In response to proposals to withdraw breast cancer assessment services from two major hospital sites here, Stephanie Bell talks to two women about their experiences and why they are battling to prevent the changes. Thousands of people have now shown their support for a campaign to save two local breast cancer assessment centres from closure. The charge to keep clinics at Craigavon and Belfast City hospitals open has been led by local breast cancer charity Knitted Knockers. The charity was set up in America by breast cancer survivors to supply free hand-knit breast prosthetics to patients and its popularity spread throughout the world, with many more groups being established. Through its social media platforms, Knitted Knockers in Northern Ireland has managed to collect more than 40,000 signatures for a petition calling on the Government to save the assessment clinics. The Department of Health launched a public consultation on cutting the vital service from Belfast City Hospital and … [Read more...] about Why vital Northern Ireland cancer units must be saved
Northern ireland
Northern Ireland most pessimistic about economy, report suggests
News / UK by Press Association 16/05/2019, 12:04 am Send us a story Sign up to our Daily newsletter Northern Ireland is the most pessimistic part of the UK when it comes to the economy, a new report has found. Which?’s first Consumer Insight Report for Northern Ireland includes findings that energy, fuel and Brexit are the main worries for consumers in the region. The research, which was gathered from a survey of 1,009 people throughout the year, found that two in five (42%) believed the UK’s economy was in a poor state, and three in five (60%) thought it would worsen in the year ahead. Across the UK as a whole, only half (49%) anticipated the economy would worsen. Which? found fuel prices was the issue people in Northern Ireland were most concerned about – with three-quarters (74%) anxious about rising costs compared to two-thirds (68%) in the UK as a whole. Seven in 10 (71%) were worried about Brexit and public spending cuts, compared to six … [Read more...] about Northern Ireland most pessimistic about economy, report suggests
Abortion law ‘harsher in Northern Ireland than in Alabama’
Alabama’s near total ban on abortion mirrors the situation in one corner of the UK: Northern Ireland. But pro-choice campaigners in the region say Northern Irish anti-abortion laws are actually stricter than the legislation Republican senators have introduced in the southern US state. They point out that, unlike under Alabama’s new law, women in Northern Ireland can face jail sentences up to life because the 1861 Offences Against the Persons Act remains in place. Under this piece of Victorian legislation, anyone procuring an abortion – medical staff or pregnant women – can face life imprisonment. Mara Clarke from the London-based Abortion Support Network said on Wednesday that amid the “international hue and cry over Alabama” people in Britain and across the world should never forget that in one part of the UK there was “an even more draconian anti-abortion regime”. Clarke said: “We have had a scenario for decades upon decades in … [Read more...] about Abortion law ‘harsher in Northern Ireland than in Alabama’
Calls to extend legal protection to Northern Ireland veterans
British Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt is facing calls to extend strengthened legal protections to troops facing investigation over alleged historical offences to veterans of the Northern Ireland conflict.Ms Mordaunt is to set out plans for legislation to ensure veterans and serving military personnel are not subjected to repeated inquiries in relation to past operations overseas.While the move was welcomed by MPs pressing for an end to historical investigations in Iraq and Afghanistan, there was concern that it did not cover the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Among those currently facing prosecution is a former soldier, known as Soldier F, who has been charged with the killing of two people during Bloody Sunday in Derry in 1972.Tory MP Johnny Mercer, who is refusing to vote for Government legislation in the Commons until it ends such historical inquires, said the announcement was a “good start” but needed to go further.“It’s unfair to all sides, and the only … [Read more...] about Calls to extend legal protection to Northern Ireland veterans
Seven killed in Northern Ireland farm accidents in 2018
Seven killed in Northern Ireland farm accidents in 2018 BelfastTelegraph.co.uk Seven people died in farm accidents in Northern Ireland last year, new figures reveal. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/seven-killed-in-northern-ireland-farm-accidents-in-2018-38113710.html https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/incoming/article38113713.ece/6ef8d/AUTOCROP/h342/ambulance.jpg Email Seven people died in farm accidents in Northern Ireland last year, new figures reveal. Three of the deaths involved livestock and two people died in machinery accidents, the BBC reports. One death was caused by a fall or falling objects and one person died as the result of an unspecified incident. The figures from the Health and Safety Executive reveal that 34 people died in farm accidents here between 2014 and 2018. The number of deaths in 2018 was unchanged from 2017 when four people died in accidents involving machinery and there was three fatalities involving livestock. The highest … [Read more...] about Seven killed in Northern Ireland farm accidents in 2018