Latest news with #GreatOrmondStreet
Sky News
3 hours ago
- Health
- Sky News
Why aren't parents getting their children vaccinated?
👉 Listen to Sky News Daily on your podcast app 👈 Measles vaccination rates are at their lowest level in sixteen years in England and there are fears that it's led to a rise in the number of cases. According to the latest government figures, an additional 145 cases have been reported since the beginning of the month. It comes weeks after the death of a child with measles at the Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool, a city with low levels of vaccination. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson talks to Helen Bedford, professor of children's health at Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health about why parents aren't getting their children vaccinated, and what it means for the rest of the population.
BBC News
7 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
First war-injured Gazan child arrives in UK for treatment
Majid Shaghnobi can't eat or speak like he used to. He can't with his injured mouth covered by a surgical mask, his eyes were beaming as he arrived at London's Heathrow airport on a flight from Cairo, with his mother, brother and little sister."I'm happy to be in England and to get treatment," the 15-year-old told was out trying to get humanitarian aid in the Kuwaiti area of northern Gaza in February last year when an Israeli tank shell exploded nearby, shattering his jaw bone and injuring his leg."One of my friends helped me and took me to the hospital," he says. "They thought I was dead. I had to move my hand to show them that I was alive."Doctors in Gaza saved his life and Majid spent months in hospital, breathing through a tracheostomy tube, before he was evacuated to Egypt in February this year - with Israel's permission - for further medical he's in the UK for surgery at Great Ormond Street children's hospital in London to restore the function of his face. He is the first Gazan child to arrive in the UK for treatment for war injuries, almost two years into a conflict in which more than 50,000 children have reportedly been killed or injured, according to the UN children's charity, Unicef. His arrival follows months of work by a group of volunteer medical professionals who came together in November 2023 to set up Project Pure Hope, which helps injured and sick Gazan children get to the UK for treatment. It is funded by private donations."The UK is home to some of the best paediatric facilities in the world, yet while countries like the US, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland and many others have stepped up to help, the UK has yet to do the same," Project Pure Hope arrival in the UK comes less than a week after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer promised to evacuate more badly injured children, although the government has released few details of the medical team – all working for free – will include craniofacial, plastic and orthodontic surgeons, with hospital bills paid for by private donations."If we're able to give him a face and a jaw which he can use then it won't be completely normal, but hopefully he'll be able to feed himself and speak, and his facial expressions will be better," says lead surgeon Noor ul Owase Jeelani, a professor of Paediatric Neurosurgery at Great Ormond Street."Hopefully that's going to make a big impact on how he lives and on his future."Our hope is that we will be able to help many more children like him in the coming months. It's our collective moral responsibility." Doctors from the hospital have previously treated patients from Ukraine, and last year helped separate co-joined twins in Jeelani is disappointed that it has taken so long for the first child from Gaza to be treated for war injuries in the UK."As a doctor and as a human, I don't quite understand why it's taken us over 20 months to get to this stage," he Pure Hope has identified 30 critically injured children in Gaza who it hopes to help bring to the UK. It says the government's announcement is "vital and long-overdue", but time is of the essence."Every day of delay risks the lives and futures of children who deserve a chance to live, to recover and to rebuild a life," said Omar Din, its co-founder. In April, the group of volunteers secured visas for two girls -13-year-old Rama and five-year-old Ghena - with life-long medical conditions to also have privately funded operations in the were brought to London after being evacuated to Egypt from Gaza, where - with the destruction of the healthcare system there - they weren't receiving the treatment they I met them in early May, Rama has put on weight and Ghena, who was deeply traumatised and withdrawn, is noticeably more has had laser surgery to relieve the pressure in her left eye, which she was at risk of losing. And Rama has had exploratory surgery for a serious bowel girls are doing well, their mothers they are sick with worry - finding it hard to eat and sleep - about family members left behind in Gaza, who are now struggling to feed themselves."It's better than Gaza here," Rama tells me. "There are no bombs and no fear."But friends message her from Gaza, telling her that they haven't found bread for 10 days and she says her older brother is sleeping on the street after first his home, and then his tent, were bombed."They're hungry. So I don't want to eat either. I feel like I'm still there with them," Rama experts said this week there was mounting evidence that widespread starvation, malnutrition and disease is driving a rise in hunger-related deaths among the 2.1 million Palestinians in who suffered life-changing injuries while out trying to get food for his family, is also worried about his two brothers still in Gaza."I'm scared that they'll die or something will happen to them," he says. "I just want them to be safe."
The National
24-07-2025
- General
- The National
Abu Dhabi Awards celebrates 20 years honouring community spirit
The Abu Dhabi Awards have recognised more than 100 people making a difference in the emirate over the past two decades and nominations are now open for the 12th cycle. Among those already recognised are a pioneering radiologist and a champion for the disabled. Here, The National takes a look at previous winners, why they were put forward by their communities and what it will take for the next batch of nominees to be among the winners. Dr Essam El Shammaa When the UAE's Dr Essam El Shammaa returned to Abu Dhabi in 1976, he came on unpaid leave from Great Ormond Street and the Royal Free Hospital in London. He had no plans to stay for long and wanted to remain in the UK but he soon "fell in love with the people" in the Emirates, he told The National. His early work with ultrasound, especially in detecting a baby's gender, sparked controversy at the time but a conversation with UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, reassured him that he had the country's full support. One of his early breakthroughs came during a routine ultrasound when he accidentally dropped a metal tool and saw the foetus flinch. 'I called my colleagues and said, 'babies can hear',' he said. 'They laughed. So I showed them. I dropped different tools and each time, the baby flinched.' His message today is as direct as ever: 'Don't upset your wife. Don't yell at her. The baby can hear you. And if you upset her, her body produces more adrenalin – that baby is going to be born hating you for upsetting their mother.' He was also the first to advocate husbands being allowed into Corniche Hospital, which at the time was restricted to women only. 'Fathers would have a baby, see them from afar, but never develop that connection,' he said. 'But if they're there from the first ultrasound, from the very beginning, they form stronger bonds.' He remains an adviser at the hospital with the imaging department where he first worked. He was recognised with an Abu Dhabi Award in 2021. Theban Al Mheiri Theban Al Mheiri was 23 when the car taking him to the airport at the start of a journey that would see him travel to the US for an English language course, crashed. 'When I woke up, I thought I was in the afterlife,' he recalled. 'Everyone around me was wearing masks. For a moment, I thought I could be in heaven or hell. I was terrified.' Within seconds, he realised he was in a hospital. And then came the harder truth: he had lost movement in both legs. Mr Al Mheiri slipped into a period of deep depression. He mourned not only the use of his legs, but the version of his life that no longer existed – the one that was heading abroad, filled with possibility. But over time, that sorrow transformed into resolve. 'There's no reason to be upset forever,' he said. 'You have to find your purpose and help others find theirs, too.' And that's exactly what he did – Mr Al Mheiri went on to become one of the UAE's most dedicated advocates for the disabled. Over the past three decades, he has helped thousands navigate the emotional, physical and societal challenges of living with a disability. Mr Al Mheiri's work has helped bring attention to the simplest yet most profound daily struggles – such as the difficulty of using a toilet or navigating inaccessible public spaces. 'I don't want people to put themselves in our shoes,' he said. 'I want them to understand that these challenges are real. We just need time and support to overcome them." His message is simple but deeply felt: "Never give up.' He was recognised with an Abu Dhabi Award in 2017. The organisers 'The awards recognise people who unite and inspire through their actions,' says Mahra Al Shamsi of the organising committee. 'They embody unity, compassion and giving.' Every year brings new stories, from medical pioneers to environmental champions to disability rights advocates. 'We're not limited by nationality,' adds Amal Al Ameri. 'These values; goodness, selflessness, helping others, are universal.' What are the awards? Nominations for this year's Abu Dhabi Awards are now open and anyone, from children to seniors, can submit a hero on the official website, including a special form for younger nominators. Held under the patronage of President Sheikh Mohamed, the awards recognise those who have shown exceptional dedication and commitment to serving the country. Eligible candidates are: Citizens, residents, or visitors whose good deeds have benefited the UAE. People whose international contributions reflect positively on the Emirates. Individuals whose voluntary work, advocacy, or public service made a lasting impact. Once submitted, nominations go through a research and review phase where a team evaluates each candidate's impact. Finalists are then reviewed by a panel of judges, who make the final recommendations. The recipients will be honoured during a special ceremony, where President Sheikh Mohamed personally awards each winner the Abu Dhabi Medal. The date for this ceremony is yet to be confirmed.
The Independent
25-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Three-year-old becomes youngest patient to receive groundbreaking gene therapy
Ella Pickover Wednesday 25 June 2025 06:33 BST Gunreet Kaur is the youngest person in the UK to be given a groundbreaking gene therapy for a rare condition (Handout/PA) Three-year-old Gunreet Kaur became the youngest person in the UK to receive a groundbreaking gene therapy for a rare, life-threatening inherited condition. Gunreet, diagnosed with aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency, received the Upstaza treatment in February 2024 at Great Ormond Street children's hospital (GOSH). AADC deficiency is a rare and often deadly condition caused by a gene mutation that prevents the production of dopamine, leading to severe developmental and movement issues. The Gene therapy, eladocagene exuparvovec, involves delivering a working AADC gene directly into the brain to enable the production of the missing enzyme. Since receiving the treatment, Gunreet has made significant progress, including improved coordination, new movements, and vocalisation, with hopes for further development. In full
The Independent
24-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Mother's delight as gene therapy offers hope to three-year-old
A child with a life-threatening disease has become the youngest in the UK to receive a groundbreaking gene therapy. Three-year-old Gunreet Kaur has a rare inherited condition that affects children's physical, mental and behavioural development. Children with aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency find it difficult to control their head, blood pressure and heart rate. But after receiving the new gene therapy, called Upstaza, Gunreet has made progress that her mother thought would never be possible, such as new movements and vocalising. It is hoped that she will make further strides as she ages. Gunreet, from Hayes in west London, was nine months old when she was diagnosed with the condition. She received the treatment in February 2024 at the world-renowned Great Ormond Street children's hospital (GOSH), which is the only hospital in the UK offering the treatment to children. Sandeep Kaur said Gunreet has made 'great progress' since her treatment. 'When Gunreet was about seven months old I noticed she wasn't reaching her milestones at the same age that her older brother did,' she said. 'She couldn't hold her own head up or reach out for items. She cried a lot and always wanted to be held. 'Since having the gene therapy, Gunreet has made great progress. 'She cries less, smiles more, and can reach for objects. 'She can hold her head up and is trying to sit up, she's recently learned how to roll from her stomach to her back which is fantastic to see. 'It means a lot to me that Gunreet was able to have this gene therapy – her general health has improved, she has more co-ordination, she can bring her palms together and is able to move her hand to her mouth.' AADC deficiency is caused by a mutation in the gene that produces the AADC enzyme, this enzyme is needed to produce a neurotransmitter called dopamine which is important in controlling movement. People with AADC deficiency do not have a working version of the enzyme, which means that they have little or no dopamine in the brain. This means that they can suffer developmental delays, weak muscle tone and inability to control the movement of the limbs. It can also lead to painful episodes for affected children. The condition is rare and often deadly, with many children with AADC deficiency not reaching adulthood. The medicine, also known as eladocagene exuparvovec, consists of a virus that contains a working version of the AADC gene. The treatment is delivered by millimetre precision to an exact location in the brain of the patient by a team of medics assisted by a robotic surgery tool. When given to the patient, it is expected that the virus will carry the AADC gene into nerve cells, enabling them to produce the missing enzyme. This is expected to enable the cells to produce the dopamine they need to work properly, which will improve symptoms of the condition. It is the first NHS England commissioned gene therapy in the UK infused directly into the brain. Professor Manju Kurian, consultant paediatric neurologist at GOSH, said 'AADC deficiency is a rare condition but often a cruel one that has such a profound impact on children and their carers and families. 'We know children with the condition have painful episodes that can last for hours and, as their condition progresses, their life becomes more and more difficult. 'It's incredible to me that I can now prescribe novel gene therapies just as I would prescribe paracetamol and antibiotics. 'While the treatment is now available under the NHS at GOSH, we can only do this by working collaboratively across teams inside and outside the hospital, from physios and surgeons to dietitians and speech therapists, alongside partnerships with companies who supply these therapies. 'It's great to see how this treatment has been able to help babies and children across the country like Gunreet. 'The natural history of the condition is that most patients cannot fully hold their head or make any developmental progress after that milestone. 'Gunreet's progress over the last year has been really impressive in that context, as well as the virtual disappearance of the eye crises. 'We're hopeful that one day she will be able to talk or walk, as seen in some of the young patients treated in the clinical trial.' Professor James Palmer, NHS medical director for specialised commissioning, said: 'This is wonderful news for Gunreet and her family, and a powerful example of how these commitments are translating into real improvements in people's lives. 'By bringing cutting-edge medicines like eladocagene exuparvovec into the health service and setting up our expert clinical teams to successfully deliver them, the NHS is making clear its commitment to improving care through innovation.'
