Today Supreme Court President Lord Neuberger has warned that UK judges need more clarity over the role of the ECJ after Brexit – and he is right.
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Aug82017
Aug82017
New research from Labour reveals that almost half of maternity units close doors to new mothers
New
research published today by the Labour Party shows that nearly half of
England’s maternity units closed to new mothers at some point in 2016.
Data
obtained by Labour under the Freedom of Information Act shows:
·
42 hospital trusts which responded to an
FOI request say they temporarily closed maternity wards to new admissions at
some point in 2016
·
Some closures lasted more
than 24 hours, while over ten trusts shut temporarily on more than ten separate
occasions each
·
In 2016 there were 382
occasions when units had to close their doors, a 70 per cent increase from 2014
·
Hospitals report capacity
and staffing issues as most common reason for closures
Jonathan
Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Health, said:
“These
findings show the devastating impact which Tory underfunding is having for
mothers and children across the country. It is staggering that almost half of
maternity units in England had to close to new mothers at some point in 2016.
The uncertainty for so many women just when they need the NHS most is
unthinkable.
“Under
this Government, maternity units are understaffed and under pressure. It’s
shameful that pregnant women are being turned away due to staff shortages, and
shortages of beds and cots in maternity units.
“Families
are being sorely let down by this Government’s failure to recognise the crisis
facing our NHS. The Tories need to get a grip and take urgent action to make
sure closures like this don’t continue to happen.”
Aug82017
Worker suffers flash burns
A manufacturing firm has been sentenced for safety breaches after a worker suffered flash burns to her face, neck, chest and both arms.
Pyronix Limited manufactures intruder alarm equipment. Part of the manufacturing process involves dipping Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) in Fluorocoat Thin Film Coating, which is a highly flammable substance, to provide humidity protection.
Sheffield Magistrates’ Court heard that in April 2015 the injured worker was dipping baskets containing a variety of the PCBs which had batteries pre-installed prior to dipping. As the worker removed a basket out of the tank, she saw a “burning cloud” go through the tank and was unable to avoid being burnt after the Fluorocoat had been ignited.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that changes needed to be made in the planning of this activity. A number of modifications were made to the tank and process. This included not installing the battery into the PCB until after dipping, adding local exhaust ventilation to the tank and additional measures to control static. Employees also received additional training.
Pyronix Limited of Hellaby Rotherham pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £140,000 with £3133.25 costs
After the hearing, HSE inspector Laura Hunter commented: “This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices.
“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”
Notes to Editors:
- The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice, promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice, and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk
- More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: www.legislation.gov.uk/
- HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk
Journalists should approach HSE press office with any queries on regional press releases.
Aug82017
Press release: UK-based start-ups win Expo 2020 Dubai grants
This week, Expo 2020 Dubai has announced that three UK-based start-ups leading innovation in healthcare, water security and science education have each won an Expo Live grant from organisers of the 2020 World Expo, being held in Dubai.
Welcoming this news, the British ambassador to the UAE, Philip Parham, said:
I am proud of Babylon, Desolenator and ScienceScope for their great business partnerships with Expo2020 Dubai. They are impressive examples of British excellence in science and innovation, and of UK-UAE collaboration. I am confident that cutting edge British companies will continue to make major contributions to the fulfilment of the UAE’s ambitious vision. And I look forward to UK participation in the success of Dubai Expo 2020.
Babyl Rwanda is a branch of UK-based digital healthcare tech start-up Babylon that designed smartphone ‘chatbot’ technology to offer live consultations and medical prescriptions. Babyl developed its platform on feature phone version to allow all Rwandans, including those without smartphones or with limited access to the internet, predominantly in rural areas, to access “call-in” consultations service with doctors from anywhere.
Desolenator is a clean technology venture based in London. It uses only solar power to purify water from any source, including sea water; which is especially critical in regions where natural groundwater reserves have been polluted or poisoned or where seawater is the only water source available. The process used is a simple distillation, but Desolenator’s innovative technology accelerates the process and cuts the environmental impact, allowing its purifiers to produce up to 20 litres a day from a one square metre area, versus an average two litres a day using traditional solar stills.
ScienceScope Ltd is a startup based near Bath, Somerset, that specialises in science education. It provides schools with tools using the ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) so that students can explore the world around them to enhance learning in science, technology and geography. ScienceScope is already working with the Infocomm Development Agency of Singapore to bring IoT technology to five schools there to engage students in technology development and in understanding how technology can address the problems and challenges faced in the world.
Expo 2020 Dubai’s Expo Live programme has an allocation of USD 100 million, to back projects that offer creative solutions to pressing challenges that impact people’s lives, or help preserve the world – or both. Organisers are looking for such projects that would not reach their full potential without its support.
More details available here.
Aug82017
8 killed, 17 missing in SW China landslide
Eight people were killed and 17 remain missing after a rain-triggered landslide hit a village in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, local authorities said Tuesday.
The landslide hit Gengdi village in Qiaowo township of Puge county at around 6 a.m. Tuesday. It also injured five people, according to the information office of the prefecture government.
Rescue work is underway.