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OPINION - Kew Gardens' £60m Palm House renovation plans explained ...Tech & Science Daily podcast

OPINION - Kew Gardens' £60m Palm House renovation plans explained ...Tech & Science Daily podcast

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The iconic Grade I listed glass buildings at the Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew will experience a major renovation.
The world-famous greenhouses date back to around 1848, and haven't been touched for over forty years.
To hear more about the reasons behind the £60million renovation project, and the innovative approaches to make these iconic greenhouses net zero, we spoke to Reuben Briggs, Head of Estate Projects at Kew.Virtual eye clinics in shopping centres could significantly reduce waiting times, as well as support government policies 'for a future ready NHS'.
That's according to Siyabonga Ndwandwe from UCL's Research Department of Primary Care and Population Health, who joined us to discuss their latest study in more detail.
According to the Association of Optometrists, during the pandemic, waits for NHS eye appointments rose sharply, resulting in a backlog.
Also in this episode:
-Cyberpunk 2077 is launching for Mac on July 17th
-Yoga, tai chi, walking and jogging could be some of the best ways to tackle insomnia
-Why the influencer behind Sylvanian Drama TikTok is getting sued
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Protest against permanent closure of birthing unit
Protest against permanent closure of birthing unit

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Protest against permanent closure of birthing unit

Residents from Lichfield took part in a walking protest to oppose the permanent closure of a maternity unit in Staffordshire. Campaigners said that "mothers need a real choice" and closing the birthing unit at Samuel Johnson Community Hospital for good would take away options for local families. Families took part in a pram push on Saturday after a public consultation was launched by the NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB) last month. The freestanding midwife-led birthing units (FMBUs) at Samuel Johnson and County Hospital in Stafford were temporarily stopped due to the pandemic - the body is gathering views on whether they should reopen. Pregnant mothers have still been able to attend the hospitals for antenatal and postnatal appointments but have been unable to give birth at the units. While many have been waiting for the midwife-led services to resume, the ICB said the viability of the units was being questioned. Local residents, families who had used the maternity units in the past and pregnant mothers all gathered in the pouring rain in protest as they walked from Lichfield guildhall to Samuel Johnson. Hannah Weaver, who gave birth at the Lichfield unit before the pandemic, told the BBC her experience there was "empowering". She said: "I had an extremely positive and extremely empowering experience [at Samuel Johnson]. "I think it's important women have a choice about where they want to give birth, and that choice is being taken away from the residents of Lichfield. "The pram push is to show people we are against the proposal for closure and that we really make sure we keep safe births in Lichfield where there's choice. "That's the main thing - maternity choice." If services at the facility do not resume, the closest birthing unit for expectant mothers in Lichfield is at Queen's Hospital, in Burton. Speaking on the original decision to close the services, the ICB said it was made to ensure there was enough staff for the maternity departments at Royal Stoke University Hospital and Queen's Hospital in Burton-upon-Trent. Heather Johnstone, chief nursing and therapies officer, told the BBC if services were to resume, the midwives staffing the units would be taken away from the county's busiest hospitals. She said: "The units have been shut for five years, so the most recent data we have is from 2020. "There were around 18 births a month, so 220 births a year. It requires a lot of midwifery staffing to safely staff that unit. "It's taking those midwives away from facilities where they could be providing care to a broader range of people." The public consultation will run until 3 August and people have been urged to share their views on the ICB's website. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. More on this story Birthing unit closures could be made permanent Related internet links Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB Samuel Johnson Community Hospital

NHS managers who silence whistleblowers to be banned from senior health roles
NHS managers who silence whistleblowers to be banned from senior health roles

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NHS managers who silence whistleblowers to be banned from senior health roles

NHS managers who silence whistleblowers will be banned from taking up other senior health service roles, the Government has announced. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the proposals will ensure those who commit serious misconduct are no longer able to work in senior NHS management positions. Legislation is set to be put forward to Parliament next year to introduce professional standards and regulation of NHS managers. Tens of thousands of clinical and non-clinical managers work in the NHS but there is currently no regulatory framework specifically for managers, as there is for doctors and nurses. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the reforms will 'slam the door in the face of unsuitable managers'. Mr Streeting added: 'I'm determined to create a culture of honesty and openness in the NHS where whistleblowers are protected, and that demands tough enforcement. 'If you silence whistleblowers, you will never work in the NHS again. 'We've got to create the conditions where staff are free to come forward and sound the alarm when things go wrong. Protecting the reputation of the NHS should never be put before protecting patient safety. 'Most NHS leaders are doing a fantastic job, but we need to stop the revolving door that allows managers sacked for misconduct or incompetence to be quietly moved to another well-paid role in another part of the NHS.' DHSC said a public consultation launched in November last year received more than 4,900 contributions on ways in which managers and leaders could be regulated. The statutory barring system will be for board-level directors and their direct reports within NHS bodies. Further legislation will set out new statutory powers for the Health and Care Professions Council to disbar NHS leaders in senior roles who have committed serious misconduct. Separate NHS England professional standards for managers will establish a 'consistent, national set of expectations about NHS management and leadership competency and conduct', DHSC said. Tom Kark KC, author of the Kark Review into the effectiveness of the fit and proper person test within the NHS, said: 'I am pleased that the recommendation made in my report into the application of the NHS fit and proper person test to create a power to disqualify board directors found guilty of serious misconduct is being implemented. 'Along with the ongoing implementation of my other recommendations for improving board competence, this is a positive move to strengthen management in the NHS by weeding out poor leadership. 'This is good news for whistleblowers and those looking for accountability in senior management which has long been lacking.' Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association, said patients expect NHS managers 'to be held to the same high standards as clinical staff, and that should include consistent regulation'. Ms Power added: 'A clear, fair process to prevent those who commit serious misconduct from returning to senior roles will be an important step forward, and it's vital that patient involvement continues to shape proposals as further regulation is considered.' Sam Allen, NHS national director for leadership and management, said: 'Managers will welcome this new regulatory framework, as part of the broader package of actions set out in the plan to attract, develop, and retain the best possible leaders for the NHS of today and tomorrow.'

Living kidney donor 'will give our son a new life'
Living kidney donor 'will give our son a new life'

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Living kidney donor 'will give our son a new life'

Amrit Paul was in the middle of his computer science exams when he was told by doctors he would need a kidney transplant. "It was a shock. I didn't really know how to handle it and, in all honesty, I went into a shell," he said. He was placed on the organ donation register almost five years ago, having been diagnosed with a chronic kidney disease aged four. Amrit undergoes nine hours of peritoneal dialysis each night, a method of blood purification used when kidneys fail. "People say I look fine, but under the hood there are a lot of problems," the 24-year-old said. Now he and his parents are appealing for a living kidney donor from the South Asian community to come forward. 'Debunk myths' "Feeling your body change as your organs start to decline is tough," added Amrit, who works remotely in software sales. "My family are my motivation, they've been so supportive." Amrit's mum Jatinder Paul is leading their campaign. Their poster reads: "Please, help us find an angel for Amrit." Their appeal comes as NHS Blood and Transplant reveals that a record number of people are waiting for a life-saving transplant in the UK. When Amrit's immediate family, who are Indian Punjabi, discovered they were unable to donate, they also became aware of the shortage of matching donors from global majority backgrounds. "As a parent, it's hard not being able to donate because of your own health issues," said Jatinder. "So you reach out to the wider community and ask if there's someone who can help give him his life back." Dr Rhys Evans, clinical lead for kidney transplantation at Royal Free London, where Amrit is receiving care, said ethnicity can play a significant role in how long a patient waits. "Unfortunately, for patients like Amrit who has blood group B, which is more common in South Asian and Black ethnic groups it often means a longer wait, because there are fewer donors from those communities," he said. As of 31 March 2025, more than 8,000 people were on the active transplant waiting list across the UK - the highest number ever recorded. Over 1,300 of those patients are based in London. In the capital, the number of deceased organ donors fell last year to 130, down from 154 the previous year. Fiona Loud, policy director at charity Kidney Care UK, said greater awareness and conversation within ethnic minority communities is vital. "Sadly, every day at least one person dies waiting for a transplant. This has to change," she said. "People from Black and South Asian communities are more likely to need a donor from the same background as them so that the organ is less likely to be rejected. "Talking about it and sharing your decision helps debunk myths and makes your wishes clear to loved ones." Funding for more black and Asian blood donors Lack of ethnic diversity among egg and sperm donors Couple donate stem cells in 'rare' double match Anthony Clarkson, director of organ and tissue donation and transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, is also urging people to register their wishes. "We are facing an incredibly concerning situation. More people than ever are waiting for transplants, but fewer donations are taking place," he said. "We need to act across all areas - modernising the Organ Donor Register, improving understanding of the law, and investing in technologies that preserve and treat organs." Despite the difficulties and uncertainty about whether a donor will come forward, the family say they remain hopeful. "We want to spread the word, bring awareness and find a match," said Jatinder. "He's focused on living a normal life, and that's what gives us the strength to keep going as a unit." Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to NHS: Become a living donor

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