'Eating cheese left me in a wheelchair': 22-year-old who gorged on holiday develops horrific bacterial infection and is in so much pain she 'wants to die' modicanews,com

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A young woman has been left bedbound and wanting her life to end after developing a severe infection from gorging on cheese on holiday.

Sam Philpott, 22, went away with her parents to Kos, Greece, three years ago.

But after tucking into numerous helpings of unpasteurised goats’ cheese, she had unknowingly ingested a potentially fatal bacteria – brucellosis.

Sam Philpott, 22, went away with her parents on holiday three years ago. Just weeks after returning home she had started to suffer from migraines, vomiting and intense pain all over her body. And within weeks her condition worsened and she lost the ability to walk – becoming reliant on a wheelchair

Just weeks after returning home, the former nursery assistant from Walsall, started to suffer from debilitating migraines, constant vomiting and intense pain all over her body.

Her condition worsened within weeks as she lost the ability to walk and became reliant on a wheelchair.

And now she has been left with a list of extreme flu-like symptoms, as well as memory loss, insomnia and speech loss. 

She firmly believes it was the gorging on cheese which has caused her all this pain and taken her life away from her.

Miss Philpott, who ate cheese on her pizzas, sandwiches and in her salads, said: ‘Who knew that unpasteurised cheese; that is delicious and has brought me much momentary happiness, could cause the mind numbing and wanting to end my life type of pain that I have been suffering with.

‘With each mouthful, to my unfortunate complete lack of knowledge and utter surprise, I was ingesting the bacteria that has led to my being bedridden.

‘The bacteria has not only taken my ability to live a normal functioning life, but my bubbly spirit.’ 

Doctors believe brucellosis entered her system after the former nursery worker from Walsall enjoyed numerous servings on unpasteurised goats’ cheese on holiday (pictured before infection at her brother Joes, 24, wedding). Miss Philpott is now receiving intravenous therapy treatment (right) – the infusion of antibiotics and vitamin supplements directly into the vein – in Florida

Brucellosis, virtually wiped out in the UK, originates from animals and can cause long-lasting flu-like symptoms. 

Miss Philpott is now receiving intravenous therapy treatment – the infusion of antibiotics and vitamin supplements directly into the vein – in Florida. 

And at the clinic, she had 32 blood vials taken on her first day as well as a CAT scan. 

She is also being given medication for Lyme disease as well as brucellosis, as her symptoms fit both diseases.

But now her immune system has shut down and it is not known how she will respond to the treatment.

Miss Philpott went on holiday in Kos, Greece in 2013 with her father Ian, 52, mother Tracey, 51 and brother Joe

During treatment in the US – she had 32 blood vials taken on her first day as well as a CAT scan. She is also being given medication for Lyme disease as well as brucellosis, as her symptoms fit both diseases

Miss Philpott firmly believes it was the gorging on cheese which has caused her all this pain and taken her life away from her. She ate cheese on her pizzas, sandwiches and in her salads while on holiday (pictured)

Her brother, Joe, 24, said: ‘At the clinic, they have said she is one of the worst patients they have seen, in terms of how far her illness has progressed.

‘It’s a kick in the teeth, but she has faith they’ll be able to help. She just wants to go back to studying and get her life back.

‘Doctors believe that she more than likely contracted brucellosis the summer she was in Kos – so they think it is linked to eating cheese.’  

WHAT IS BRUCELLOSIS? 

Despite being mostly eradicated in the UK, brucellosis is still a problem globally, and occurs in countries such as Greece, Spain and Italy.

It is the most common bacterial infection spread from animals to humans worldwide.

Brucellosis doesn’t always cause symptoms, and the infection may persist for several months without someone knowing they have it. 

Humans usually become infected with brucellosis by consuming unpasteurised milk or milk products from infected animals, or very rarely, by eating raw meat from these animals.

However they can pick it up by inhaling dust or through direct contact with infected animals or surfaces.

Person-to-person spread is very rare, although there have been cases of transmission from mother to baby through breastfeeding, and through sexual contact.

Brucellosis is rarely fatal in humans, although some cases can lead to life-threatening complications such as endocarditis and meningitis – particularly if left untreated.

Source: NHS Choices 

But it is not the first time she has been taken ill following a brush with nature – and her family believe the two incidents could be connected.

In late 2010, while walking in California – where she was studying at the time – she was bitten on the bicep of her right arm and on her left leg by a tick.

The bites looked bruised, swelling up and turning black.

She then developed flu-like symptoms including crippling joint pain, depression, anxiety, nausea, and poor concentration.

Needing help, in 2011 she quit her studies and moved home to her parent’s house in Southport, Merseyside, as several doctors suggested her symptoms might be psychological.

Then Miss Philpott was diagnosed with fibromyalgia – a long-term condition that causes pain and stiffness all over the body – after seeing a specialist.

But, by 2012 she was bedridden by pain for part of every week and needed crutches to walk – and six months later, she needed a walking frame.

Her brother added: ‘My mum became her full-time carer, dressing her and bathing her.

‘The pain – in varying parts of her body – became so bad, she would be on the bed rocking, unable to make herself comfortable.

‘Emotionally, it was really difficult and what really hurt her was having to drop out of college.’ 

The family are fundraising for Sam’s ongoing treatment costs. To donate visit https://www.gofundme.com/28hc6v6g 

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Experts reveal why products that give you golden glow could be damaging your skin modicanews,com

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Nothing makes a woman feel as sexy as a slimming, golden tan. And owing to awareness of the harm caused by the sun’s UV rays, fake tan and its just-back-from-the-Med glow have never been more popular.

One in three women now use fake tan products and the industry is worth £100 million a year – with sales rocketing 38 per cent over the past year alone. And with formulations improving all the time, orange streaks, blotchy legs and stained hands are less of a worry.

It would seem we’ve finally got this tanning lark cracked. Or have we?

Experts say that fake tan may cause lines, wrinkles and sagging by damaging the skin

For ask around, and users have all manner of health concerns, ranging from wrinkles to skin irritation and cancer.

Added to this, experts aren’t convinced ingredients in fake tan – or the methods of application – are good for us.

That’s because fake bakes work by reacting with your skin’s outer layer, which is mainly comprised of dead skin cells. Known as the Maillard reaction, it creates compounds that turn the cells brown.

The active ingredient in this reaction is dihydroxyacetone, or DHA. Derived from sugar beet or cane, it’s been used since the Twenties as a skin colourant. It is also responsible for giving fake tans their characteristic biscuit smell.

While dermatologists and cancer experts agree artificial tans are safer than real ones, they are still not risk-free.

The Maillard reaction causes oxidative stress – a type of damage much like you’d get from pollution or even sunbathing – in the superficial layers of skin.

Kirsty Reeves, 27, from Essex, said St Tropez Dark Bronzing Mousse left her face bright green

‘We don’t know the long-term effects,’ says Dr Stefanie Williams, dermatologist and founder of London’s Eudelo skin clinic. ‘They may be insignificant, but oxidation is linked to ageing and disease’.

In other words, fake tans may cause lines, wrinkles and sagging by damaging the skin – which users wanted to avoid by staying out of the sun.

But is DHA safe? A review in 2012 suggested it could cause DNA damage, which is linked to cancer. Although a finding from animal cell tests, rather than human, toxicologists said it raised concerns.

 I was horrified. I knew I didn’t have an allergic reaction. I knew it was the product. My dad was calling me ‘Hulk’

DHA was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration – a globally recognised benchmark of safety – for external use in the Seventies. But this excludes inhalation, which can happen when sprayed on to skin. Experts say this is where the biggest danger lies.

Dr Williams says: ‘If DHA is inhaled into the body, or enters membranes in the eyes and mouth, it can reach cells in the respiratory tract and lungs.’

In 2012, Dr Rey Panettieri, a toxicologist and lung specialist, warned: ‘The lungs have a huge surface area and these compounds could get into the bloodstream and promote the development of cancers.

‘Regular inhalation could potentially lead to cancer or the worsening of asthma or other lung disease.’ He added the risk was highest for people having regular spray tans or the staff applying them.

Spray booths should have adequate ventilation, and the FDA recommends wearing eye protection, nose filters and a mask over the mouth.

It is thought the product was incorrectly stored in the Boots shop it was bought from 

But those measures are rarely taken, not least because they’d cause some very strange tan lines on your face.

‘There’s no conclusive evidence that spray tans are dangerous or safe,’ says Dr Williams. ‘But I’d advise against regular visits.’

So are lotions, gels, mousses and creams safe? Again, say critics, that depends.

‘As a cancer-causing agent, there are no issues with DHA applied externally,’ says cosmetic scientist Ian Taylor.

‘It’s the other ingredients that can creep into the production process that may cause problems. Cheaper processes using synthetic raw materials, such as solvents, may result in accidental contamination.

‘So the resulting product may end up containing harmful ingredients.’

She was left with sore, red blotches when the green colour finally faded after three days

A plant-based tanning agent called Erythrulose lacks the biscuit smell and seems less streaky. It’s often found mixed with DHA, but it’s hard to find products that use it alone. ‘Erythrulose typically takes longer to develop, has a less intense colour and doesn’t last as long,’ says Mr Taylor.

Wash-off products are another option. They’re essentially make-up – a bronzer or tint that doesn’t dye the skin.

Some products contain penetration enhancers, such as ethanol alcohol, which are designed to speed up or deepen the tanning process.

But Mr Taylor says they can disrupt the skin’s barrier, ‘increasing moisture loss and making skin more vulnerable to pollutants’. This can result in dryness, irritation – and wrinkles. Lots of moisturiser is therefore a must if you use fake tan, says Dr Williams, as well as exfoliation beforehand.

As for skin irritation, there have been extreme reactions.

This year, Kirsty Reeves, 27, of Essex, told how St Tropez Dark Bronzing Mousse left her face bright green. She was left with sore, red blotches when it finally faded after three days.

Experts say spray tan is where the biggest danger lies. If DHA is inhaled into the body, or enters membranes in the eyes and mouth, it can reach cells in the respiratory tract and lungs 

It’s thought the product was incorrectly stored in the Boots shop it was bought from.

Kirsty says: ‘I didn’t go out. I was horrified. I knew I didn’t have an allergic reaction. I knew it was the product. My dad was calling me ‘Hulk’.’ Both Boots and St Tropez are investigating the matter.

Jo Hoare, 36, an author from London, had a serious skin reaction to a spray tan that took months to clear up.

‘I booked my first-ever spray tan for my wedding, without having a patch test,’ she admits.

‘The next day, my chest, arms and face were covered in tiny, itchy bumps. Luckily, they weren’t visible, so no one noticed on the big day.

‘A couple of weeks later, my GP diagnosed atopic eczema. I’d never had it before.’

Organic brands claim their fake tans are much more skin-friendly due to an absence of known chemical irritants.

However, many scientists say any traces of toxins found in products are insignificant. ‘All cosmetics are required by EU law to be stringently tested to ensure they’re safe,’ says Dr Chris Flower, director-general of the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association.

 Fake tan enforces the whole idea that a tan is a good thing. We should all just embrace our natural skin colour, whatever that may be

‘We’re talking about tiny doses of chemicals here.’

But others argue that we don’t know the long-term impact of the build-up of these tiny doses. Hence organic is a popular choice.

But Dr Williams warns: ‘Many natural ingredients are known allergens. Organic or ‘natural’ doesn’t automatically mean better.’

Whatever type of product used, some women complain of skin becoming clogged.

Photographer Carole Edrich, 46, from London, says: ‘I tried pretty much every tan. They all left me with horrible blackheads, particularly in my cleavage. I ended up wearing high-necked clothes for about six weeks one summer.’

Many also find that tanning products cause breakouts. Dr Williams recommends that people with existing acne or rosacea avoid them.

That said, she’s all for consumers giving up on the process completely.

‘I’ll always steer people away from using fake tan,’ she says. ‘It’s OK as an occasional boost before a holiday or event.

‘But if you’re using it year round, there’s a cumulative clogging, oxidative effect, which won’t benefit skin

‘Above all, fake tan enforces the whole idea that a tan is a good thing. We should all just embrace our natural skin colour, whatever that may be.’

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NHS spends £87m on paracetamol at 20 TIMES the high street cost modicanews,com

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The NHS spent over £87million handing out paracetamol last year – with the average prescription costing 20 times the price of a packet in the supermarket.

GPs in England wrote a staggering 22,900,000 prescriptions for paracetamol, costing tax payers a whopping £87,600,000.

It represents a price per prescription of £3.83 – compared to just 25p a box from the supermarket.

GPs in England wrote a staggering 22,900,000 prescriptions for paracetamol, costing tax payers a whopping £87,600,000

The number of prescriptions written out actually dropped by nearly 1.5 per cent on 2014 – but the costs jumped by nearly three per cent on the previous year.

But the latest figures reveal that the cost of the mild painkiller to the NHS has increased by more than 200 per cent in a decade.

The data does not reveal how many tablets were issued with each prescription, but on the high street 16 tablets can cost as little as 19p from Asda.

At this figure, the NHS could buy a staggering 461 million packs for the amount they currently pay for prescriptions – eight packs of paracetamol for every person in England.

Analysis of Government figures show a similar situation for the prescription of ibuprofen in England.

In 2015, some 7,300,000 prescriptions were written for ibuprofen, racking up a bill for £27,000,000 – a cost of £3.74 per lot compared to 25p a box from the high street.

The number of prescriptions written out actually dropped by nearly 1.5 per cent on 2014 – but the costs jumped by nearly three per cent on the previous year (file photo)

In total, prescribing four common painkillers – including paracetamol, ibuprofen, aspirin and codeine phosphate – cost the NHS £161,500,000 in 2015.

This is the equivalent of up to 19,000 heart bypass operations, or 30,000 mastectomy ops – and is an 80 per cent increase in a decade.

There are now moves in some areas of the country to cut the painkiller bill.

In North Norfolk, GPS have been told not to prescribe painkillers for short-term illnesses like colds and flu.

The East Riding of Yorkshire has followed suit with a ‘buy your own’ policy for painkillers after a survey showed patient support for cost-cutting.

It says that paracetamol can be bought over the counter for as little as 1p per tablet but costs the health service three times that amount.

The latest figures reveal that the cost of the mild painkiller to the NHS has increased by more than 200 per cent in a decade

Harry Davis, Campaign Manager at the TaxPayers’ Alliance: ‘Barely a day goes by without the NHS asking for more money, yet we continue to see areas where savings can and should be made.

‘When budgets are tight there can be no justification for paying out on items priced at over twenty times the supermarket value.

‘Of course some cases will be warranted but health bosses need to make sure that no one is gaming the system and ensure that every penny of taxpayers’ money spent is justified.’ 

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Britain's biggest family from Morecambe celebrate arrival of baby number 19 modicanews,com

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Parents of newborn babies often worry about how they are going to cope with their new arrival.

But for Noel and Sue Radford, the experience has become second nature because the 41-year-old mother, from Morecambe, Lancashire, has just given birth to her 19th child.

The couple, whose children’s ages range from a few weeks old to 27, are the parents of Britain’s biggest family, and brought home their newest member this week – Phoebe-Willow.

Noel and Sue Radford from Morecambe, Lancashire pictured with their large family last year before the birth of their new daughter Phoebe Willow. The family now live in a large £240,000 Victorian house that they bought 11 years ago

And even though Mrs Radford is still getting over the birth of her 7lb 15oz daughter, she was still thinking about the possibility of having another child.

Mrs Radford told The Sun: ‘Phoebe is so beautiful and I am happy to have her here safely for now — but never say never.

‘Our friends and family keep saying I should have one more child to get an even number, rounding the family off at 20.

‘I can’t rule it out. At the moment I am happy to have Phoebe with us. She is healthy and a little stunner. We are over the moon to have her here.

‘The kids are lining up to have a cuddle with her. I find it easy to run the family because they muck in so much.’

Mrs Radford, who takes care of the family at home while her husband works at the family bakery, has to make her way through nine loads of washing a day to keep her family in clean clothes

The couple, whose children’s ages range from a few weeks old to 27, are the parents of Britain’s biggest family

The couple, who rose to fame on Channel 4 documentary series 16 Kids And Counting, run a successful family-owned bakery and pie business and do not claim benefits.

Phoebe, who was born after a 40-minute labour, joins siblings Chris, 27, Sophie, 22, Chloe, 21, Jack, 19, Daniel, 17, Luke, 15, Millie, 14, Katie, 13, James, 12, Ellie, 11, Aimee, ten, Josh, nine, Max, seven, Tillie, six, Oscar, four, Casper, three and Hallie, 13 months.

Though Mr and Mrs Radford consider themselves the parents of 19 children, the couple sadly lost their son, Alfie, in July 2014, 23 weeks into the pregnancy.

After falling pregnant with their first child when Sue was just 14-years-old, the couple decided to keep the baby as they were both given up for adoption at birth.

The family now live in a large £240,000 Victorian house, a former care home, that they bought 11 years ago and they pride themselves on having no credit cards or finance agreements. They also enjoy a holiday abroad every year.

The family, pictured last year after the birth of daughter Hallie, get through 20 loaves of bread and 28 toilet rolls a week

The Radfords enjoying a holiday in the sun. The couple run a family-owned bakery and pie business and do not claim benefits

Four years after the couple became parents to their first child, they decided to get married and shortly after the wedding, received the news that they were expecting their second baby, Sophie.

Another year on, Mrs Radford fell pregnant again and since then, pregnancy has been a recurring theme within the family.

Mr Radford leaves for work at around 5am every morning, where he works an 11-hour shift at the bakery with help from their eldest children.

Mrs Radford, who takes care of the family at home, has to make her way through nine loads of washing a day to keep her family in clean clothes.

The family spend £300 a week on food shopping, with 18 pints of milk, three litres of juice and three boxes of cereal being consumed every day.

When it comes to celebrating their children’s birthdays they have a budget of £100 for presents, while at Christmas they set aside between £100 to £250. 

Writing on their website earlier in the year, the couple said their other children were thrilled with the prospect of a new baby brother or sister. 

‘We announced our news to the children last week after having a brilliant scan, we decided to put the scan photo on the fireplace and sit back and watch to see who noticed it first,’ they said.

The announcement of Mrs Radford’s latest pregnancy in January came just a few weeks after Sophie welcomed her third child, a boy called Leo on Christmas Eve. Sophie, who married husband Joe last year also helps out with the family business.

After falling pregnant with their first child when Sue was just 14-years-old, the couple decided to keep the baby as they were both given up for adoption at birth

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE RADFORDS: HOW BRITAIN’S BIGGEST FAMILY SPENDS A TYPICAL DAY  

After an early start in the bakery, Mr Radford returns home every day at 7.45am to sort out the children and get them to nursery at school.

All their uniforms are washed and laid out the night before, while breakfast is staggered into two shifts. 

Six of the children are at the same primary school ten minutes away and five are at secondary school. Noel drives them in a minibus which, as it carries more than nine passengers, is entitled to use bus lanes.

Meanwhile, the three youngest, Oscar, Caspar and Hallie, remain at home with Sue, though Oscar goes to nursery in the afternoons.

The family do between six and 12 loads of washing a day, get through 30 bottles of washing liquid every month and use four toilet rolls a day.

Incredibly they manage to feed the family on £250 a week, feeding them all pasta or a large stew using deals with their local butcher and greengrocer.

Bathtime at home begins around 6pm and while the younger ones will be bathed and in bed by about 7pm, the older ones stay up until 9pm. 

Mr and Mrs Radford say they are in bed by 10pm.

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NHS consultant is paid £375,000 on top of their salary finds BBC investigation modicanews,com

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An NHS hospital consultant earned a whopping £375,000 in overtime pay last year while many others routinely got paid the equivalent of £250 per hour. 

A shortage of doctors has forced British hospitals to pay special overtime pay rates to consultants.

An investigation by the BBC revealed that spending on high-cost overtime had risen by more than a third in the past two years.

In 2015 -16, £168m was spent, up from £125m in 2013-14, according to figures from a Freedom of Information request.

A shortage of consultants has forced NHS trusts around the country to pay premium overtime pay to fill shifts. One NHS consultant earned a whopping £375,000 in overtime pay last year on top of basic salary (file photo)

One consultant at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust earned £374,999 on top of their salary.

Another at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust made £205,408 and a third at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust pocketed £183,204. 

Consultants were being paid around £600 in overtime for a four-hour shift but some were even earning £1,000 for four hours’ work.

The investigation found two in three trusts paid at least one consultant more than £50,000 last year, with one in four paying £100,000 or more. 

The average amount paid in high-cost overtime was £13,356 per consultant, who earn an average basic salary of £89,000. 

The specialties most likely to receive it were radiologists, surgeons, urologists, anaesthetists and gastroenterologists, the BBC reports. 

In 2015 -16, trusts spent £168m on high-cost overtime, up from £125m in 2013-14, according to figures from a Freedom of Information request (file photo)

The BBC received figures from 114 of the 186 trusts and health boards.

It focused on high-cost overtime rather than doctors picking up extra shifts at normal pay. 

Several hospitals said they had no choice to pay premium rates because of the shortage of consultants.

Professor Mark Pugh, medical director of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, admitted the situation was ‘clearly not sustainable’.

He said: ‘There is an acute shortage of consultants for some of these specialities and as we have not been able to source the additional staff we need as demand has risen, we have paid overtime to the existing workforce to deliver extra clinics so that patients can be seen and treated as quickly as possible.’

The British Medical Association said payments were made because there are not enough doctors and hospitals are under pressure to meet targets

But Andrew Foster, chief executive of Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust, said premium overtime pay was not right, which was why they had stopped paying it since 2010.

He said: ‘I don’t think it is very defensible to pay a huge premium to one group of staff and not to other groups of staff.

‘No other member of staff gets triple pay for doing extra shifts.’

The Department of Health in England said it hoped that a renegotiation of the consultant contract would address the issue, including removing the right for consultants to refuse to do non-emergency work at weekends.

A spokesman said: ‘Consultants do a vital job and should be properly rewarded, but this analysis shows why we are working with the BMA to replace a unique evening and weekend “opt-out” in the existing contract. 

‘This will allow us all to promise patients urgent and emergency care of a consistently high standard across the week, and – as the hospitals themselves say – make better use of operating theatres while reducing big overtime bills.

‘We are helping to ensure the NHS will have over 11,000 more doctors, including consultants and GPs by 2020’.

But Keith Brent, the British Medical Association consultants leader, denied the situation was linked to the current contract and said it was just due to doctor shortages.

He said: ‘There are also lots of consultants working extra hours for nothing or for normal pay. 

‘These payments are made because there simply are not enough doctors and hospitals are under pressure to meeting waiting time targets.’

 

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Pensioner who broke her pelvis while protesting about local A&E closure is taken to ANOTHER unit 15 miles away for treatment modicanews,com

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A pensioner who fell and broke her pelvis whilst protesting outside an A&E was taken 15 miles to another casualty department for treatment.

Joan Carpenter, 82, was protesting outside Chorley Accident and Emergency department – which was temporarily closed due to a shortage of doctors.

When she fell she wasn’t able to be taken into the nearby hospital, and instead received first aid from the fire service who were passing by.

Then, she waited 10 minutes for an ambulance which took her 15 miles to Royal Preston Hospital, where she is still recovering there. 

Joan Carpenter, 82, fell and broke her pelvis whilst protesting outside Chorley A&E – which was temporarily closed due to a doctor shortage

Though she was right outside Chorley A&E, Miss Carpenter was driven 15 miles to Royal Preston Hospital

Her son David, 58, said it is ‘absurd’ his mother had to be driven for 30 minutes to another hospital – further away from her friends and family. 

But hospital chiefs insist Miss Carpenter would have been taken there anyway because her injury was considered a major trauma.

Chorley Hospital in Lancashire was downgraded to an urgent care centre in April due to a doctor shortage, after a pay cap on agency staff was imposed. 

Mr Carpenter and his mother have been protesting since the department’s closure.

Despite not having left the house much after major heart surgery in March Mr Carpenter, a lecturer, said his mother was feeling well enough to join the demonstration on Saturday 14 July. 

He said: ‘We could see the hospital from where she fell. We could have walked her on a stretcher in five minutes to Chorley.

Her son David, 58, said it is ‘absurd’ his mother was driven 15 miles to a hospital further away from her friends and family. He is pictured protesting against the A&E closure with his mother 

‘The fire service was going past and stopped to apply first aid and gave her some oxygen.’

He continued: ‘It must have taken half an hour to get her to Preston and there were about five ambulances with patients waiting. 

‘The corridors were full with people and stretchers. It was like musical chairs.’

Mr Carpenter said on first arriving in Royal Preston Hospital A&E she spent two hours in a children’s bay because everywhere else was full.

He said: ‘She was taken to the trauma unit in Preston, but put in the gynaecology unit the next day along with another lady who is in a similar situation. 

‘They are getting really well looked after, but it just seems a bit odd when they are fracture cases to be in that ward.

‘It’s very busy there.The car park is heaving. 

‘The whole time I have lived here, which is nearly 30 years, Chorley has provided such a good service.

‘It seems absurd.’

Mr Carpenter, who has been involved with the campaign to reinstate the A&E service since it started, said his wife has been treated twice for breast cancer.

They have also ‘sewn him back together’ after he had a car crash and injured his neck.

He said his mother would have been more comfortable in Chorley, where she would be closer to her friends and family.

He said: ‘She would be comfortable in Chorley and it means her friends would be able to go and see her more often.’ 

Karen Partington, chief executive at LancashireTeaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said since 2013 major trauma patients have been treated at Preston after the service was reorganised.

A fractured pelvis is considered to be a major trauma.

Mrs Partington said: ‘The emergency department at Chorley has been temporarily downgraded to an urgent care centre, which is open from 8am to 8pm and can treat a wide range of conditions such as minor chest and back injuries, burns and scalds and minor fractures. 

‘The majority of people who previously attended the emergency department at Chorley have conditions that can be treated safely and appropriately by an urgent care service.’ 

Chorley Hospital in Lancashire was downgraded to an urgent care centre in April due to a doctor shortage. Mr Carpenter and his mother have been protesting ever since the closure was announced

 

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An early or late menopause can raise the risk of type 2 diabetes by 25% modicanews,com

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Women who go through the menopause earlier or later than average are at greater risk of type 2 diabetes, doctors have warned.

The link is particularly strong for an early menopause, with those who have their last period before the age of 46 being 25 per cent more likely to develop the condition in later life.

And a late puberty, followed by an early menopause, ups the odds by almost 40 per cent.

However, those with a late menopause – defined as having their last period aged 55-plus – are also at heightened risk.

It is thought the results for early menopause can be blamed on lack of exposure to oestrogen. Low levels of the female sex hormone oestrogen are known to fuel appetite and are linked to high blood sugar levels – a symptom of diabetes 

These women are 12 per cent more likely to develop the condition than those who go through menopause in their late 40s or early 50s.

The discovery is important because type 2 diabetes, the form that usually strikes in middle-age and is fuelled by obesity, is becoming ever more common as waistlines expand.

It eats up a tenth of the NHS’s budget and leads to disabling and life-threatening complications from stroke and heart attacks, to blindness and circulatory problems that lead to limbs being amputated.

Knowing more about who is at risk could have massive benefits to health and to the economy.

The US researchers analysed data on almost 125,000 post-menopausal women aged between 50 and 79.

Information included when they had their first and last period, as well as height, weight and medical history.

All were free of diabetes at the start of the study.

Twelve years later, cases of the condition were more common in women with an early or late menopause.

The length of a woman’s ‘reproductive span’ – the number of years between her first and last period, was also important.

Those with reproductive span of under 30 years – suggesting late puberty and early menopause – were 37 per cent more likely to develop diabetes than those who were fertile for the typical 36 to 40 years.

Similarly, women who were fertile for longer than average, had 23 per cent higher odds of diabetes.

It is thought the results for early menopause can be blamed on lack of exposure to oestrogen.

Low levels of the female sex hormone oestrogen are known to fuel appetite and are linked to high blood sugar levels – a symptom of diabetes.

The discovery is important because type 2 diabetes, the form that usually strikes in middle-age and is fuelled by obesity, is becoming ever more common as waistlines expand

Oestrogen levels plunge at menopause, and women who go through menopause early will be exposed to less of it over their lives.

Just why those with a late menopause are also at heightened risk is unclear, Menopause, the official journal of the North American Menopause Society reports.

Despite this, women should be aware of the link.

Lead researcher, Dr Erin LeBlanc, of the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Oregon, said: ‘Our study suggests the optimal window for menopause and diabetes risk is between the ages of 45 and 55.

‘Women who start menopause before or after that window should be aware they are at higher risk, and should be especially vigilant about reducing obesity, eating a healthy diet and exercising.

‘These lifestyle changes will help to reduce their risk for type 2 diabetes.’ 

THE EXTRA CURSE OF THE ANGELINA GENE 

Women who have their ovaries removed to reduce the risk of cancer have a greater risk of dementia, research suggests.

The operation, which triggers early menopause, results in a reduction in memory and thinking skills, scientists have found.

Experts fear this may eventually lead to early-onset dementia for many women, and may even lead to Alzheimer’s.

But taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) pills may halt this cognitive decline, according to findings presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto.

Nearly 4,000 women undergo surgery to extract their ovaries in Britain each year, many of them to lower their chance of developing ovarian cancer later in life.

Women are often advised to have their ovaries removed if they have a mutated BRCA gene – famously carried by Angelina Jolie – which dramatically increases the risk of ovarian and breast cancer.

But ovarian removal triggers immediately brings on the menopause, as the body’s method for producing the oestrogen hormone is removed.

Dr Gillian Einstein of Toronto University, an expert in the way dementia hits women, said oestrogen has a protective impact on the connections in the brain – and when natural hormone production stops this protection disappears.

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Homewise survey finds quarter of over-60s are unhappy with their lack of a sex life modicanews,com

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A lacklustre sex life is one of the top causes of unhappiness for Britain’s over-sixties, according to new research.

The survey by financial planners Homewise found the problem was more common than losing a partner.

It also found a worrying 10 per cent of retirees feel dissatisfied with their lives over all.

The survey asked participants to select reasons for their unhappiness from a list of common problems.

The survey by financial planners Homewise found the problem was more common than losing a partner

Financial issues were found to be the leading grievance, with 36 per cent of participants saying they did not feel ‘well off’ or have ‘enough money’.

This mirrored findings of a 2014 Aviva study, which found financial concerns to be the greatest cause of anxiety for all age groups.

Loneliness came a close second, with a third saying they felt isolated without family living nearby.

Not being able to go on holiday also scored similarly in terms of causing unhappiness.

But sex, or more a lack of it, was found to cause distress to more than one in four.

This is much higher than sadness caused by being widowed or loss of mobility, which affected only 12 per cent of the participants in this study.

These results provide direct contradiction to the belief that sex stops being important after a certain age. ‘

The survey asked participants to select reasons for their unhappiness from a list of common problems

As people live longer, they want to be more active in later years which includes continuing on with their sex lives, buying their perfect homes, going on holiday,’ said Mark Neal, managing director of Homewise.

He added: ‘Retirement is no longer seen as a final dwindling countdown in life but a bright new chapter’.

Despite this, almost 70 per cent of the over-60s surveyed said they were satisfied with their lives overall.

‘Family and where you live appear to be the main reasons for living a happy life in retirement and it is interesting that it is not necessarily all about money when it comes to happiness’ said Mr Neal. 

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