Latest news with #PetsAtHome
The Independent
6 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
NHS trust tells wheelchair user to go to Pets at Home to be weighed
An NHS trust has apologised after staff told a wheelchair user she would have to go to a pet shop to be weighed. Sarah Rennie said that at first she laughed when health bosses in Shropshire advised her to go to Pets At Home because the suggestion was so absurd. But she said: 'Then it dawned on me that's not acceptable and it shows services everyone else can access aren't possible for disabled people.' Ms Rennie, 39, from Shrewsbury, who has muscle-wasting, needs to be weighed to monitor her medication and exercise and to ensure her weight remains stable. Her difficulty began after she moved to Shropshire from Birmingham last year, and Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust told her it was no longer commissioned to run its weighing clinic, which closed after the Covid pandemic. 'The rehabilitation service has now been utilised by other services and clients can be weighed when attending a clinic appointment only,' an email reply to her from the trust read. The Midlands Centre for Spinal Injuries later said it encouraged her to do the same as its patients on discharge – 'access community-based weighing options, including facilities such as Pets at Home, where they can roll onto the scales'. But Ms Rennie, a freelance transport consultant, said she would not put herself through the dehumanising experience of going to Pets at Home and would continue to battle for disabled people who are 'invisible in the system'. The trust was forced to apologise for offence caused by incident, but Ms Rennie called for it to be honest about its lack of facilities. 'I can't go to my GP surgery for a cervical smear because they don't have a hoist and I'm OK with that but I'm not OK with pretending services are there that don't exist,' she said. 'Weight is a key indicator of health for people who are immobile so to be able to access that information about our bodies is really important,' she told The Independent. She cannot stand or walk so is unable to transfer to a different type of seat. 'I don't blame individuals, it demonstrates the institutional lack of regard for the quality of our lives. I blame the policymakers.' Before moving, Ms Rennie bought a set of scales designed for weighing animals for about £50, but stopped using them because they were not designed for use with her equipment and her personal assistant would have to be insured to use them. She says hospital wards may have weighing facilities, but she doubts whether they would allow the public to walk in and use them. 'I don't think any private facilities would be comfortable with that,' she said. 'There's a privacy issue, and insurance to consider. 'This is an example of wider institutional health inequalities for disabled people, particularly women. 'In hospital the number of older people unable to transfer is higher than you think. Families are helping them transfer so they're not a visible part of the community so we're just constantly being forgotten.' In a TikTok video she said: 'A very nice lady connected to my surgery suggested I go on local radio and see if any factory owners could help me.' She added: 'Do I look like a chipmunk?' A spokesperson from NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, on behalf of the local health and care system, said: 'We would like to apologise to Ms Rennie for any upset or offence caused. 'We are unable to comment on individual cases however, we are continuing to look into her experience to fully understand the wider issues and identify what can be done for her, and others, in similar situations.'
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Top UK Dividend Stocks To Consider In June 2025
As the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 indices experience downward pressure due to weak trade data from China, investors are closely monitoring the impact on London markets and global economic conditions. In such uncertain times, dividend stocks can offer a measure of stability, providing regular income streams that may help offset market volatility. Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating WPP (LSE:WPP) 7.07% ★★★★★★ Pets at Home Group (LSE:PETS) 4.94% ★★★★★☆ OSB Group (LSE:OSB) 6.80% ★★★★★☆ NWF Group (AIM:NWF) 4.71% ★★★★★☆ Man Group (LSE:EMG) 7.18% ★★★★★☆ Keller Group (LSE:KLR) 3.26% ★★★★★☆ James Latham (AIM:LTHM) 7.02% ★★★★★☆ Grafton Group (LSE:GFTU) 3.68% ★★★★★☆ Dunelm Group (LSE:DNLM) 6.51% ★★★★★☆ 4imprint Group (LSE:FOUR) 5.10% ★★★★★☆ Click here to see the full list of 58 stocks from our Top UK Dividend Stocks screener. Below we spotlight a couple of our favorites from our exclusive screener. Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: ★★★★☆☆ Overview: James Halstead plc manufactures and supplies flooring products for commercial and domestic uses across various regions including the United Kingdom, Europe, Scandinavia, Australasia, Asia, and internationally, with a market cap of £671.03 million. Operations: James Halstead plc generates revenue of £268.52 million from its flooring products manufacturing and distribution operations across multiple global markets. Dividend Yield: 5.3% James Halstead has maintained stable and reliable dividends over the past decade, with a recent 10% interim dividend increase to 2.75 pence per share. Despite a high payout ratio of 86%, dividends are covered by earnings but not by free cash flows, which poses sustainability concerns. The dividend yield of 5.28% is slightly below the top tier in the UK market, while its price-to-earnings ratio of 15.8x remains competitive against the market average. Take a closer look at James Halstead's potential here in our dividend report. Our valuation report here indicates James Halstead may be overvalued. Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: ★★★★☆☆ Overview: Conduit Holdings Limited, with a market cap of £604.52 million, operates globally through its subsidiary to offer reinsurance products and services. Operations: Conduit Holdings Limited generates revenue through its reinsurance operations, with segments including Casualty at $190.60 million, Property at $344.20 million, and Specialty at $154.40 million. Dividend Yield: 6.9% Conduit Holdings' dividend yield of 6.87% ranks in the top 25% of UK payers, supported by a low cash payout ratio of 13.9% and a reasonable earnings payout ratio of 45.1%. However, its dividend history is less reliable, with payments being volatile over its four-year record and no growth observed. Recent strategic moves include a $50 million share buyback program funded from existing cash resources, potentially impacting future dividend sustainability or growth prospects. Delve into the full analysis dividend report here for a deeper understanding of Conduit Holdings. Our valuation report unveils the possibility Conduit Holdings' shares may be trading at a discount. Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: ★★★★☆☆ Overview: Inchcape plc is an automotive distributor and retailer with a market capitalization of approximately £2.53 billion. Operations: Inchcape plc generates its revenue from three primary segments: APAC (£2.99 billion), Americas (£3.27 billion), and Europe & Africa (£3.00 billion). Dividend Yield: 4.2% Inchcape's dividend yield of 4.18% is below the top 25% of UK dividend payers, but its payouts are well-covered by earnings and cash flows, with payout ratios at 42.9% and 20.9%, respectively. Despite past volatility in dividends, there has been growth over the last decade. Recent strategic initiatives include seeking bolt-on acquisitions, which could influence future financial performance and dividend stability amidst a high debt level and recent board changes affecting governance dynamics. Dive into the specifics of Inchcape here with our thorough dividend report. Our valuation report here indicates Inchcape may be undervalued. Get an in-depth perspective on all 58 Top UK Dividend Stocks by using our screener here. Are any of these part of your asset mix? Tap into the analytical power of Simply Wall St's portfolio to get a 360-degree view on how they're shaping up. Simply Wall St is your key to unlocking global market trends, a free user-friendly app for forward-thinking investors. Explore high-performing small cap companies that haven't yet garnered significant analyst attention. Fuel your portfolio with companies showing strong growth potential, backed by optimistic outlooks both from analysts and management. Find companies with promising cash flow potential yet trading below their fair value. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include AIM:JHD LSE:CRE and LSE:INCH. This article was originally published by Simply Wall St. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fourth boy arrested over retail park fire
A fourth boy has been arrested after a major fire broke out inside a shop at a retail park. Emergency services were called to the Dunelm store at the St James Retail Park off Towcester Road in Northampton, just after 15:00 BST on Saturday. Police initially arrested three boys on suspicion of arson, aged 15, 14 and 13. The 13-year-old was released without further action while the others were released on bail. Detectives have now arrested another 14-year-old boy, who remains in custody. Det Insp Nick Peters said: "This investigation continues at a fast pace, however I would continue to appeal for anyone with information to come forward. "We have spoken to a lot of witnesses already but we are still keen to hear from anyone else who has not yet contacted us." Footage from social media showed the fire had spread into the next door Pets at Home store, which had to be evacuated of staff and animals. Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service remained at the scene through Saturday night before the blaze was brought under control by 10:20 on Sunday. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Two teenage boys bailed after major fire at Dunelm Three arrested after large fire at retail park Shoppers evacuated after 'major fire' at retail park Northamptonshire Police
BBC News
03-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Fourth boy arrested over Northampton retail park fire
A fourth boy has been arrested after a major fire broke out inside a shop at a retail services were called to the Dunelm store at the St James Retail Park off Towcester Road in Northampton, just after 15:00 BST on initially arrested three boys on suspicion of arson, aged 15, 14 and 13. The 13-year-old was released without further action while the others were released on bail. Detectives have now arrested another 14-year-old boy, who remains in custody. Det Insp Nick Peters said: "This investigation continues at a fast pace, however I would continue to appeal for anyone with information to come forward."We have spoken to a lot of witnesses already but we are still keen to hear from anyone else who has not yet contacted us."Footage from social media showed the fire had spread into the next door Pets at Home store, which had to be evacuated of staff and Fire and Rescue Service remained at the scene through Saturday night before the blaze was brought under control by 10:20 on Sunday. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Mail
01-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Three people are arrested after huge inferno rips through Dunelm and Pets At Home stores
Three people have been arrested after a huge inferno ripped through Dunelm and Pets At Home stores. The flames broke out inside the Dunelm branch at St James Retail Park in Northampton at around 3pm yesterday. Dramatic pictures show the towering inferno, visible from miles above the town, which then spread to neighbouring Pets at Home after the suspected arson attack. Staff and animals had to be quickly evacuated - but luckily no casualties were reported and all animals were rescued from the pet shop safely. A huge emergency response saw 11 fire crews and appliances, along with two aerial teams, tackle the major fire, with road closures also in place. They remained overnight, only able to bring it under control nearly 20 hours later at 10.20am today. Other buildings also suffered smoke damage. Three people have been arrested on suspicion of arson and remain in police custody. Northamptonshire Police is now appealing for information and witnesses - especially a man said to have spotted people starting a fire in the Dunelm toilets. Staff and animals had to be quickly evacuated - but luckily no casualties were reported and all animals were rescued from the pet shop safely Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service was supported by crews from Buckinghamshire and Lincolnshire. Fire station commander Rich Walding dubbed it a 'very protracted incident' needing a 'large-scale response', the BBC reports. He advised people to avoid the area 'for the time being'. A fire service spokesperson added today, the Mirror reports: 'At this time, the smoke from the fire continues to blow toward the town centre and we would still advise people in the local area to keep windows and doors shut. 'The retail park will remain closed until further notice. Thank you to the public for their support while we continue to deal with this incident.' A section of Towcester Road, off which the fire happened, is expected to remain closed in both directions until 5am tomorrow. Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Tuff said: 'At the present time, we believe this fire to have been started deliberately and throughout the day, have made a number of fast-paced enquiries which has led to these three arrests. 'However, I now want to appeal to the public for any information which could help our investigation. 'If you were in, or near, the Dunelm store this afternoon and saw anything suspicious, please contact us. 'I am particularly interested in speaking to a man who allegedly saw people setting fires in the Dunelm toilets a short time before the incident was reported. 'This incident has not only caused significant damage and disruption but will have had a very serious effect on the wellbeing of the local people who work in Dunelm and the surrounding stores. 'Therefore if anyone knows anything, I would please urge you to come forward. A Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: 'Although there are still small pockets of fire, the blaze is now contained, and fire crews expect to be damping down as the day progresses.' They continued: 'The first call came in just before 3pm with reports that the Dunelm store off Towcester Road was on fire.' Witnesses or anyone with information can call Northamptonshire Police on 101 or use the force's online portal. They can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or via the charity's website. People are asked to quote incident number 280.
