Latest news with #JessicaBrady
The Guardian
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Guardian
Driving value: how do EVs really stack up financially?
It's a depressing truth: your shiny, new, four-wheeled pride and joy starts to lose value the moment you drive it out of the showroom. With every click of the speedometer, its dollar value declines. But could electric vehicles (EVs) offer financial benefits that make up for this? Governments have explored ways to make car buyers choose EVs over petrol or diesel vehicles. Tweaking the tax system has delivered emissions-lowering benefits. The federal government's Electric Car Discount Bill in 2022 removed fringe benefits tax on employer-provided fully electric vehicles priced below the luxury car tax (LCT) threshold ($91,387 for fuel-efficient vehicles in 2024-25), supercharging fleet purchases. At BMW, the bill had an immediate impact. 'We recorded 7,787 registrations of fully electric BMW vehicles in 2024 – with most of these priced below the LCT – meaning they represented nearly 30% of our total sales volume,' says Nick Raman, the product and business communications manager for BMW Group Australia. 'In 2023 that figure was 11%.' Other tax incentives and discounts are also making EVs more affordable. Jessica Brady, a financial adviser, says a novated lease, which allows an employee to finance a vehicle through salary packaging, can result in an income tax saving, as well as a lower purchase price. 'The finance company claims a credit for the GST and so generally offers a discount by the same amount for the vehicle,' Brady says. 'So, there can be a discount, both from a tax savings perspective and the GST component.' Novated leasing contracts can be complex, Brady warns. She advises anyone thinking about taking one on to get professional advice. 'It's not something you should be making a quick decision about.' Thinking about a car purely in terms of the purchase price ignores the range of other benefits that can accrue to owners or leaseholders. Consider ongoing maintenance and servicing. This is where EVs have an advantage, Raman says. 'EVs have fewer moving parts, as they don't have the multitude of components intrinsic to a conventionally powered vehicle.' However, even if the maintenance schedule and requirements are different, EVs still require attention and ongoing care. At BMW, it is not just an annual date in your diary based on time or kilometres driven. Vehicle monitoring is integrated into condition-based servicing (CBS), so owners are automatically alerted when the system detects the car needs attention. Proactive care, which anticipates the needs of customers and connects them with BMW service representatives when required, has also recently been added to the CBS system. 'Sensors detect any functional irregularities early and transmit the data directly, in real time, to BMW for analysis and actioning,' Raman says. 'These measures help ensure a customer's BMW runs and performs at its best.' The bottom-line benefit for EV drivers? Fewer problems mean less maintenance and servicing costs. For EV drivers with home solar and a battery, running costs can also be lower. The RACV says that depending on how much you use your car and the size of your system, you may be able to charge your car for free, or at a lower cost than at public charging stations. Transport for NSW estimates EVs are significantly cheaper to run than petrol or diesel cars, with fuel savings of up to 70% and maintenance savings of about 40%. Government rebates also make installing a solar system more affordable. Value isn't all about costs. The decision to buy an EV is often anchored in the knowledge that it is a sustainable choice for the future. Now there is more choice in the market and prices have come down, sales are going up. Brady says: 'One thing that I'm very cognisant of is that more and more people are wanting to invest their money in a way that aligns with their personal values.' As well as cost, range anxiety has long been a major deterrent for would-be EV buyers, but their ranges are increasing, charging networks in urban and regional Australia are improving, and in-car technology is making it easier to manage your charging. BMW's embedded maps system shows charging locations and the estimated charge remaining, and an 'efficiency coach' inside the car helps maximise driving range. Raman says the My BMW app complements this. 'It has an extensive charging section that includes charging, charge history, statistics and a charging station locator.' Discover the BMW range of electric cars.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
GPs receive new cancer training after death of young woman dismissed 20 times
GPs will receive new training to better identify cancer in young people after the death of a 27-year-old woman whose symptoms were dismissed more than 20 times. Jessica Brady died three weeks after being admitted to hospital in December 2020. She discovered she had stage four adenocarcinoma (a cancer of the glands) after her desperate parents sought a private consultation. The satellite engineer from Hertfordshire, who had been previously healthy, had contacted her GP surgery on more than 20 occasions in the previous five months. Without carrying out any tests, doctors repeatedly sent her home with antibiotics until it was too late. Andrea and Simon Brady, her parents, have begun a campaign for 'Jess's Law', which would obligate all GPs to review their diagnosis if a patient has had three consultations and no progress. The Royal College of GPs – backed by the Jessica Brady Cedar Trust, which was set up by her family – will roll out training that encourages all family doctors to change their approach. The module aims to raise awareness of a sharp rise in cancer cases among young people. Diagnoses of the disease among those aged between 25 and 29 have risen by one quarter in the UK since the early 1990s, increasing twice the rate of those over the age of 50. Brady's mother said she felt 'pride' in the difference her daughter had made to the lives of others and added that she would 'not give up' pursuing legal changes to the way GPs' respond to patients. She told The Telegraph: 'I see this with really mixed emotions; both of sadness and of pride in what Jessie achieved. We don't want to be here, we don't feel celebratory, but we do feel that this is the right thing to do and we won't give up.' The new guidance will urge GPs to introduce the concept of 'three strikes and rethink'. This could mean referring a patient for a second opinion or seeking advice from a specialist. It could also include ensuring that a person seen remotely is given a face-to-face appointment. Mrs Brady said: 'Really this is about a fresh pair of eyes – about going back to the drawing board. We have found that it's quite hard for GPs once they have made an initial diagnosis to deviate from it. 'We feel really strongly that having Jess's name attached to all this reminds everyone that this was a real person, this can happen, and encourages them to think again.' Prof Kamila Hawthorne, the chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said: 'Jessica Brady's death was a tragedy and our thoughts are with the Brady family. No GP will ever want to miss signs of serious illness such as cancer. 'A key part of our role is to make a diagnosis for a patient based on the information we have available to us, which will include their symptoms, family and medication history and risk factors – and then either devise a treatment plan with the patient or refer to specialist care for further investigations and treatment. This is something all GPs take very seriously. 'Ensuring a timely diagnosis is in everyone's best interests as this often means better outcomes for patients. 'Unfortunately, many conditions – including many cancers – are notoriously difficult to identify in primary care because the symptoms are often similar to other, less serious and more common conditions. Alternative diagnoses are often more likely, particularly when considering risk factors such as age.' Prof Hawthorne added: 'This is why it's been important for us to work with Jessica's family and the Cedar Trust to highlight that, for reasons that are unclear but are likely multi-factorial, we are seeing more cases of cancers in younger adults.' She said the free training explores the risk factors to look out for, and provides guidance and interventions to consider when diagnosing younger patients with uncertain symptoms. 'If a patient repeatedly presents with the same or similar symptoms but the treatment plan does not seem to be making them better, it is best practice to review the diagnosis and consider alternatives,' she continued. 'It also makes clear that when a diagnosis is uncertain, seeking a second opinion could be an appropriate consideration.' Experts have said there is no clear explanation as to why there has been such a surge in cancers among younger people. Some of the increase could be fuelled by preventable risk factors such as diet and improvements in detection. The surge comes amid debate about the role of processed foods in contributing to a rise in bowel cancer. Sophia Lowes, a senior health information manager at Cancer Research UK, said: 'Globally and in the UK, we're seeing an increase in rates of early-onset cancers, affecting people aged 25-49. 'Whilst this is concerning, it's important to recognise that cancer is still primarily a disease of older age – though this doesn't change how difficult it is for anyone who receives a diagnosis. 'There isn't a clear answer to what's causing this rise but preventable risk factors, genetics and improvements to early detection might all play a part. She continued: 'It's important that GPs have the right support to give patients of all ages the level of care they deserve and efforts to increase training and education like the new RCGP module can help to provide this. 'Whatever your age, if you notice something that isn't normal for you, speak to your doctor. If your symptoms don't get better or get worse, your doctor will want to hear from you again.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
22-02-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
GPs receive new cancer training after death of young woman dismissed 20 times
GPs will receive new training to better identify cancer in young people after the death of a 27-year-old woman whose symptoms were dismissed more than 20 times. Jessica Brady died three weeks after being admitted to hospital in December 2020. She discovered she had stage four adenocarcinoma (a cancer of the glands) after her desperate parents sought a private consultation. The satellite engineer from Hertfordshire, who had been previously healthy, had contacted her GP surgery on more than 20 occasions in the previous five months. Without carrying out any tests, doctors repeatedly sent her home with antibiotics until it was too late. Andrea and Simon Brady, her parents, have begun a campaign for 'Jess's Law', which would obligate all GPs to review their diagnosis if a patient has had three consultations and no progress. The Royal College of GPs – backed by the Jessica Brady Cedar Trust, which was set up by her family – will roll out training that encourages all family doctors to change their approach. The module aims to raise awareness of a sharp rise in cancer cases among young people. Diagnoses of the disease among those aged between 25 and 29 have risen by one quarter in the UK since the early 1990s, increasing twice the rate of those over the age of 50. Brady's mother said she felt 'pride' in the difference her daughter had made to the lives of others and added that she would 'not give up' pursuing legal changes to the way GPs' respond to patients. She told The Telegraph: 'I see this with really mixed emotions; both of sadness and of pride in what Jessie achieved. We don't want to be here, we don't feel celebratory, but we do feel that this is the right thing to do and we won't give up.' The new guidance will urge GPs to introduce the concept of 'three strikes and rethink'. This could mean referring a patient for a second opinion or seeking advice from a specialist. It could also include ensuring that a person seen remotely is given a face-to-face appointment. Mrs Brady said: 'Really this is about a fresh pair of eyes – about going back to the drawing board. We have found that it's quite hard for GPs once they have made an initial diagnosis to deviate from it. 'We feel really strongly that having Jess's name attached to all this reminds everyone that this was a real person, this can happen, and encourages them to think again.' Prof Kamila Hawthorne, the chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said: 'Jessica Brady's death was a tragedy and our thoughts are with the Brady family. No GP will ever want to miss signs of serious illness such as cancer. 'A key part of our role is to make a diagnosis for a patient based on the information we have available to us, which will include their symptoms, family and medication history and risk factors – and then either devise a treatment plan with the patient or refer to specialist care for further investigations and treatment. This is something all GPs take very seriously. 'Ensuring a timely diagnosis is in everyone's best interests as this often means better outcomes for patients. Conditions 'difficult to identify' 'Unfortunately, many conditions – including many cancers – are notoriously difficult to identify in primary care because the symptoms are often similar to other, less serious and more common conditions. Alternative diagnoses are often more likely, particularly when considering risk factors such as age.' Prof Hawthorne added: 'This is why it's been important for us to work with Jessica's family and the Cedar Trust to highlight that, for reasons that are unclear but are likely multi-factorial, we are seeing more cases of cancers in younger adults.' She said the free training explores the risk factors to look out for, and provides guidance and interventions to consider when diagnosing younger patients with uncertain symptoms. 'If a patient repeatedly presents with the same or similar symptoms but the treatment plan does not seem to be making them better, it is best practice to review the diagnosis and consider alternatives,' she continued. 'It also makes clear that when a diagnosis is uncertain, seeking a second opinion could be an appropriate consideration.' Experts have said there is no clear explanation as to why there has been such a surge in cancers among younger people. Some of the increase could be fuelled by preventable risk factors such as diet and improvements in detection. The surge comes amid debate about the role of processed foods in contributing to a rise in bowel cancer. Sophia Lowes, a senior health information manager at Cancer Research UK, said: 'Globally and in the UK, we're seeing an increase in rates of early-onset cancers, affecting people aged 25-49. 'Whilst this is concerning, it's important to recognise that cancer is still primarily a disease of older age – though this doesn't change how difficult it is for anyone who receives a diagnosis. 'There isn't a clear answer to what's causing this rise but preventable risk factors, genetics and improvements to early detection might all play a part. She continued: 'It's important that GPs have the right support to give patients of all ages the level of care they deserve and efforts to increase training and education like the new RCGP module can help to provide this. 'Whatever your age, if you notice something that isn't normal for you, speak to your doctor. If your symptoms don't get better or get worse, your doctor will want to hear from you again.'
