Latest news with #SouthEastLondon
Daily Mail
28-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Fit and healthy father-of-two left with 'locked-in syndrome' after suffering devastating health condition which is on the rise in under 50s
A previously fit-and-healthy dad was left 'locked in his body' after a headache turned out to be a life-altering stroke. In April 2022, Gareth Bayley, from Bexley in South East London suffered from headaches for around a week, but shrugged them off as being caused by every day stress. But, when the builder suddenly called his wife Karen to say he didn't feel well while at work, she knew something was wrong. She rushed to his workplace where his colleagues told her he had collapsed and suffered a fit. He was rushed to hospital where he continued to have seizures, but it wasn't until the next day that doctors realised he'd had a stroke. Mr Bayley, who was only 38-years-old at the time, suffered a stroke in his brain stem, which meant it had life-altering consequences. It led him to develop Locked-In Syndrome, a rare neurological condition that leaves a patient almost completely paralysed while remaining fully conscious. Despite doctors telling the family the father would likely never move again, his wife says over three years later, he 'has defied every single expectation'. While he cannot speak or move his limbs, he remains mentally alert—and has regained small but significant functions such as facial expressions. He even communicates with his family through blinking, spelling out words one letter at a time. Now, his wife and the kids are on a mission to raise £35,000 for life-changing equipment—that could help Gareth regain vital movement. She said: 'Gareth is one in a million to me. He's very outgoing and the life and soul of the party. He was the first one there if anyone needed help. 'He is still him—he's fully there and remembers everything. It's just he can't speak or move. 'It's like he's trapped in his own body. Doctors told us he would likely never move again, apart from slight eye movements. 'But Gareth is a fighter. Over the past three years, he has regained some movement: he smiles, he laughs, and his expressions have returned in ways we were told might never happen. 'Every small step forward has given us hope that more recovery is possible.' The family are even more hopeful as of late after hearing about a special piece of equipment called a Functional Electrical Stimulation Bike. This is a rehabilitation device that uses electrical pulses to stimulate paralysed muscles and could enable Gareth's arms and legs to move together However, it can only be sourced from the United States—and comes with a hefty price tag of £35,000. She added: 'We did try to get it funded as he is in a care home, but because it was so expensive, the funding got refused as it wasn't deemed an 'essential piece of equipment'. 'But to us it is essential. If I can get him this bike it will be amazing. 'It would help increase his muscle strength, prevent pressure sores, improve the movement range with his arms and legs, help his joint mobility, and help his muscle spasms. 'It could give Gareth the best possible chance at further recovery, independence, and dignity. Since his stroke, Gareth has been moved between hospitals, rehab centres, and care homes. But his wife hopes he can live with her and the children again if they secure the bike. She said: 'My husband has expressed that he wants to come home and be with me and the children again. But it's the case of getting the equipment. 'He has physio once a week in his care home and they've said if we can get the equipment, I can have training. The goal is then to have him back home again.' His wife described the public's response to the father's story as overwhelmingly supportive. The devoted wife said: 'It's been amazing. The response I've had from it has been fantastic. 'It's a little overwhelming—people who don't even know me or my husband have donated money and been so generous. 'It's been completely life-changing – he was 38 and I didn't associate a stroke with someone that age. 'But you don't know what can happen overnight, it's turned our world upside down.' It comes amid a surge in stroke cases among young people, with those under 55 seeing cases soar by 67 per cent between 2002 and 2018. Some experts believe may be due to younger people vaping, drinking alcohol and smoking weed.
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Charlton Athletic sign midfielder Fitzgerald
Charlton Athletic have completed the signing of midfielder Lucy Fitzgerald on a free transfer. The Addicks announced the news via a post on their official club website earlier today. It has been reported that the player has signed an initial one-year deal with the South East Londoners. Fitzgerald joins Charlton Athletic after leaving former club London City Lionesses earlier this summer. The midfielder built legendary status with The Pride after being one of the club's pioneers. Fitzgerald was a member of the original Millwall Lionesses club before TUPE transferring to London City Lionesses following their formation in 2019. The player went on to make 115 appearances for The Pride in all competitions, scoring six goals. Despite London City Lionesses' rapid growth over the last 18 months, Fitzgerald continued to remain part of the first team. She increased her own personal standards throughout the club's transition. The midfielder celebrated winning promotion with London City Lionesses back in May. On the international stage, Fitzgerald was on England's radar in her youth. She featured for The Young Lionesses at Under-19 level. Fitzgerald is Charlton Athletic's sixth signing of the summer transfer window. The Addicks have been very active in the transfer market in the last couple of weeks.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Charlton Athletic sign defender Lobato
Charlton Athletic have completed the signing of defender Lucia Lobato. The Addicks announced the news via a post on their official club website this morning. Lobato moves to South East London after helping French club Olympique de Marseille to the Seconde Ligue title last season. OM beat RC Lens to the silverware courtesy of their superior head-to-head record. The defender has also turned out for Irish club Galway and Portuguese side Racing Power FC in the senior game to date. As part of her development, Lobato spent a period in the United States combining football with her studies at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. She featured for the ULM Warhawks in her time Stateside. The player is now ready to test herself at the next level in the English professional game with Charlton Athletic. After signing for The Addicks, Lobato said 'I would say the WSL2 will be the strongest league I've played in, so I'm excited for that step up. Marseille was a techy and powerful environment, so that was a great experience. 'I want to stay consistent week in and week out, get game time and hopefully help the club achieve its collective goals.' Lobato is Charlton Athletic's first signing of the summer transfer window.
The Sun
03-07-2025
- The Sun
Inside the new affordable London Travelodge hotel right by the main city attractions
THE chain's latest hotel in South-East London, which opened only last year, is one of the best to explore the city centre. Here is everything you need to know about Travelodge Bermondsey. 2 What are the rooms like? The 72 rooms certainly feel new, with that smell of fresh carpet lingering throughout. The newly designed Standard rooms have all you need without the frills - large king-size beds, complimentary tea and coffee and Freeview TVs as well as a personal highlight - USB plugs by the bed. Or there is the SuperRoom, which has all of the above while being on quieter floors, along with extras such as Lavazza coffee machines, hairdryers and irons. The en-suite bathrooms are simple but functional, with towels and toiletries. Rooms start at £60 a night. What is there to eat and drink there? The hotel has a restaurant, serving classics such as penne arrabbiata or Punjabi chicken curry. But being so close to some of London 's finest, you are spoilt for choice, with Argentinian food at Malevo or the French Pique-Nique. Visit on the weekend for the Maltby Street Market just around the corner where you can dine on a range of cuisines, snacks and drinks. Thankfully the Travelodge breakfast will cure any latenight headaches. What else is there to do at the hotel? Don't expect any gyms or spas, it is a Travelodge after all. But round the corner is Tower Bridge, while in the other direction you have the Fashion and Textile Museum. London Bridge station is a 12-minute walk away. Is the hotel family-friendly? Yes, there are cots available on request, with kids eating breakfast for £1. Is there access for guests with disabilities? There are a number of accessibility rooms at the hotel, including with wet rooms, although it is advised to get in touch with the hotel.
Daily Mail
25-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
First Briton killed by cyber attack on NHS computers: Hack led to lethal delay in test results
A patient died after a cyber attack caused dangerously long waits for blood test results, an NHS harm review has found. The ransomware attack on pathology firm Synnovis saw more than a thousand operations cancelled as laboratories used by two major hospital trusts were unable to report results. Following the breach last June, a harm review process has been taking place across affected NHS organisations. This includes Guy's and St Thomas', King's College and Lewisham and Greenwich hospitals, in London,; primary care across six London boroughs; and two mental health trusts. This morning, a spokesperson for King's College Hospital Foundation Trust told the Health Service Journal: 'Sadly, one patient sadly died unexpectedly during the cyber-attack. 'As is standard practice when this happens, we undertook a detailed review of their care. 'The patient safety incident investigation identified a number of contributing factors that led to the patient's death. 'This included a long wait for a blood test result as a result of the cyber-attack impacting pathology services at the time. 'We have met with the patient's family, and shared the findings of the safety investigation with them.' The trust said it could not confirm the date of the death or the person's age, citing confidentiality. South East London Integrated Care Board, which is collating the patient harm data, said last week that there were 170 cases linked to the attack, but most of them were classed as 'low harm'. At the time of the incident, GPs described not being able to access test results as like 'flying blind' and pathology networks in south west London and north central London were drafted in to try and cover some of the work Synnovis was unable to do. For three months, GSTT and KCH were unable to do work that involved transfusions or blood matching and were forced to use universal blood types, depleting London stocks to the point where a national appeal had to be launched. The HSJ revealed last year that the attack would have been prevented with the use of simple multi-factor authentication, familiar to most people from online banking and shopping. Synnovis—which is 51 per cent owned by German pathology firm Synlab, with the minority stake controlled by KCH and GSTT—disclosed earlier this year that the total financial impact on the company had been £33m. When asked last month if it had paid the ransom asked of it by the hackers, a spokesperson said: 'Given some sensitivities we are unable to comment at this time.' Last month the Department of Health and Social Care's chief cyber security official Phil Huggins issued an open letter to suppliers working with the NHS urging them to implement multi-factor authentication and some other steps. Synnovis previously said it was working with a taskforce of IT experts to improve standards and policies and conduct rigorous security testing.
