Latest news with #WillOliver
UPI
18-07-2025
- Business
- UPI
Truth Social app now available for iPads
A photo of the social media platform Truth Social, shown on a mobile phone in Washington, D.C., in April 2024. File Photo by Will Oliver/EPA July 18 (UPI) -- Users of Truth Social can now post and scroll the platform from their iPads. Its operators announced Friday it has released an app designed for the device. In a press release, the Trump Media and Technology Group Corp. said the app is available to download via the Apple App Store, and is designed specifically for the iPad operating system, so that its layout is optimized for iPad screens. Users should note, the company said, that Trump Media expects to continue to stress test the app as its updated based on input collected from users. The iPad version of the Truth Social app joins other devices upon which it is available, such as Android and iOS, plus it can be found on the Internet and on a number of smart and app-friendly televisions.
Scotsman
14-07-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
Why there's an urgent need to help the million Scots with a neurological condition
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... 'Local health care and social work services are stretched to breaking point and are unable to provide any meaningful support that would impact positively on any of the three family members I support.' That's just one of the devastating responses in a new Scottish study that examines the reality of caring for someone with, or living with a neurological condition. With two out of three patients finding life difficult to cope with, there is clearly an urgent need for action. The chances are that you know somebody with a neurological condition – as around one in six of us has one. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Neurological conditions affect the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles, and are often the result of illness or injury. They include cerebral palsy, MS, Parkinson's disease and dementia, as well as migraines and epilepsy. The effects range from bladder and bowel difficulties to visual impairment and whole-body difficulties. With many respondents to our survey living with conditions like ME and fibromyalgia, it is unsurprising that the biggest areas of impact include fatigue, movement difficulties, and poor sleep. More medical and care staff are needed to help the growing number of people with neurological conditions like dementia (Picture: Will Oliver) | AFP via Getty Images 'Today's Challenge, Tomorrow's Hope' More people are going to live with a neurological condition as our population ages. That's why the Scottish Government and the health system need to step up now. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Neurological Alliance of Scotland shone a light on delays to treatment and care and the crisis in mental health support back in 2022. It was the first time neurology patients' experience data had been independently published in Scotland and is now the benchmark for how services have changed since then. Our latest findings show that health and social care services are still not meeting people's needs, with over half of adult respondents saying they do not feel supported by the health system. We chose to title our new report 'Today's Challenge, Tomorrow's Hope' because it is important that we recognise the scale of the challenge we face today so that we can take action to improve things for tomorrow. Many people affected by neurological conditions, particularly those with conditions known as 'multi-system disorders', are having to cope while their needs go unmet. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The findings from the survey also illustrate just how challenging it is to be a carer in Scotland, particularly when you look after someone with a long-term, chronic, unpredictable and, sometimes, life-threatening condition. Many carers are not coping well and the need to provide meaningful support to unpaid ones has never been as critical as it is now. More consultants and specialist nurses We have, however, seen some improvements in the patient experience. These include more patient confidence in sharing concerns with healthcare professionals, relative happiness with appointment formats, and better satisfaction with the clarity of information provided by healthcare professionals. But far more needs to be done. We recognise that public finances are stretched and that our recommendations require investment. However, this area is too important not to take action, and we urge the Scottish Government to act on the findings in our new report. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Greater investment across health and social care is essential. Targeted investment is urgently needed to strengthen neurology services by expanding the workforce, including consultants, specialist nurses, and allied health professionals. Scotland needs to provide more localised care through networked multi-disciplinary teams, increase capacity for diagnostic tools such as MRI and CT scans, and recruit more radiologists. This approach will lead to faster diagnoses, which reduce the anxiety and mental health distress caused by long waiting times and uncertainty, enable earlier access to treatment, and provide timely and local access to support, including financial advice, physiotherapy, counselling, and peer support – all essential for building patient resilience. Cost savings For the wider NHS, there will also be fewer emergency hospital admissions, reducing the pressure on acute services and delivering cost savings. We believe everyone diagnosed with a neurological condition should have access to a named care co-ordinator to provide consistent, specialist support. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This is particularly necessary for people with co-morbidities and for young people moving into adult services for which no specialist services exist. And we need to improve accessibility to social care by ensuring all staff – particularly social workers, benefits assessors, housing officers, and school staff – are trained in the complexities of neurological conditions. This will achieve stronger carer support, enabling unpaid carers to maintain their own health, stay in work longer, and reduce dependency on the welfare system. There should also be faster housing adaptations, which are essential for safety, independence, and reducing isolation, improved access to financial support, and better support in mainstream schools for children with neurological conditions. 'Shouldn't be this hard' In our survey, an overwhelming 82 per cent of carers reported that children in their care regularly experience frustration and anger due to their symptoms. One told us: 'As a parent you really have to push hard. All the fighting is on you. It's really exhausting. It shouldn't be this hard – and this is when your child has been diagnosed at an early age.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Neurological conditions are already the leading cause of ill health worldwide, and without action we are storing up major challenges for the future. It is not a question of patching things up while ignoring the bigger picture; the time has come to prioritise investment into building the neurological workforce and increasing service delivery. For the one million patients in Scotland with a neurological condition, and their carers, we can't afford to wait any longer.
Scotsman
25-06-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
The scandalous ageism that sees thousands of Scots with dementia forced to pay for care
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... As First Minister in the early 2000s, my push to introduce free personal and nursing care in Scotland received overwhelming support from the public and, despite fierce resistance from colleagues at Westminster, became a popular Act of the Scottish Parliament. But even then, there was obvious confusion, concern and doubt about the role that adult social care – which includes help with everyday tasks – should play in a modern society, contrasting sharply with the public and political embrace of the NHS. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Free personal care was important but only as a first step towards a comprehensive service more in tune with the 'cradle to grave' and 'free at the point of need' approaches taken by William Beveridge, who was instrumental in creating the health service. READ MORE: Why Scotland must get a Minister for Older People and stop ignoring the demographic time bomb People with dementia should not be forced to pay for the social care they need because of their condition (Picture: Will Oliver) | AFP via Getty Images Riddled with anomalies But this vast, complex area of public policy has never been recognised as a priority and we may face another decade of inactivity. Social care lacks political commitment. It remains vastly underfunded, totally fragmented in its coverage and consistency, and riddled with anomalies, with an over-reliance on shrinking private investment alongside rapidly diminishing financial support from government and local councils. The medical establishment has ensured social care remains in the shadow of the NHS, and seems reluctant to use its cash or clout to get this Cinderella service to the Ball. The Health Foundation has identified over 25 reports, inquiries and commissions into social care since 1997 with successive governments kicking the can down the longest road they can find. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Twenty-five years on, and now an ambassador for Alzheimer's Scotland, my disappointment has only deepened. Adult social care is in crisis and will face more serious challenges in the coming years. An ageing population, cynical ageism, underlying health conditions – especially acute in Scotland – and a chronic scarcity of public funds are creating massive inequalities. Personal wealth will largely dictate access to care with less fortunate others depending on council providers currently being starved of resources. This mix of public and private provision isn't working. READ MORE: SNP confirm National Care Service has been scrapped Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Postcode lottery The criteria used to access financial help varies enormously with a postcode lottery for people in desperate need. The funding crisis, rather than need, dictates what is on offer. In her book, Labours of Love, The Crisis of Care, journalist Madeleine Bunting wrote: 'Care for older people has suffered from a toxic combination of chronic underinvestment and politicians' reluctance to spell out the need for more money.' Despite high expectations, the new Labour government has scrapped the idea of having a lifetime cap on care costs, which was a key recommendation from Andrew Dilnot's landmark commission report in 2011. As a result, people experiencing acute social care crises will continue to face losing their homes and pensions because of the massive costs. Equally worryingly, 'adult social care' did not receive a mention in Chancellor Rachel Reeves' recent spending review, despite an avalanche of cash for the NHS. The decision to remove visas from foreign care workers will not help as we remain dependent on migrant labour, especially in Scotland. Social care work is rightly described as low paid and a low priority for politicians but is wrongly characterised as low skilled. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Lack of urgency There seems little prospect of any change in attitude. Another review for the UK Government is to be undertaken by Baroness Louise Casey, undoubtedly the best person for the job, but this will be conducted in a political vacuum created by the lack of a substantial financial pledge to fund its recommendations or any sense of urgency, while hopes of an integrated National Health and Care Service appear to be receding. We don't need another inquiry. The problems are well understood. But are there deeper philosophical or psychological reasons behind our inability to prioritise social care despite public concern? The difference between caring 'for' someone and caring 'about' them may be distorting the debate. We have an idea that we all care 'about' people, as we do, but forget this is different from actually caring 'for' them – an important distinction raised by academic Emma Dowling in her book, The Care Crisis. People might think, why should social care be conceived as similar to health care, as we are all carers now. The deliberate downplaying of social care and the idea that it is not as worthy as health care have fed into government indifference and public acquiescence. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Unfair treatment of people with dementia However, most would be shocked by the most egregious example of failure – the 10,000 people in Scotland with advanced dementia, out of 100,000 with the disease, who are forced to pay for care even though their condition is completely health related. If they were suffering from cancer, there would be no cost. This is not fair. It should be free at the point of need. Especially when dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, is now the leading cause of death in the UK. Social care is in need of urgent attention. Under difficult circumstances, excellent work is being done by local government, the private sector, the third sector and trade unions but governments are consistently failing to accept the need for investment, coordination, leadership, justice and equality. The struggle for recognition may be the result of a fundamental misunderstanding of social care and its inability to compete with the easily understood idea that health care must be free at the point of need. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This may persuade people that health is more important than care and deserving of a superior status. The lack of positive messaging remains a real obstacle to the much-needed raising the status of social care in public discourse. It's time for a new 'Beveridge moment'.
UPI
27-05-2025
- Business
- UPI
EU to probe gaps in protection of minors on porn websites
On Tuesday, European Commission officials announced the EU's politically independent arm will investigate porn platforms Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX and XVideos over alleged lapses in protection measures for minors. Photo by Will Oliver/EPA-EFE May 27 (UPI) -- The European Commission said Tuesday it will look into major pornography websites in its effort to better protect young people under age 18 from lewd Internet content. The EU's politically independent executive arm will investigate porn platforms Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX and XVideos over alleged lapses in its protection measures for minors, European Commission officials announced Tuesday. "The online space should be a safe environment for children to learn and connect," said Henna Virkkunen, a Finnish politician and the EC's executive VP of tech sovereignty, security and democracy. It will center on age verification steps to keep minors away from adult content and will further examine how the porn platforms verify and mitigate risks. A European Union official said Thursday during a press briefing that there is concern that current digital systems of self-declaration are not effective, adding that the requested info shows those in charge lack "an effective age verification system in place." In addition, it also terminated its designation of Stripchat as a "very large online platform" after it reported fewer users than the 45 million-user threshold. Meanwhile, there is no time limit to conclude a probe under the European bloc's Digital Services Act which can result in a hefty fine up to 6% of a digital porn distributor's global turnover rate. Canada-based Pornhub is owned by Aylo Holdings, a subsidiary of private equity firm Ethical Capital Partners, formerly known as MindGeek after Ethical acquired it in March 2023 only to rebrand months later that August. It arrived as the issue of protection on the Internet for minors has reached the EU's agenda for its 27-member country's and the European Commission. "We are not excluding future expansion of the proceedings" into other issues under Europe's DSA like illegal ads or other content, an EC official told Politico. The Commission said individual European national authorities will work hand-in-hand to oversee compliance on smaller porn websites under the Digital Services Board, with another saying local agencies are empowered to open joint investigations and "really kind of put pressure" on smaller pornography platforms. "Our priority is to protect minors and allow them to navigate safely online," stated Finland's Virkkunen, adding that by working with digital coordinators in member EU states, "we are determined to tackle any potential harm to young online users."
Fashion Network
08-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Sneaker label Autry picks London's Soho for UK debut
Classic-contemporary unisex sneaker brand Autry has chosen London's Soho for its first UK store, with a 2,600 sq ft space on busy Beak Street. The property, operated by Shaftesbury Capital, reflects the brand'strademark '80s look but the vintage-style products come with a contemporary, sports-performance-oriented twist. The immersive boutique also mirrors Autry's 'celebration of American aesthetics, spirit, and sport heritage throughout its design with an Italian twist'. The latest opening for the brand comes after Italian private equity group Style Capital acquired a 50.2% stake in Autry International just over a year ago. It then announced a retail expansion plan that would see more than 20 Autry brand stores opening in luxury shopping destinations in Italy and abroad. Roberta Benaglia, founder and CEO of Style Capital, said: 'The opening of Autry's first flagship store in London marks a pivotal moment in the brand's journey. It's more than a retail milestone, it brings Autry's iconic values to life through a space that reflects our identity. London, with its cultural vibrancy and global spirit, was the natural first stage for this step. This boutique represents a new chapter in our strategy to build a strong international presence and connect with our global community, combining authenticity, quality, and a bold vision for the future.' Autry joins the high-in-demand retail neighbourhood that will see active brand TALA open on nearby Carnaby Street this month, plus Pangaia (also on Carnaby Street), and Salomon on Broadwick Street. Will Oliver, Retail director at Shaftesbury Capital, said: 'We've actively curated a leading collection of retailers in Soho, with Autry another high-quality addition to our community.'
