DR MAX: This insatiable demand for higher doctors' pay looks tawdry and cynical. It makes me want to rip up my BMA membership card
This makes me really angry. My medical union, the British Medical Association (BMA), is squandering public respect for doctors, mangling facts and pursuing Left-wing crusades with no regard for the cost to the health service.
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Telegraph
3 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Don't turn new drivers into amateur ambulances
New rules from the DVSA will ensure that new drivers will be tested on their CPR skills in order to get their licence. I would refresh readers on what CPR is, but two-thirds of Britons already know how to perform this first aid function. Yet, new drivers will be forced to undertake testing on the subject in order to do what they took the test for in the first place. To drive. Already, the RAC estimates that the total cost of learning to drive can exceed £2,000. With waiting lists for tests exceeding five months, and an ongoing reform package not expected to take a hold until the summer of next year, these new changes needlessly add extra strains to an already rigorous driving examination. Since 2020, it has been mandatory to undertake first aid and CPR training as part of our school curriculum. In primary school, basic wound dressing and speaking to emergency services is taught, whilst in the secondary stages, rubber mannequins are deployed. Often St John's Ambulance or qualified staff will step in to rigorously teach compressions, breaths, and the Bee Gees (Staying Alive) in classrooms. In extra curricular activities, such as the Scouts, Cadets, or sports teams, first aid courses are also encouraged, or even form part of the participation tests. This is important – heart attacks happen on the pitch and in the pool, and there has been a very successful campaign to deploy 100,000 defibrillators across the UK in recent years, which is equivalent to the number of heart attacks per year. However, we do not know whether adding additional tests for young drivers will do anything to change the status quo to save more lives. Most people injured or killed in a car crash do not suffer from cardiac arrest. Rather it is blunt force trauma, deep lacerations and contusions, and shock that brings passengers, drivers, and pedestrians to the hospital. It is the inadequacies of the health service that is the central problem. Most ambulances still arrive past their targets, putting pressure on drivers to pick up the slack. But CPR, even if performed properly, can only do so much for major incidents. It cannot be incumbent upon drivers to take up the job of paramedics and rush to the nearest mangled car collision and provide the necessary treatment. Indeed, there is additional risk to encouraging young drivers, especially if they're shocked following an accident they've been involved in, to provide CPR. Poorly given CPR could result in battery charges, and could endanger the very person they are trying to resuscitate. Enough news stories about these amateur ambulance drivers and headlines of litigations, it may put even the most CPR-qualified drivers off leaping into the fray. If the Government wants to get serious about preventing driving accidents, they must start with the quality of our roads. Highways maintenance will only rise by £200m by the end of this Parliament, far short of what is required to fix the potted pavements and decaying road-signs that blight our tarmac. Likewise, the consideration should be given to the Government's continual pressure towards heavier electric vehicles (which are on average 400kg heavier than their hydrocarbon counterparts). These monstering hulks, which tear up our roads, and collide with more force, will do more damage to a driver or pedestrian than CPR could possible hope to recover.
Daily Mail
3 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Labour councillor Ricky Jones tells jury he 'wasn't thinking' and was 'upset and overwhelmed' at time he urged crowd to 'cut the throats' of far-right Southport protesters
Labour councillor Ricky Jones told a jury he 'wasn't thinking' when he told the crowd to 'cut [the] throats' of far-right protesters at an anti-racism protest. Jones, 58, who is on trial for encouraging violent disorder, attended a counter-demonstration on Hoe Street, Walthamstow on August 7, 2024, in response to anti-migrant rallies sparked by the murders of three young girls in Southport last year. Ellie Dot Stancombe, seven, Bebe King, six, and Alice Da Silva Aguiar, nine were killed by Axel Rudakubana, who also injured several children and adults at a Taylor Swift themed dance class on July 29, 2024. The incident sparked riots nationwide after misinformation spread online that killer, Rudakubana, was a Muslim asylum seeker who had recently arrived in Britain on a small boat. Last August, a far-right march was scheduled to happen outside Waltham Forest Immigration Bureau, and as a response, a counter demonstration had been organised nearby, Snaresbrook Crown Court was told. No far right demonstrators turned up to the immigration centre, but, the counter demonstration went ahead. That day, wearing a black polo top and surrounded by cheering supporters, the councillor said: 'You've got women and children using these trains during the summer holidays. They don't give a s*** about who they hurt. 'They are disgusting Nazi fascists. We need to cut all their throats and get rid of them all.' He also drew his finger across his throat as he spoke to the crowd. After videos of the alleged incident circulated online, the councillor, who had represented Dartford since 2019, was suspended. He was also arrested and interviewed at Brixton Police Station on August 8. Jones denies the charge of encouraging violence, maintaining he said the remarks in the 'heat of the moment' and that they were not intended to be 'taken literally'. He told the court his comment did not refer to far-right protesters involved in riots at the time, but to those who had reportedly left National Front stickers on a train with razor blades hidden behind them. Jones, who at the time worked as an official for the Transport Salaried Staff's Association (TSSA) union, later sent an edited version of his speech video to union members, the court heard. Asked by his defence barrister, Hossein Zahir KC, why he edited the video, Jones replied: 'When I had time to view the footage after the demonstration, I was shocked at what I had actually said. 'I was horrified. Under no circumstances did I want to portray that to anybody, so I edited that last bit out.' The unedited video was eventually posted on social media platform X, where it attracted millions of views, the trial heard. Jones told jurors he felt 'very emotional and very upset' after receiving pictures, the day before the rally, of National Front stickers that had been left on a train, which had razor blades hidden behind them. He had also received reports from union members that more razor blades had been found stuck between seats, Jones added. 'I was very concerned about what had happened on the train. I was thinking, this [the speech] is a good opportunity to raise what happened.' The father-of-four described the mood in the crowd at the time as 'happy and joyful', adding: 'There clearly wasn't any upset or anger from any people in that scene, because they clearly knew it was about what happened on the train.' Prosecutor Ben Holt, cross-examining, told the defendant: 'Your words about slitting people's throats were not cheerful or happy.' Jones replied: 'I totally agree, I'm ashamed.' The defendant however denied intending to encourage violence towards far-right protesters. 'What violence could have anyone caused to those people in the train?' Jones said. 'It was nonsensical - I didn't believe there was a risk.' Jones, of Dartford, denies one count of encouraging violent disorder.
Daily Mail
3 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
'Anti-Jewish' summer camp accused of backing Iran is cancelled - concerns were raised that it was radicalising children as young as nine
A summer camp sponsored by an Islamic charity accused of backing Iran has been cancelled after concerns were raised it could expose children as young as nine to extreme views. Local councillors said they had been 'swamped' by petitions to call off the upcoming four-day residential camp run by the Ahlulbayt Islamic Mission charity in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire. Representatives of 11 Reform UK branches across the county had also written to the managers of the centre where Camp Wilayah was due to be held, demanding that it be cancelled. The Daily Mail can now reveal that the residential, described as a 'unique opportunity' for children aged nine to 14 to build on their Islamic values, will not go ahead as planned over the August bank holiday. Liberal Democrat and chair of Hertfordshire County Council Laurence Brass welcomed the decision, saying the final call had been made by the scout group that own the venue. He added: 'We have been swamped with petitions for it to be cancelled. 'I was very upset that it was going ahead and I am very pleased with this result. I think it is the right decision.' Mr Brass said that Hertfordshire County Council is due to announce the cancellation of the camp officially on Wednesday. Camp Wilayah, which has been run by Ahlulbayt Islamic Mission for a number of years, was due to be held between August 22 and August 25. According to the charity's website, any girls attending were required to wear a hijab and loose clothing. They were also due to be separated from the boys for the duration of the camp, except for daily prayers, talks and a team photo. Ahlulbayt Islamic Mission, which is based in Cricklewood, north-west London, has been accused of backing Iran's theocratic regime. In posts on social media, the charity has repeatedly praised Tehran's leader Ayatollah Khamenei - and even described his books as a 'great read'. The organisation has also refused to condemn the terror group Hamas and said in the wake of the October 7 attacks that 'Zionists brought this disaster upon themselves'. Meanwhile in another post on Instagram from last year, young children can be seen drawing and colouring in Palestinian flags and watermelon symbols. Legal lobby group UK Lawyers for Israel previously criticised the planned activities at the camp - saying they could incite hatred towards Jewish people. It said in a comment to The Telegraph: 'AIM's deep ideological alignment with the Iranian regime and its record of extremist propaganda presents an unacceptable risk to children. 'We hope the local authority and other agencies will act decisively to protect vulnerable young people from exposure to harmful and radicalising content.' In a post on their website on Tuesday, Ahlulbayt Islamic Mission confirmed that Camp Wilayah had been postponed until further notice. The charity said this was in light of 'serious threats levelled at the safety of children at the camp'. The statement read: 'Following discussions with Hertfordshire Scouts, and in light of serious threats levelled at the safety of children at the camp, we regret to announce that this year's Camp Wilayah will not proceed at Phasels Wood over the bank holiday weekend. 'We know this decision will cause some disappointment; however, our first priority is to protect the safety and security of our children, and we take this matter very seriously. 'For foreign political lobby groups, media outlets and far right thugs to make unfounded allegations that heighten the risk and encourage harm to children in the UK is truly disgraceful. It added: 'For over a decade, Camp Wilayah has been a cherished space where our children could enjoy the outdoors, grow in their values, and form lifelong friendships. 'Many of those who attended Camp Wilayah are now doctors, plumbers, teachers, engineers, and public servants, proud citizens who give back to Britain every single day. 'No evidence of wrongdoing has ever been found at Camp Wilayah, yet our children are being punished simply for their faith.' 'To attack such a wholesome and positive tradition is shameful, especially when threats are made by the Reform Party to mobilise protests and disrupt children's camps. 'Not only is this despicable behaviour, but it is Islamophobia in plain sight, and it should alarm every member of society.' UK Lawyers for Israel wrote to Brentwood Council in London and Hertfordshire County Council last month asking for Camp Wilayah to be banned. The group warned councillors: 'There is compelling reason to believe that the event may be used as a platform to radicalise children, incite hatred or violence, and glorify terrorist ideology.' Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick also raised concerns that children should be allowed to attend camps run by 'supporters of the Iranian regime'. A spokesperson for Hertfordshire County Council previously said: 'We are aware of concerns around this planned activity camp, and we are working with partners to understand the situation and whether it raises any safeguarding issues.' There is no evidence the charity poses a risk to children and in a statement on their website it says its goal is to 'promote peace' and 'create a better world for everyone'. It reads: 'We at AIM are committed in our efforts to spread peace, tolerance and co-existence; and to promote social harmony as contained in our rich and abundant Islamic heritage. 'AIM believes that the continual pursuit of its objectives will create a better world for everyone.'
