Eastbourne woman 'nearly missed cancer check due to late letter'
Ms Wynn-Jones said it would have been "reassuring" to receive the letter before the appointment as "it detailed why I'd been referred, what they were looking for, what I needed to do now, how to prepare - well, I didn't have any of that".
'Wider organisational issues'
Eastbourne MP Josh Babarinde, who has raised the issue of late postal deliveries in the House of Commons, said residents were being "let down" by the "bigger bosses at Royal Mail who have failed to sort out their organisation".Having visited local delivery depots, the MP said staff were "pulling out all the stops to get our post to us" but were being held back by "wider organisational issues".Alongside writing to regulator Ofcom, Mr Babarinde said he had secured a meeting with Post Office Minister Kevin Hollinrake to discuss the issue.Royal Mail has apologised for the ongoing issues and admits that its service isn't "where it needs to be" in certain areas. It said that 92% of first-class letters were delivered within two days, and that 99% of first-class letters were delivered within five days.Ofcom-approved changes mean that, since 28 July, second-class letters are only being delivered on every other weekday and not on Saturdays.
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Daily Mail
6 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Woman who claims she can 'connect with the dead' reveals terrifying reason why you should never have a mirror facing your bed
A woman who describes herself as a 'psychic medium' has warned that having a mirror facing the bed could bring 'unwanted spirits' into the home - but says there's a simple way for people to protect themselves. Leah, from the UK, who is known to her 51,500 TikTok followers as Psychic Leah, previously said that she has been able to 'see and connect with the dead' since she was 18 months old. In a stark warning, Leah told viewers: 'Do not have a mirror facing your bed.' She later added that this advice applies to all kinds of mirrors, including those that are found inside wardrobes. 'Mirrors are one of the main reasons why we have portals open in our home,' she said, explaining that they are the most common reason why she's called out to people's properties to 'cleanse their houses.' Leah does not doubt at all that a mirror facing the bed has the potential to wreak havoc in an otherwise happy home. She said: 'You will have unwanted spirits, you will have all types of spirits in your home - something low vibrational, typically an entity that isn't particularly nice.' The young woman, who also claims to be a 'paranormal investigator', added that universal nighttime complaints, such as 'restless sleep' and 'insomnia', could be the result of the position of a mirror in the bedroom. Leah claimed: 'If you're one of these who has a mirror facing your bed and since you've done that you've had restless sleep, [or] insomnia really bad, it's because of the energy that comes out of the mirror, especially if there's arguments within your home.' But it's not just those who have a mirror opposite the bed who are at risk, according to the self-described 'demonologist'. She said: 'Mirrors literally suck in energy and having a mirror facing a window is also another way of inviting unwanted spirits.' In a third warning, Leah advised against ever buying a second-hand mirror, stressing that, 'Whatever happened within that person's home - we don't know if it's negative, we don't know what's gone on there - that's coming into your home.' However, for those who are reluctant to start reconfiguring their bedroom, there is a simple solution, she claimed. Leah recommended covering the mirror with a cloth or a blanket as well as 'doing protection prayers' over it and 'saging it'. Covering it 'closes the mirror down, not allowing any spirits in or out,' she added in a comment beneath the clip. And, for those who have always had a mirror in one of these unfavourable positions but haven't suffered as a result, she had another message. Warning people not to be complacent, she said: 'Many people have a mirror in front of their bed for years and not have anything happen - but that's not to say it won't happen to you.' Viewers took to the comment section to share their thoughts on Leah's claims - and many were divided Leah's post attracted more than 2,000 comments, with a number of people identifying with her warnings. One person wrote: 'Don't get me started on this.... She's absolutely correct, I had a horrifying experience last year and it STILL keeps me awake at night, it's not a joke, remove mirrors from bedroom even near your bed. ' Another user added in the comment section: 'My nanny always said to NEVER have a mirror facing your bed!! 'If she ever went anywhere to stay for the night, she would take it down or cover it up! 'Also, you saying [that] about a second had mirror, I was given one that my dad got from an auction, the bad vibes and distortion that happened when you looked in it were wild! I got rid of it (safely) as soon as I could!' A third person appeared worried, writing: 'That has freaked me right out. How do I stop this please?' While a fourth shared a different approach, explaining: 'Having a mirror facing your bed is fine. Just do a cloaking blessing and you'll be fine.' Yet others seemed to have had no problems at all with the mirrors in their home, prompting one person to write: 'I don't know I've had a mirror facing my bed for literally years. Nothing weird has ever happened and I sleep great. Another user joked: 'I don't mind… No spirit could be as bad as any of my exes'. It comes after a seemingly normal photo of a group of friends on holiday was branded 'creepy' after people spotted a 'ghost ' hidden in the snap. A Reddit user who goes by the name CursedEmoji posted the snap online - saying their friend had sent them a picture of their trip to Chile. Upon first glance, it may seem as though there are a group of six people - four women and two men - posing for the snap while trekking in a forest. However, a less obvious, much darker looking face appeared to be lurking in the snap. After being shared online, people were quick to share how they were 'creeped out'. One wrote: 'Oof. That definitely made my heart jump when I finally found it.' Another penned: 'I thought it was about the top of a head behind the guy on the right. Oh yeah, I saw the witch too!' A third said: 'It was a completely normal picture before zooming in. It's a creepy picture with a very clear ghost face.' A fourth commented: 'Looks like someone's grandma is travelling with them,' while a fifth chimed in and added: 'Nah that actually scared me a bit.' However, others questioned whether the picture was real, with some theorising that it might've been a camera glitch or even Photoshop. One wrote: 'Creepy! Seems a little too good to be true, though.' Another penned: 'That's absolutely Reagan from the exorcist photoshopped in, things like this sadly dampen paranormal photography.' A third said: 'Looks photoshopped to me, just too obvious. I saw it pretty quickly.' A fourth commented: 'Looks like a digital error of some kind. Face looks similar to the dude on the left.'
BBC News
36 minutes ago
- BBC News
Selly Oak care home for elderly placed in special measures
A care home for the elderly has been placed in special measures after a watchdog found "widespread issues", including staff who failed to treat residents with House in Selly Oak, Birmingham, which looks after 26 adults including those living with dementia, has been downgraded to an inadequate rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).The CQC said its inspection was carried out in part due to concerns it received after a person using the service House's manager Lorraine Whittaker said in a statement staff were demoralised by the report and challenged some of the allegations made. CQC inspectors found care had deteriorated and the service breached five legal regulations relating to safe care, safeguarding, the physical environment, management and treating people with home has been given the lowest possible rating of inadequate for being safe and well-led, down from requires for being effective, caring and responsive have also dropped, from good to requires CQC said it would now closely monitor the home to ensure residents' safety while improvements were action is also being taken to address concerns, which the home has the right to resident's death was not examined as part of the inspection in May, the CQC said, as it was subject to further inquiries. 'Unacceptable treatment' CQC's deputy director for the Midlands Amanda Lyndon said widespread issues were staff members were also seen acting "inappropriately towards a resident" during the inspector's visit, Ms Lyndon said."Managers didn't have an effective strategy to prevent inappropriate behaviour or take action to safeguard people when bullying, harassment or abuse happened."It is unacceptable that people who relied on staff to act as their advocates, in a place they called home, treated them this way."Managers have been informed where "rapid and widespread" improvements are needed, with the CQC returning to check progress at a later date. In a statement on Bryony House's website, Ms Whittaker said the report did not "fully or fairly reflect the work, dedication, and commitment of our care team" and included "a number of allegations and findings that we believe were either inaccurate or not properly investigated".She said several points raised were not discussed with staff at the time and did not "accurately reflect the day-to-day operations or the care provided"."Our team - many of whom have served this home and its residents with compassion and professionalism for years - feels demoralised by how their efforts have been portrayed," she home was taking steps to identify areas for "genuine improvement, while also challenging inaccuracies through the appropriate channels," Ms Whittaker said staff were committed to working with the CQC to ensure the home moved out of special measures quickly. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Cancer treatment saved my life but left me unable to have sex - but a radical new treatment gave me my va-va-voom back
Like many women, when Anna Sullivan was diagnosed with breast cancer at just 37-years-old, her primary concern was surviving the treatment that would hopefully kill the disease and stop her cancer from spreading. But her second thought, which she was too ashamed to voice at the time, was: 'What will happen to my body?' 'After I was diagnosed back in 2017 my doctor told me that my treatment plan would catapult me into menopause,' she explained. 'The hardest thing about it was that I was unprepared. It was something that I thought was at least still a few years away. 'None of my friends had gone through it and my mum passed away the year before so I had no one. 'I was completely alone.' Thankfully, after a mastectomy and starting hormone therapy—which works by reducing the amount of oestrogen in the body and inhibits its cancer-growing effect—Ms Sullivan was given the all clear. The treatment ultimately saved her life—but, after months of gruelling side-effects, she can't help but think there must be a better option for women who have survived cancer. 'I was still under the care of my oncologist for my hormone therapy and it took me a while to figure out what was happening to my body and muster up the courage to talk about the symptoms,' she explained. 'At no point did a doctor mention the vaginal symptoms I might experience as a result of medically induced menopause. 'That's something I figured out on my own—when I tried to have sex with my husband.' The mental health councilor was suffering from a condition known as genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). GSM is commonly experienced by breast cancer survivors on hormone therapy, causing vaginal dryness, pain during sex and can massively impact a patient's quality of life. 'It hurts all the time,' she recalls telling her oncologist. 'Especially during sex.' 'But my pain wasn't taken seriously. I was just told "if you don't use it, you'll lose it". 'I just had to get on with it.' Whilst dyspareunia is not uncommon during the menopause, as vaginal dryness can make penetrative sex more painful, there are a number of oestrogen-based products that can be used to help promote lubrication. But, given her cancer diagnosis and a lack of extensive research on the subject, Ms Reiser did not feel comfortable using an oestrogen based cream, for fears of increasing the risk of her cancer returning. 'Ultimately, my doctor's response just created more shame around symptoms I already felt uncomfortable discussing, playing into the culture of violence surrounding the menopause. 'When you are vulnerable and try to open up about what you're going through and then you're immediately shut down, you internalise that shame and it becomes something you don't talk about,' she added. Thankfully, Ms Sullivan eventually felt comfortable speaking about her symptoms with her GP who was able to recommend an alternative: PRP vaginal rejuvenation therapy. Recalling the conversation she said: 'She was the one who really educated me on the menopause and how it would affect everything from my energy levels to my mood, bone health, sleep and sex drive.' After trying what felt like every treatment available to her to alleviate her pain and get her sex life back on track, including laser treatment, Ms Sullivan booked in for PRP therapy. The treatment, which stands for platelet-rich plasma injections, works by using a woman's own blood component to promote healing and tissue regeneration in the vagina. A clinician will take a patient's blood before processing it in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets—which are small cell fragments in the blood that form blood clots and promote healing. The concentrated plasma is then injected into specific areas of the vagina to simulate cell regeneration and support tissue growth. The treatment is said to provide a range of benefits from enhanced sexual function, through increasing sensitivity and improve lubrication, to pain relief and vaginal rejuvination. Whilst Ms Sullivan did not experience lasting pain relief after the treatment when it came to sex, she said it helped improve sensation and lubrication and opened the door for more open and honest conversation about cancer, sex and the menopause. She now uses a carefully-curated combination of treatments including pelvic floor therapy and low-dose oestrogen creams, after reading compelling new research, to treat her symptoms, allowing her to live an almost normal life. She said: 'I used to be really scared of using oestrogen creams, even though the pain was unbearable and ruining my sex life, because it was thought for a long time that oestrogen could increase the chance of breast cancer returning. 'I know now that this simply is not true. But the culture of fear around using hormone therapy started so long ago it's going to take a long time for that fear to subside.' She now wants to help reduce the stigma and shame surrounding the menopause, especially for women who have been left with no other choice but to face it early because of cancer. Her plea comes as millions of women could soon benefit from a new all-natural intimate cream being hailed as a female version of Viagra. Makers of the plant-based formula—called Myregyna—insist it can restore vulval health and 'bring back the joy of sex' for women battling the menopause, all without the use of hormones. Inventor Dr Iona Weir claims trials have shown the cream improves sexual response and function in women dealing with the effects of menopause. It's applied to the intimate area nightly and taken alongside a daily supplement, with results expected in as little as a month. The cream is designed to reverse the symptoms of GSM including vaginal dryness, incontinence, discomfort and pain during sex—all of which can severely impact quality of life. Currently around 90 per cent of women with cancer encounter seuxl health problems which can lead to long-term distress affecting personal and social well-being. Around half of post-menopausal women will experience vaginal dryness—most of whom don't seek treatment for their symptoms which typically include vaginal dryness, irritation and pain during intercourse.
