Tag Archives: carer

Widow left to rely on food banks after benefit bosses cut payments

Debbie Hopley’s husband, John, was just 49, when he died from cancer last month

Deborah Hopley from Kirkby holding a picture of her late husband John Hopley.

A widow said she was left reliant on food banks after benefits bosses cut payments and held up funeral bills two days after her husband’s death.

Debbie Hopley’s husband, John, was just 49 when he died on February 11, following a nine-year battle with cancer.

But, in the week between his death and the funeral, Mrs Hopley said she was told the money they and their two children had survived off through his illness was suddenly being stopped.

Peanut allergy clinics to open in Britain

British scientists are celebrating a major breakthrough in the treatment of potentially deadly peanut allergies

3:49PM GMT 30 Jan 2014

Children can be protected from the dangerous effects of peanut allergy by slowly building up their tolerance, research has shown.

After six months of the therapy, up to 90 per cent of allergic children taking part in a study could safely eat five peanuts a day.

Peanut allergy, which affects one in 50 children, can lead to anaphylactic shock – a potentially fatal immune reaction. It is the most common cause of deaths due to food allergies.

Edith Cavell campaign calls for coin to honour WWI heroine

Norfolk carer must never be forgotten

Edith Cavell painting by Raymond Lynde

Thousands of people have signed an online petition calling for World War I nurse Edith Cavell to be commemorated on a new £2 coin.

Cavell helped more than 200 allied soldiers escape from occupied Belgium but was shot by a German firing squad.

The petition was started after it was announced that former war secretary Lord Kitchener would feature on a coin.

A Royal Mint spokeswoman said future designs would include other figures connected with the war.

But she said she could not confirm or deny whether Cavell would be among them.

‘The sheer waste’

Sioned-Mair Richards, 55, who started the petition, said she was surprised and delighted at the support for it.

“It’s really struck a chord with people,” she said.

Ms Richards, a Labour member of Sheffield City Council and a former mayor of Carmarthen, said she had admired Cavell since she was a girl.