Winterbourne View

Police in Bristol have charged another person in connection with allegations of abuse and neglect at the care home featured in a BBC Panorama documentary last year.

Neil Ferguson, aged 27, has been charged with two offences of ill treatment under the Mental Health Act. He is due to appear at North Avon Magistrates Court on February 2.

Ten people charged with ill treatment and neglect offences under the Mental Health Act appeared at North Avon Magistrates Court last month and were bailed to appear at Bristol Crown Court on February 9.

A man in his 40s remains on police bail, pending further enquiries, while another man, in his 20s, has been released without charge.

The investigation began in June last year after footage shot for Panorama showed disabled patients being slapped, kicked, sat on and drenched with water at Winterbourne View.

The five-week undercover BBC investigation filmed abuse at the privately-owned, purpose-built, 24-bed facility.

Andrew McDonnell, a leading expert in working with adults with mental disabilities, labelled some of the examples captured on film “torture”.

Castlebeck Care – which has 24 locations across the country – closed Winterbourne View on June 24, after transferring all patients to alternative services.

The controversial care home was found to have “systematically failed” to protect patients from abuse, a damning report ruled in July.

Youngsters are less likely to suffer from depression in their teenage years if they eat more tuna in childhood, a Bristol study claimed yesterday.

Researchers from the University of Bristol found children who have a good intake of vitamin D – found in the oily fish – are 10% less likely to develop depression.

They tested the vitamin D levels of 2,700 children when they were aged nine years and eight months old and again when they were 13 years and eight months old.

Those with higher levels of vitamin D in childhood were 10% less likely to show signs of depression.

Symptoms of depression in children aged 10 and a half reduced when they reached their teens if they had high levels of the vitamin, researchers found.

Speaking about the findings, lead author Dr Anna-Maija Tolppanen, said: “Given the importance of depression in childhood and adolescence, and the relative ease with which vitamin D levels could be increased with supplements, randomised controlled trials to assess its effectiveness in preventing depressive symptoms would be appropriate.”

The study was the first to examine the link between vitamin D and depression in children – it has already been proven in adults.

Vitamin D supplements are currently available in two forms, D3 and D2, with the research showing the D3 form linked to depression.

The researchers are now hoping more studies will help prove links between vitamin D and other health problems.

‘The association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and D2 with depressive symptoms in childhood – a prospective cohort study’ was published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry in January.

Doctors in Bristol and across the UK have rejected the Government’s planned pension changes, and two out of three would be prepared to take industrial action over the issue.

A survey of members of the British Medical Association (BMA) showed an “overwhelming” vote against the controversial reforms, which include higher contributions and working for longer.

About 46,000 doctors took part in a survey – a response rate of 36% – with more than four in five saying the plans should be rejected, raising the prospect of a first strike by doctors since 1975.

Almost two thirds said they would be prepared to take industrial action to pursue changes to the proposals. More than a third of doctors over the age of 50 said they intend to retire early if the changes go ahead as planned.

However, only 20% said they would be willing to strike, with the majority backing a campaign of action short of striking such as a work-to-rule protest.

The BMA has formally written to the Government rejecting the “final” offer and urging ministers to meet unions to agree “fairer” changes.

The association said it will work up detailed plans on taking industrial action, adding that all attempts will be made to ensure that any action would minimise any risk of harm to patients.

An emergency meeting of BMA Council will be held on February 25 to decide on the options for balloting on industrial action, unless there is a “significant” change in the Government’s position.

Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of BMA Council, said: “The strength and scale of feeling among doctors is abundantly clear – they feel let down and betrayed, and for many this is the final straw.”

The BMA last took industrial action 37 years ago, when there was a dispute over junior doctors’ working conditions, including hours.

Ruptured PIP implant

A Bristol professor says inquiries into the scare over faulty breast implants must include the ethical issues of why women feel compelled by society to look good.

Professor Julie Kent said women need more support to understand all the risks of cosmetic surgery – not just whether the implants are safe to use.

The sociologist from the Centre for Health & Clinical Research at the University of the West of England added that a failure worldwide to regulate implants meant women could not assume implants were safe, despite assurances from national agencies.

Her statement comes after private clinics across the UK who fitted the faulty breast implants – made by French firm Poly Implant Prothèse (PIP) – said the Government has a “moral responsibility” to pay for surgery to replace the implants, because health regulators failed to identify the problem.

“We live in a society where appearance matters a great deal and the social pressures to look good, to conform to notions of a ‘normal body’ create demand for implant technologies to restore or enhance bodily form,” Prof Kent said.

“What kinds of risks are women willing to take with their health? Breast implants of all kinds are known to have a limited life and are likely to need replacement. Surgery in itself is a risky procedure.”

Last week Andrew Lansley, the Health Secretary, said women with PIP implants could have them removed for free on the NHS if their original clinic had gone bust, or was refusing to fund surgery.

The Government’s strategy is to give the women access to surgery first, and recover costs later.

The row over the issue has intensified after Lord Howe, the Health Minister, yesterday told fellow peers: “We believe that private practitioners have in many instances a legal duty and certainly a moral duty to address these matters on behalf of their patients.”

Prof Kent said the debate over the safety of breast implants was not a new issue, adding: ““Successive UK inquiries and government reports have concluded that a duty of care towards those who seek cosmetic surgery should be a key ethical principle. However, it remains to be seen whether this will lead to private clinics providing appropriate support to women in the current crisis.

“Regulating the global market in healthcare products is a difficult process not least because regulatory regimes vary across different parts of the world. Weaknesses in the European regulatory approach in relation to medical devices have previously been identified and reliance on ‘notified bodies’ to ensure products meet safety standards has been a concern for some years.

“Women may assume that they can trust regulators to act to protect their health but enforcement of safety standards across international borders raises real problems for regulators and exposes consumers and patients to risks.”

British men are now content to literally chew the fat – and regularly discuss worries about their beer bellies and man boobs with their mates over a pint, a Bristol study revealed yesterday.

Researchers at the University of the West of England UWE) found that men have “serious” body issues, with more than 80% confiding in pals about their bodies and masculinity issues.

The majority of men moan about their unhappiness with their bulging waist lines – while more than 60% do not believe their arms or chests are muscular enough.

Experts who questioned hundreds of men found 35% would happily sacrifice a year of their life to achieve their dream body.

Almost 20% of men religiously follow a strict diet and 30% take protein supplements to help create a toned physique.

Dr Phillippa Diedrichs, who conducted the study at the Centre for Appearance Research at UWE, said it showed body issues were not restricted to women.

“This research really demonstrates that body image is an issue for everyone, and that we need to take a collaborative approach towards promoting an environment that values diversity in appearance and promotes healthy body image,” she said.

The study was a collaboration between experts at UWE, the Succeed Foundation and Central YMCA.

They surveyed 384 British men about their body issues, with 95% admitting that body talk in the media made them more self-conscious. Nearly 60% of men admitted that talking to friends about their bodies lowered their self confidence.

Ironically, talking about their bodies often put them off going to the gym because they were ashamed of their chubby frames.

Rosi Prescott, Chief Executive of Central YMCA, said: “Historically conversation about your body has been perceived as something women do, but it is clear from this research that men are also guilty of commenting on one another’s bodies; and in many cases this is having a damaging effect.

“The high levels of body talk that we have found in men are symptomatic of a growing obsession with appearance.

“The fact that one in three men would sacrifice a year of life to achieve their ideal weight and shape is a worrying sign and suggests that men are placing more value on their appearance than on other things, including life itself.”

Television doctor Phil Hammond has been made redundant from his job as a GP due to changes in the way NHS services in Bristol are provided.

Dr Hammond, 49, star of Have I Got News For You and correspondent for Private Eye, will lose his job when the walk-in service he has been working at is merged into the new South Bristol Community Hospital.

He broke the news on his Twitter feed – telling his followers that he was to stop practising part time at the surgery in Bristol next March.

Dr Hammond, who also hosts BBC Two show ‘Trust Me, I’m a Doctor’ told his 8,000 followers: “I’m losing my GP job in March as part of the PCT cost rationalisation exercise. Anyone need a GP in Bristol/Bath/Somerset (part time)?”

The writer and broadcaster, who broke the story of the Bristol heart scandal in 1992, lives with wife Jo and their two children in Bishop Sutton, near Bristol, and refused to comment yesterday when contacted about his job loss.

NHS Bristol confirmed Dr Phil Hammond had been working for one of its walk-in GP centres – but denied he was losing his job because of cost-cutting.

The Trust said the service Dr Hammond worked for in the city, operated for the trust by healthcare provider BrisDoc, was moving to the new development in south Bristol.

They would not confirm or deny whether Dr Hammond would be keeping his job or not.

A spokesman said: “It is not to do with cost reorganisation. South Bristol Community Hospital is opening at the end of March and the walk-in service will be merged into it.

“There are ongoing discussion with the service provider about what will happen to the walk-in centre jobs.”

BrisDocs confirmed Mr Hammond will lose his job when its walk-in clinic, run on behalf of NHS Bristol, closes next March.

Dr Ray Montague, chairman of the company, said: “We had a contract to provide a GP walk-in service in south Bristol. Bristol NHS Trust has decided that in the current environment it was duplicating GP services that already existed. So they have taken the view that there were other priorities and gave us notice that the contract will be ended.”

Premature babies fare less well at school and need more support before starting education than those born at full term, research from the Children of the 90s project has found.

Some 71% of babies born between 32 and 36 weeks are successful in key stage 1 (KS1) tests (defined as achieving at least level 2 in reading, writing and maths), compared to 79% of babies born at full term (37-41 weeks).

Babies born between 32 and 36 weeks (‘late-preterm’) make up 82% of all premature births and 6% of all live births in the UK, and are generally considered to be in the ‘safe zone’ of premature births.

But this group requires closer attention to ensure they receive adequate educational support, according to researchers from the University of Bristol.

Analysing data from 13,978 infants in Children of the 90s, the researchers found that the 5% (734) of babies born at 32-36 weeks fared less well in KS1 tests compared to the 86% (12,089) of babies born at term.

The lower overall success rate was replicated in the success rates for individual subjects: reading 78% vs 85%; writing 77% to 84%; and maths 82% to 89%.

Previous research has shown that premature babies are more at risk of developmental delay, cerebral palsy and learning difficulties but little has been known until now about how well late-preterm babies in the UK fare at school compared to babies born at full term.

The findings of this study agree with previous research suggesting poorer school outcomes in late-preterm infants and add to an emerging evidence base of poor long-term neurological and developmental outcomes among children born late-preterm.

Speaking about the findings, the report’s main author Dr Philip Peacock said: “Given that children born late-preterm make up the majority of all preterm births, and comprise around six per cent of the population, this group warrants more recognition and surveillance than is currently provided.

“We recommend children born late-preterm receive a ‘school readiness’ and educational assessment prior to starting school to help identify potential learning problems. Early intervention within this vulnerable group of children may help reduce the burden of school problems and their associated consequences.”

Smoking causes most cancers in men

Nearly half of cancers diagnosed in the UK each year are caused by life choices including smoking, drinking and eating the wrong things, a review by Cancer Research UK has revealed.

Instead of ‘fate’ leading to people getting cancer, simple choices like quitting smoking and eating five portions of fruit and vegetables can dramatically cut the risk of contracting it.

Tobacco is the biggest culprit, causing 23% of cases in men and 15.6% in women, says the report. Next comes a lack of fresh fruit and vegetables in men’s diets, while for women it is being overweight.

The report is published in the British Journal of Cancer, and its authors claim it is the most comprehensive analysis to date on the subject.

Lead author Professor Max Parkin said: “Many people believe cancer is down to fate or ‘in the genes’ and that it is the luck of the draw whether they get it.

“Looking at all the evidence, it’s clear that around 40% of all cancers are caused by things we mostly have the power to change.”

Overall, 34% of cancers in 2010 (106,845) were linked to smoking, diet, drinking alcohol and excess weight. Another 30,000 cases were caused by another 14 lifestyle and environmental factors taken into account.

Ciarán Devane, chief executive at Macmillan Cancer Support, said healthy lifestyle messages were not getting through. “No one chooses to have cancer and it would be wrong to blame people for making wrong lifestyle choices,” he told The Guardian.

“For a long time, people have been told that eating healthily, not smoking and exercising regularly can benefit them, and these figures show again the impact a healthy lifestyle can have. Yet these healthy lifestyle messages are clearly not reaching enough people. They also need to be made more relatable to people’s everyday lives.

“We know that being physically active reduces recurrence rates of cancer too, as well as your chance of getting it in the first place. There needs to be a cultural change, so that people see physical activity as an integral part of their lives, not just an optional add-on.”

Danger: The BMA is calling for ban on smoking in cars to protect children and the elderly

A Bristol MP has backed calls by the British Medical Association (BMA) to ban smoking in private cars to protect children and the elderly.

Dr Vivienne Nathanson, the BMA’s Director of Professional Activities, said more than 80,000 deaths are caused by smoking in the UK each year. But, she added, doctors were faced by the effects of second-hand smoke every day.

“But behind the stark statistics, doctors see the individual cases of ill health and premature death caused by smoking and second-hand smoke. For this reason, doctors are committed to reducing the harm caused by tobacco.

“We are calling on the UK government to take the bold and courageous step of banning smoking in private vehicles. The evidence for extending the smoke-free legislation is compelling. The current UK Government prefers voluntary measures or ‘nudging’ to bring about public health change but this stance has been shown to fail time and time again.”

Campaign group Forest said the plan was a “gross over-reaction”, while a Department for Health spokesman said legislation was not “the most effective way to encourage people to change their behaviour”.