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Baby P Doctor Under Investigation
A doctor is accused of failing to spot the signs that Baby P was being abused and is due before the General Medical Council (GMC) charged with misconduct.
According to the BBC, Dr Sabah Al-Zayyat saw 17-month-old Peter Connelly at St. Ann’s Hospital in Haringuey days before his death in 2007.
She is accused of failing to carry out an “adequate examination” investigating his injuries, or admit him to hospital. The GMC could take the decision to ban her from working in the UK.
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People are being urged not to use a beach in Torbay, Devon following a 5,000 tonne rock fall. According to the BBC, the landslide happened at Oddicombe Beach on Sunday in an area which has been cordoned off since 2002 due to instability.
Torbay Council said that it was the second time in the last eight years that there had been a major rock fall in the area.
The whole of Oddicombe Beach will be shut for several days as a result of secondary rock falls still happening.
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How To Cure Peanut Allergies – Feed Them Peanuts
Doctors in Cambridge believe that they may soon have a cure for peanut allergies.
According to the BBC, the largest ever trial to find a treatment for potentially fatal peanut allergies is to give sufferers tiny amounts daily to build up their tolerance to the nut.
The trial team will give increasing doses of peanut flour to 104 British children, up to the equivalent of five nuts a day.
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Cement factory cancer risk fears
A cement factory in Flintshire has admitted safety breaches which could potentially have caused a cancer risk. According to the BBC, Castle Cement Ltd admitted four charges relating to dust and noise nuisances at Padeswood as well as two fires which released potentially dangerous smoke.
The Environmental Agency Wales (EAW) said the £300,000 in fines and costs was one of the highest ever court awards.
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Exploding Tandoori Ovens on the Increase
Environmental Health bosses have launched a crackdown on Indian restaurants following a number of injuries suffered from exploding tandoori ovens.
Tandoor ovens are used to cook meat dishes, such as chicken tikka, and breads like nan. According to the BBC, Birmingham City Council officers found that many had not been maintained or installed properly.
Only a few had working ignitions and employees routinely had to light ovens using burning serviettes. Furthermore, a check of 27 restaurants discovered only two used a qualified engineer to check their oven. Some ovens even appear to have been home made.
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The National Trust has been ordered to pay more than £10,000 in a fine and costs for breaching passenger boat safety regulations in Poole Harbour.
According to the BBC, the Brownsea Enterprise can take up to 37 passengers and two crew around Brownsea Island in Dorset.
Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court heard that the trust continued to run the vessel after its certificate expired in May 2009.
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Man Found Guilty of Causing Cyclist David McCall’s Death by Dangerous Driving
According to the BBC, the Commonwealth Games medallist was knocked down by Michael Gerard Groome. Mr McCall was taking part in a race near Nutt’s corner in County Antrim in August 2008 when he was fatally injured.
Mr Groome was hurrying to catch a flight when he struck Mr McCall’s bicycle as he was overtaking another vehicle. Initially Mr Groome left the scene of the accident without stopping but did return a short time later.
Mr McCall, a father of two, worked as a civil servant and also jointly ran Sportsactive which organises cycling and walking holidays.
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Concerns over serious fire risks at care homes
According to the BBC, Health and safety inspector James Reid has been giving evidence to the fatal accident inquiry in to the fire at the Rosepark home in Uddingston in 2004.
He said in a report he had compiled a year before he had not included key findings that caused him “concern”. But he said he had discussed the issues raised with the owners of the care homes
The blaze broke out in a cupboard on 31st January 2004, killing fourteen residents and injuring four more.
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Infection Outbreak at Dundee Hospital
According to the BBC, five elderly patients died following the outbreak in a ward of the hospital in October 2009. However, a report by the NHS Tayside has identified a number of shortcomings at the hospital and suggests that several improvements should be made.
One of the key points identified was that the hospital had issues with hand hygiene in the month before the outbreak took place. The report said that an audit of the ward had indicated that hand hygiene compliance on the ward dropped to 85% from 100% the previous months.
However, the report also said that there were no problems identified with cleaning the ward before, during or after the outbreak.
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Doctors Actions Considered “Risky”
According to the BBC, the GMC was told that the actions of Dr Adam Osbourne were “risky”.
The 33-year-old gave medication used to treat schizophrenia to a woman displaying signs of cocaine abuse. He has admitted to prescribing drugs for a friend, family member and girlfriend –but denies inappropriate conduct.
The GMC says doctors can only prescribe for family and friends in emergencies.
The hearing was told Dr Osbourne indulged in “risky” and “inappropriate” practice when he procured the medication.
He admitted failing to record the prescriptions in the “patients” records or informing their GPs. The doctor sparked concern amongst his supervisors and as soon as they discovered his dishonest behaviour they excluded him from practice at Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust.
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