
Guernsey: Health and social care bursary opens
'Creativity and compassion'
Mark Marshall, managing director of Insurance Corporation, said: "For 34 years, we've been astounded by the quality and diversity of the projects submitted. "The knowledge and talent within HSC are incredible, and it's inspiring to see such innovative ideas from frontline workers."
Michelle Steele, HR and PR executive, said: "We are incredibly proud of our long-standing contribution to the local community. "Each year we're impressed by the creativity and compassion that really shines through."It's amazing to see these projects come to life and make a real difference in the Bailiwick - and in some cases, even further afield."
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The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
‘Severe' staff shortages at US veterans' hospitals, watchdog finds
The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is experiencing 'severe' staff shortages at all its hospitals, with the number of shortages increasing by 50% this fiscal year, according to a new report from the agency's independent watchdog. The report, released on Tuesday, came a day after the Guardian revealed the department had lost thousands of healthcare professionals deemed 'core' to the system under Donald Trump, without which, the agency said, 'mission-critical work cannot be completed'. The inspector general found 94% of VA facilities faced a 'severe' shortage of doctors, while 79% faced a severe shortage of nurses. Psychology was 'the most frequently reported clinical occupational staffing shortage'. A majority of VA facilities also reported severe shortages of police officers, who keep veteran patients and staff safe. The VA operates the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States, serving 9 million veterans annually. The report is required under two laws, one signed by Trump in 2017, which require the agency's inspector general annually to determine the extent of staffing shortages within each medical center. In a statement, Congressman Mark Takano of California, the ranking Democrat on the House committee on veterans' affairs, said the report 'confirms our fears' that shortages of medical staff were leading to 'decreased access and choice for veterans'. The VA press secretary, Peter Kasperowicz, told the Guardian the congressionally mandated watchdog report was 'not a reliable indicator of staffing shortages' and that it was 'completely subjective, not standardized and unreliable'. The report is based on a survey of VA medical centers in April. Since then, a Guardian review of agency staffing records found, the VA has continued to lose doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers and other frontline medical professionals. Kasperowicz did not dispute the fact that the agency had lost thousands of 'mission-critical' healthcare workers under Trump – including after the watchdog's survey period concluded. The VA is in the midst of a department-wide reduction of 30,000 workers, which the secretary of veterans affairs, Doug Collins, said could be accomplished by September through a combination of attrition, a hiring freeze and deferred resignation program. The staff cuts, Collins said, would not affect patient care, but were 'centered on reducing bureaucracy and improving services to veterans'. In May, the Guardian reported that staff losses at the VA had led to unit closures, reduced hours of operations and exam backlogs across the hospital system.


Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Comatose man's secret lovers join forces to keep him alive - after only finding out about each other when he suffered a brain bleed
A comatose man's secret lovers have joined forces to keep him alive, despite finding out about one another after he had suffered a bleed on the brain. The two women, who had been with their partner for over two decades, were unaware of each other's existence until the 60-year-old suffered a bleed to the brain last October. Due to the brain injury, he developed a prolonged disorder of consciousness (PDOC) - a term used for patients in a coma or a vegetative state (VS). After being admitted to ICU, he was later transferred to a rehabilitation unit under the Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, where he remains. The Trust had requested permission from the court to withdraw his clinically assisted hydration and nutrition, which would lead to his eventual death. However, the man's lovers, referred to as JG and MB, argued against the proposal, saying the man would have wished to keep living despite his vegetative state. The pair are also 'his bedside each day, provide emotional and physical care for him' and are 'very well attuned to his physical needs', the court was told. The Official Solicitor, who was present to represent YD's interest, also argued the 60-year-old would feel 'his life now is dignified because of the love and care provided to him by his partners. 'He would wish to continue in this way until the life of his body was ended by a process such as a heart attack, further stroke, or infection,' they added. Mrs Justice Theis ruled it was in YD's best interest to continue to receive the clinically assisted treatment after considering the matter 'through a wide best interests lens'. The judge acknowledged how 'striking' it had been that even though the women had known YD for 20 and 24 years respectively, they had been unaware of one another. Yet, despite not having known one another until the incident, they were 'able to independently confirm many common features' about his wishes and beliefs, the judge said. 'In particular, regarding the depth of his interest in the spiritual world and his limitless curiosity about such matters that he held strong beliefs about. 'YD has long held beliefs about the healing power of the mind, body and soul, and to understand and, if required, push established boundaries based on his learning and understanding. 'From their descriptions, YD was a compassionate, private person who was a fiercely independent thinker about a wide range of issues, in particular regarding the spiritual world and healing. 'His long-standing interest in the healing power of the mind, spirit or soul would very likely be values that would inform his decision if he had capacity,' they added. 'The changes that have been observed he would regard as positive signs and that he had the potential to make further changes.' Mrs Justice Theis also added how the 60-year-old's beliefs in healing were 'likely to be relevant' and would have informed his decision if he had the capacity. They continued that it would have been a factor in his 'wishing' to continue to receive clinically assisted nutrition and hydration. Noting his participation in spiritual healing, she said: 'YD would also likely factor in, due to his long-standing beliefs in such matters, that others believe they are in communication with him.' The judge concluded while there would be burdens for YD in continuing treatment, both long-term and short-term, it would, 'most importantly', preserve his life. And even though his awareness is 'extremely limited' and that 'there may be little or no further improvement', they concluded: 'It is far from clear that in the circumstances YD is in, he would regard his continued existence as a burden.' 'There is a strong presumption in favour of preserving life which, in my judgment, having carefully evaluated the evidence in this unusual case, the Trust has not discharged.' The hospital's application was refused.


The Guardian
6 hours ago
- The Guardian
ADHD medication linked to lower risk of suicidal behaviours, study suggests
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder medication is linked to significantly lower risk of suicidal behaviours, substance misuse, transport accidents and criminality, according to a study of the wider outcomes of treatment. The research, based on the medical records of nearly 150,000 people in Sweden, suggested that the drugs could have meaningful benefits beyond helping with the core symptoms of ADHD. Although the study was not a randomised trial – and so cannot definitively prove that medication caused improved outcomes – it adds to evidence of the substantial value of treatment. 'We found that ADHD medication was associated with significantly reduced rates of first occurrences of suicidal behaviours, substance misuse, transport accidents and criminality,' said Prof Samuele Cortese, a child and adolescent psychiatrist and researcher at the University of Southampton. 'Our results should inform the debate on the effects and safety of ADHD medications.' After accounting for factors including age, sex, education level, psychiatric diagnoses and medical history, ADHD medication was associated with reduced rates of a first occurrence of four of the five outcomes investigated: a 17% reduction for suicidal behaviour, 15% for substance misuse, 12% for transport accidents and 13% for criminality. It is well established that ADHD, thought to affect about 5% of children and 2.5% of adults worldwide, is linked to higher rates of mental health problems including suicide, substance misuse and accidental injuries. People with ADHD are also disproportionately represented within the criminal justice system. Randomised clinical trials have demonstrated that for many patients, medication can help alleviate hyperactivity, impulsivity and the inattention. But there has been more limited evidence on whether these improvements translate into benefits in everyday life, at a time when the increasing number of people being diagnosed has fuelled a debate about the possibility of 'overdiagnosis'. The number of prescriptions being issued in England for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication has risen by 18% year on year since the pandemic. The latest study, which the researchers say is the largest and most rigorous of its kind, used Swedish national registers from 2007 to 2020 to examine the effects of ADHD drug treatment in 148,581 individuals aged six to 64 years with a new diagnosis of ADHD. The team used a technique called target trial emulation, which aims to apply the design principles of a clinical trial to existing medical records through the use of strict inclusion criteria, follow-up timeframes and the use of statistical techniques to compensate for the fact that people were not randomly assigned to 'treatment' or 'placebo' arms. Dr Zheng Chang, an epidemiologist at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm and senior author of the research, said: 'It's now considered one of the most rigorous methods for analysing observational data. However, since we don't have the real randomisation data it is not bias-proof.' Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Of the 148,581 individuals with ADHD (average age 17 years, 41% female), 84,282 (57%) started drug treatment for ADHD, with methylphenidate being the most common. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, those who took medication had a reduced risk of first occurrence of suicidal behaviour, substance misuse, transport accidents and criminality, although there was no significant risk reduction for a first occurrence of accidental injury. Among people with recurrent events, there were statistically significant reductions linked to all five outcomes, the paper in the British Medical Journal reports. 'When clinicians discuss the possible use of medication with families, oftentimes there is not a focus on what are the risks if you don't treat,' said Cortese. 'If left untreated, there will be unfortunately some risk. Now we have evidence that medication can reduce this risk.' Prof Adam Guastella, of the Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School at the University of Sydney, said: 'Such benefits have been shown repeatedly in previous studies, but the large sample size, use of a national registry, and more sophisticated analysis give greater confidence in these results that findings aren't explained by something else other than medication use. 'People should know that if ADHD medications work for them and their child, that there will likely be many other positive impacts on life from treatment. Such effects will not work for everyone and there is still a need to understand why many individuals benefit from ADHD medication and some do not.'