Latest news with #NorthWest
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Coroner's concern after baby girl's heart defect not detected until after death
A coroner has highlighted concerns about medical care following the death of a five-week-old baby girl. Esme Atkinson died at Stepping Hill Hospital of a "ventricular septal defect", a hole in her heart, which was not detected until after her death. An inquest into Esme's death heard that both her mum and her auntie had risk factors but a scan which could have detected the condition was not carried out. READ MORE: Fears as 'no medical record exists of examination' that led to fatal discharge of little girl READ MORE: 'My mum bludgeoned my father to death but it left me feeling relieved' Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE Following the inquest, Senior Coroner Alison Mutch OBE has written a prevention of future deaths report highlighting concerns around Esme's death on March 17, 2024. The letter raises concerns with procedures within healthcare, such as at what point risk factors mean that a routine scan should be carried out. In particular, the coroner drew attention to the fact that Esme's auntie, who is her mum's identical twin, had a heart condition, suggesting Esme was at a heightened risk. Senior Coroner Mutch wrote: "In Esme's case although her mum's identical twin had a heart defect this did not in the North West, trigger the protocol for a routine echocardiogram. A heart defect in her mother would have." She added: "It was unclear why this was excluded given the genetic link." In the letter Senior Coroner Mutch also said that in order for symptoms like Esme's to be detected "training for community midwives/health visitors and GPs needed to be improved." Drawing attention to the lack of an ECG on Esme's heart, Senior Coroner Mutch said: "There was no routine echocardiogram of a baby born of a mother with diabetes nationally although their risk of a defect was significantly higher than other babies and such a test it would detect a baby with a ventricular septal defect at an early stage." Tragically, this test was not carried out and just a five weeks after welcoming their baby daughter Esme's parents Ellen Roberts and Louis Atkinson were left grieving her loss. In a joint statement shared with the Manchester Evening News, they said: 'From the moment we found out we were expecting, Esme was so loved and we couldn't wait to welcome her into the world. 'Not for one minute did we expect to lose her so suddenly after just five weeks. Having to say goodbye was the hardest thing, and to this day the pain and grief still feel as raw now as back then." They added: 'There's not a day goes by when we don't miss Esme and we'll continue to honour our baby girl's memory however we can.' The coroner directed her concern to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and Greater Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, and a copy of the coroner's report was sent to Esme's mum Ellen Roberts, as well as Stepping Hill Hospital and the Chief Coroner. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'This is a tragic incident and our deepest sympathies are with Esme's family. 'We are committed to learning lessons from every prevention of future deaths report and will consider the findings carefully before responding formally." The Manchester Evening News has approached NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board for comment.
The Herald
4 hours ago
- The Herald
Three underage girls pregnant: Statutory rape under investigation
North West police are investigating three cases of statutory rape after being alerted to the pregnancies of three girls aged 14, 15 and 16. The girls visited a clinic unaccompanied by their parents, which raised suspicion and concerns from health professionals about possible breaches of duty of care by their guardians, police said. The Sexual Offences and Related Matters Amendment Act broadens the crime of rape and prohibits acts of consensual sexual violation in some cases as statutory sexual assault. A preliminary investigation revealed all three girls have been involved in consensual intimate relationships and unprotected sex with their boyfriends that led to all three falling pregnant. A police spokesperson said: "The 14-year-old was impregnated by a 17-year-old, the 16-year-old by an 18-year-old and the age of the 15-year-old girl's boyfriend is yet to be verified. "The case dockets will be referred to the public prosecutor for decisions." TimesLIVE
Belfast Telegraph
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Rory Knox states why captaining Coleraine to Senior Cup glory would taste even sweeter than title joy
Coleraine have been the surprise package of the 2025 North West season to date, with the Bannsiders sitting proudly at the summit of the Premiership and in the Semi-Final of the Senior Cup. It's quite a transformation from 2024 when they were involved in a relegation dogfight, and much of the credit must go to their new captain, all-rounder Rory Knox.
BBC News
19 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Accrington sign midfielder Sinclair
Accrington Stanley have signed Curzon Ashton midfielder Isaac Sinclair on a two-year 23-year-old turned down a new deal with the National League North side and will join Stanley on 1 is the son of former QPR, West Ham and England midfielder Trevor Sinclair."I have worked so hard to get here, it's always been what I have wanted to do, to play football in a full-time environment and doing what I love," he told the club website., external
Daily Mail
21 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Report: Nimbus Covid variant doubles in a month
Published: Updated: Nimbus, known scientifically as N.B.1.8.1, is thought to be the most contagious variant of the virus yet with experts warning it could drive a wave of new cases this summer. Other data collected by the agency shows the total number of tests coming back positive for any type of Covid has increased to 6.8 per cent as of June 15, the latest available data. This is up from 5.6 per cent last month and represents the highest figure recorded so far this year. They warned that many people's immunity to the virus, built up from previous infections and older jabs, has likely faded meaning they could be at higher risk of falling ill. Lab studies suggest Nimbus can infect human cells more efficiently than previous strains, and that it may have increased ability to dodge the immune system, making it more likely to infect people. However, there is currently no evidence that the strain, a descendant of the already super virulent Omicron , is any more likely to cause severe illness or death in those it infects, compared to previous strains. But any Covid infection with the virus can still be deadly, especially for more vulnerable groups like the elderly or those with compromised immune systems. Medics have warned that anyone with a 'razor blade' throat could have Nimbus. Dr Michael Gregory, regional medical Director for NHS England in the North West recently said: 'The variant looks to be spreading rapidly within communities, with top symptoms being a "razor blade" sore throat and swollen neck glands.' Broad Nimbus symptoms are not thought to differ from other Covid variants and include fatigue, fever, muscle ache and a sore throat. Experts have also said that current Covid vaccines, which have been reformulated to combat Omicron descendants, are expected to remain effective against Nimbus. While data suggests Nimbus is on the rise in the UK it currently still accounts for a minority of total Covid cases. Instead, strains LP.8.1.1 and XFG—which, like Nimbus, are descended Omicron—were the most common Covid variants accounting for a fifth and a quarter of all tests analysed, respectively. Earlier this month the World Health Organisation said Nimbus now accounts for 10.7 per cent of Covid infections worldwide, compared to just 2.5 per cent in May. Other UKHSA data, shows that only 59 per cent of Britons in England aged over 75 had taken up the offer of a Covid vaccine. Uptake fell to just one in four among under 75s with compromised immune systems, who are also eligible for the jab on the NHS. NHS England's spring Covid vaccine drive is drawing to a close with the system closing for bookings earlier this week. Vaccine companies are reported to be in the midst of updating their shots to fit the 'Nimbus' strain.
