'No scope for further pay rise', Health Secretary tells resident doctors ahead of five-day strike
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Daily Mirror
20 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Dad 'locked in own body' after headache turned out to be something far worse
The family of a 38-year-old father-of-two has set up a fundraiser for him after he was diagnosed with Locked-In Syndrome after suffering from week-long headaches A dad-of-two has been left 'locked in his own body' after a headache turned out to be a rare and life-shattering stroke. At just 38 years old, Gareth Bayley, a builder from Bexley in southeast London, had been suffering with what he thought were stress-related headaches for about a week back in April 2022. But when he called his wife Karen from work, telling her he felt unwell, her gut instinct kicked in and she suspected something wasn't right. Karen rushed to pick him up, only to find out that Gareth had collapsed and suffered a terrifying seizure in front of his colleagues. At the hospital, Gareth continued to suffer seizures. It wasn't until the following day that doctors made the shocking discovery that he had a stroke, which would change his life forever. The stroke had hit Gareth's brain stem and left the once-active dad with Locked-In Syndrome, which is a rare condition that leaves a person fully conscious but almost completely paralysed. Doctors told his devastated wife her husband would likely never move again. She said: "Gareth is one in a million to me. He's still the same man inside. He remembers everything, he laughs, he cries — he just can't speak or move.' Despite the bleak prognosis, Gareth has regained small but incredible functions. He can smile. He can laugh. And using his eyes, he can spell out words by blinking letter by letter. Now, the family have launched a desperate bid to raise £35,000 for a piece of specialist equipment they say could change Gareth's life once more, and even help bring him home. Gareth's condition means he can't speak or move, but Karen says his mind is sharp as ever. 'It's like he's trapped inside,' Karen added. "Doctors told us the most we could hope for was eye movement. But he's gone beyond that. He fights every day.' The family's hope now rests on a revolutionary rehabilitation device called a Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) bike, which uses electrical pulses to activate paralysed muscles and could potentially help Gareth move his arms and legs together. But the bike, which is only available from the US, comes with a staggering £35,000 price tag. Karen explained: 'To the system, it's not 'essential', but to us, it's everything. This could give Gareth a real chance at recovery, independence and dignity.' The heartbroken partner said that since his stroke, Gareth has been moved from hospital to rehab to a care home. But what he wants most is to be back with his family. She added: "He's told us, using his eyes, that he wants to come home. If we can get this equipment and I'm trained on how to use it, he could come home to us.' Currently, Gareth gets physio once a week, but Karen believes the FES bike could dramatically increase his progress and give him a shot at a better life. She said: 'It would help build muscle strength, reduce spasms, and even prevent pressure sores. We just want to give him the best chance.' The family's GoFundMe page has already drawn huge support from the public, with donations flooding in from strangers who've been touched by Gareth's story, with Karen saying the support from people they don't even know being "overwhelming". She added: 'He was 38. You don't think of strokes happening to people that young. But one moment changed everything. It's turned our world upside down.' To donate to the family's GoFundMe, visit this page here.
Daily Mail
20 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Doctors strikes will be banned under the Tories like police and prison officers, vows Kemi Badenoch
Doctors strikes will be banned under a Conservative government in the same way as police and prison officers, Kemi Badenoch has vowed. The Tory party leader today announced she would amend the law to bar the protests as she insisted the British Medical Association (BMA) is 'out of control'. It comes following 11 strikes in the past 18 months which Ms Badenoch said had resulted in patients dying. Her comments were made on GB News amid the ongoing five-day series of strikes by resident doctors in support of a pay claim. Urging Sir Keir Starmer to take similar action, Ms Badenoch said: 'The BMA has become militant, these strikes are going too far, and it is time for action. 'Doctors do incredibly important work. Medicine is a vocation – not just a job. That is why in government we offered a fair deal that supported doctors, but protected taxpayers too. 'These strikes will have a significant economic effect, but they will also mean cancelled operations, worry for families of the sick, and suffering for those who are unwell. We know that previous strike action by doctors even led to some patients losing their lives. 'That is why Conservatives are stepping in, and setting out common sense proposals to protect patients, and the public finances. And we are making an offer in the national interest – we will work with the Government to face down the BMA to help protect patients and the NHS.' Doctors hold lives in their hands. No one should lose critical healthcare because of strikes but that's what's happening now. That's why a Conservative government led by me would ban doctors' strikes, just like we do the army and police. — Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) July 27, 2025 Police, the military and prison officers are banned from taking strike action under the 1992 Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act. The Conservatives would amend this to include doctors. Action short of a strike such as working to rule and banning overtime would still be permitted - with doctors remaining able to unionise through the BMA, like the police, which has the police federation to represent members' interests. Minimum service levels have also been proposed by the Conservatives, which would aim to ensure a basic service provision in not just healthcare but other essential sectors like education and transport. The party has argued proposed changes would bring the UK in line with other nations such as Australia and Canada who have tighter restrictions on doctors strikes, as well as European nations like Greece, Italy and Portugal that have minimum service levels laws in place across their health services. Under Australia's Fair Work Act 2009, the Fair Work Commission is required to suspend or terminate strike action that endangers the safety, health or welfare of the population. Attempts to block doctors' strike action are likely to be challenged in the courts, specifically under Article 11 of the European Convention of Human Rights. Police officers have been banned from taking strike action since 1919 when the Police Act made it a criminal offence and all armed forces members are bound by the King's Regulations which make unionisation illegal. The Conservatives' proposed primary legislation would restrict the ability of for doctors at all levels to engage in strike action as regulated by the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. This would be done through exempting doctors from the part of the act that gives the right to strike. The Conservatives said they will also look at introducing back-to-work orders in a similar vein to other European countries. Stuart Andrew MP, Shadow Health Secretary, said: 'The Conservative Party has always respected the important work that healthcare professionals do, but enough is enough. 'The BMA has taken our NHS hostage and used this Labour Government's weakness to demand more and more – with taxpayers and patients left to suffer the consequences. 'As our health service faces yet another round of damaging strike action, the Conservatives are calling time. If Labour were serious about cutting waiting lists and delivering the health system our country deserves, rather than just kowtowing to the unions, they would back our plans.'
The Guardian
20 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Group confronted suspect who stabbed 11 at a Michigan Walmart, video shows
Several passersby helped apprehend a knife-wielding suspect who stabbed 11 people at a Walmart in Michigan, video has revealed. Footage circulating on social media showed several citizens in Traverse City confronting a 42-year old man outside the supermarket on Saturday during the attack. Among the people confronting the suspect included an armed citizen who could be seen pointing his gun at the man. 'Throw it away!' some of the passerby could be heard yelling, with others saying: 'Put it down!' and 'Get on the fucking ground.' One passerby could be seen pushing a shopping cart towards the suspect. Moments later, law enforcement could be seen arriving on scene and arresting the man. Speaking to Channel2Now, Walmart employee Tasha Nash said: 'It was a guy with a knife – people were screaming and running in all directions … I saw someone stabbed in the eye.' Another shopper, Kathryn Ann Clark, told the outlet and her friend's son and another shopper helped confront the suspect. 'It was definitely a stabbing,' Clark said, adding: 'There were no shots fired, just brave people stepping in.' Eleven victims were treated at the nearby Munson Medical Center. On Sunday, the hospital said that there were 'encouraging signs of recovery' among the victims. According to the hospital, seven people are in fair condition and four are in serious condition. There are no longer any patients from the attack who are in critical condition, the hospital added. In a statement released on Sunday, the hospital said: 'Our dedicated team of physicians, surgeons, nurses, clinicians, and support staff remain focused on providing a healing environment for all those affected by this tragic incident … Additionally, we are working on providing additional emotional support for our employees in light of this incident. We extend our continued support to the victims and their families during this very difficult time.' Michigan's governor, Gretchen Whitmer, said that she was aware of the attack, writing on X: 'Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence. I am grateful to the first responders for their swift response to apprehend the suspect.'
