Surge in stab victims forces hospital to offer knife amnesty
St George's Hospital in Tooting brought in the measure after its emergency department treated more than 500 people for injuries from knives and other sharp objects last year - almost double the number seen in 2022.
Provided by knife crime charity Words 4 Weapons, St George's installed an amnesty bin on the hospital grounds near the emergency department for people to anonymously dispose of weapons.
In its first six months, 87 sharp objects were surrendered, including zombie knives and machetes, as well as other weapons such as knuckle dusters.
Cleo Kenington, consultant in emergency general surgery and major trauma at the hospital, said she has had to "physically remove knives from patients on the operating table to stop them bleeding to death".
"These patients are young, vulnerable and scared - they have their whole lives ahead of them and they often say 'I don't want to die'," she added.
"I've seen more and more patients being admitted with stab wounds - once they arrive at St George's we provide them with the best possible care and most survive, but tragically many patients die before they can reach hospital as their injuries are so severe."
After the success of the scheme in London, an NHS trust said it would introduce the bins at St Helier Hospital in Carshalton and Epsom Hospital in Surrey.
Jacqueline Totterdell, chief executive of St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group, said: "Keeping staff and patients safe is our top priority - that's why we're working with partners to keep weapons out of our hospitals."
Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson added: "Tackling violence and making our streets safer is at the heart of this government's Plan for Change and we cannot do this alone.
"I've seen first-hand how hospitals like St George's can help - they are so often at the centre of tragic incidences of knife crime.
"Last month, we announced £9.4m of funding for the London Violence Reduction Unit which will enable them to continue funding youth workers in major trauma centres across London to help young people impacted by knife crime."
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Scottish Sun
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After she's sprayed it, she uses her hairdryer and a large paddle brush to set the product and style her hair. And the results are incredible, with her locks looking instantly thicker and fuller. "Look how much better that is already. I feel so much more confident and happy with my hair", she gushed. "So yes, that is my insecurity but this little thing helps with it massively. So if anyone else has got this kind of problem, have a wee check out of the root spray because it is amazing. "I normally buy it off Amazon but I actually went to the website this time because they didn't have my colour and I'm using the dark brown for obvious reasons." SOCIAL MEDIA SUPPORT Yasmine's video quickly racked up 11,000 views and proved a huge comfort for other women who struggle with insecurities over their thinning hair. One exclaimed: "WOW would never have known, lots of people suffer with this, myself included." "Looks great, it makes it look so thick", insisted a second. A third wrote: "What a fab tip! Thank you for sharing. I have thinning hair on top too, I believe PCOS has caused mine. I think it's much more common than we think!" A fourth echoed: "Thanks for sharing - I have thin hair on top, so to hide it I usually pull it back to hide, but my sides are very thin too, and can't stand having my hair down." "I have a similar problem and have tried a few things but this looks fab. Your hair always looks so thick so thanks for sharing", added a fifth. Meanwhile, a sixth said: "Thank you for posting this - I have the same problem and just ordered this spray." HAIR LOSS REASONS Jack Merrick-Thirlway, creative director at Neville Hair & Beauty, said hereditary hair loss is the most common type of hair loss and is transmitted through your genes. This type of hair loss can start from teen years and although will be difficult to treat, it can be slowed down if treated immediately. Hormonal imbalances may also cause you to lose hair. Pregnancy and the menopause are two key times when hormonal imbalances can occur, leading to changes in hair thickness. However, chronic stress and certain medications can also contribute to these imbalances. Another hair saboteur is excessive friction. Jacks says those who are wearing a tight ponytail repeatedly may find themselves experiencing hair loss. Finally, using the wrong products or having too many chemical treatments can lead to hair loss. HAIR GROWTH TIPS So, how can we encourage our hair to grow? Jack says that when shopping for new products to help with hair thickness, there are few ingredients to look out for. 'I'd advise looking out for ingredients such as biotin, collagen, amino acids and products containing vitamin B3. These all help strengthen the hair follicles and promote growth. 'That said, if you feel out of your depth, you can also seek advice with your hair stylist.' Be wary of too many chemicals in your styling products as they can exacerbate hair loss - and you should also not wash it too often. 'To ensure your hair stays healthy it is important not to over wash it,' advises Jack. 'Instead try and limit washing your hair to two or three times a week. "Use a gentle shampoo and conditioner to make sure you do not remove any moisture.' Hair expert reveals how to repair damaged hair TINA Farey, Editorial director at Rush Hair, shares her advice… HOW TO RESTORE DAMAGED HAIR Whilst you can't fully reserve the effects of damaged hair, you can stop the problem from growing. Depending on the condition of your hair, I'd recommend getting a trim every six to eight weeks - this will prevent any split ends from travelling further up the hair shaft, which weakens the hair's overall structure and leads to more breakage. Even just an inch of the ends will completely transform the appearance of your hair – trust me. When it comes to products to help restore damaged hair, Goldwell's Rich Repair Treatment Mask is a firm favourite – strengthening damaged locks to be healthy and shiny once again. HOW TO PREVENT DAMAGE My number one tip is to always use a heat protectant – even if you're only blow-drying your hair. Consistent heat styling without one will leave your hair open to heat damage. I'd also recommend refraining from over-washing your hair as this can strip the hair of its natural oils – nobody wants a dry and irritated scalp! And finally, swap your sleek, slick back for a hair down day! They may be in fashion at the moment, but over time all that tension on your strands from being pulled will wreak havoc on your hair follicles – this could lead to thinning and bald spots in areas where the hair is constantly pulled.
