Latest news with #Sleet
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Moneta Sleet Jr. Park gets six new art panels
OWENSBORO, Ky (WEHT) – Six new art panels were unveiled at the Moneta Sleet, Jr. Park in Owensboro, showcasing the different eras of the Pulitzer Prize winning photographer. Sleet, Jr. was an Owensboro native who won the prize for a photo he took of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s widow, Coretta Scott King, during his funeral. Owensboro city officials and dozens of residents gathered for the unveiling. The panels touched on career, education, family and even his time serving in the army. 'Their reaction was at first surprise but also thrilled that we would reach out to them and to want to get more information about Moneta Sleet, Jr, and they were willing to play any part,' said Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee Michael Johnson. 'This is very inspirational to me. I get emotional because it was a long time coming.' Sleet's Pulitzer Prize win made him the first African American to win the award in the journalism category. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Owensboro park installation to honor Moneta Sleet Jr.
OWENSBORO, Ky. (WEHT) — A new installation in Owensboro will honor a local Pulitzer prize-winning photographer. Six panels showcasing Moneta Sleet Jr.'s photographs will be on display at Moneta Sleet Jr. Park. Sleet is an Owensboro-native. In 1969, he was awarded the Pulitzer prize for his photograph of Martin Luther King Jr.'s widow, Coretta Scott King, at his funeral. Other eras that will be illustrated include his time in the army and his family. Officials say they've gotten permission from Sleet's family to honor him with the project. The installation will be officially unveiled April 16. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Independent
18-03-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Surge in repeat hospital visits for lung conditions such as asthma
The number of people visiting hospital at least five times a year for emergency care for breathing issues has risen by almost a quarter across England, according to new analysis. Repeat admissions put 'immense' strain on the mental and physical health of patients, experts warned, amid claims many do not 'receive the respect of dignity they deserve'. Asthma + Lung UK is calling for the issue to be prioritised as part of the Government's upcoming 10 Year Health Plan to prevent lung health from 'falling to the bottom of the pile'. The charity's analysis of NHS England Hospital Episode Statistics found there were 42,050 visits to emergency departments in 2023/24 for breathing issues, in which the patient had attended A&E five or more times in a year. This is an increase of 22.8% on the previous 12 months. Of those needing emergency treatment for lung conditions, 45% of people with asthma and 58% of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties, were repeat attendees. However, an Asthma + Lung UK survey of 3,428 patients found almost half (49%) were not offered follow-up appointments for their lung condition the last time they received emergency care. Some 55% also told the poll that better access to GPs would have helped to avoid the use of emergency care. Sarah Sleet, chief executive of Asthma + Lung UK, said: 'It is unacceptable that people with lung conditions are being shunted between primary care and hospitals like this. 'We are living in the 21st century, and nobody should be stuck in A&E, fighting for breath, simply because their basic care has been neglected.' The analysis also highlighted regional variations in patients attending A&E five times or more. North East and North Cumbria topped the list with 4,490, followed by West Yorkshire (3,050), Cheshire and Merseyside (2,625), Greater Manchester (2,030) and Birmingham and Solihull (1,895). Those at the bottom of the list included Surrey Heartlands (310), Gloucestershire (245), Frimley (155) and Somerset (100). The charity is calling for the Government to prioritise lung health in the upcoming 10 Year Health Plan. It has also called for action to tackle mouldy housing, air pollution and smoking, as well as a £40 million ring-fenced fund for lung functions tests that help monitor conditions such as asthma and COPD. Ms Sleet added: 'We know the NHS can't fix everything at once, but lung health cannot keep falling to the bottom of the pile, nor can we allow people's postcodes or deprivation to determine their lung health outcomes. 'We need to see breathing issues taken seriously, and although we welcome government plans to create better neighbourhood health provision this must include a stronger focus on improving respiratory care otherwise these dehumanising and avoidable rebound hospital visits will continue to rise.' Emma Thompson, 47, from Wiltshire, has been in hospital 48 times in the last five years because of complications with asthma. Her condition deteriorated in 2019 after a bout of flu. 'Ever since, I have been living on a knife edge – I can no longer work, and I'm too scared to go out for a walk on my own in case I have an asthma attack,' Ms Thompson said. 'On a couple of occasions, I've been rushed straight to intensive care, and I have lost count of the number of times that I thought I was going to die. 'I am lucky that I have a good GP, but my experience in hospital has never been good, and my asthma has repeatedly been dismissed as anxiety.' Dr Sharada Gudur, who works as consultant respiratory physician in Lancashire and is an Asthma + Lung UK respiratory champion, said: 'Lung health in this country is in a critical state, and if urgent action isn't taken, it will need resuscitation. 'The challenges are deep-rooted, but they simply cannot be ignored. 'The irony is that in medical school, respiratory care is the priority as the first thing you are taught to do is to check a patient's breathing. But in practice, the reverse is true as lung health is rooted in much bigger problems like deprivation, poor housing, and smoking. 'We need real commitment to tackle the roots causes of lung disease, but that's only part of the problem. People are having repeat exacerbations, especially in densely populated parts of the country like the North West, where I work, because services simply cannot meet need. 'The impact of repeat admissions on patients' mental and physical health is immense. All too often, they don't receive the respect of dignity they deserve, and the toll on their lungs and other organs really can reduce their lifespan and cause depression.' A Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'This Government is committed to transforming diagnostic services, including for lung diseases. 'We have already made progress on our mission to cut waiting lists – delivering an extra two million appointments seven months early and we're investing an extra £1.5 billion on new surgical hubs and AI scanners, but know there is more to do. 'As part of the Plan for Change, we want to shift from sickness to prevention, so fewer patients have to go to A&E and those who do are treated quickly and with dignity. 'We are taking firm action to tackle the harms of smoking, which is the leading risk factor of lung cancer, through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill which is the biggest public health intervention in a generation and will put us on track towards a smoke-free UK.'
BBC News
19-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
New research begins to study the effect of vaping on children
New research has been announced to look at the long-term impact of vaping on young people's health and wellbeing. Vapes are small devices that hold a liquid containing nicotine, an addictive substance found in cigarettes, as well as other harmful used by some adults to help them stop smoking, and it's illegal to sell vapes to anyone aged under 18. Despite this, NHS research last year found that a quarter of 11 to 15-year-olds have tried vaping and nearly 1 in 10 vape UK government has asked for more research in this area, as well as running a new campaign with influencers to raise awareness of the harms of vaping. What will the new research look at? The landmark study is being funded by UK Research and Innovation, and will follow the lives of 100,000 young people aged 8-18 over the next 10 will collect lots of information about their biology and behaviour, so that the researchers can build up a picture of what impacts their health - including Sleet, Chief Executive at Asthma + Lung UK, said: "The number of non-smokers, particularly young people, taking up vaping is extremely worrying. "The long-term impact of vaping on the lungs isn't yet known, so research into its effect on young people, is really important." Alongside this, two other studies from University College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine will be looking into the effects of UK government is also teaming up with YouTube and Instagram stars - like scientist Big Manny - to create content on social media that raises awareness of the potential harms of part of a series of measures designed to reduce the number of people using nicotine products, including the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. What is the Tobacco and Vapes Bill? The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is a set of proposed new laws that would bring in more restrictions on vapes and was brought forward by the previous UK government, led by Rishi Sunak. When Keir Starmer became prime minister, his new government said it was committed to the would mean that cigarettes would be banned for anyone born after 1 January would be smoking bans outside schools and playgrounds, and some outdoor places could become vape-free, plan also aims to make vapes less appealing to children, with changes to the flavours and packaging of vaping products.
