Latest news with #Need
ITV News
a day ago
- Politics
- ITV News
Environment Minister Andrew Muir sees ‘merit' in public inquiry into illegal Mobuoy dumping site
Environment Minister Andrew Muir has said he believes there is merit in holding a public inquiry into 'abhorrent' illegal dumping at the Mobuoy landfill site. Mr Muir told MLAs that the cost of fixing environmental damage caused at the Londonderry site could reach £700million. Two men were jailed last week for their roles in one of Europe's largest illegal dumps. Paul Doherty, 67, of Culmore Road, Londonderry, admitted seven charges between 2007 and 2013 relating to the contaminated Mobuoy dump at Campsie, outside Derry, and was sentenced to one year in prison. Co-defendant Gerard Farmer, 56, of Westlake in Derry, pleaded guilty to three charges between 2011 and 2013 and was jailed for 21 months. Mr Muir told the Assembly he shared public concern over the 'appalling situation' in Mobuoy and said he had approved the launch of a consultation on the draft remediation strategy. He said: 'Safeguarding public health, ensuring safe drinking water and reducing the environmental impact of the Mobuoy site is of paramount importance to me.' He added: 'There is no quick fix but I am committed to continuing to ensure that appropriate steps are taken to protect water quality and the environment during these processes.' He said to date he had been advised that there had been no adverse impact on the safety of drinking water being supplied from the River Faughan. SDLP MLA Mark Durkan said his party would support the remediation measures. He said: 'While focusing on the future we cannot just forget the past, how an environmental crime on an industrial scale was allowed to happen. 'This could cost the public and public services hundreds of millions of pounds to put right. 'Will the minister seek support from his Executive colleagues for a public inquiry into this scandal?' Mr Muir responded: 'This was an abhorrent crime on an industrial scale. 'I do believe there is merit for a public inquiry so I will be taking a paper to my Executive colleagues in regards to this. 'But the cost associated with the site is likely to be significant. This could cost up to £700 million to remediate this site. 'I will be looking to the UK Government, not just in terms of financial support in terms of any future public inquiry but also in terms of the remediation of the site. 'These are significant costs for us as an Executive to bear.' He said he would be engaging with Foyle MLAs and representatives from Derry and Strabane Council over the site. Mr Muir added: 'It is important we look to the past and understand lessons to be learned, but it is also important we look to the future and have remediation of this site.' Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
New online tool helps women on Medicaid find prenatal care and family planning
At the University of Mississippi Medical Center, one researcher's full-time job for the past nine months has been to find out which clinics around the state offer different kinds of women's health care, and whether they accept various forms of Medicaid. The final result is a recently launched database aimed at helping women locate the nearest clinic that can offer the care they need. The work that went into creating it highlights a pervasive problem: Even making an appointment can be a barrier that keeps women from improving their lives. 'We Need to Talk' is a compilation of all Mississippi clinics offering prenatal care – specifying which ones also offer family planning, and whether they take Medicaid insurance, Medicaid waivers and see women whose Medicaid applications are pending. There is also a hotline designed to give additional support to anyone having questions or feeling overwhelmed about the process. At the University of Mississippi Medical Center, one researcher's full-time job for the past nine months has been to find out which clinics around the state offer different kinds of women's health care, and whether they accept various forms of Medicaid. The final result is a recently launched database aimed at helping women locate the nearest clinic that can offer the care they need. The work that went into creating it highlights a pervasive problem: Even making an appointment can be a barrier that keeps women from improving their lives. 'We Need to Talk' is a compilation of all Mississippi clinics offering prenatal care – specifying which ones also offer family planning, and whether they take Medicaid insurance, Medicaid waivers and see women whose Medicaid applications are pending. There is also a hotline designed to give additional support to anyone having questions or feeling overwhelmed about the process. 'Having gone through the work, it was remarkable. It wasn't easy to figure out where you should go for care,' said Dr. Thomas Dobbs, former state health officer and dean of the John D. Bower School of Population Health at UMMC, who oversaw the project. 'And that should be one of the most basic bits of information we have.' The new database is an initiative of UMMC's Myrlie Evers-Williams Institute – housed in the Jackson Medical Mall – which is committed to eliminating health disparities by studying the intersection of health and social issues. The institute has a clinic on site that practices what's called 'social medicine,' a key element of eliminating those disparities, the institute's executive director Victoria Gholar explained. 'If you have a patient who has asthma and they're living in a situation where mold is in their environment, it will really be hard for them to get better,' Gholar said. 'Or, if we have a patient who has to use an electronic (medical) device, and their electricity is no longer available because they weren't able to take care of their utility bill, then we try to work with them and connect them to resources that might be able to help.' The institute employs a wide range of professionals who work on health from a non-clinical standpoint, such as researchers, community engagers, social workers and registered dietitians. It hosts events like food drives and offers free support from budgeting strategies to meal preparation for those with conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. Aside from knowing what to search for, finding clinics that accept Medicaid can also be complicated because Mississippi Medicaid eligibility is constantly changing for a woman based on her age and circumstance – what kinds of services she's seeking, as well as whether she's pregnant. Medicaid eligibility in Mississippi is among the strictest in the nation, with one exception – pregnant women. That means many low-income women only become eligible for Medicaid once pregnant. And since an application can take up to eight weeks to be processed, the chances that a woman in this situation will be able to use her newly acquired Medicaid insurance in the first trimester are slim. A law that would cut out this interim period and allow low-income pregnant women to be immediately seen by a doctor passed the Legislature in 2024, but was never implemented because of legislative errors. The policy went back through the Legislature in 2025, passed overwhelmingly again, but is not yet in effect. Some doctors already see women whose Medicaid application is pending, and the UMMC tool specifies at which clinics that's the case. Women of reproductive age seeking reproductive health care are also eligible for leniency in the typical Medicaid stipulations. These women can apply for a Medicaid family planning waiver, which allows them to access Medicaid for family planning purposes, even if they don't qualify for general Medicaid coverage. The income requirement for pregnancy Medicaid and the family planning waiver is a household income of less than 194% of the federal poverty level, or about $2,500 a month for one person in 2025. Dobbs, who has been the main point person on the project, said he hopes the online database is one more resource improving health care accessibility and women's health metrics in Mississippi. 'This isn't about getting patients to UMMC at all,' Dobbs said. 'It's about empowering patients to be able to get the care they need where they live.' This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Business Journals
01-06-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
5 qualities modern healthcare facilities need to best meet clinic and patient needs
The St. Louis healthcare market is evolving rapidly. From shifting patient volumes to increasing demand for outpatient services, healthcare providers and developers are rethinking what their facilities need to do, and how fast they need to do it. Whether you're a physician-owner planning a new clinic, a healthcare system expanding outpatient capacity, or a developer exploring your next medical office investment, today's success depends on early strategic planning, smart site selection and cost-effective design that supports both patient care and operational efficiency. expand What today's healthcare facilities require Built for flow and function. From intake to discharge, how a space is laid out impacts staff efficiency, patient comfort and clinical outcomes. Aligning space planning with real clinical workflows ensures your investment supports the work you do — reducing unnecessary steps, protecting privacy and improving the patient journey from entry to exit. Specialized systems that perform. Mechanical, electrical and HVAC systems in healthcare environments require more than standard design. Infection control, air quality and power redundancy are non-negotiable — and best addressed early in the process. Support for same-day care models. As hospitals and clinics transition from long-stay to outpatient services, facility configurations must adapt. Waiting areas, recovery rooms, discharge logistics and even parking layouts are being redefined. The right site makes all the difference. Whether a project is physician-led or part of a larger system expansion, site choice impacts everything: patient access, referral patterns, zoning and future scalability. Understanding zoning, utilities and referral networks is just as important as square footage and location. Clear navigation of the Certificate of Need (CON) process. In Missouri and other CON states, aligning project timelines with approval cycles is essential. Strategic planning and proper documentation can reduce roadblocks and keep your schedule on track. expand . Practical solutions for physicians, developers and systems At Russell, we work with doctors, developers and design teams to bring medical spaces from concept to completion with clarity and confidence. We also offer in-house development services to pair seamlessly into construction. By engaging early, asking the right questions and focusing on clinical priorities, we help align budgets, schedules and design intent, reducing surprises down the road. We have decades of experience building healthcare environments — from ground-up medical office buildings to renovations in active clinical environments, our team has delivered healthcare spaces that function as well as they look — and support the future of care. We understand how to translate clinical needs into functional design, and how to build facilities that serve both the provider and the patient. Considering a new facility, renovation or site conversion? Let's talk about what it takes to build smart in today's healthcare market. Russell is a leading professional services firm, delivering a full range of services including preconstruction, construction management and real estate development. Founded in 1983 by Jim Russell in Bettendorf, Iowa, Russell began as a family-owned business built on integrity, quality and client-focused solutions. Over the past four decades, the company has grown significantly, completing more than $7 billion in projects across 34 states. With four offices in the Quad Cities, St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield (MO), Russell continues to expand while remaining committed to its family-owned values — prioritizing strong relationships, collaboration and a dedication to excellence in every project. As Russell's vice president of Operations, Daniel Conaway leads the growth and success of the St. Louis office's construction teams. In this role, Conaway is responsible for crafting high-performance teams, providing strategic direction and leadership management, to ensure projects are executed with precision and in alignment with our core values. Conaway has accumulated over 23 years of experience in the construction industry, with a focus on healthcare, commercial and academic institutions.
Perth Now
09-05-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
Young athlete drops dead at fitness competition
A young female athelete has suddenly died while taking part in an intense workout program which is a go-to for many across the world. Nayeli Clemente was competing in the Choula Games, which is a CrossFit licenced event, in south east Mexico on May 2 when tradedy struck. The 24-year-old was taking part in the 'Team Pyramid Run', a gruelling relay-style race, in 35-degree heat, according to the Daily Mail. Clemente was part of a team where each person takes turns running increasingly longer distances before working back down when she began to find it hard to breathe and fainted. The fitness enthusiast was given emergency CPR by a doctor in the crowd, identified as Daniela Castruita, who was able to briefly stabilize her before an ambulance arrived and took her to a local hospital. Miss Clemente was a 24-year-old student and fitness enthusiast. Credit: Nayeli Clemente / Instagram However, sadly she died shortly after arriving at the hospital and officials later clarified that she had reportedly suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. According to local press and Need To Know, onsite medics were slow to respond to the emergency and encountered issues deploying a stretcher and an oxygenation device allegedly wasn't connected when it was needed. Cholula Games reportedly received further criticism for continuing the competition despite the tragedy. The Cholula Games issued a statement explaining they had been in contact with Clemente's family. The Cholula Games issued a statement explaining they had been in contact with Clemente's family. Credit: Nayeli Clemente / Instagram 'During the main event of the Cholula Games, an athlete developed a medical complication. She was treated by the event's medical team and transported alive to a private hospital, where she sadly died the following day. 'The Cholula Games has been in constant communication with the athlete's family since the incident.' Officials are yet to clarify what caused a cardiac arrest but the current assumption is that she died due to performing intense exercises in high temperatures.
ITV News
23-04-2025
- ITV News
Former head of teaching union David Baxter jailed after being convicted of sexually assaulting pupil
The former head of a Northern Ireland teaching union David Baxter has been jailed for four-and-a-half months after being convicted of sexually assaulting a pupil in his storeroom at Erne Integrated College in 2018. The Judge told the 65-year-old of Killadeas Road in Lisnarick that Baxter had shown a "complete denial of culpability" and "no remorse." "This matter is aggravated by the fact that you abused your position of trust as a teacher. The victim was a vulnerable child whom you groomed, and you were the architect of an opportunity to bring her into the storeroom, where you sexually assaulted her. "There is a high degree of harm in this case, as the victim had to leave her school, and this has affected her for the rest of her life. "In some distorted sense of reality, you consider yourself a victim, and I regard that as an aggravating feature." The victim was in court for sentencing supported by her family. The court heard Baxter maintains his innocence. He was granted bail and is set to appeal his conviction. In a statement Erne Integrated College said: "The current board of governors of Erne Integrated College wishes first of all to repeat our abhorrence of the assault suffered by our former student. "Our first thoughts are with the young woman herself and her family. "It is a source of pain and deep regret that she was subjected to abuse within our school, at a time when she should have felt particularly safe and secure. "The school was inspected by ETI in June 2024, and safeguarding figured strongly in the positive report. "All aspects of safeguarding and pastoral care will always be regularly reviewed, and the board of governors has every confidence in our staff in doing so. "Safeguarding in the school is undertaken by a team of fully trained staff, and every student and staff member is encouraged to approach the team member they feel comfortable in speaking to. Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.
