film, My Life with them was Natalie McClellan, whose 24-year-old daughter Rebecca had bipolar and died in Ipswich in November 2023."If Heston can say 'I have bipolar but look at what I'm achieving, you can live a fulfilling life', it might change perspectives on mental illness," said Ms McClellan. "He is super brave to do it; he has really put himself out there to help others."I try to do the same, but none of its easy."Since Rebecca's death, Ms McClellan has campaigned for improved mental health provision that could have helped her daughter, who she said felt "abandoned". She shared her story with Blumenthal over several hours at her home in Clacton-on Sea, emotional experience helped them both, she said, particularly as Rebecca and Blumenthal had much in even transpired that he had gone into hospital for his condition when Rebecca died."They had the same sorts of visual disturbances, he's got ADHD and she was awaiting a diagnosis," she said."I showed him videos of her, photos, and one video in particular where she says 'my bipolar is popping'."He said 'that's exactly how it is', I think he found that emotional." The chef also became upset when talking about the impact of his bipolar disorder on his family - an experience that rang true for Ms McClellan."Rebecca didn't always tell us [how she felt], she would mask because she was worried about the effect it would have on us," she said."You just want your loved ones to be well and know what's going on, obviously I would rather worry every day but still have her here."Heston was quite open, he feels he has hurt his family and she [Rebecca] would be the same." The trainee paramedic was left with no GP or psychiatrist when she moved to Ipswich for work, her mother previously told the August 2023, she drove to a mental health unit and begged for help and said she was willing to drive anywhere in Norfolk and Suffolk to see someone, but staff told her to leave and threatened to call police. 'Not complacent' In the film, Blumenthal is shown Rebecca's mobile footage of the incident, which he described as "absolutely shocking"."Since we lost Bex it's been really important for me to push for changes in mental health and the support people get," added Ms McClellan."I will keep going and keep going for people who are suffering in the way she suffered, but it's not easy, it's only been 18 months [since her death] and it's still very raw."The reason Heston was speaking out was he wants to end the stigma. "It's so important to me that I'm part of that message."I was honoured and proud to be part of that process, and I hope he feels proud, too."Rebecca was under the care of the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT), which was in special measures for several years until January this March it completed a review into the circumstances of her death. A date for an inquest has not been chief Caroline Donovan, who joined in autumn 2023, said it had made "considerable progress" in its work to learn from deaths of patients and thanked Ms McClellan and other families for their "invaluable challenge and support"."We are not complacent and know we have much more to do to transform our services so that everyone receives safer, kinder and better services from us when they need them," she My Life with Bipolar is available on BBC iplayerIf you are affected by any of the issues in this article you can find details of organisations that can help via BBC Action Line. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Sun
08-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
I have to tuck my belly into my pants after fat jabs made me tiny but other crazy side effects will cost me £9K to fix
FINISHING an eight-mile run, Tracy Hughes walks into her bathroom and turns on the shower. Wearing her form-fitting exercise kit, the mum-of-four has a svelte size 10 body that women half her age would be envious of. 8 8 8 But as Tracy, 47, peels off her leggings, she reveals a secret - her jelly belly - five pounds of loose and wobbly skin. 'I have lost seven stone in just eight months using fat jabs, ' she says. 'I used to weigh 20st and now I tip the scales at just 13st.' However, while Tracy is thrilled with her new physique, she admits her weight loss has come with plenty of unwanted side effects. 'Topping the list is my jelly belly and it has to be packed into my knickers and trousers every day,' she says. 'I have learnt no amount of exercise will make your body's skin shrink and ping back to normal. 'Now I have five pounds of loose skin on my stomach. The top of my thighs is also covered in flabby folds despite running eight miles a day, three days a week and working out at the gym.' But it isn't just her loose skin that is causing an issue for Tracy. 'I've also seen my feet and hands shrink dramatically and I now have a turkey neck, ' she adds. 'To fix these side effects, I'm planning on forking out more than £9,000 on plastic surgery, including a tummy tuck, face lift, liposuction, as well as filler and Botox. 'No one tells you about these side effects.' Regional childcare manager Tracy is married to Ian, 50, a postman and lives in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. The pair have four daughters aged 30, 25, 21 and 14 and three grandchildren aged between three and five months old. Growing up, Tracy was slim but after she had her first child in 1995 she saw her weight creep up. 'I went from a svelte size 12 to an uncomfortable size 20,' she admits. 'I ballooned during pregnancy and couldn't shift the weight. 'After each child, I'd diet and exercise, but the weight never seemed to shift. 'If I did lose a few pounds, I'd pile it back on again. 'The food noise in my head was overwhelming, and I couldn't find an eating plan that worked for me,' she says. 8 8 Over the past 25 years, Tracy tried milkshake diets, low-fat eating, calorie counting, soup diets, juicing, even the Atkins eating plan and Keto diets to lose weight. 'I managed to lose five stone on the Cambridge Diet, but I couldn't control the food noise long enough and the weight piled back on again,' she says. 'I have been on a diet, or thinking about what diet to try next, for the past 25 years. It's been overwhelming.' At her biggest, Tracy was a size 20, tipping the scales at 20st and had a BMI of 45.4, making her obese and at risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. 'My family and I would spend £350 a month on greasy takeaways, I loved kebabs, burgers and curries,' she says. 'But I was covered in stretch marks and hated myself and my body.' Tracy admits her weight gain was also worsening her menopause symptoms. 'I couldn't sleep properly or get comfortable. I was constantly turning in bed. 'My husband made me sleep in another room, complaining that I was so hot it was like sleeping next to a radiator. 'Whenever I felt down, I was stuffing my face with McDonald's takeaways, Chinese and kebabs.' However, last September when the couple celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a vow renewal and a second honeymoon in Cyprus, it was breaking point. 'I looked back at the vow renewal photos and burst into tears. 'I just sobbed. I thought I looked like a whale. 'It was what I needed to make me determined to lose weight.' That was when Tracy decided to take the advice of a friend who'd attended her vow renewal. She recalls: 'When she arrived, I almost didn't recognise her. My pal had lost a huge amount of weight and was glowing. 'When I asked her what her secret was, she told me it was Mounjaro. 'So instead of relaxing on break in Cyprus, I ordered the weight loss jabs with a private prescription. 'The injections cost £170 a month and the month's supply arrived before we got home from our second honeymoon.' Tracy started taking Mounjaro in September last year and says within 24 hours she felt the food noise in her head stop for the first time in almost three decades. 'I woke up and wasn't wanting to eat or obsessing about food,' she says. 'I went for a walk that day and signed up to a gym.' 'I was thriving' Tracy lost a stone in the first month on Mounjaro and then each month after that the weight continued to drop off. 'Within a month, I was back running, slowly building up the distance day by day,' she says. 'I started going to the gym and training for a half marathon, my energy levels were through the roof. 'I was thriving, exercising. I was eating smaller portions. I no longer wanted a glass of wine, and I was only craving healthy foods like lean protein and vegetables.' However, in the last two months, Tracy admits she started noticing the unusual side effects while using the jab. 'As I lost the weight and was rapidly dropping dress sizes, I noticed my stomach was still flabby and floppy,' she says. 'It's when I hit the five-stone weight loss mark, I realised the skin wasn't going to ping back into shape even though I was running 24 miles a week and working out. 'Since then, the more I shrink, the more flab folds develop on my so-called 'Ozempic jelly belly'. 'It has to be packed into my tummy control knickers.' Tracy admits that her loose skin has put a stop to her wearing certain items of clothing. 'I can't wear a bikini until I have my 'Mounjaro plastic surgery makeover',' she says. 'I will have to wear a full swimsuit with tummy control pants to keep my belly folded into place.' Tracy is now planning on spending more than £9,000 on plastic surgery to iron out the side effects of her fat jabs. 'I know I need a tummy tuck liposuction, a breast uplift, and a thigh lift to deal with the loose skin left from the jabs,' she says. 'I tell people losing weight is only half the journey you have to start saving now for plastic surgery.' Everything you need to know about fat jabs Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases. Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK. Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market. Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year. How do they work? The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight. They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high. Can I get them? NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics. Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss. Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk. Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health. Are there any risks? Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild. Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea. Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.' Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia. Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health. Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines. One side effect which shocked Tracy was just how much her feet changed on the fat jabs. 'I went to put on my work sandals a month ago and they are too big,' she explains. 'I thought I was seeing things, so I pulled out a similar pair and my feet were too small for them as well. 'The weight loss jabs caused my feet to shrink and go down a shoe size. 'In the past my old shoes were tight due to my feet swelling but to realise my feet have actually shrunk from size nine to a size seven-and-a-half is jaw dropping.' Tracy says she has had to spend hundreds replacing all of her old shoes. 'I knew I'd be buying new clothes because I was losing weight but buying new shoes because you have gone down a shoe size is unheard of,' she says. 'I sold my old plus-size clothes on Vinted and have made £800. I was going to use that for a weekend away. Now I have had to use it for new shoes.' Tracy has had to have all her rings resized due to her shrinking fingers too. 'My engagement ring pinged off in the shower and I thought I'd lost it,' she says. 'Now after a seven-stone weight loss my husband has bought me a new wedding ring and engagement ring, and they are an entire size smaller. 'I didn't think the jab would mean I'd have to get new wedding rings, but it happened.' Tracy is now experiencing turkey neck – another side effect of the jabs. 'I noticed a month ago my neck skin stretches out and my under-chin skin is floppier,' she says. 'I have added that to my list of cosmetic surgery makeovers.' But even with the various side effects, Tracy says it was all worth it. "I feel amazing as thin Tracy,' she says. "I am more in control. I am addicted to Mounjaro. I don't want to stop the jabs as I know they are helping me so much," she says. "I know many people would complain about these weird effects. "For me it was a shock initially. "But I'd rather experience the odd shrinking foot and jelly belly to be half the woman I was.' 8 8 8
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Health checks could start at 30 in 'national first'
People living in a seaside town could be offered health checks from the age of 30 in a national first for the NHS, a senior doctor said. The free screening is usually offered to those aged 40 to 74, but that could be lowered in Clacton-on-Sea to tackle health inequalities. Dr Ed Garrett revealed the plan at a Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) meeting on Tuesday and said it was "progressing" forward. But an NHS spokesman said the idea was "very early stages". The health check aimed to detect if people were at higher risk of getting certain illnesses, including heart disease, diabetes and strokes. It involved screenings, including cholesterol and blood pressure tests. Dr Garrett said it would be a "national first" if the proposal went ahead. "Given life expectancy [in Clacton], we feel it's important that health checks are delivered earlier," he said. The seaside town has been the focus of concerted efforts by the NHS to stop deprivation leading to health inequalities. Chief Medical Officer Sir Chris Whitty visited in 2021, having authored the Coastal Communities report. In it, he said these towns suffered from high rates of serious illnesses and lower life expectancy among residents. Ian Davidson, chief of Tendring District Council, also said people living in some parts of Clacton had a life expectancy 18 years lower than in wealthier parts of Essex. When approached by the BBC to provide more details on its health checks plan, an ICB spokesman said it was still in its infancy. He added: "We'll share more details as soon as we are able." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Life expectancy gap of 18 years in parts of Essex Whitty: Deprived coastal towns need redesign Seaside poor health overlooked, warns Whitty Suffolk and North East Essex ICB
BBC News
27-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
NHS could lower health check age limit in Clacton-on-Sea
People living in a seaside town could be offered health checks from the age of 30 in a national first for the NHS, a senior doctor free screening is usually offered to those aged 40 to 74, but that could be lowered in Clacton-on-Sea to tackle health Ed Garrett revealed the plan at a Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) meeting on Tuesday and said it was "progressing" an NHS spokesman said the idea was "very early stages". The health check aimed to detect if people were at higher risk of getting certain illnesses, including heart disease, diabetes and involved screenings, including cholesterol and blood pressure Garrett said it would be a "national first" if the proposal went ahead."Given life expectancy [in Clacton], we feel it's important that health checks are delivered earlier," he said. The seaside town has been the focus of concerted efforts by the NHS to stop deprivation leading to health Medical Officer Sir Chris Whitty visited in 2021, having authored the Coastal Communities it, he said these towns suffered from high rates of serious illnesses and lower life expectancy among Davidson, chief of Tendring District Council, also said people living in some parts of Clacton had a life expectancy 18 years lower than in wealthier parts of approached by the BBC to provide more details on its health checks plan, an ICB spokesman said it was still in its added: "We'll share more details as soon as we are able." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Guardian
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Nigel Farage said he'd ‘bought a house' in Clacton – it's actually owned by his girlfriend
Nigel Farage claimed with great fanfare last year to have 'bought a house' in Clacton – but it turns out the substantial detached property is owned in the name of his girlfriend. The Reform UK leader said he had 'exchanged contracts' to buy the house in Essex last November, saying it should deal with criticism that he does not spend enough time in the constituency. However, the detached property in an upmarket part of Clacton-on-Sea was actually solely bought by Laure Ferrari, his partner of some years. Farage was asked by the Guardian why he had claimed to be the buyer, and whether the property had been bought in Ferrari's name in a way that allowed him legally to avoid higher-rate stamp duty on the purchase of an additional residential house – given that he already owns other properties. He was also asked whether he was the ultimate source of funds for the transaction either by gift or loan and whether it was Ferrari's sole property in the UK, which could make her eligible for standard rate stamp duty. Farage said: 'Whether I say 'I' or 'we is pretty irrelevant. Laure bought the house; it is her asset. 'The main reason my name does not appear is for security reasons. I would have thought that obvious. As for her other UK or French assets, that is purely a private matter.' Stamp duty is paid at rates up to 5% for residential property but an additional 5% is added if the purchase relates to another property on top of ones already owned. Farage already has a property worth about £1m in the village of Downe in Kent, as well as two houses in Lydd-on Sea in the same county, which are owned through his company, Thorn in the Side. He also has property in Tandridge in Surrey. The Reform leader has faced criticism about the amount of time he has spent overseas, mostly in the US, since he was elected MP for Clacton last July. He has made at least nine trips abroad in under a year and this week has been on holiday in France, despite parliament still sitting. This week, he confirmed he was on holiday, saying he was taking his first overseas break for three years apart from his stint in the I'm a Celebrity jungle – but that he was still writing articles and taking calls about fundraising for Reform UK. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Asked last November about how much time he spends in Clacton, he told Sky News: 'I've just exchanged contracts on the house that I'll be living there in – is that good enough? … I've bought a house in Clacton. What more do you want me to do?' He also told LBC in January that he had bought a house in Clacton, saying: 'That's why you can see me out, often on a Saturday morning, out buying the essentials – limes, tonic, all that sort of thing.' The Reform leader is so far the highest-earning MP this year, and data from his register of interests shows he has spent more than 800 hours on outside employment since being elected. In April, he got a 10th job, making £25,000 (AU$52,000) as a commentator for the Rupert Murdoch-backed Sky News Australia. His other roles include a £280,000 job advertising gold bullion, a £4,000-a-month column for the Daily Telegraph, and presenting for GB News, which has paid him more than £330,000 since July. Farage has also made speeches, done social media work on Google, X and Meta, and sold personalised videos on Cameo, which has made him £125,000 since the election. In total, he is approaching £900,000 in outside earnings.
