Latest news with #Cashell
Irish Independent
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Music, sport and fashion collide as jersey trend sweeps summer festivals
'Up United,' shouted one camper, as he spotted a classic 1990s football top on a stranger who was making their way through the campsite. With Dublin band Fontaines DC taking to the stage on Friday night, the 'uniform' was clearly jersey or bust – the band have collaborated with League of Ireland club Bohemians in the past. Dublin native Dan Cashell, who was sporting a Bohs away kit released last year, said: 'Football clubs have touched the cultural zeitgeist of social issues. 'As someone who has a lot of jerseys in my collection, it's exciting to put one on in a fashionable way, but there's an element of showcasing your roots too.' Katie Murphy from Dublin wore a niche Texan 7-a-side jersey. 'It's acceptable to wear football jerseys, no matter where you're coming from or who you are,' she said. 'It's such a collective experience. I don't even think it's a Fontaines thing. It was a thing before, but they have boosted it. It's a Bohemians thing I think, a clever way for football clubs to showcase a community.' Bohs jerseys have also recently become synonymous with the pro-Palestine movement. Belfast rap group Kneecap have been vocal on the issue and their manager Daniel Lambert is also chief operating of Bohs. 'I love seeing old football kits,' Mr Cashell said. 'There is something really nice about a niche jersey that creates immediate familiarity. For a club like Bohemians, regardless of the intention, every one supports a club that a decade ago was on the verge of bankruptcy. 'Jerseys can represent both a cool item to wear at a festival but also an important social cause. The jerseys look great.' Spotting the trend, All Together Now 2025 has partnered with Umbro to bring out two editions of a commemorative jersey. ADVERTISEMENT Even Jameson, a sponsor of the weekend, has bought into the buzz, releasing a range of rugby jerseys for the event. 'Jameson are attempting to connect with a moment in fashion, but they are missing out on the social and community aspect,' Mr Cashell said, before admitting he would still like to get his hands on one. For festival-goers who didn't go for a jersey, the Claddagh emblem was another ubiquitous sight, seen on everything from fingers to T-shirts. It seems the traditional Celtic revival is in full swing in Curraghmore, a nod to the strong Irish line-up on offer over the weekend. Fans are enjoying the picturesque venue, where the main stage is placed at the base of a natural amphitheatre. Organisers welcomed the biggest Irish acts around, including Fontaines DC, CMAT and Bicep. The campsite opened on Thursday evening, a first for the Waterford festival which previously opened the gates on Friday morning. By the time the weekend officially started, the party was in full swing. With the rain staying away for the early stages of the festival, it was set to be one to remember.
The Age
09-07-2025
- Health
- The Age
One hormone was a game-changer for Andrea's perimenopause. She wants other women to have access, too
They have signed a petition to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee and the federal government, stating: 'There are currently nine PBS-listed treatments for men's sexual health, and ZERO listed for women.' 'Men's sexual health is routinely subsidised. But women have to fight for theirs — or fund it themselves.' Petition to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee and the government 'Men's sexual health is routinely subsidised. But women have to fight for theirs — or fund it themselves. That's not healthcare. That's a double standard,' states the petition, which was launched in June by Dr Ceri Cashell, a New South Wales GP. Cashell said: 'Every week, women tell me that testosterone was really helping, but they had to give it up because it's just too expensive. And that is not right. 'I used to hear this all the time about Prometrium (body-identical progesterone). And having Prometrium listed on the PBS has been a life-saver for many of my patients, sometimes literally, because of its profound effects on sleep.' In her submission to the Senate's inquiry into issues relating to menopause, Cashell called for three body-identical hormones: estradiol, micronised progesterone, and testosterone 'to be accessible and affordable for Australian women who need to use them'. Because only the first two are PBS-listed, and testosterone treatment for hypoactive sexual desire disorder is so expensive, Griffith University steroid-use researcher Dr Tim Piotkowski says women are obtaining testosterone intended for men and attempting to measure suitable amounts, risking side effects. 'Women are not being afforded access to things that men are,' Piotkowski said. 'These women often feel overlooked by traditional healthcare and unsupported when they seek help.' Collins put it like this: 'Women are suffering, and our sex lives are so important for our health … it's a healthy part of our lives, having that connection and intimacy with someone.' When that desire is absent, 'you just don't want to have anyone near you at that stage'. Endocrinologist, Professor Susan Davis, a spokeswoman for the Australasian Menopause Society and long-term researcher at Monash University, agrees testosterone treatment should be subsidised, but only on authority script to prevent it being prescribed for menopause symptoms other than hypoactive sexual desire disorder. Debate and discussion about the perceived wider benefits of testosterone for women has raged among menopause advocates, and publicity on social media has caused a big spike in demand. But Davis, a former president of the International Menopause Society, said there was only evidence of its effectiveness for hypoactive sexual desire disorder. Some claims made about testosterone's other potential benefits for midlife women were 'overselling the need and the benefit'. Testosterone supplementation at midlife has been promoted as being able to improve women's low mood, concentration, memory and sleep problems. It has also been said to protect women's bones, muscles and brains. Such claims were unproven, and 'making women feel they are missing out if they are not on it', Davis saids. She noted that there was only one medication for male erectile dysfunction on the PBS, and it was available only on authority script. Davis' team has studies under way examining how testosterone treatments effect women's muscles and bones, but she said that in claims already being made about its benefits: 'The language is quite emotive, and raises a red flag.' 'The guideline is this can increase the number of sexually satisfying events [for the woman] by one per month, which is not a lot.' Professor Martha Hickey, Melbourne University and Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne 'There is no evidence for [those benefits] at this point.' A paper Davis helped write was used by the petition authors to source the statistic that one-third of Australian women experience hypoactive sexual desire disorder, but she now considers that data to be 'a rough estimate', and said an imminent paper would suggest the accurate proportion is 'about half of that'. The clinical benefit of AndroFeme 1 for women experiencing low sex drive had been shown to be modest, said Professor Martha Hickey, chair of obstetrics and gynaecology at Melbourne University. Loading 'The guideline is this can increase the number of sexually satisfying events [for the woman] by one per month, which is not a lot,' she said. 'Depending on what you're starting from, it is not that much. And this drug has only been shown to be effective in that specific condition.' Hickey also disputed the accuracy of the figure of one in three women experiencing hypoactive sexual desire disorder, as distinct from low libido, in midlife: 'And low libido is not what this is for. The other thing is there's no safety data available on AndoFeme 1 use beyond 12 weeks. 'It's a hormone, and hormones have powerful effects in many organs of the body,' Hickey said. Evidence did not support the suggestion that testosterone dropped significantly at menopause, like oestrogen has been shown to, contrary to what has been suggested by some of its proponents online. 'I'm very suspicious of the commercial forces that are driving this,' Hickey said. But women's health psychiatrist Professor Jayashri Kulkani, director of Monash University's HER Centre Australia and of the Multidisciplinary Alfred Psychiatry research centre, says subsidising testosterone therapy for women goes beyond its proven benefits for low libido. 'It [testosterone] is the third hormone for all of the menopause-related issues that many women experience, including mental ill-health,' she said. 'The petition and advocating group have picked HSDD because they think there is more evidence for AndroFeme in treating this issue but in actual fact, it is a hormone treatment that is part of menopausal hormone therapy for all of the symptoms that many (but not all) women experience in the menopause transition.' Kulkarni said that women should have access to PBS-subsidised testosterone for reasons beyond sexual dysfunction. Loading 'The bigger picture here is menopausal mental ill-health [depression, anxiety, brain fog] is the really big issue,' she said. 'So I agree with the petition to get AndroFeme 1 on the PBS but for the bigger cause, not just HSDD.' A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Aged Care said the government and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee would welcome applications to list AndroFeme1 or similar testosterone products on the PBS.
Sydney Morning Herald
09-07-2025
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
One hormone was a game-changer for Andrea's perimenopause. She wants other women to have access, too
They have signed a petition to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee and the federal government, stating: 'There are currently nine PBS-listed treatments for men's sexual health, and ZERO listed for women.' 'Men's sexual health is routinely subsidised. But women have to fight for theirs — or fund it themselves.' Petition to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee and the government 'Men's sexual health is routinely subsidised. But women have to fight for theirs — or fund it themselves. That's not healthcare. That's a double standard,' states the petition, which was launched in June by Dr Ceri Cashell, a New South Wales GP. Cashell said: 'Every week, women tell me that testosterone was really helping, but they had to give it up because it's just too expensive. And that is not right. 'I used to hear this all the time about Prometrium (body-identical progesterone). And having Prometrium listed on the PBS has been a life-saver for many of my patients, sometimes literally, because of its profound effects on sleep.' In her submission to the Senate's inquiry into issues relating to menopause, Cashell called for three body-identical hormones: estradiol, micronised progesterone, and testosterone 'to be accessible and affordable for Australian women who need to use them'. Because only the first two are PBS-listed, and testosterone treatment for hypoactive sexual desire disorder is so expensive, Griffith University steroid-use researcher Dr Tim Piotkowski says women are obtaining testosterone intended for men and attempting to measure suitable amounts, risking side effects. 'Women are not being afforded access to things that men are,' Piotkowski said. 'These women often feel overlooked by traditional healthcare and unsupported when they seek help.' Collins put it like this: 'Women are suffering, and our sex lives are so important for our health … it's a healthy part of our lives, having that connection and intimacy with someone.' When that desire is absent, 'you just don't want to have anyone near you at that stage'. Endocrinologist, Professor Susan Davis, a spokeswoman for the Australasian Menopause Society and long-term researcher at Monash University, agrees testosterone treatment should be subsidised, but only on authority script to prevent it being prescribed for menopause symptoms other than hypoactive sexual desire disorder. Debate and discussion about the perceived wider benefits of testosterone for women has raged among menopause advocates, and publicity on social media has caused a big spike in demand. But Davis, a former president of the International Menopause Society, said there was only evidence of its effectiveness for hypoactive sexual desire disorder. Some claims made about testosterone's other potential benefits for midlife women were 'overselling the need and the benefit'. Testosterone supplementation at midlife has been promoted as being able to improve women's low mood, concentration, memory and sleep problems. It has also been said to protect women's bones, muscles and brains. Such claims were unproven, and 'making women feel they are missing out if they are not on it', Davis saids. She noted that there was only one medication for male erectile dysfunction on the PBS, and it was available only on authority script. Davis' team has studies under way examining how testosterone treatments effect women's muscles and bones, but she said that in claims already being made about its benefits: 'The language is quite emotive, and raises a red flag.' 'The guideline is this can increase the number of sexually satisfying events [for the woman] by one per month, which is not a lot.' Professor Martha Hickey, Melbourne University and Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne 'There is no evidence for [those benefits] at this point.' A paper Davis helped write was used by the petition authors to source the statistic that one-third of Australian women experience hypoactive sexual desire disorder, but she now considers that data to be 'a rough estimate', and said an imminent paper would suggest the accurate proportion is 'about half of that'. The clinical benefit of AndroFeme 1 for women experiencing low sex drive had been shown to be modest, said Professor Martha Hickey, chair of obstetrics and gynaecology at Melbourne University. Loading 'The guideline is this can increase the number of sexually satisfying events [for the woman] by one per month, which is not a lot,' she said. 'Depending on what you're starting from, it is not that much. And this drug has only been shown to be effective in that specific condition.' Hickey also disputed the accuracy of the figure of one in three women experiencing hypoactive sexual desire disorder, as distinct from low libido, in midlife: 'And low libido is not what this is for. The other thing is there's no safety data available on AndoFeme 1 use beyond 12 weeks. 'It's a hormone, and hormones have powerful effects in many organs of the body,' Hickey said. Evidence did not support the suggestion that testosterone dropped significantly at menopause, like oestrogen has been shown to, contrary to what has been suggested by some of its proponents online. 'I'm very suspicious of the commercial forces that are driving this,' Hickey said. But women's health psychiatrist Professor Jayashri Kulkani, director of Monash University's HER Centre Australia and of the Multidisciplinary Alfred Psychiatry research centre, says subsidising testosterone therapy for women goes beyond its proven benefits for low libido. 'It [testosterone] is the third hormone for all of the menopause-related issues that many women experience, including mental ill-health,' she said. 'The petition and advocating group have picked HSDD because they think there is more evidence for AndroFeme in treating this issue but in actual fact, it is a hormone treatment that is part of menopausal hormone therapy for all of the symptoms that many (but not all) women experience in the menopause transition.' Kulkarni said that women should have access to PBS-subsidised testosterone for reasons beyond sexual dysfunction. Loading 'The bigger picture here is menopausal mental ill-health [depression, anxiety, brain fog] is the really big issue,' she said. 'So I agree with the petition to get AndroFeme 1 on the PBS but for the bigger cause, not just HSDD.' A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Aged Care said the government and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee would welcome applications to list AndroFeme1 or similar testosterone products on the PBS.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
No misconduct case for Hillsborough police
While police officers tried to "deflect blame" after the Hillsborough disaster, they do not have a misconduct case to answer, a watchdog has told families. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) began investigations in 2013 into the tragedy, in which a 15 April 1989 crush in Sheffield resulted in the deaths of 97 Liverpool fans. In a letter from the IOPC, seen by the Press Association, relatives were told they would shortly be informed of the outcomes of complaints made about police conduct. It said it was unable to find that officers had a case to answer for misconduct in the "majority of cases" as policing professional standards at the time "did not include a specific duty of candour". "Our investigations did find evidence to support allegations that, in the aftermath of the disaster, South Yorkshire Police sought to deflect the blame from themselves," the letter from Kathie Cashell, IOPC deputy director-general said. "We found no evidence to support claims that the behaviour of supporters was a contributing factor." She continued: "Despite the wider public interest to gain answers about what happened, South Yorkshire Police was entitled, within the law at the time, to present its 'best case' and be selective with the evidence it presented." Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer pledged to bring forward a Hillsborough Law, which would include a legal duty of candour, by the disaster's next anniversary. Ms Cashell said the IOPC welcomed "the government's proposed introduction of a new, stronger statutory duty of candour for all public servants, including the police". "We believe this will strengthen the ability of our investigations to get to the truth," she added. Reacting to the letter, Margaret Aspinall, whose 18-year-old son James died in the disaster, said: "This shows it is very, very important to have the Hillsborough Law so that this type of thing can never happen again." The IOPC investigation, launched following the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel report in 2012, supported new inquests into the deaths. The new inquests concluded in 2016 and found fans were unlawfully killed, with errors by South Yorkshire Police causing or contributing to their deaths. Ms Cashell said the IOPC agreed there were "fundamental failures" by South Yorkshire Police in the planning and policing of the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, held at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium. The force adopted a "defensive approach" and "sought to control evidence" afterwards, the letter said. Ms Cashell said 354 complaints and conduct matters had been investigated, with just over half of complainants having at least one allegation upheld. But officers who left the police force before 2017 could not face disciplinary proceedings regardless of findings due to the legislation in place at the time, she said. "I share everyone's frustration that this has taken too long - survivors, bereaved families and all those who have campaigned for truth and accountability deserve better," she said. South Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Lauren Poultney said the force fully accepted the IOPC's finding and continued to offer an "unreserved apology" to those let down by the force at Hillsborough. "I do not underestimate the impact on those who have had to campaign for more than 30 years to understand exactly what took place," she said. "This should not have happened." Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North Hillsborough fans unlawfully killed 'Hillsborough Law' on the table by anniversary - PM Starmer to promise 'light at the end of tunnel' Police face Hillsborough families action Police forces agree Hillsborough cover-up payout
BBC News
12-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Hillsborough: No misconduct case for police, according to IOPC inquiry
While police officers tried to "deflect blame" after the Hillsborough disaster, they do not have a misconduct case to answer, a watchdog has told families. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) began investigations in 2013 into the tragedy, in which a 15 April 1989 crush in Sheffield resulted in the deaths of 97 Liverpool a letter from the IOPC, seen by the Press Association, relatives were told they would shortly be informed of the outcomes of complaints made about police said it was unable to find that officers had a case to answer for misconduct in the "majority of cases" as policing professional standards at the time "did not include a specific duty of candour". "Our investigations did find evidence to support allegations that, in the aftermath of the disaster, South Yorkshire Police sought to deflect the blame from themselves," the letter from Kathie Cashell, IOPC deputy director-general said."We found no evidence to support claims that the behaviour of supporters was a contributing factor."She continued: "Despite the wider public interest to gain answers about what happened, South Yorkshire Police was entitled, within the law at the time, to present its 'best case' and be selective with the evidence it presented."Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer pledged to bring forward a Hillsborough Law, which would include a legal duty of candour, by the disaster's next anniversary. Ms Cashell said the IOPC welcomed "the government's proposed introduction of a new, stronger statutory duty of candour for all public servants, including the police"."We believe this will strengthen the ability of our investigations to get to the truth," she added. Reacting to the letter, Margaret Aspinall, whose 18-year-old son James died in the disaster, said: "This shows it is very, very important to have the Hillsborough Law so that this type of thing can never happen again."The IOPC investigation, launched following the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel report in 2012, supported new inquests into the new inquests concluded in 2016 and found fans were unlawfully killed, with errors by South Yorkshire Police causing or contributing to their deaths. Ms Cashell said the IOPC agreed there were "fundamental failures" by South Yorkshire Police in the planning and policing of the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, held at Sheffield Wednesday's force adopted a "defensive approach" and "sought to control evidence" afterwards, the letter Cashell said 354 complaints and conduct matters had been investigated, with just over half of complainants having at least one allegation officers who left the police force before 2017 could not face disciplinary proceedings regardless of findings due to the legislation in place at the time, she said."I share everyone's frustration that this has taken too long - survivors, bereaved families and all those who have campaigned for truth and accountability deserve better," she Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Lauren Poultney said the force fully accepted the IOPC's finding and continued to offer an "unreserved apology" to those let down by the force at Hillsborough."I do not underestimate the impact on those who have had to campaign for more than 30 years to understand exactly what took place," she said."This should not have happened." Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
