Latest news with #EastofEngland
Daily Mail
17 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Anglian Water to pay out £63m after 'excessive' sewage spills
Anglian Water has become the latest water company to face enforcement action after failing to deal with sewage leaks, resulting in 'excessive' spills. Water regulator Ofwat said on Tuesday Anglian Water has proposed a £62.8million penalty and remedial action following an investigation. The watchdog said the east of England water company, which serves nearly seven million customers, had 'breached its legal obligations' in operating its wastewater treatment network. The water industry has come under fire for discharging sewage into rivers and seas, with outflows at record levels. Yorkshire Water, South West Water, Thames Water and Northumbrian Water are among the firms that have faced similar enforcement action so far in 2025, collectively facing penalities over £160million. At the same time, domestic bills have increased by an average £10 a month as the sector embarks on a multi-billion pound infrastructure upgrade package. Anglian Water said in a statement the proposed redress package will be 'entirely funded' by shareholders, rather than customers. Ofwat's investigation into Anglian Water found it had failed to operate, maintain and upgrade its wastewater assets to ensure they could 'cope with the flows of sewage and wastewater coming to them'. As part of the package of measures, Ofwat said £5.8million of the penalty would go towards a community fund to support environmental and social projects. 'Our investigation has found failures in how Anglian Water has operated and maintained its sewage works and networks, which has resulted in excessive spills from storm overflows,' Lynn Parker, Ofwat's senior director of enforcement said. 'This is a serious breach and is unacceptable.' Anglian Water said it planned to accelerate investment to reduce spills at high-risk sites and implement a longer term plan to ensure spills from storm overflows are minimised. Mark Thurston, chief executive of Anglian Water said: 'We understand the need to rebuild trust with customers and that aspects of our performance need to improve to do that. 'Reducing pollutions and spills is our number one operational focus, and we have both the investment and the partners in place to deliver on those promises as part of our £11billion business plan over the next five years.' The independent Water Commission, led by Sir John Cunliffe, was set up in response to outrage over sewage spills and rising bills. The review, published last week, concluded that Ofwat would need to be scrapped in favour of a new regulator.
BBC News
20 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Patients urged to still attend appointments amid doctor strikes
Patients in the East of England have been encouraged to attend their appointments as resident doctors' strikes action over pay will continue until 07:00 BST on Wednesday 30 July, but patients should still attend their appointments unless contacted to reschedule, said NHS Cayley, the chief operating officer for NHS England in the East, thanked staff for their "hard work over the weekend" and "continued efforts in the days ahead".The latest series of strikes began on Friday and patients who need emergency medical care have been told to use 999 or go to A&E as normal. Hospitals and local NHS teams throughout the region said they were working together to minimise disruption to patient care. Service disruption Mr Cayley said: "Whilst it is inevitable that strikes mean some appointments and procedures cannot go ahead as planned, it's thanks to the huge efforts of NHS teams in the region that we are continuing to provide as many as we can."Our advice remains to please attend your appointment unless you have been contacted directly to reschedule."If it's an emergency, you should dial 999 or attend your A&E as normal. Otherwise, you should use 111 online as your first port of call, or your local pharmacist or GP."It is the 12th strike from resident doctors since March 2023, which NHS England said had resulted in 49 days of disruption to its services, equivalent to about 10 working weeks of industrial action over that doctors, previously named junior doctors, make up about half of all doctors in the had anywhere up to eight years' experience working as a hospital doctor or up to three years in general strikes began at the end of 2022, the cumulative total of hospital appointments rescheduled in England was close to 1.5 million across the NHS, the public body said. Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire or BBC Suffolk.
BBC News
7 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
East of England Ambulance 999 callers to get CPR video help
People calling 999 in the East of England to report a cardiac arrest will be the first in the UK to be offered live video support from advanced the call, staff in the East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) control room will coach them on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) via a video streaming follows a successful trial in Denmark that improved the bystanders' hand position and the speed and depth of Council UK said when resuscitation was attempted following an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, fewer than one in 10 people survived to hospital discharge and EEAST hopes the pilot will improve survival rates. Liam Sagi, an advanced paramedic, said survival had not "really changed in 40 years".EAAST serves Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk and said it carried out resuscitation on 3,500 patients per year and its crews could restart more than 1,000 of the hearts of those patients, but that bystanders were resuscitation immediately could quadruple the chances of survival, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Sagi said the public needed to know what to do."We know that less than half of the public have learnt CPR and for every minute that goes by without getting CPR, your chances of survival drop by 10%," he said. Bystanders do not need to download an app. During the 999 calls, paramedics send a text message to them via the GoodSAM video caller clicks on a link within that message to initiate the video while they are still on the caller and paramedic can see each other them in the two-way video said this allowed the paramedic to assess the situation visually and provide guidance on CPR technique until the ambulance service arrived. Mr Sagi said: "We know that our call handlers do a fantastic chance of coaching people through CPR over the telephone but there are trials internationally that show we can really improve the quality of the CPR delivered."He said they would be looking at things like hand position and chest compression depth."We want to understand if this helps people in really traumatic situations. Does it help confidence? Does it help improve quality of CPR, and does it help the person process things after it's happened?"EEAST said video streaming worked best when there was more than one bystander present, so that one person could hold the phone while the other performed CPR. It said success would depend on video connectivity and the person being familiar with video calls. John Newman, a community first responder from Epping, Essex, said: "Sometimes when we arrive, folk are so nervous they might hurt the person on the floor, they just stand back and watch apprehensively."If they're already lying there, they're already in a life-threatening situation, so they should just get on and do it."Essex and Herts Air Ambulance is helping to provide critical care paramedics for the scheme. Dr Gareth Grier, associate medical director said: "Every day we see cases where high quality CPR has made a life-changing difference to patients."This project will make sure that every patient gets the best chance of a good outcome."NHS Charities Together has funded the scheme with a £142,000 grant. The video stream will also be used to coach bystanders on how to use defibrillators Newman said some people were "very apprehensive" about using one, but that that the quicker they used it, the more likely they were to save a life."The video will overcome the apprehension right at the beginning," he said."Our call handlers will tell you where the nearest defibrillator is. Someone else can go and get it, while you carry on with the chest compressions."The out-of-hospital cardiac arrest desk will run four days a week, from 07:00 to 19:00. Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire or BBC Suffolk.
Sky News
22-07-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Health warning issued after UK cases of life-threatening condition linked to Botox-like products
Health officials have issued a warning over botulism, a life-threatening condition that causes paralysis, as multiple people in the UK have developed it after having procedures involving Botox-like products. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said "a number of individuals" have presented with symptoms such as breathing difficulties after having cosmetic procedures involving botulinum toxin, which is best known by the brand name Botox. Investigations so far suggest the use of an unlicensed Botox-like product, the agency added. It is understood the practitioners involved are cooperating with the investigation and no longer offering the injections. The latest cases relate to procedures carried out in the East of England and the East Midlands, and do not relate to recent diagnoses in the North East. A total of 38 cases of iatrogenic botulism have been reported in the UK between 4 June and 14 July. The UKHSA is advising the public to make sure they take precautions with cosmetic procedures, such as making sure their practitioner uses licensed products. It has also told clinicians to look out for botulism in people who have symptoms and may have recently had a cosmetic procedure. Dr Gauri Godbole, consultant medical microbiologist at UKHSA, said: "Botulism related to aesthetic procedures is rare, but it can be serious. "It is caused by toxins produced by the bacterium clostridium botulinum. These toxins (but not the bacteria) are the active ingredient in Botox and similar products." "Symptoms of botulism can take up to four weeks to develop," she added. They include drooping eyelids, blurred or double vision, facial muscle weakness, difficulty swallowing, slurred speech and breathing difficulties. Anyone who has had a recent botulinum toxin treatment and is experiencing symptoms should contact NHS 111 for further advice. Treatments, including the use of an anti-toxin, should be administered in hospital, the NHS website states. Professor Meghana Pandit, co-national medical director secondary care at NHS England, said: "When these procedures go wrong, there is a risk of serious infections and permanent scarring, which is why only registered professionals like a doctor, a nurse or pharmacy prescriber should be prescribing these treatments. "If you decide to undergo a cosmetic procedure like Botox or lip fillers, there is advice on the website on the questions to ask, including making sure that the person administering it is trained to do it." A spokesperson for Allergan Aesthetics, the sole trademark owner and manufacturer of Botox in the UK, said the company "suspects that the product administered is counterfeit, further underpinning the importance of ensuring you are acquiring a genuine product through reputable and trusted channels. "Allergan Aesthetics' priority is the health and safety of patients and all reports of counterfeit product are thoroughly investigated by our team."
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
La Caisse commits to invest in Sizewell C, a critical asset for economic growth and energy security in the UK
MONTREAL and LONDON, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Quebec based global investment group, La Caisse (formerly CDPQ), today announces its commitment to invest up to £1.7 billion (CAD 3.2 billion) in Sizewell C, a 3.2GW nuclear power station located in the East of England. The investment, which represents a 20% stake in the project, will leverage La Caisse's proven track record in delivering large scale infrastructure projects globally and support the UK's transition to clean power and progress to net zero. Once complete, Sizewell C will provide over 60 years of clean, reliable power to the UK grid, helping to boost the UK's economy, strengthen energy security and help reduce reliance on hydrocarbon sources, avoiding 9 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually. The investment will be made alongside the UK Government, experienced operator EDF, British multinational energy and services company Centrica and investment partner Amber Infrastructure. The project is structured under the UK Government's Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model which helps fund large-scale projects by offering predictability to investors while ensuring value for consumers over the long term. "Our commitment to invest in Sizewell C reflects La Caisse's constructive capital approach, working to deliver optimal financial performance for our clients alongside broader economic and societal progress. La Caisse has a strong track record of bringing private sector expertise alongside governments and industrial players to invest in complex, regulated infrastructure where value-for-money for consumers is key. Sizewell C is a positive development for UK consumers, as it is expected to provide long-term reliable baseload power and low carbon energy to more than 6 million homes across the UK, while contributing to the creation of 10,000 new jobs at peak construction and thousands more in the nationwide supply chain. We're proud to support the UK Government in delivering this landmark project, advancing the country's energy security and economic growth ambitions. Our investment demonstrates our confidence in the UK market – our largest destination outside North America – and aligns with our commitment to the energy transition and decarbonization, enabled by our long-term capital and active ownership," said Emmanuel Jaclot, Executive Vice-President and Head of Infrastructure at La Caisse. "It is time to do big things and build big projects in this country again – and today we announce an investment that will provide clean, homegrown power to millions of homes for generations to come. This government is making the investment needed to deliver a new golden age of nuclear, so we can end delays and free us from the ravages of the global fossil fuel markets to bring bills down for good," said Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband. "We're delighted to welcome La Caisse's investment in Sizewell C. Their decision to take a 20% stake in the project reflects growing international backing for UK nuclear and confidence in Sizewell C. As one of the world's leading institutional investors, La Caisse brings significant experience in sustainable infrastructure and in delivering projects that drive economic growth and long-term value creation. Their involvement reinforces our strong financial base and supports our mission to create tens of thousands of high-quality jobs and 1500 apprenticeships across the country. Sizewell C will boost energy security, cut carbon, and drive regional and national growth for decades to come, and we're proud to have La Caisse on board as part of that journey," said Julia Pyke and Nigel Cann, Joint Managing Directors of Sizewell C. La Caisse is the world's second largest institutional infrastructure investor, currently manages over £20 billion in UK investments and has significant experience in delivering projects that drive economic growth and positive change. La Caisse intends to invest around £8 billion in the UK over the next five years, increasing its asset allocation to the British market by nearly 50 percent. La Caisse has acted as a partner of trust and choice to the UK Government and its business partners for many years and has brought benefits to millions of UK consumers through investments in Eurostar, Heathrow Airport, First Hydro Company and London Array, an offshore wind farm generating 630MW of electricity, enough to power 500,000 UK homes. La Caisse is also deeply committed to sustainable investing and investments supporting climate action. The firm has recently committed to have nearly £220 billion (CAD 400 billion) invested globally by the end of the decade in companies committed to decarbonising their operations as well as in climate solutions. These investments align with La Caisse's commitment to its clients: delivering long-term value while managing risk responsibly. ABOUT LA CAISSE At La Caisse, formerly CDPQ, we have invested for 60 years with a dual mandate: generate optimal long-term returns for our 48 depositors, who represent over 6 million Quebecers, and contribute to Québec's economic development. As a global investment group, we are active in the major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure, real estate and private credit. As at December 31, 2024, La Caisse's net assets totalled CAD 473 billion. For more information, visit or consult our LinkedIn or Instagram pages. La Caisse is a registered trademark of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec that is protected in Canada and other jurisdictions and licensed for use by its subsidiaries. Logo - View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
