Gruenenthal’s thalidomide apology ‘insulting’
The company which invented thalidomide has “insulted” those affected by the drug by issuing an “insincere” apology, campaigners have said.
The drug, sold in the 1950s as a cure for morning sickness, was linked to birth defects and withdrawn in 1961.
German-based Gruenenthal has issued its first apology in 50 years, but said the drug’s possible side-effects “could not be detected” before it was marketed.
But the UK’s Thalidomide Trust said any apology should also admit wrongdoing.
Nick Dobrik, a member of the trust’s national advisory council, said it “should be an unreserved apology, not a conditional apology”.
One in five patients ‘harmed’ in some hospitals
One in five patients in some NHS hospitals suffer harm due to avoidable accidents, complications and mistakes, it has emerged.
The data has been assembled via a monthly series of snapshots, gathered by frontline clinical staff since April
By Rebecca Smith, Medical Editor
6:00AM BST 31 Aug 2012
Official NHS data has shown that more than 20 per cent of patients in some organisations suffer from problems such as bed sores or suffer accidents such as falls while on wards.
Nationally just under one in ten, or around 41,000 people, were harmed, but this masks wide variation in individual hospitals, it was found.
The Department of Health has set a target to deliver “harm-free care” to 95 per cent of patients “by 2012”.
Officials admitted around 200,000 patients suffer common avoidable problems over the course of a year.
The NHS Safety Thermometer, launched in April, gathers data from all NHS hospitals covering patient problems such as bed sores and patient falls that can be avoided with good care.
Carers urged to look for support
Carers need a break as well otherwise they end up making themselves ill and becoming the one who needs caring for
By Ian Dipple 31/08 Updated: 31/08 09:45
Mayor Alan Mason with Peter Nash, of Age UK, cafe manager Pebbles Crompton, Helen Simmons, of Crossroads Care and Rosie Powell from Carers Careline. Photo by Marcus Mingins 3212005MMR
THE MAYOR of Redditch has urged the borough’s carers to seek help.
Coun Alan Mason said it was important people looking after loved ones were not too proud to look for and accept the wealth of support on offer, especially so-called ‘hidden carers’ who consider themselves to only be doing their duty.
Mr Mason looks after his wife Nina, who has difficulty walking, but he admitted until recently he was one of those who had never considered himself to be a carer.
