logo
Grieving Hoptonheath mother in mortuary row fights on

Grieving Hoptonheath mother in mortuary row fights on

BBC News09-04-2025
A woman who was unable to see her son's body for 10 days said a meeting with the NHS trust that manages the mortuary did not address her concerns.Rachel Baker's 20-year-old Royal Navy engineer son, Joe, died in a crash in November 2023 while travelling to his base in Yeovilton, Somerset.Mrs Baker said Somerset NHS Foundation Trust told her they only gave next of kin access "under exceptional circumstances".The trust said it could not allow access until directed by the coroner, but also apologised and said communication was not clear.
But Mrs Baker said she was left without answers and has enlisted the help of her MP.
She said Joe's body had been taken to Musgrove Park Hospital mortuary in Taunton."Quickly, it became evident that under no circumstances was I going to be able to see Joe," she said."They couldn't give me a timescale or any detail as to how badly injured he was."We were just constantly met with, 'it's protocol, there's not much information we can give you at this time'."Mrs Baker, from Hoptonheath on the Shropshire-Herefordshire border, is now campaigning for Joe's Law, which would give families immediate access to their deceased loved ones.
She said, after her meeting with the trust, that it had decided to make a change.But she said: "The only change they've now agreed to is the fact that moving forward, they've decided that between the trust and the coroner that they're going to liaise more. So basically they're going to talk to each other.""They do let next of kin in to see their loved ones under exceptional circumstances," she added."You've just been told your son's dead. It doesn't get more exceptional than that, so I asked them to explain what their exceptional circumstances were, to which they couldn't reply."
A spokesman for the NHS trust said the family described their very painful experience of not being able to see Joe's body for 10 days after his death.He said the meeting was an opportunity to look at the law and to understand how to better work with the coroner.He said: "We could not enable access to Joe's body until directed by the coroner after the post-mortem had taken place and the inquest opened."Communication with Joe's family between our trust and the coroner's office was not clear enough and we are very sorry for this, and the distress it caused his family."
Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

ADHD drug treatment can reduce patients' suicidal behaviour, study finds
ADHD drug treatment can reduce patients' suicidal behaviour, study finds

Wales Online

timean hour ago

  • Wales Online

ADHD drug treatment can reduce patients' suicidal behaviour, study finds

ADHD drug treatment can reduce patients' suicidal behaviour, study finds Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can involve being inattentive, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. Ritalin is often prescribed to treat ADHD (Image: Daily Record) Drug treatment for ADHD can reduce patients' substance misuse, suicidal behaviour and criminal behaviour, a new study has found. ‌ Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can involve being inattentive, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. ‌ The neurodevelopmental disorder is thought to affect around 5% of children and 2.5% of adults worldwide. ‌ The study, which appeared in the British Medical Journal, examined 148,581 people in Sweden who had a new diagnosis of ADHD. Drug treatment for ADHD was associated with reduced rates of suicidal behaviour, substance misuse, transport accidents and criminality. "These results provide evidence on the effects of ADHD drug treatment on important health-related and social outcomes that should inform clinical practice and the debate on the drug treatment of ADHD," the report said. Article continues below In June, a taskforce said NHS waiting lists for ADHD diagnosis and support have led to a "significant growth in the use of private providers that are not regulated". The ADHD taskforce, commissioned by NHS England with the support of the Government, published an interim report saying the system for diagnosing and managing ADHD needs to be overhauled. At the moment, ADHD assessment and treatment in England is provided by highly specialised doctors in secondary care. ‌ But the report warned: "Inability to access NHS services has led to a significant growth in the use of private providers that are not regulated, resulting in two-tier access to services, diagnosis and treatment; one for those who can pay and another for those who cannot. "This drives health inequalities and links to disproportionate impacts and outcomes in the education and justice systems, employment and health." Wait times for NHS ADHD services "have escalated and are unacceptably long" and demand is "very likely" to continue to rise, the study warned. Article continues below The NHS has launched publicly available data collection on ADHD referrals and waiting times to help local teams better understand how they are performing.

Pharmacist's verdict on whether ice cold or room temperature water is best in heatwave
Pharmacist's verdict on whether ice cold or room temperature water is best in heatwave

Daily Mirror

time3 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

Pharmacist's verdict on whether ice cold or room temperature water is best in heatwave

Staying hydrated during the fourth heatwave of 2025 is imperative – and a pharmacist has cleared up if it's better to drink cold or room temperature beverages when it's hot During spells of hot weather, it's so tempting to reach for a tall glass of iced water. But according to one health expert, this could actually end up making you feel even hotter. ‌ With the UK basking in another hot snap, heeding this pharmacist's advice could be an absolute game-changer. This sunny period will constitute the fourth heatwave of the summer so far. An official heatwave is declared when temperatures rise above the heatwave threshold for three consecutive days. That threshold varies from 25C to 28C across the country. ‌ So with that being said, it's important to stay hydrated with plenty of water. And apparently, room temperature is best. A Spanish pharmacist told his 3.7million followers: 'What is better when it is too hot? To drink cold or room-temperature water? Psychologically, it may seem that cold water refreshes you more, but it's not true. ‌ 'Because it is colder, it makes your body work more to regulate the temperature, and the body generates heat, so room-temperature water might be better. 'There are even African countries where people drink hot liquids in the summer, and say that it helps to sweat, and sweat helps to cool off, but I think that is a cultural issue that we will never accept here. Imagine how little you feel like drinking tea in the middle of a desert!' While hot water may not feel like the most appealing idea when it's scorching hot outside, opting for room temperature water could make all the difference. Room temperature water is closer to your body's natural temperature, so your body doesn't need to expend extra energy to warm it up or cool it down. This allows for quicker hydration. What's more, it helps to maintain your core body temperature, allowing your body's natural cooling process (sweating) to work efficiently. Cold water can sometimes trick your body into thinking it's cooler than it is, which may reduce sweating and slow down cooling. ‌ Some also believe that drinking room temperature drinks is much easier than sipping on ice cold water. For one, it doesn't give you a brain freeze! For that reason, you're actually more likely to glug the whole glass down rather than taking smaller sips. What does the NHS say about drinking water? The NHS advises: 'Most people should aim to drink enough during the day so their pee is a clear pale yellow colour. 'The Eatwell Guide recommends that people should aim to drink 6 to 8 cups or glasses of fluid a day. Water, lower-fat milk and sugar-free drinks, including tea and coffee, all count. 'You may need to drink more fluids if you're: "pregnant or breastfeeding "in a hot environment "physically active for long periods "ill or recovering from illness.'

Hopsital restaurant in Leicester reopens following blaze
Hopsital restaurant in Leicester reopens following blaze

BBC News

time3 hours ago

  • BBC News

Hopsital restaurant in Leicester reopens following blaze

NHS trust bosses have praised staff for working "around the clock" to overcome disruption caused by a fire at Leicester Royal Infirmary. Ten fire crews were called to the hospital on 10 May to tackle the blaze, which started due to an electrical fault and caused severe heat and fire damage to a food storage area as well as smoke damage to nearby rooms and corridors. A plan was then put in place to continue to serve food to patients at all three hospitals run by the University of Leicester Hospitals NHS Trust and repair the damage caused by the fire. The restaurant at Leicester Royal Infirmary has now reopened. Nick Lee, retail catering facilities manager at the trust said: "We pulled together very quickly to get patients fed in the immediate aftermath of the fire. "The top priority initially was to maintain meal provision for patients across all three hospital sites. "Within hours of the fire, catering teams implemented a temporary plan to redirect production to kitchens at the Leicester General Hospital and the Glenfield Hospital, supported by rapid stock movement from site to added: "Portering teams played a vital role, helping to move chilled and frozen food between locations, while cleaning teams ensured alternative areas were safe and fit for food preparation."Dharminder Shoker, associate director of commercial services, said: "I'm very proud of the organisation that we work for and the people that are working in it. "It's thanks to the team effort across the board, with everyone going the extra mile to get the kitchen back up and running. I want to thank all colleagues involved, there are too many to name, but my thanks go out to all of you."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store