Latest news with #Sienna-Rose
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Council responds after reports London's homeless could be housed here in city
The rising numbers of people rough sleeping and being left homeless is a concern in any city. During its recent budget setting process, Liverpool Council cited the increasing pressure of homelessness on its books, with cash having to be found to support those in need. This is the case for councils up and down the country, with many relying on temporary accommodation or expensive hotels to house people who have nowhere to go, sometimes through no fault of their own. One such council is Enfield in north London. The borough is located more than 200 miles away from Liverpool but caused quite a stir in the north west last week as it emerged from national press reports that the council was seeking to buy up dozens of properties in this city region for its own homeless people to be housed in. READ MORE: Man found dead in car outside pub READ MORE: Sienna-Rose flight and health update as family 'sobbing with relief' The news came via a document released in October last year in which the London council's housing and regeneration scrutiny panel was told through its own wholly owned company Housing Gateway, it anticipated purchasing 28 properties 'around the Liverpool area' in the next six months. A further report in December said it was 'more cost effective' for Enfield to own accommodation than to lease it and would target piloting a scheme here. The documents said: 'This will enable residents to be in the local area where they can seek to find suitable, long-term accommodation. 'Leasing temporary accommodation is a huge cost pressure for Enfield which is not sustainable indefinitely. It is therefore important that Enfield reduce the amount of TA in use.' However, the borough has now sought to calm fears the London council could be sending more people to take up vital properties in the city. However, it could still consider looking across the wider Liverpool City Region. An Enfield Council spokesperson said: 'Enfield Council is committed to providing safe, stable, and affordable housing for our residents who are experiencing homelessness. In recent years, the significant shortage of affordable rental homes in Enfield and across London has impacted our ability to place families in suitable homes within the borough. "This crisis has been worsened by rising rents, a collapsing private rental sector for affordable homes within Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates, and an increasing number of families and residents facing homelessness. To ensure that residents have access to secure, long-term stable homes, we have taken the difficult but necessary step of looking into the possibility of buying a small number of residential properties in more affordable areas, including the wider Liverpool area, though not in the City of Liverpool. 'At this time, no properties have been acquired in the Liverpool area.' The council said this approach was guided by policy introduced to address the severe shortfall in temporary accommodation and reduce the reliance on costly and unsuitable hotel placements. The spokesperson added: 'Where possible, we continue to seek housing solutions closer to Enfield. Our focus remains on increasing the supply of affordable homes. We will continue to work with the government to address our borough's housing needs.' This is not uncommon, however. Councils are often forced to relocate people out of city boundaries where required, for example if they need special types of accommodation or are required support with a pet. Cllr Sam East, Liverpool Council cabinet member for housing, said since reports emerged, the authority had been working to establish the facts. He said: "The reports were alarming and I understand the concern it's caused – however it's simply not as described. "Enfield Council have given us a statement that they have no properties in Liverpool, nor any plans to procure them. It appears there is an intention to procure in the wider Merseyside region though, and this may have been mistakenly communicated as Liverpool. "As a result of our enquiries this week we have already shared information with our neighbouring authorities to support them with this. Out of boundary placements happen, but it can't be right for local authorities to make a policy decision of this nature and move people hundreds of miles routinely. It's another stark symptom of the housing and homelessness crisis in this country, and we will look to work on this across a city region footprint, through the Local Government Association and with the new government." Despite this, the challenges remain here at home to tackle rough sleeping and homelessness. The trend of rough sleeping in Liverpool ticked upward throughout 2024 when compared to the same period in 2023. The average number of people seen each night rough sleeping between April and September 2024 was 30, an increase on the average of 22 people seen per night over the same period in 2023. Documents released by the city council last month also set out how an increase in people seeking asylum and prisoners released early risks adding to Liverpool's already climbing rough sleeping figures. Without mitigation, it is expected that more than £11m in budget pressures could be added to the council's books as a result of the growing homelessness crisis. The proposals from down south attracted anger from Cllr Carl Cashman, leader of the Liverpool Liberal Democrats. He said: 'In Liverpool, we've already got a temporary accommodation bill for our residents - it's ballooned in size, now it's costing the taxpayers millions every year. 'This isn't kicking the can down the road, this is kicking it across the other side of the country. This is not good for people being moved nor the communities they are being moved to. Imagine the council telling you they'll house you but only if you move over 170 miles away, that's awful and it's going to add even more upheaval to people's lives. 'We need the Labour government to listen to councils. They are being crushed under the weight of mounting costs and we are struggling to get by. We need national funding to launch local initiatives to tackle homelessness in our towns and cities - not just Liverpool but across the country. 'That starts with providing social housing for those that need it in our communities - something the Lib Dems have long called for in Liverpool.' This prompted a response from Cllr East. He said: "I would gently make two points to the politicians in our city who chose to make sweeping public statements on this issue. "Firstly, if they had approached me for an understanding of the facts here I would have happily worked with them. We all want to work together on the homelessness crisis. "Instead they went straight out to make a public statement attacking the city council and no doubt caused undue concern in our communities."
The Independent
14-03-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Distraught mother forced to fundraise for toddler's £119K medical flight after travel insurance ‘nightmare'
A distraught mother is warning parents to be vigilant when buying travel insurance after a dream holiday ended up a 'living nightmare' when her 19-month-old daughter suffered a brain haemorrhage. Natasha Sargent, 31, has been forced to fundraise for a private medical flight costing £119,000 to take her daughter Sienna-Rose home to the UK from Mexican holiday spot Cancun following the ordeal. The mother-of-three from Croxteth, near Liverpool, said she took out insurance for the family using a comparison website, but she admitted that due to an 'honest mistake' on her daughter's medical records it was rendered invalid. 'I thought I had done it correctly; it was an honest mistake. You don't ever think you would be in this situation,' she told The Independent. Ms Sargeant said she was on holiday in the tropical paradise with her partner Liam Millen, 39, and children Harry, 13, Liam, 11, when the toddler suddenly collapsed when playing with her brothers. Sienna-Rose was rushed to three different hospitals before doctors gave her life-saving surgery to remove part of the clotting. A blood clot remains in the left part of her brain and it is unknown what caused the haemorrhage. The toddler is currently being treated in Cancun General Hospital, where she has been for over a week, and awaiting a medical flight home. However, without insurance the family have been left to fundraise to pay the costly medical bill. Now, Ms Sargeant is warning others to 'triple check' their medical records and make sure details are 'spot on' before getting medical cover. 'We did take a policy out on a comparison website, but she had numerous hospital visits for jaundice and bronchitis from when she was a baby and we didn't disclose all the dates, so the insurance was invalid,' she said. Ms Sargeant, who works as a healthcare assistant, said Sienna-Rose 'was completely fine' when they flew out last week, but five days into the holiday she collapsed and vomited about 50 times in the space of two hours before they could get any help. 'We rushed around trying to get her to different hospitals. Eventually she had a CT scan which revealed she had a brain haemorrhage,' Ms Sargeant said. 'Doctors said her brain had swollen and there was a lot of fluids, so she needed emergency surgery.' Describing the ordeal as 'horrendous', Ms Sargeant said Sienna-Rose had deteriorated badly following her operation and was suffering with fevers. 'The first day after the operation, she was fine, she was drinking, and we were going to start weaning her back on food. Then, the next day she took a bad turn and just hasn't been the same since,' she said. Only one person is allowed to visit Sienna-Rose at a time, meaning the parents have been taking it in turns to sit by her bedside, while the other looks after their son's. However, on one occasion Ms Sargeant was refused entry into the hospital because she was wearing 'flip flops' and 'holiday clothes'. 'They refused me entry into the hospital, they said I needed to buy some clothes first. It was horrendous, I was crying and begging them to let me in and see her,' she said. Sienna-Rose, who is not fit to fly commercially, is set to take an 11-hour flight back to the UK with an air ambulance on Saturday after Ms Sargeant fundraised almost £150,000 on gofundme. Lia's Wings, a UK charity which helps arrange air ambulance transfers for children, also donated £20,000 to the cause and is now helping coordinate the transfer and will oversee Sienna-Rose's integration back to NHS care. The charity said this money is set to be used to pay for the £119,000 medical flight home and pay for the medical bills in Mexico. 'When we got the quote, I thought we would have to stay out here for a couple of months until she was fit to fly. I thought we would never get that money together,' Ms Sargeant said. 'It's crucial we get on that medical flight because if there were any more problems it could put her in danger. I am nervous for the flight because anything could happen,' she added. A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Spokesperson said: 'We are supporting the family of a British national in hospital in Mexico and are in touch with the local authorities.'
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Mum 'so happy' sick baby can fly home from Mexico
The mother of a 19-month-old girl who suffered a brain haemorrhage while on holiday in Mexico has said her family have "been to hell and back". Sienna-Rose, from Liverpool, collapsed in Cancun last week and underwent life-saving surgery. Her family were told it would cost more than £100,000 to fly Sienna-Rose back to the UK because an aeroplane with specialist medical equipment would be needed. After more than £145,000 was raised in an online appeal, Natasha said the family would "forever be in debt to everyone that has helped get our baby home". "We just want to express how happy we are with the love and support we have received from not just Liverpool but around the country," said Natasha, 31. Sienna-Rose had been playing in the family's hotel apartment with her two older brothers when she fell ill. "It all happened really quickly," said Natasha. "She was having a seizure. She wasn't crying. She was purple, she was stiff, she was unable to move." The hotel's doctor told the family to go to hospital. The family said Sienna-Rose only received all of the treatment she needed after they had gone to four hospitals. "The first wanted £4,000 up front which we didn't have," Natasha said. The family said they then travelled to another hospital so that Sienna-Rose could have a CT scan. At a third hospital, a paediatric doctor said the little girl had suffered a brain haemorrhage. The family said they were eventually told Sienna-Rose needed emergency surgery to remove fluid from her brain. "It was horrendous," Natasha said. "I broke down and cried to my mum on the phone. "The British Consulate came to us and said 'Sorry, but there's nothing we can do'. "To be this far away from home and not have any source of support - you do feel let down. "I've never felt so isolated." Natasha said the family had been quoted more than £100,000 to cover the costs of bringing Sienna-Rose home. She said they had been told their travel insurance was invalid. Natasha said the fundraising appeal to help her family, who will return home on Saturday, had been "surreal". Thanking everyone who had contributed, she said: "Without them we wouldn't have been able to sort this air ambulance home. "We could not have done this without all her guardian angels and again we cannot thank people enough from the bottom of our hearts." Lia's Wings charity confirmed it was supporting the family "to ensure a seamless reintegration into NHS care upon her return". The Foreign Office confirmed it was supporting the family of a British national in hospital in Mexico. It said it was in touch with local authorities. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
13-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Liverpool mum 'so happy' sick daughter can fly home from Mexico
The mother of a 19-month-old girl who suffered a brain haemorrhage while on holiday in Mexico has said her family have "been to hell and back".Sienna-Rose, from Liverpool, collapsed in Cancun last week and underwent life-saving family were told it would cost more than £100,000 to fly Sienna-Rose back to the UK because an aeroplane with specialist medical equipment would be more than £145,000 was raised in an online appeal, Natasha said the family would "forever be in debt to everyone that has helped get our baby home". "We just want to express how happy we are with the love and support we have received from not just Liverpool but around the country," said Natasha, had been playing in the family's hotel apartment with her two older brothers when she fell ill."It all happened really quickly," said Natasha."She was having a seizure. She wasn't crying. She was purple, she was stiff, she was unable to move." The hotel's doctor told the family to go to family said Sienna-Rose only received all of the treatment she needed after they had gone to four hospitals."The first wanted £4,000 up front which we didn't have," Natasha family said they then travelled to another hospital so that Sienna-Rose could have a CT a third hospital, a paediatric doctor said the little girl had suffered a brain haemorrhage. The family said they were eventually told Sienna-Rose needed emergency surgery to remove fluid from her brain."It was horrendous," Natasha said."I broke down and cried to my mum on the phone."The British Consulate came to us and said 'Sorry, but there's nothing we can do'."To be this far away from home and not have any source of support - you do feel let down."I've never felt so isolated." Natasha said the family had been quoted more than £100,000 to cover the costs of bringing Sienna-Rose said they had been told their travel insurance was said the fundraising appeal to help her family, who will return home on Saturday, had been "surreal".Thanking everyone who had contributed, she said: "Without them we wouldn't have been able to sort this air ambulance home."We could not have done this without all her guardian angels and again we cannot thank people enough from the bottom of our hearts."Lia's Wings charity confirmed it was supporting the family "to ensure a seamless reintegration into NHS care upon her return".The Foreign Office confirmed it was supporting the family of a British national in hospital in said it was in touch with local authorities. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
