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ITV News
a day ago
- Health
- ITV News
Somerset woman's wait for transplant could take 'many more years,' amid record waiting lists
ITV News' Louisa Britton has been speaking to Kerry Fear from Yeovil, who has been on the organ donation waiting list for more than a year. A woman from Somerset who has been living with a heart condition for decades has said she could have to wait "many more years" for a life-saving transplant. Kerry Fear, from Yeovil, has been on the organ donation waiting list for more than 12 months already, after doctors told her her heart was "failing." The 50-year-old, who was born with two holes in her heart, two of her arteries the wrong way round, and only three heart chambers, has had multiple heart surgeries and pacemakers fitted throughout her life to manage her complex heart condition. But she said the treatments are becoming less effective, and she was added to the waiting list for a heart transplant in May 2024. Ms Fear said: 'I've noticed that my heart rhythm isn't normal and has been slowly declining. I don't feel brilliant. I don't feel terrible. But you can deteriorate quickly. 'I knew being listed for a transplant was coming. At first, it was scary as you realise the magnitude of it. But as time goes on, you have to get on with life." The NHS has warned it's facing an "incredibly concerning situation" where more people than ever are waiting for transplants, but fewer donations are taking place. Figures from NHS Blood and Transplant show donor show 8,096 patients in the UK were on the active transplant waiting list as of 31 March 2025 – the highest number on record. In the South West, 596 people are currently on the waiting list for a transplant. Under the 'opt-out' system, donation can only go ahead with the family's support and consent rates for organ donation across the UK are at 59%. Director of Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation, Anthony Clarkson, has urged people to take action by registering their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register. "Tragically, someone will die today waiting for a transplant, and we urgently need more people to register their decision to donate and to have these vital conversations with their families," he said. 'Last year, 60% of people who donated after death were on the NHS Organ Donor Register, which made those conversations with families so much easier. "People are far more likely to support donation when they know it's what their relative wanted.' Ms Fear said a transplant would give her "confidence and freedom," but she is determined to enjoy life as much as she can while she is on the waiting list. "I don't want to miss anything or waste any time when I can do what I can at the moment. 'Most days, I put waiting to the back of my mind. If I think about it, it's quite an odd thing – it could happen any time, and I am used to surgery, but this is very different.
ITV News
2 days ago
- ITV News
Gaza air drops: 'Chancing the waves' for a packet of biscuits
From above it's impossible to see the detail, but such is the scale of Gaza's horror it's grotesquely obvious even from thousands of feet up. We approached Gaza over the Mediterranean. It is a jarring transition from the glittery beauty of a blue sea to the blackened, flattened landscape of war. Few buildings are still standing and even they are empty shells rendered derelict by battle. A landscape, once a place of life, now screams of death, an abyss of lives lost in a 21 month war. Around 60,000 people died in the land beneath and more are now dying, not just from the strikes and shells but from a lack of food. Our journey towards Gaza was with the Jordanian Air Force in a C130 plane laden with parcels of aid. Basic food stuffs designed to sustain life for those who manage to find it. No one believes aid drops are the answer to the spiralling hunger crisis but it is a way to try and get some support in. In Gaza, they are used to watching the skies more out of fear than hope and the sight of the planes sends hundreds running towards the drop zone. Our colleague Mohammed Abu Safia, ITV News' cameraman in Gaza, follows the desperate mass of people scrabbling to find any food. He sees men, women and children ploughing into the sea, a packet of biscuits or bag of flour worth chancing the waves for. Others forage through undergrowth battling each other to find something to feed their families with. If it's a choice between your child eating and someone else's, the niceties are gone. We cannot land in Gaza and international journalists are banned by Israel so this was the closest we could get to document what is going on in Gaza. As we made the turn back towards Jordan and its plenty, the lucky few beneath hurried away with food as valuable as treasure. While those who did not find any contemplated another night of hunger. Maybe tomorrow they will be luckier. What a way to live, what a way to die. Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.
ITV News
4 days ago
- Politics
- ITV News
What do locals in Scotland think of Donald Trump?
Donald Trump is on a trip to Scotland, but what do people make of his visit? ITV News' Ben Chapman reports from Turnberry The US President Donald Trump is now halfway through his private visit to Scotland. He is here primarily to play golf and to open his newest course, but he is fitting in meetings with the prime minister, first minister and president of the European Commission. He is famously proud of his Scottish heritage, but what do people here make of this unusual presidential visit? Locals in Girvan, the closest town to Trump's luxury golf resort, had mixed views ahead of his arrival on Friday. One man said: 'There's enough trouble going on in the world at the moment without Donald Trump coming to Scotland to play golf. He's flying thousands of miles for a game of golf. I think his focus should be elsewhere. If anything good comes of it, then great, but I have my doubts.' While a woman said: 'I think it's great that he visits Scotland because his mother is from Scotland and he has invested a lot in Scotland. "He employs a lot of people in the region, and he looks after the places where he is running his business, which is great for this local economy.' "He's just such a controversial figure, and I just don't understand what he's up to. He's just causing chaos and confusion around the whole world," another man said. 'The US government won't be paying for it because it's a private trip, so I think the bill will land at the doorstep of the Scottish people. He should take some of his profits and pay for the expenses.' This mother and daughter had different views on whether Trump's visit was welcome or not. The mother said: 'I don't think it's worth it. Not for a private visit. There will be local disruption, and there is a cost implication as well. I mean, the Americans will obviously pick up some of the security, but there will also be an obligation on Police Scotland. I mean not just to police the visit but also the protests that are going to obviously result over the weekend.' Meanwhile, her daughter said Trump "brings a lot of good things to the community here". "I don't agree with everything that he does politics wise, but I think he's done a lot for the area, and I think, well, good luck to him," she added. On Friday night at Prestwick airport, more than 1,000 people camped out with deck chairs and picnic blankets to catch a glimpse of Air Force One touching down on Scottish soil. Many waited for hours to claim their spot. Surprisingly, there were no obvious protesters. Instead, the crowd was made up of dedicated plane spotters and locals who were excited to have the President of the United States and his plane land in their town. Some wore Make America Great Again caps and carried pro-Trump flags to welcome him. Samuel Ackroyd and James Swan were among those who waited more than eight hours to catch a glimpse of Air Force One. They told ITV News: 'I like Trump, but it's mainly about seeing Air Force One. 'This is a big bucket list item for aviation enthusiasts. Many of us want to see the Boeing 747-200. 'It's a great privilege to see the President of the United States land here.' A mother and her son, who came down from Fife, said: 'We've come down from Fife today to see President coming for the first time. We've never plane spotted in Ayr before but we wanted to be here today for this.' On Saturday morning, Trump was out on the golf course bright and early, but unlike his last visit as president, there were no protesters on the beach next to the Turnberry course. There was just the odd Trump supporter hanging around to try and see him in person. This couple travelled to Ayrshire from Liverpool to show their support. The man said: 'We support MAGA (Make America Great Again) and Trump and what he's doing. We've just made our way down to the golf course to try and catch a glimpse of him. Mainly because it might be the only chance we ever get to see him here. I know he's doing a state visit in London, but that will be all private escorts and everything, so we thought we'd try to see him while we can.' In the afternoon, planned anti-Trump protests took place in Aberdeen and Edinburgh, far from the president's eyes. Many there said they were frustrated and angry that he is being welcomed by our prime minister and first minister, and that he is coming on a private golfing trip that is costing taxpayers here. 'Trump's not welcome in Scotland. He has done too much damage globally. He's a global leader, but he doesn't like one or think like one. And we didn't vote for him here, yet he's here in Scotland today, and we're not happy about it. "He claims Scottish heritage, but he is not from Scotland. He doesn't share our values. We care about people. We care about diversity. Scotland has people in every single country in the world. He's just focusing on making America great. What does that even mean? It doesn't mean anything.' 'He wants to come and see his businesses, then let him pay for the security. Let him pay for the police. He's always bragging about how rich is, even though he didn't release his tax returns. So let him use some of all that money that he's had from all that winning and all those fantastic trade deals. 'He keeps telling everyone he's really wealthy and he's got all this money. Let him pay for it. I see, absolutely no reason why we should pay one penny for that orange walloper.' 'I am an American living here now, and he is just an embarrassment. I don't even want to go back to America right now. This is just a little part I can do because I'm not there. I can still vote, but I can't go to any protest there, so I just want to come out here and support everyone. I feel good that there are other people sharing my sentiment. 'He's like an evil genius. I don't know what it is, but he's Teflon Don. That's his nickname. These people are just kissing the ring because they feel they need to. "And I think once he is gone, whether it's a cheeseburger too many or whatever, I think it'll all go away because I don't think anybody has his level of depravity.' On Monday, Trump is set to meet the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer. On Tuesday, he will open his new golf course in Aberdeenshire, which is named after his Scottish mother, Mary Anne MacLeod. He is due to leave Scotland on Tuesday afternoon.
ITV News
6 days ago
- Science
- ITV News
Why scientists in Hawaii are releasing thousands of mosquitoes to save endangered birds
By Thousands of mosquitoes are being dropped into Hawaii by drone in a bid to save an almost extinct species of bird. These aren't just any mosquitoes. The ones being dropped are non-biting, lab-reared male mosquitoes which carry a bacteria meaning they cannot successfully mate with wild female mosquitos. Scientists hope they will help control the archipelago's invasive mosquito population, which has decimated native bird populations including the rare Hawaiian honeycreepers. The birds play a central role in Hawaiian ecosystems as pollinators and seed dispersers. At one point, there were more than 50 known species of honeycreepers in Hawaii, but today there are only 17 left, the majority of which are now endangered. One species, named the 'akikiki' became functionally extinct in the wild last year due to malaria-carrying mosquitoes. With no resistance to mosquito-borne diseases, the birds are falling victim to fatal avian malaria. While development and deforestation have also led to falling bird populations, experts believe avian malaria to be the main threat. Mosquitoes aren't native to Hawaii, and were first reported in 1826 after being carried in by whaling vessels. Speaking to ITV News' US partner CNN, Dr Chris Farmer, Hawaii programme director for the American Bird Conservancy (ABC), said mosquitos cause "waves of extinction." The insects thrive in tropical climates with low elevation, forcing the remaining honeycreepers to find refuge in the mountains. Farmer added: "With climate change, we are seeing warmer temperatures, and we're watching the mosquitoes move up the mountains. "(In places like Kauai), we're watching the populations of birds there just completely plummet. "It's a constant march of mosquitoes moving up as the temperatures allow them, and the birds getting pushed further and further up until there's no habitat left that they can survive in. "If we don't break that cycle, we're going to lose our honeycreepers," he adds. What are conservationists doing? Experts have been trying to control the population of mosquitoes through various methods. Pesticides, which would usually be used to control insects, affect them indiscriminately and would damage damselfly and fruit fly populations - both of which are vital to ecosystems. Scientists have successfully bred male mosquitoes in a lab that carry a strain of naturally occurring bacteria, which causes non-viable eggs when they mate with wild females. Over time, with repeated releases, the population of wild mosquitoes should fall. Farmer said: "Whenever you say, 'I want to release millions of mosquitoes in the forest,' people have a lot of very legitimate questions.' The method has never been used on this large of a scale before, but if successful in curbing mosquito populations, honeycreepers would have time to replenish populations with more genetic diversity, which may even develop their own resistance to avian malaria.
ITV News
6 days ago
- Science
- ITV News
Why scientists in Hawaii are releasing thousands of mosquitos to save endangered birds
By Thousands of mosquitoes are being dropped into Hawaii by drone in a bid to save an almost extinct species of bird. These aren't just any mosquitoes. The ones being dropped are non-biting, lab-reared male mosquitoes which carry a bacteria meaning they cannot successfully mate with wild female mosquitos. Scientists hope they will help control the archipelago's invasive mosquito population, which has decimated native bird populations including the rare Hawaiian honeycreepers. The birds play a central role in Hawaiian ecosystems as pollinators and seed dispersers. At one point, there were more than 50 known species of honeycreepers in Hawaii, but today there are only 17 left, the majority of which are now endangered. One species, named the 'akikiki' became functionally extinct in the wild last year due to malaria-carrying mosquitoes. With no resistance to mosquito-borne diseases, the birds are falling victim to fatal avian malaria. While development and deforestation have also led to falling bird populations, experts believe avian malaria to be the main threat. Mosquitoes aren't native to Hawaii, and were first reported in 1826 after being carried in by whaling vessels. Speaking to ITV News' US partner CNN, Dr Chris Farmer, Hawaii programme director for the American Bird Conservancy (ABC), said mosquitos cause "waves of extinction." The insects thrive in tropical climates with low elevation, forcing the remaining honeycreepers to find refuge in the mountains. Farmer added: "With climate change, we are seeing warmer temperatures, and we're watching the mosquitoes move up the mountains. "(In places like Kauai), we're watching the populations of birds there just completely plummet. "It's a constant march of mosquitoes moving up as the temperatures allow them, and the birds getting pushed further and further up until there's no habitat left that they can survive in. "If we don't break that cycle, we're going to lose our honeycreepers," he adds. What are conservationists doing? Experts have been trying to control the population of mosquitoes through various methods. Pesticides, which would usually be used to control insects, affect them indiscriminately and would damage damselfly and fruit fly populations - both of which are vital to ecosystems. Scientists have successfully bred male mosquitoes in a lab that carry a strain of naturally occurring bacteria, which causes non-viable eggs when they mate with wild females. Over time, with repeated releases, the population of wild mosquitoes should fall. Farmer said: "Whenever you say, 'I want to release millions of mosquitoes in the forest,' people have a lot of very legitimate questions.' The method has never been used on this large of a scale before, but if successful in curbing mosquito populations, honeycreepers would have time to replenish populations with more genetic diversity, which may even develop their own resistance to avian malaria.
