The government has issued a formal apology to the victims of the thalidomide scandal in respite efforts following the harrowing affects the drug has had on the victims, according to the BBC (source).

Health minister Mike O’Brien on behalf of the government expressed “sincere regret” and “deep sympathy” to the hundreds of victims of the German developed drug which was used in the 1950’s and 60’s to help pregnant women with insomnia and morning sickness.

It was quite a big story in the last contrary so I am sure many of you are aware of the devastating effects the drug’s use had on the children born from mothers using the drug. Hundreds of children were born with severe limb deformities and internal damage, and the government has promised more money to be made available to the remaining 466 survivors.  Mr O’Brien went on to say that the government acknowledges “physical hardship and the emotional difficulties that have faced both the children affected and their families as a result of this drug, and the challenges that many continue to endure often on a daily basis.”
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A man died in Derbyshire after he was prescribed a drug which he was known to be allergic to, an inquest heard yesterday.

According to the BBC, Mr Dennis Aucote, 57, died in March 2008 after suffering an allergic reaction to the drug ibuprofen. Mr Aucote’s doctor’s surgery apparently mixed up his medical notes with those of another patient, a Mr Dennis Allcote. However, Mr Aucote’s medical notes were not entirely clear as to his allergies in any case.

However, before prescribing the drug, Mr Aucote’s GP Dr Andrew Hignett failed to ask him about any allergies.

The court was told that Mr Aucote hurt his shoulder and made an appointment to see his doctor regarding his injuries.  Dr Hignett is alleged to have been looking at Mr Allcote’s medical notes, not Mr Aucote’s, and prescribed ibuprofen for the injury. Mr Aucote went to a chemist, collected the drugs and took one tablet in his home before suffering a violent reaction. He died shortly afterwards.
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As I am sure you are aware, we have authored a few articles over the last few weeks on the weather and discussed some useful driving advice in these times of perilous motor conditions! But not all drivers out there appear to be taking heed of the safety warnings and advice that have been plastered all over the news in recent weeks!

According to sources form the Daily Mail (source) police were gobsmacked as they witnessed an elderly motorist driving through the snow with only a small peephole to look out from! Her vehicle was so covered in snow it resembled a frosted topped desert!

The motorist was spotted and pulled over by police driving in hazardous icy conditions with a thick layer of snow and ice covering the majority of the windscreen of her blue Nissan; attending traffic officers kindly provided the elderly lady, whom had nipped out to purchase some food, with an ice scraper! Nearby pedestrians were stunned as they watched her struggle to see out of the small peephole in the windscreen, and the images taken by Devon Police are now being used to remind drivers to use common sense and clear their vehicles of snow and ice before travelling.
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Statistics show that young drivers, particularly men, are more likely to be involved in car accidents right through their 20’s. Younger drivers are thought to have faster reaction times and the ability to handle their vehicles and so it is thought that other factors pose the risk to the ‘youngsters’:

• Younger men have developed a name for themselves as boy races.
• They are more likely to drink drive / drive after taking drugs
• Younger drivers and their passengers are less likely to wear seatbelts
• Younger drivers tend to buy older cars or new cars that are small and not as safe in an accident
• They have a sense of indestructibility and drive like’ bat out of hell’ down familiar roads.
• Confidence and cockiness get the better of them when they take unnecessary risks overtaking though impatience.

Although statistics show the number of people dying on the road has seriously reduced, the number of younger drivers dying from car accidents is still worryingly high.
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A campaign by a Welsh MP to ban the use of tanning salon sunbeds by under-18s is receiving backing from the government and has been lent support by Nicola Roberts, a member of pop group Girls Aloud.

According to the BBC, the singer plans to make a documentary highlighting the dangers of the tanning industry.

Health secretary Andy Burnham said the scientific evidence of harm to skin and a link to skin cancer was clear and the a bill has been put forward by Cardiff North MP Julie Morgan to get the use of salons by under-18s banned.
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We all like a good drink every now and then – and we all know the increasing safety concerns over Britain’s drinking habits that have hit the news over the last few years. And alcohol can often play a major part of a claim for compensation.

In fact, the BBC has authored a few articles recently on the issue. According to one report (source), the Conservative Party has called for a complete revamp on alcohol labelling. The centre-right party have stated that confusion is evident from the use of the term “units” on labelling; they are calling for more specific descriptions in line with most of Europe in an effort to encourage safer drinking.

The Tories (Conservatives) have suggested labelling should detail “centilitres of pure alcohol” and perhaps have a more specific breakdown of the contents, including calorie intake information. Reportedly research has shown only just over half of alcoholic beverages labels adopt the voluntary code of units contained within the drink; despite industry moves to improve compliance. The proposals come as part of the Conservatives new public health strategy, amid claims that the rising levels of alcohol abuse now include the figure that 1 in 10 people are classed as hazardous drinkers; a startling statistic!
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A gentleman from Pontefract left paralysed from the neck down following a car crash has been awarded £8.35 million in compensation.

According to the BBC, Mr Lukasz Borowski was a passenger in a work colleague’s car when the driver crashed in to a ditch in Cambridgeshire.

The sum, awarded at Newcastle High court, will pay for Mr Borowski’s long term care. He suffered damage to his spinal cord, a fractured spine and also suffered from brain damage as a result of the road traffic accident. According to Mr Borowski’s lawyer the settlement value was in fact nearly £10.5 million, however, Mr Borowski accepted a 20% reduction in damages because he was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.
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The big campaign to eat 5 fruits and veg a day was launched in 2003. Statistics showed that vegetarians developed less types of cancer than meat eaters and so the big bid began.

It has now been discovered that vegetarians, although less susceptible to cancers, are at no lesser risk than meat eaters from developing bowel cancer.

We’ve all seen things in the media; don’t eat pork, red meats are the worse. In fact I don’t think anyone is too sure what we can and can’t eat for the best and although it has been suggested that red meats are worse for causing bowel cancer, I must question this due to the fact that vegetarians are at the same risk from cancer than the rest of us.
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The UK has been surprised by unreported snow fall over the weekend which has sent the country in to turmoil due to the lack of preparation!

Heavy snow fall has caused congestion across our roads and at many airports…not to mention the channel tunnel we have all been hearing about!

The Daily Mail has reported this evening that blizzard like conditions hit some parts of the UK this afternoon again causing major disruption to the nation’s road and airports. Gatwick airport was forced to divert its flights this afternoon after it had to close its runways for de-icing and Luton airport shortly followed suit.
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We more often than not write our blogs about road traffic accidents involving cars but what about your cyclists out there? How much risk are you guys or gals on our roads?

A study released earlier this month revealed that for every 100 motorists whom are injured in road traffic accidents there are at least 68 injuries to cyclists and pedestrians. This is an alarming statistic given that there are fewer cyclists on our roads than motorists.

Extra care needs to be taken to ensure that there are no cyclists in your path before your proceed. Double check your blind spot before changing lanes and always check that there are cyclists to either side of the vehicle before you turn or set off from traffic lights.

We have given out a lot of advice over the last couple of weeks for motorists but are cyclists at risk too?
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