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03/12/2009
Other News In Brief
Evacuations Follow Explosion
An explosion after a fire involving acetylene cylinders in an industrial unit has forced the evacuation of about 250 homes in West Sussex. The fire broke out just before 2am and involved a truck, tyres, diesel and welding equipment from the unit, which was a vehicle recovery business. It was located next to the railway track so trains between Worthing and Littlehampton have been disrupted - but alternative transport has already been offered - with rail operator Southern warning commuters of cancellations as well as timetable changes. Worthing Borough Council has opened a temporary rest centre available to people who have left their homes. A spokesman for West Sussex Fire and Rescue said the type of cylinder was "highly volatile" when involved in fire and even when being cooled. However, the cause of the fire is still being investigated.
Humps Make Easier Train Access
The Aberdyfi railway station has built a hump to make access to trains easier for people with mobility problems. It cost £70,000 and it is made of glass-reinforced plastic, which can be adjusted in the factory to suit a particular station. Passengers with small children and pushchairs, the elderly or those with heavy luggage got into difficulties at Aberdyfi so until now they had to go to the nearest station, Gwynedd. This is only the first step of a plan - pending funding confirmation - that includes the renovation of other rural stations in Wales, which have low platforms due to their construction around 150 years ago, when there were no standard designs. Normally rebuilding one basic platform would cost around £250,000 and actually the small number of people using rural stations doesn't allow cost effective solution to the problem.
Boffin Suspended For Workplace Booze
A medical scientist with NHS Grampian, Colin MacInnes, has been suspended for a year after being considered guilty of misconduct. He admitted being drunk while he was working in a hospital, where he was found slumped against a lift during a nightshift at the haematology department. His behaviour delayed processing patient blood samples in the laboratory. A Health Professions Council (HPC) hearing earlier ruled his fitness to practise was impaired. Mr MacInnes said that was having a 'midlife crisis', and that his behaviour was a "disgrace". His colleagues said the incident that occurred last September was the only one in his 17 year unblemished career. However, he is no longer working with NHS Grampian.
Hotel Closed By Sickness Outbreak
The three-star Scarisbrick Hotel, in Southport, has been closed after more than 90 guests and members of staff have fallen ill since Friday. It seems to be a form of the norovirus although the Health Protection Agency is still investigating the outbreak, as well as the death of an elderly guest, which is thought not to be linked with the vomiting and diarrhoea caused by the hotel problems. It was closed on Wednesday as a precautionary measure and will reopen on Saturday.
Working For Safer Roads
Research in injury prevention has uncovered disturbing results about road safety in UK. Over one per cent of the population of England and Wales have been bereaved as a result of a road traffic crash. Around the world, more than one million people are killed by accidents every year, of which 3,000 are from UK and 10 times as many people result seriously injured or disabled. Moreover, a five-year study of hospital admissions for road injuries in England shows that the injury toll for cyclists is much higher than it is for car drivers and passengers. Excluding injuries that did not involve collision with vehicles, the number of hospital admissions for pedestrians and cyclists injured by vehicles was around two thirds as high. Figures show that, if an international comparison is done, both injury and death rates per distance travelled by cyclists in the UK are more than three times those found in the Netherlands or Denmark.
(CL/BMcC)
An explosion after a fire involving acetylene cylinders in an industrial unit has forced the evacuation of about 250 homes in West Sussex. The fire broke out just before 2am and involved a truck, tyres, diesel and welding equipment from the unit, which was a vehicle recovery business. It was located next to the railway track so trains between Worthing and Littlehampton have been disrupted - but alternative transport has already been offered - with rail operator Southern warning commuters of cancellations as well as timetable changes. Worthing Borough Council has opened a temporary rest centre available to people who have left their homes. A spokesman for West Sussex Fire and Rescue said the type of cylinder was "highly volatile" when involved in fire and even when being cooled. However, the cause of the fire is still being investigated.
Humps Make Easier Train Access
The Aberdyfi railway station has built a hump to make access to trains easier for people with mobility problems. It cost £70,000 and it is made of glass-reinforced plastic, which can be adjusted in the factory to suit a particular station. Passengers with small children and pushchairs, the elderly or those with heavy luggage got into difficulties at Aberdyfi so until now they had to go to the nearest station, Gwynedd. This is only the first step of a plan - pending funding confirmation - that includes the renovation of other rural stations in Wales, which have low platforms due to their construction around 150 years ago, when there were no standard designs. Normally rebuilding one basic platform would cost around £250,000 and actually the small number of people using rural stations doesn't allow cost effective solution to the problem.
Boffin Suspended For Workplace Booze
A medical scientist with NHS Grampian, Colin MacInnes, has been suspended for a year after being considered guilty of misconduct. He admitted being drunk while he was working in a hospital, where he was found slumped against a lift during a nightshift at the haematology department. His behaviour delayed processing patient blood samples in the laboratory. A Health Professions Council (HPC) hearing earlier ruled his fitness to practise was impaired. Mr MacInnes said that was having a 'midlife crisis', and that his behaviour was a "disgrace". His colleagues said the incident that occurred last September was the only one in his 17 year unblemished career. However, he is no longer working with NHS Grampian.
Hotel Closed By Sickness Outbreak
The three-star Scarisbrick Hotel, in Southport, has been closed after more than 90 guests and members of staff have fallen ill since Friday. It seems to be a form of the norovirus although the Health Protection Agency is still investigating the outbreak, as well as the death of an elderly guest, which is thought not to be linked with the vomiting and diarrhoea caused by the hotel problems. It was closed on Wednesday as a precautionary measure and will reopen on Saturday.
Working For Safer Roads
Research in injury prevention has uncovered disturbing results about road safety in UK. Over one per cent of the population of England and Wales have been bereaved as a result of a road traffic crash. Around the world, more than one million people are killed by accidents every year, of which 3,000 are from UK and 10 times as many people result seriously injured or disabled. Moreover, a five-year study of hospital admissions for road injuries in England shows that the injury toll for cyclists is much higher than it is for car drivers and passengers. Excluding injuries that did not involve collision with vehicles, the number of hospital admissions for pedestrians and cyclists injured by vehicles was around two thirds as high. Figures show that, if an international comparison is done, both injury and death rates per distance travelled by cyclists in the UK are more than three times those found in the Netherlands or Denmark.
(CL/BMcC)
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04 July 2012
Personal Injuries Claims Soar
Insurance analysts have revealed a sharp rise in the number of people making personal injury claims, following a road accident. A report from the Actuarial Profession reveals that despite an 11% fall in the number of road accidents in 2011, personal injury claims rose by 18%, potentially costing the insurance industry an extra £400m a year.
Personal Injuries Claims Soar
Insurance analysts have revealed a sharp rise in the number of people making personal injury claims, following a road accident. A report from the Actuarial Profession reveals that despite an 11% fall in the number of road accidents in 2011, personal injury claims rose by 18%, potentially costing the insurance industry an extra £400m a year.
06 October 2006
BBC to show Hammond crash
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03 March 2005
Prisoner on the run following taxi escape
Police are searching for a convicted robber who escaped from a taxi in which he was being transported to hospital. Neil Brennan, 21, had been in the taxi with two prison guards, who were accompanying him to Hope Hospital in Salford, Greater Manchester to receive treatment for a hand injury yesterday.
Prisoner on the run following taxi escape
Police are searching for a convicted robber who escaped from a taxi in which he was being transported to hospital. Neil Brennan, 21, had been in the taxi with two prison guards, who were accompanying him to Hope Hospital in Salford, Greater Manchester to receive treatment for a hand injury yesterday.
04 September 2003
Beckham likely to shake off groin injury
England captain, David Beckham is likely to shake off a groin injury and declare himself fit for this Saturday's Euro 2004 qualifier in Macedonia.
Beckham likely to shake off groin injury
England captain, David Beckham is likely to shake off a groin injury and declare himself fit for this Saturday's Euro 2004 qualifier in Macedonia.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A chilly start with a widespread frost and some freezing fog, any freezing fog slow to clear. Otherwise bright with sunny spells and coastal showers. Light winds. Maximum temperature 6 °C.Tonight:Coastal showers dying out with a widespread frost developing along with freezing fog, which could become extensive. Winds remaining light. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
