Man with epilepsy in Leeds died in fall after pharmacy ran out of drug

A man with epilepsy died in a fall after his pharmacy reportedly left him an “IOU” for his prescribed medication when it ran out of an anti-epileptic drug.David Crompton, a 44-year-old man in Leeds, died on 13 December after a fall downstairs resulted in a loss of oxygen to his brain and a cardiac arrest.A coroner’s report on Crompton’s death, originally reported in P3Pharmacy, found that his epilepsy was a contributing factor, as he was prescribed Tegretol but left without the medication after his pharmacy, Midway Pharmacy in Pudsey, was unable to supply it.It was the second time he had been left without the drug after the pharmacy was unable to supply it. The first was in April 2024, when Crompton was left without medication for about 10 days, during which time he had a first fall

Coroner issues warning about antidepressants after suicide of royal’s husband

A coroner has issued a warning about the effects of antidepressants prescribed by a Buckingham Palace doctor to the son-in-law of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent before his suicide.Thomas Kingston, 45, whose marriage to Lady Gabriella at Windsor Castle in 2019 was attended by the late Queen, killed himself last February after “suffering adverse effects of medication he had recently been prescribed”, an inquest found last month.On Friday the coroner, Katy Skerrett, warned the medication used could lead to more deaths without a change in guidance and labelling about the risks.The inquest at Gloucestershire coroner’s court heard that after complaining of poor sleep and stress at work as a financier, Kingston had initially been given the antidepressant sertraline and zopiclone, a sleeping tablet, by a GP at the Royal Mews surgery, a practice at Buckingham Palace used by royal household staff.Kingston returned to the surgery saying they were not making him feel better and his doctor moved him from sertraline to citalopram, a similar drug in a type known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

MPs write to Wes Streeting asking for action plan on 14 hospitals in crisis

MPs have written to Wes Streeting, the health secretary, asking for his action plan to help the 14 hospitals declaring critical incidents under winter pressure.The health and social care committee wrote to Streeting on Friday asking him to spell out “what specific immediate additional support, including financial support” would be provided to trusts declaring critical incidents.It also asked if the trusts would be given support after the crisis period had passed where they had diverted other staff and services from elective to acute provision.The committee, led by the Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, said it wanted an urgent update on the state of support for the hospitals, with 14 currently in a critical status due to “exceptionally high” demand on A&E and patients being admitted to wards. The winter crisis this year appears to have been driven by flu cases, as well as RSV and Covid

Guardian and Observer readers give more than £1.5m for victims of war

Generous readers have given more than £1.5m to the Guardian and Observer charity appeal in aid of victims of conflict and war – and there are nearly three days still left to make a donation.The milestone was reached on Friday afternoon, suggesting the latest appeal will become one of our most successful in terms of cash raised. More than 13,000 people have so far donated. The appeal closes at midnight on Sunday 12 January

Our appeal has raised £1.5m for those affected by war. You can still donate

A few weeks ago we launched our appeal in aid of victims of war and conflict in a mood of both gloom and optimism: despair at the terrible scale of human suffering in the world this year, but hope generated by the inspiring work of our partner charities.As we enter the last weekend of the appeal, it is clear that while there is little relief from the violence and misery, whether in Gaza, Ukraine or Sudan or beyond, the appeal has offered extremely positive glimmers of hope. We have raised the enormous sum of £1.5m.Our three 2024 appeal partner charities will share in the money raised

‘Telford model’ is more effective for child abuse inquiries, says former chair

Public inquiries are seen as the “Rolls-Royce solution” to tackling the grooming gangs scandal but local reviews are more effective, the former chair of the Telford child sexual exploitation (CSE) inquiry has said.Tom Crowther KC said the “Telford model” led to real progress in the Shropshire town and could be used in towns across the country looking into similar CSE scandals.He said: “Everyone wants a public inquiry. It’s seen as the Rolls-Royce solution. But we couldn’t have had the result that we’ve had in Telford through a public inquiry