Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Week is taking place between 20 – 26 May 2024. Diabetes UK are partnering with the NHS during this annual awareness week, and this year they aim to shift the focus away from individual responsibility and call on the government to take action to help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The recent report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Birth Trauma, which has been highlighted by BBC News, calls for a significant overhaul of maternity care in the UK.

It seems like only yesterday that I wrote an article about the late Nicky Newman’s campaign aiming to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and how to check your breasts. Sadly, Nicky lost her own battle with cancer in late 2023.  

Bowel cancer is a serious health condition that affects millions of people around the world. It can be difficult to detect in its early stages, which is why it's crucial to seek medical attention as soon as you notice any symptoms. 

Throughout April, Limb Loss and Limb Difference UK seek to raise awareness of the support provided by charities across the UK to empower those within their community. They aim to highlight the work they do, to highlight the impact of living with limb loss and limb difference on individuals and their families. 

Following the Covid-19 pandemic, towards the end of 2022 and into 2023, the UK saw a significant increase in invasive Group A Strep infections. This was widely reported in the press, and the concerns in relation to the spike in reported cases were raised by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Erb’s Palsy, also called Brachial Plexus Paralysis, shoulder dystocia or Obstetric Brachial Palsy Injury, is an injury commonly caused to a baby during birth, where the baby’s shoulder becomes stuck after the head has been delivered (shoulder dystocia) and the brachial plexus nerves in the trapped shoulder are stretched and injured.

For many years we at Tozers have supported families affected by Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE). HIE is a type of brain damage which is caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain before or shortly after birth. We assist families to bring a claim for compensation where their child has developed physical and/or cognitive difficulties. 

At the end of 2023, the Care Quality Commission published reports that highlighted concerns about the safety standards of maternity units across the country.

On World Sepsis Day 2023, I wrote an article raising awareness of this devastating illness, and shared the work being courageously undertaken by Martha’s parents, after Martha sadly and avoidably lost her life to sepsis at just 13 years old.

Series 13 Episode 1 Whilst certainly not claiming to be a superfan I do occasionally catch an episode of the extremely popular historical drama “Call the midwife” set in London in the 1960s. On the evening of Sunday 7th January, whilst distracted doing something else, my attention was caught when one of the characters in the show began to describe how her daughter (now an adult, disabled and pregnant with her own child) had been injured herself during birth leading to her disability. 

Never events are serious, preventable patient safety incidents that should never happen in healthcare settings.