BREAKING NEWS Sad update after former Australian of the Year was dealt devastating cancer diagnosis
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
27 minutes ago
- BBC News
ME patient from Sowerby Bridge welcomes government care plan
A woman living with a disease that causes extreme fatigue has thanked the government for increasing support for those with the month, the Department of Health and Social Care announced a care plan for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) that included investing in research and offering new training for NHS healthcare Hallgarth, from Sowerby Bridge, welcomed the plan as she felt support had been "severely lacking" in the 14 years since her Hallgarth said at its worst her condition left her bed-bound for months and facing up 50 seizures a day, so the new plan was "wonderful". But she cautioned: "Time will tell because you can say all these things and I think we are so used to hearing empty promises."Ms Hallgarth said she felt like she was not listened to when she first went to the doctor with her symptoms and, after a "process of elimination" following a variety of tests, she was diagnosed with of the daily limitations of the illness, she said: "It impacts on a physical level in terms of mobility, moving around the house, leaving the house..."I use an electric wheelchair or a cane if I am going outside the house."When I was at my worst I was not able to sit up." At that point, Ms Hallgarth said she had to "lie horizontally in the dark for months", unable to tend to her personal care, with her partner and son supporting her."ME can affect you on a very severe level with people on feeding tubes or in hospital, completely reliant on care givers," she her condition is more manageable, Ms Hallgarth runs her own jewellery business, AH Jewellery, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Also referred to as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), ME is a complex long-term physical disease which affects many parts of the body, according to ME Research condition affects approximately 390,000 people in the UK, causing debilitating fatigue, sleep problems and difficulties with thinking, concentration and memory. The government's plan also includes new training for health staff and medical students, featuring up-to-date learning resources to increase understanding and ensure signs are not government said this would help combat the stigma faced by people living with ME/CFS, which stemmed from a lack of awareness about the Hallgarth said she welcomed many aspects of the plan including improved education for NHS workers and students, and better care proposed for children diagnosed with said she hoped the move would reduce stigma around ME, but warned: "It is going to take a while for those old attitudes to really shift." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Wolverhampton supermarket hosts breast cancer screening unit
A breast cancer mobile screening unit is currently available outside a supermarket in Wolverhampton for women who are eligible for unit, stationed at Sainsbury's at Bentley Bridge until 15 September, marks the first time one has been located at the registered with GP practices in the local area and who are due a screening will receive an invitation by letter to attend the unit, and organisers hope it will encourage more local women to attend their aged 50 to 74 are eligible for breast screening and are invited every three years. The unit is run by the Dudley, Wolverhampton and South West Staffordshire Breast Screening Programme.A spokesperson for City of Wolverhampton Council said: "Attending screening is vital for early detection of breast cancer, which is strongly linked to reduced mortality."Anyone experiencing symptoms of breast cancer - such as a new lump, changes to the skin of the breast or nipple discharge - should not wait for their screening invitation but should instead contact their GP as soon as possible."Councillor Obaida Ahmed said: "Early detection is the best form of defence against cancer, which is why regular screening is so important. It can detect cancers at an early stage."Breast screening saves around 1,300 lives each year in the UK, and finding cancer early can make it more likely that treatment will be successful."Anyone who is invited for a screening appointment but is unable to attend their allocated time is advised to contact the screening programme's office on 01384 244177 to rebook an appointment at a more convenient time. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
Healthcare firms see growing activist investor involvement in the past year
Aug 20 (Reuters) - Activist investors have targeted major healthcare companies over the past year to push them to improve their performance, with some campaigns only coming to light after announcements of board changes. Below are some notable healthcare companies that came under activist pressure in the last 12 months. MEDTRONIC (MDT.N), opens new tab In August 2025, the medical device maker appointed two new independent directors to its board and created independent committees focused on improving its performance, after Elliott Investment Management took a large stake, making it one of the company's biggest shareholders. AVANTOR (AVTR.N), opens new tab Engine Capital targeted the life sciences firm in August 2025, urging it to bring in new board directors, cut costs and even consider a sale. CHARLES RIVER LABORATORIES (CRL.N), opens new tab The contract research firm settled with Elliott Investment Management in May 2025 by agreeing to add four new board directors and launch a strategic review of the business. Activist hedge fund Parvus Asset Management is building a stake in the company, as investors have grown concerned that the Danish drugmaker has lost its first-mover advantage in the lucrative weight-loss drug market, the Financial Times reported in June 2025. Reuters has not independently verified the report. GERRESHEIMER ( opens new tab London-based investment fund Asset Value Investors in June 2025 pressed the German medical packaging maker to find ways to restore its market value. AVI, with a 3.5% stake in Gerresheimer, said the company needs a new financial leadership to regain its credibility. ILLUMINA (ILMN.O), opens new tab In March 2025, the gene-sequencing maker said activist investor Keith Meister would join its board. HENRY SCHEIN (HSIC.O), opens new tab In January, private equity firm KKR (KKR.N), opens new tab built a large stake in the medical and dental supplies distributor and reached a deal to add members to the company's board. Henry Schein was also under pressure from other investors, including Ananym Capital Management. PFIZER (PFE.N), opens new tab Activist hedge fund Starboard Value in October 2024 called for management accountability for the company's underperformance. This month, Starboard increased, opens new tab its holding in the drugmaker to 8.5 million shares, which represented about 0.15% of the outstanding shares as of June end. KENVUE (KVUE.N), opens new tab In October 2024, Starboard Value took a significant stake in the Band-Aid maker, criticizing the weak performance of its skin health segment, which houses Neutrogena, Aveeno and other brands. After a proxy battle, the companies reached a deal in early 2025 that gave Starboard CEO Jeffrey Smith and two independent directors board seats. CVS HEALTH (CVS.N), opens new tab In November, CVS Health added Glenview Capital's top boss and three others to its board as part of a deal with the hedge fund. The company had been under pressure from investors, including Glenview, to improve operations after missing financial targets several times due to rising medical costs in its health insurance business. Glenview reduced its stake in the company after CVS posted strong results in May.
