I need mother's home — and so do my support dogs, woman tells sisters
Agnes Duggan, the mother, died nearly seven years ago, aged 78, and bequeathed her £420,000 home to her three daughters: Sharon, Ann and Brenda Duggan.
The youngest sibling, Sharon, 49, had lived with her mother, caring for her in the last years of her life.
However, she is now attempting to block her two older sisters from their share of the estate, claiming that she needs to stay in the house for life with her therapeutic pets because she is too 'noise sensitive' to live in a flat.
The former NHS medical secretary is suing Brenda, a 55-year-old alternative
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BBC News
4 hours ago
- BBC News
Government turns to TikTokers to advise on cosmetic surgery abroad
The government is partnering with TikTok influencers to warn people about the risks of travelling abroad for cosmetic growing concern over the rise in Britons seeking overseas treatments such as hair implants and dental work, often lured by lower costs and shorter waiting content creators will urge viewers to talk to a UK doctor first, take out travel insurance and avoid package holidays that include move is part of a wider government campaign to curb so-called medical tourism, as well as tighten regulations for cosmetic practitioners in England. When it comes to cosmetic surgery abroad, the lowest price can come at the highest cost, the campaign aims to raise awareness of the risks, protect patients and avoid the NHS paying to fix botched influencers like Doc Tally and Midwife Marley - who have 240,000 and 38,000 followers on TikTok respectively - will produce videos offering guidance on how to make trips as safe as possible. They will include a checklist to consider before booking a influencers like Doc Tally and Midwife Marley - who have 240,000 and 38,000 followers on TikTok respectively - will produce videos giving advice on how to make trips as safe as will also provide followers with a check list to go through before considering booking a procedure minister Karin Smyth warned that "too many people are being left with life-altering injuries after going abroad for medical procedures, without access to proper advice or safeguards."She said the partnership with TikTok would help people "make safer and more informed choices before they go under the knife – wherever that may be." Things to check before you book:Do thorough research about the procedureCheck the clinic's regulation and the surgeon's credentialsKnow the full cost and understand the aftercareAsk the vital question - if it goes wrong, who will fix it? When cosmetic procedures go wrong, the consequences can be devastating for years ago, Leah Mattson travelled to İzmir in Turkey to have gastric sleeve the surgery was initially successful and helped her lose weight, last year the 27-year-old returned to the same company to remove excess time, the procedure left her with a lopsided belly button, deep scarring on her arms and stomach area that she says left her feeling seeing the results of her surgery, Leah said she burst into tears."I just wanted to cry and I feel like I actually disliked my body more than when I was overweight."Leah found the clinic on social media and was encouraged by other people's positive experiences with similar surgeries."On apps like Instagram and TikTok, you search for weight-loss surgery and see the majority of people go to Turkey," she explained."I was thinking well all these people have had great experiences so I'm going to go."I just trusted them because I thought well if they're okay then I'll be okay and I didn't really pay much attention to the horror stories," she added."I didn't think it would ever happen to me."Leah now documents her experience on social media, using her platform to inform others about the risks involved in similar clinic which performed Leah's surgery in Turkey could not be reached for comment, but they previously issued a statement saying "plastic surgery isn't straight-forward and unfortunately some health issues or complications cannot be anticipated". Experts are urging people to think beyond the slick brochures and marketing, and to consider clinical standards, complication risks, and language Foreign Office will also provide more detailed travel advice for those considering going overseas for such Office Minister Stephen Doughty said: "If you choose to travel abroad for medical treatment, it is vital you do your research and are fully aware of the risks involved.""We urge anyone considering a medical procedure abroad to review our travel advice, relevant guidance from the NHS and other professional bodies, and research foreign providers thoroughly to ensure they meet the highest standard of care.""Informed choices today can help avoid serious complications tomorrow."Ali Law, TikTok's UK public policy lead, said the platform was "committed" to helping users find "information from trusted sources when searching for topics related to physical and mental health." Earlier this month, ministers outlined plans to reduce unsafe cosmetic treatments in the new rules, only "suitably qualified" and regulated health workers will be allowed to deliver high-risk procedures such as Brazilian butt offering lower-risk procedures such as Botox and fillers will need a licence, and age limits will be introduced to stop children from copying dangerous beauty trends seen on social media.
The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
Boy with fragile skin disorder given hope after new treatment
A boy with a rare skin condition which can cause damage with even the smallest amount of friction has been given hope after taking part in a trial for the first potential treatment for the genetic disorder. Gabrielius Misurenkovas, 12, from east London, was diagnosed with an inflammatory disease called recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) when he was a baby. Many symptoms of the painful condition have been alleviated thanks to a new trial in which he received certain stem cells via an intravenous drip. The rare genetic disease is severely debilitating. People with the condition have extremely fragile skin which is easily damaged, leading to blistering, deep wounds and scarring. About 150 children in the UK are affected by RDEB, which is painful and causes itchiness. With no disease-modifying treatment available, patients and their families manage symptoms by dressing wounds and applying eye ointments. Over time, the condition can lead to severe complications and many patients with the condition develop a type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma when they are young adults – this is the most common cause of death for RDEB patients. Gabrielius has been under the care of medics at the world-renowned children's hospital Great Ormond Street (GOSH) since he was a baby. He said he jumped at the chance to join the clinical trial when it was suggested by his doctors. 'I wanted to take part in the trial as I was excited to see if it could help improve my condition and so I could do more of the things I enjoy, like playing football and spending time with my friends,' he said. The youngster, who can speak three languages and is a big fan of footballer Lionel Messi, needed his bandages changing three times a day, or more if he was injured. His mother, Jolita Cekaviciene, said: 'Gabrielius did really well on the trial. 'His wounds healed quicker, and his skin was less red and inflamed. 'His skin was also less itchy which also reduced him scratching. 'His sleep was also less disturbed as he didn't need to have his special wound dressings changed as often, so this was a great benefit.' She said Gabrielius has managed to do a few things that he was not able to before the treatment, including taking part in some sports at school, riding his bike in the park on the grass, and being able to play football with his friends, with a soft ball. Ms Cekaviciene said the trial has given her son more freedom than before, but he still needs to be careful in any activity to avoid falling over or bumps. Gabrielius was referred to GOSH as a baby after medics spotted a wound when he was born, and he was diagnosed with RDEB when he was two weeks old. Ms Cekaviciene said: 'The first two years were really hard as you had to watch him constantly – even rubbing his eyes could cause painful blistering. 'He couldn't even tell us how much pain he was in or where he was hurting.' RDEB is a genetic condition which is caused by a fault in the gene that makes a protein which holds layers of skin together – collagen VII. Medics wanted to assess whether regular infusions with mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) improved symptoms for children with the condition, after studies suggested that MSC treatments could promote wound healing, reduce inflammation and stimulate tissue regeneration. In the trial, funded by NHS England, the National Institute for Health and Care Research and the charity Cure EB, children were given a treatment called CORDStrom, manufactured by INmuneBio. Gabrielius is one of 30 children who took part in the new clinical trial at GOSH and Birmingham Children's Hospital. Patients would go into hospital and have a drip which delivers the cells over 10 to 15 minutes. In the study patients were split into two groups, about half were given the treatment, which is made from umbilical cord tissue, as an infusion, twice over two weeks. The other half were given a placebo, also known as a dummy drug. They then had a nine-month gap, known as a wash-out period, where the group that were initially given the dummy drug were given the treatment, while the group that received therapy first were given a dummy drug. The study, published in the journal eClinicalMedicine, reported a positive outcome of the treatment. The largest effects were in children under the age of 10, and in the children with intermediate type of RDEB. Families involved in the study reported a positive impact on daily life and well-being, with a reduction in both pain and itching. The treatment was said to be well tolerated by the children. INmuneBio have agreed to provide CORDStrom free of charge for a year for all children who took part in the trial, so researchers can continue to study them, and patients are expected to get two infusions of the treatment every four months. The company is seeking regulatory approval for the treatment so it can be approved for use in the UK and other countries. Chief investigator of the study, Dr Anna Martinez, paediatric dermatologist at GOSH, said: 'Our study has demonstrated that CORDStrom was safe and can help reduce disease activity in some patients with RDEB. 'Administering the treatment early and at regular intervals appears to reduce itch and improve wound healing, which over time we hope will reduce inflammation, modify the condition and may reduce over time the future risk of squamous cell carcinoma. 'It's fantastic to see how the patients, like Gabrielius, had improvements in their symptoms and their quality of life.' She added: 'The 12-month open label study will allow us to collect more data to hopefully show an increased benefit from treatments administered in children and young people with RDEB, to continue research in support of the treatment being rolled out more widely.' Sharmila Collins, founder trustee of Cure EB, said: 'Since funding the first trial and by contributing to Mission EB we have been working towards bringing MSC infusions forward for all children in the UK with RDEB. 'We hope these cells will become part of routine clinical care to alleviate the significant suffering of children with this condition.'
The Independent
5 hours ago
- The Independent
Government teams up with TikTok influencers over cosmetic surgery warnings
New government plans will see social media influencers highlight the risks of travelling abroad for cosmetic procedures, including hair transplants and dental work. Ministers hope the campaign, in partnership with TikTok, will help people make "more informed choices before they go under the knife." Medical influencers, such as Midwife Marley and Doc Tally, will create videos showing the dangers. The content will urge patients to speak to a UK doctor first and avoid package holidays that include procedures. A checklist will also be provided, advising patients to check surgeon credentials, clinic regulations, and understand aftercare before booking. This initiative forms part of a wider government drive to tackle so-called "medical tourism" and ensure the NHS is not left to foot the bill when complications arise. Health minister Karin Smyth said: 'Too many people are being left with life-altering injuries after going abroad for medical procedures, without access to proper advice or safeguards. 'Often drawn in by deals too good to be true and promoted by influencers – some of whom have never been to the practice in question. 'By partnering with TikTok, we're helping people make safer, more informed choices before they go under the knife – wherever that may be.' Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty said: 'Our aim is to explain the risks and help British people understand the actions they can take to keep themselves safe when abroad. 'If you choose to travel abroad for medical treatment, it is vital you do your research and are fully aware of the risks involved. 'We urge anyone considering a medical procedure abroad to review our travel advice, relevant guidance from the NHS and other professional bodies, and research foreign providers thoroughly to ensure they meet the highest standard of care. 'Informed choices today can help avoid serious complications tomorrow.' The initiative comes after ministers outlined plans to cut down on 'cowboy' cosmetic procedures by introducing new restrictions. Earlier this month, the Department of Health and Social Care unveiled proposals which include only allowing 'suitably qualified' and Care Quality Commission-regulated health workers to deliver high-risk procedures such as Brazilian butt lifts. Elsewhere, clinics offering Botox and fillers will need licences, and age restrictions will be introduced to prevent children from trying to follow 'dangerous beauty trends on social media'. Those who break the rules will face sanctions, including financial penalties, officials said.
