Latest news with #AndrewMurray
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Friarage Hospital's new surgical unit to double operation numbers
A new surgical unit is set to double the number of operations carried out at a North Yorkshire hospital. Six new operating theatres have been created at Friarage Hospital in Northallerton as part of a £35.5m unit also includes two minor theatres and a surgical admission and day hub. Consultant Craig White said it had been designed from the "bottom up" to be more efficient and give patients a better quality of service. "It's a very exciting time for all of us I think," he said. "These are all brand new state-of-the-art facilities for us to decrease the risk of complications and improve patient outcomes." One of the first patients set to receive an operation in the new unit is 54-year-old Jason Sykes. The former mechanic, from Catterick, previously underwent a hip operation and has waited nine months for his other hip to be operated on. "The pain took me out of work," he explained."I needed both of them doing. I got one done, I've waited nine months and then hopefully this one will go to plan, I can recover and then get a job again."Just having one done has got me moving like I should, but the second one will help me get my life back."After looking around the new facility he said he "couldn't ask for more". "I live in Catterick so when my partner comes to visit it's 20 minutes rather than going to James Cook, which is an hour," he added."It is a big difference." According to clinical operational lead Andrew Murray the Friarage Hospital was originally built in the late 1930s as an RAF Hospital."Some of these theatres have been here since the early 1940s, with later additions in the 1980s for the Falklands War," he said. "As much as we love these theatres and they've had several renovations, it's time to retire them and move on to our new ones."Previously, the unit had problems with leaking roofs, drains and faults with ventilation. Now the operating theatres have robotic technology and controls to adjust the local temperature, as different procedures require different climates. Sarah Baker, head of clinical services, said the unit currently carried out 5,000 operations each year but the new facility would hopefully double that over the next five said the Friarage would focus on elective care, including orthopaedics, urology, gynaecology, ENT and plastics."Up at the acute sites, patients could often be cancelled for emergencies," she said. "This facility is completely ringfenced so the staff can't be moved from here. "That means we won't cancel patients for those reasons, which is a great experience and a lovely environment for the staff to work in as well."The hospital received funding to build the new operating theatre block as part of government investment in 50 UK surgical first operations are due to take place on 12 June. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Scottish Sun
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Orange Order chiefs blast ‘anti-Protestant hatred' after Glasgow's women-only march ‘targeted with online abuse'
Members have apparently been left 'traumatised' and 'emotionally distressed' OUT OF ORDER Orange Order chiefs blast 'anti-Protestant hatred' after Glasgow's women-only march 'targeted with online abuse' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE Orange Order has demanded an 'immediate meeting' with the First Minister after female members were allegedly targeted by online trolls. The organisation's ladies are said to have suffered 'emotional distress' and 'trauma' over 'deeply offensive' comments which followed a recent march. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Around 500 ladies joined the march in Glasgow on April 27 4 They wore colourful frocks and fancy hats 4 But Orange Order bosses said online trolls later targeted ladies with vile abuse 4 Most Worthy Grand Master Andrew Murray has called for a meeting with John Swinney Hundreds of women in colourful frocks and fancy hats had filled the streets of Glasgow for the first large walk of the year on April 27. But the organisation said some of them were later targeted on the internet 'for expressing their faith and culture'. The developments have pushed Andrew Murray - the Most Worthy Grand Master - to write to the First Minister for help. In a statement, the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland hit out at the 'rise of anti-Protestant hatred across our country' and called for action. It said: 'Members of our association have been subjected to deeply offensive online abuse—targeted solely for expressing their faith and culture. 'This level of abuse has caused serious emotional distress, with some members experiencing trauma and mental health issues as a result of the level abuse. 'No other denomination in Scotland would be expected to tolerate such hostility, and the Protestant community is no different. We will not accept this double standard in a modern Scotland. 'The level of sectarian abuse directed at the Protestant community cannot be allowed to continue unchecked.' Our spectacular pictures showed the Ladies Orange Association of Scotland's annual church parade last month. Around 500 members were escorted through the streets of Glasgow by Police Scotland officers, seemingly without incidents. But there are now calls for online trolls who targeted them in the aftermath to be identified and 'brought to justice'. Hundreds step out for women's Orange Walk through Glasgow The loyalist organisation said: 'We call upon the Scottish Government and law enforcement agencies to take urgent action. 'The Loyal Orange Institution demands that those responsible for this online hate are identified, investigated, and brought to justice.' The organisation said Andrew Murray had personally written to John Swinney to discuss the 'unacceptable and ongoing abuse toward our community'. It added: 'We urge the First Minister to respond swiftly and meaningfully.' The Scottish Government was approached for comment. Police Scotland was approached for comment.
