Latest news with #Addenbrooke'sHospital
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Blind boy raises £12,500 to 'give back'
A 10-year-old boy who is severely visually impaired and has raised more than £12,500 for charity says it is really important to "give back to those that have helped and supported me". Ben Hardy, from Bishop's Stortford in Hertfordshire, has a rare genetic condition called Nance Horan syndrome, which means he is legally categorised as blind. Since he was three years old, he has completed four challenges to raise funds for Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London, and Bishop's Stortford Food Bank. Liz Hardy, his mother, said he was "inspiring" and he "just gets on with it and doesn't let things stop him". Mrs Hardy said when Ben was born with cataracts, it was "completely unexpected". "He has this super rare genetic disease, and when he was under two weeks he had his first surgeries on his eyes, at Addenbrooke's." He has since had nine more. She said although his eyesight would only get worse and it had been "a challenge", he was still a "joyous and creative" boy. Ben said he took part in the challenges after receiving "a lot of help". "It's really important to give back to those that have helped and supported me, so I'd like to return and repay the favour," he said. He was inspired to undertake two swimathons after taking up the sport, aged five. "When I first tried it, it was quite hard, but once I got used to it and I got more relaxed, it became a love and a passion," he added. "When I am in the pool, I feel free; I feel relaxed and calm." He said it was important to "find something that you love and keep at it". His mum added that her son's "achievements have only been possible due to his team of teachers, nurses and doctors" as well as the support of his father Chris Hardy, and sisters Jess and Alice. So far he has raised £7,000 for Addenbrooke's. In March, he swam 8km (5 miles) at Bishop's Stortford College's pool, where he is a pupil, and collected £2,000 for GOSH. In 2020, he completed a climbing challenge and in 2024 undertook another sponsored swim, raising £6,500 for the food bank. Rachael Cox, his head teacher, said: "He's an inspiration to us all, and we are so delighted to have him as one of our very first neurodiversity ambassadors." Mrs Hardy said: "Ben is so brave; he's gone through so much; he's so inspiring; he just gets on with things; he doesn't let things stop him. "There are so many barriers, but with the help of everyone else we are finding different ways through." Ben said: "Keep on going and trying hard, and it will pay off." He was already working on his next challenge, and as he also loves drama, poetry, drumming and kayaking, it could involve any of those activities, he confirmed. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. New parents urged to join baby cataract study Child sight loss research funded by mystery donor Kate Winslet donates to girl's visual bucket list Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust Bishop's Stortford College Bishop's Stortford Food Bank Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity
BBC News
04-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Bishop's Stortford blind boy raises £12,500 in four charity quests
A 10-year-old boy who is severely visually impaired and has raised more than £12,500 for charity says it is really important to "give back to those that have helped and supported me". Ben Hardy, from Bishop's Stortford in Hertfordshire, has a rare genetic condition called Nance Horan syndrome, which means he is legally categorised as blind. Since he was three years old, he has completed four challenges to raise funds for Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London, and Bishop's Stortford Food Hardy, his mother, said he was "inspiring" and he "just get's on with it and doesn't let things stop him". Mrs Hardy said when Ben was born with cataracts, it was "completely unexpected"."He has this super rare genetic disease, and when he was under two weeks he had his first surgeries on his eyes, at Addenbrooke's." He has since had nine said although his eyesight would only get worse and it had been "a challenge", he was still a "joyous and creative" boy. Ben said he took part in the challenges after receiving "a lot of help". "It's really important to give back to those that have helped and supported me, so I'd like to return and repay the favour," he was inspired to undertake two swimathons after taking up the sport, aged five. "When I first tried it, it was quite hard, but once I got used to it and I got more relaxed, it became a love and a passion," he added."When I am in the pool, I feel free; I feel relaxed and calm."He said it was important to "find something that you love and keep at it". His mum added that her son's "achievements have only been possible due to his team of teachers, nurses and doctors" as well as the support of his father Chris Hardy, and sisters Jess and far he has raised £7,000 for Addenbrooke' March, he swam 8km (5 miles) at Bishop's Stortford College's pool, where he is a pupil, and collected £2,000 for GOSH. In 2020, he completed a climbing challenge and in 2024 undertook another sponsored swim, raising £6,500 for the food bank. Rachael Cox, his head teacher, said: "He's an inspiration to us all, and we are so delighted to have him as one of our very first neurodiversity ambassadors." Mrs Hardy said: "Ben is so brave; he's gone through so much; he's so inspiring; he just gets on with things; he doesn't let things stop him."There are so many barriers, but with the help of everyone else we are finding different ways through."Ben said: "Keep on going and trying hard, and it will pay off."He was already working on his next challenge, and as he also loves drama, poetry, drumming and kayaking, it could involve any of those activities, he confirmed. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Sky News
19-03-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Children operated on by now-suspended surgeon 'are being let down again', lawyer warns
Children who underwent operations with a now-suspended surgeon at a Cambridge hospital are being let down again by a lack of information and transparency from the hospital's trust, according to a lawyer representing one of the families. Last month, Addenbrooke's Hospital announced it had contacted the families of nine children whose complex hip surgeries "fell below" the expected standard, following an external review. The orthopaedic surgeon, who has not been named, has since been suspended while a second external review is carried out. But families are said to be "frustrated" by a lack of communication from Addenbrooke's, which is yet to release the findings of the first review. A lawyer instructed by one of the families has accused Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust of failing to follow official guidance in their handling of the patients and their families. Catherine Slattery, associate solicitor at Irwin Mitchell, told Sky News: "Families should feel they are being supported through this process, and that their child is the centre of this investigation. "At the moment, it doesn't feel that way." The National Patient Recall Framework - for patients "recalled" by a healthcare provider after a problem has been identified - states that the patient's needs should "always be placed at the centre" of the process. The guidance adds: "There should be appropriate and compassionate engagement with patients to ensure that the process remains patient focused." But Ms Slattery, who has spoken to more than one of the families affected, says Addenbrooke's is falling short of the framework and needs "to be a lot more transparent about the situation". She said: "I think the communication has been lacking. I think that there hasn't been enough information provided. "The priority has to be patient safety to ensure that if there are any ongoing symptoms or issues that they are dealt with promptly." In February, the chief executive of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust apologised to families affected, and admitted they had been let down. So far, the outcomes of nine surgeries were found to fall below the expected standards. A second external review is now investigating every planned operation performed by the surgeon in question. In a statement, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: "We take this matter extremely seriously and we reiterate our unreserved apologies to the children and their families whose care was below the standard they should have received. "We proactively contacted the parents of children where the initial external review had identified that treatment had fallen below the standard we would expect and that they and their families are entitled to expect from us. "We have put in place arrangements for a further independent and external review into all of the planned surgical operations carried out by the individual during their employment with the trust. "We will contact any child and their family if this independent process identifies the possibility that there has been a poorer than expected outcome from their treatment."
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Person injured after lorry and van crash
One person has been injured following a collision between a lorry and a van, closing a main road. The crash happened on the A142 Ely Road at Mepal at about 07:00 GMT, Cambridgeshire Police said. The casualty was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. Police said the road would remain shut "for some time" in both directions between the Sutton roundabout and the Block Fen roundabout. Accident investigation work was being carried out between Engine Bank and Elean Business Park. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. The new station with wildflowers and no car park Is a reservoir the answer to water supply issues? Cambridgeshire Police
BBC News
10-03-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Person injured after crash in Mepal between lorry and van
One person has been injured following a collision between a lorry and a van, closing a main crash happened on the A142 Ely Road at Mepal at about 07:00 GMT, Cambridgeshire Police casualty was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in said the road would remain shut "for some time" in both directions between the Sutton roundabout and the Block Fen investigation work was being carried out between Engine Bank and Elean Business Park. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
