In the news w/e 3 May

Your media headlines roundup, week ending 3 May…

Hundreds protest against closure of libraries in Essex
ITV – 27 April 2019
Campaigners fighting to save libraries in Essex have been protesting across the county. Protest marches took place across Essex from Holland-on Sea to Harlow. Read the full story.

New shed project in Saffron Walden aims to tackle social isolation
Saffron Walden Reporter – 26 April 2019
A community shed project has launched in Saffron Walden to give people who enjoy doing practical work a place to meet together, make friends and socialise. Read the full story.

Stansted Airport to offer free Fastrack and Lounge access for London Marathon runners
Essex Magazine – 26 April 2019
Marathon runners competing in this year’s Virgin Money London Marathon will be offered the chance to sprint through security and claim free FastTrack and Escape Lounge access* at London Stansted Airport. Read the full story.

The struggle of Essex mum who fled abusive ex that assaulted autistic son
Essex Live – 26 April 2019
An Essex mum has spoken out on the struggles of finding a safe haven while fleeing from an abusive ex-partner. Read the full story.

Nascot Lawn funding finally agreed for children in Hertfordshire with special needs
Hemel Today – 29 April 2019
On Thursday (April 25), Herts Valleys Clininical Commissioning Group (CCG) chief executive Kathryn Magson confirmed that the process was now complete. Read the full story.

Extra funding for Essex Police to help tackle violent crime
Saffron Walden Reporter – 29 April 2019
More than £1.5million of additional funding has been secured from the Home Office to help tackle serious violent crime within Essex. Read the full story.

NHS patients in Dacorum to get early access to NHS app
Hemel Today – 29 April 2019
Patients in West Hertfordshire are to get the chance to try out a new NHS app – before it is rolled out nationally. Read the full story.

Contaminated blood scandal: Inquiry hearings to begin
BBC Health – 30 April 2019
Some 4,800 people with haemophilia were infected with hepatitis C or HIV in the 1970s and 1980s. More than 2,000 are thought to have died. Read the full story.

Obesity: Study of 2.8 million shows increased disease and death risks
BBC Health – 29 April 2019
A major study has highlighted the scale of the obesity problem in the UK, with a significant risk of death and disease attached to weight gain. Read the full story.

Sugar ‘not necessary’ for a good cuppa
BBC Health – 29 April 2019
It might be a ritual for many but scientists say your cup of tea does not actually need a spoonful of sugar. Read the full story.

Urine test to end ‘smear fear’
BBC Health – 29 April 2019
Women who are too anxious or embarrassed to go for a smear test could instead provide a urine sample to be screened for cervical cancer, research suggests. Read the full story.

‘Bullying’ row CCG hires former PCT chief
HSJ – 30 April 2019
A clinical commissioning group has hired a former primary care trust chief executive as its “independent development director”, following claims of cultural problems including bullying. Email for the full story.

Essex airport decision hits ‘regrettable and avoidable’ delay after meeting called
East Anglian Daily Times – 1 May 2019
Final planning approval for Stansted airport’s controversial expansion has been delayed until after the council elections on May 2 – to the delight of objectors. Read the full story.

Council says stories shared on now-defunct local paper’s social media channels ‘don’t help’ town’s image
Press Gazette – 30 April 2019
An Essex council has complained that the social media pages of the now-defunct Harlow Star newspaper often share negative stories about incidents in other areas, saying they “don’t help” its efforts to promote the town. Read the full story.

New type of dementia identified
BBC Health – 30 April 2019
Millions of elderly people have a form of dementia that has been misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s disease, according to researchers. Read the full story.

Colchester local election: Town ‘creaking’ from homes growth
BBC Essex – 30 April 2019
A town’s infrastructure is “creaking” under the pressure of housing development, politicians said as they prepare to battle in council elections. Read the full story.

All NHS hospitals and GP practices to be equipped with fibre optic internet
National Health Executive – 1 May 2019
All NHS hospitals, GP practices and community care services are to be equipped with full fibre optic internet, under plans announced by the health secretary. Read the full story.

Specialties under threat from potential training cuts
HSJ – 30 April 2019
Health Education England’s review of funding arrangements places two mental health professions at risk, clinicians have warned. Email for the full story.

Election 2019: Council polls to take place across England and NI
BBC News – 2 May 2019
Voters are heading to the polls for council and mayoral elections across England and Northern Ireland. Read the full story.

Colchester father discharged from mental health unit said he would ‘set fire to himself’, inquest hears
EssexLive – 1 May 2019
A father who told NHS staff that he would ‘set fire to himself’ if he was to go home and later died of burns, an inquest heard. Read the full story.

Thousands of Saffron Walden children take part in ‘walk to school day’
Saffron Walden Reporter – 1 May 2019
More than 2,000 children in Saffron Walden either walked, cycled, scooted or took the bus to school on Friday, leaving their family cars behind. Read the full story.

Has Leeds cracked the obesity problem?
BBC Health – 1 May 2019
Childhood obesity is a major problem. But now news has emerged that one city – Leeds – has been making some progress. Read the full story.

Minister announces new national innovation ‘unit’
HSJ – 2 May 2019
A new national “unit” is being established, with its own “chief executive”, to oversee innovation and medicines, the Department of Health and Social Care has announced. Email for the full story.

Exclusive: Trust ‘mired in grievance culture’
HSJ – 2 May 2019
A probe into bullying and harassment at a hospital trust has criticised a “cosy” executive team “unable to challenge themselves or others”. Email for the full story.

Providers offered control of NHSE budgets worth billions
HSJ – 3 May 2019
NHSE has set a new target for setting up “provider collaboratives” – which are expected to take on the responsibilities and budgets – across the whole of England by 2022, and in 75 per cent of areas by 2020. Email for the full story.

Local Elections 2019: Conservatives hold Epping Forest – but lose seats to For Britain, Lib Dems and Greens
Epping Forest Guardian – 3 May 2019
Overall, the Conservatives won 15 seats, with one each going to others amid turnouts seldom much higher than 25 per cent. Read the full story. See also ITV news story. This includes details of Harlow, no change from Labour control. Uttlesford undeclared.

Dementia: The greatest health challenge of our time
BBC Health – 2 May 2019
Today somebody is diagnosed with it every three seconds, it is the biggest killer in some wealthier countries and is completely untreatable. So what is this disease? Why is it becoming more common? And is there any hope? Read the full story.

Gay HIV transmission with treatment is ‘zero risk’, study confirms
BBC Health – 2 May 2019
A study of nearly 1,000 gay male couples in The Lancet found no cases of HIV transmission over eight years. This was due to treatment reducing the virus to very low levels in the body. Read the full story.