Harrogate Hospital Release Wrong Body For Burial

A recent "Freedom of Information" study found hospitals in the Yorkshire area to have a large amount of untoward incidents which were recorded throughout the study and included a wrong body being released for burial, being exhumed and reburied when the mistake was released, inadequate response to child protection and wrong equipment being used during children's surgery amongst other incidents. When reading this sort of report it's easy to think "it would never happen to me," but is that really true? 

The "Freedom of Information" study found over 51 untoward incidents in hospitals localised around the Yorkshire region of the U.K from January 2009 - October 2010. Not all of these cases were related to children but a large portion were; and those results are the most shocking when we place our faith in doctors and hospitals to look after our children. Finding out that they may not be doing that at all is quite a thought. Add to this thought that all these incidents were going unnoticed throughout those two years and that they only came to light during a routine information study it really shakes peoples faith in the medical system. 

It's not all doom and gloom, however. Despite the large number of incidents that were recorded in hospitals it is reassuring that they have been picked up on and bought to the public's attention. With the public scrutinising the hospitals with the most untoward incidents it is likely that such incidents will decrease in frequency. This study may help the Government bring in measures to monitor the goings-on within hospitals on a higher level, also, to make sure the rules are being kept to. We can also take heart in the fact that, most times, the hospitals realise their mistake fairly promptly and strive to put it right, for example; the hospital applied to the Ministry of Justice for a licence to exhume the body of the man they released for the wrong burial. Said man was reburied appropriately. 

Whilst these sorts of eye-opening reports do test our calibre and faith in the NHS and the medical system it is safe to say that they are not common. Out of the many adults and children that the hospitals in Yorkshire treat only 51 of these were involved in untoward incidents. In perspective, it's not a great deal. It's no relief to the families or people affected by these incidents but its a relief to those reading the study with worry and concern. 

Student Fees Increase

Chances are that if you're currently living in England you've heard about the Conservatives plan to raise student tuition fees. This announcement came just months after the Conservatives formed a "coalition" government, an amalgamation of two government parties when an election is tied, and led to an uproar amongst students and teachers alike.

Universities in the UK are currently restricted on what they can charge with £3,290 being the maximum. For many students, the government will pay tuition fees for them until a student graduates and is in full-time employment and earning above £15,000 a year when a certain percentage of their income will be taken to pay back the tuition fee debt. However, the new proposals by the Conservative party mean that universities will be able to charge up to £9000 a year and government funding may not cover all this cost, as it currently does.

The Conservatives have defended their decision to raise student fees saying that "it will make up for lost state funding," claiming it is a "progressive reform" and gives a "greater choice for students" with a "stronger focus on high quality teaching." The 'Russell Group of Leading Universities' claims that the fees increase is "the only way for the UK to remain a serious global player in HE." The Conservatives have emphasised that universities will be closely monitored and that there will be rules in place to ensure students from a poorer background are offered the chance to go to university despite the high fees.

The fees increase has enraged many students and teachers. The higher fees and lack of increase in government funding to support the fees increase means that many students, from poor and wealthy households alike, will be put off by the idea of going to uni due to huge debts they will rack up in doing so. With a decrease in students attending university many universities who are already suffering as a result of the lost state funding, such as University of Gloucestershire, will struggle to keep up their courses and many will fall into debt and closure. This will lead to a decreased choice of university for those students still wishing to study at university and a loss of jobs in the teaching sector.

The Conservatives plan to raise fees has an incredible knock-on effect from the start and will effect students and teachers all over England. Students and teachers have been rioting for months after the Conservatives revealed their plans and even members of the Lib Dem party, the coalition party, have publicly opposed the change. Although many claim that the fees increase will help keep the UK up in the global HE market it is unlikely this is really true. The fees increase will cut down universities, students and jobs and create a shaky HE market within the UK.

What are you views on the fees increase? Are you for or against? Tell me why!

V.A.T Increase

Today the Conservatives in the U.K hiked the V.A.T from 17.5% to 20%. V.A.T is a tax levied on goods and services; added on to the original value. All goods and services are eligible for V.A.T however food stuffs are exempt. Both customers and businesses have to pay V.A.T; businesses on the raw goods and customers on the final goods. Some companies are choosing not to pass the V.A.T increase onto their customers when it came into effect today; choosing, instead, to bear the extra cost themselves. For many companies, this will mean a decrease in profits however most businesses are prepared to accept this loss as the increased V.A.T on their goods will mean a decrease in shoppers.

The decision to raise the V.A.T has been widely contested, especially by the Labour Party who argue that it will "cost the average family £7.50 more a week." With the economy still unstable and jobs rare many families, especially those living on benefits, will struggle to meet this demand for extra money as their incomes will not reflect the hike. Many have also commented on the other effects the rise in V.A.T will have in the economy; retail sales will drop by "£2.2 bn a year," many small businesses will declare bankruptcy and thousands of jobs will be cut. Labour party members have been commenting that the rise in V.A.T will cause many families to suffer as they are forced to find "£7.50" extra a week. The Conservatives, however, have defended their decision to raise V.A.T by arguing that the "£13bn" raised annually as a result of the hike will pay off the U.K's huge deficiency and the record debts made as a result of Labour's time in parliament. The Conservatives have argued that the rise will help keep the economy stable and prevent a recession from re-occuring. With the economy only just recovering from the huge recession that shook the U.K only a year ago many are keen to make sure it doesn't happen again. The Conservatives have assured that the economy is much more unlikely to slip into a recession with this increase.

The majority of people are disappointed in the Conservatives choice to hike V.A.T but what are your opinions? Are you for or against the changes?

First Post!

It has long been my aim to start a 'serious' blog - blogging about various issues that arise in everyday situations, such as university discussions, or in the media. At 20 years old i am beginning to think about my future career after university and, having landed upon journalism as my main interest, have realised the need to build on my skills for the C.V i will, no doubt, have to present to numerous employers upon graduation. Looking for a career in journalism inevitably means i will need to have a portfolio of non-fiction, journalistic pieces to show to any employer and this is something i do not have, as a fiction writer.

Upon the recommendation of many of my friends, i signed up for a blog here on blogspot and, well, here i am! I hope this will be the 'serious' blog i have been searching for; where i can discuss various issues arising in the media, in my university and home life and exercise my journalistic skills. I hope that when, potential, future employers ask to see some examples of my journalistic writings i can direct them to this page; confident in the knowledge that there are some fine pieces portrayed.

My first post will, likely, not be posted until Friday or, failing that, Monday at the latest to give me time to come up with some ideas! However I aim, currently, to post daily but this may be pushed to twice a week, or even weekly, dependending on my university and work schedule. I welcome any comments you, the readers, may want to make on my pieces but please refrain from sparking arguments or posting 'hate' comments. Some of my articles may be controversial and you may not agree with my opinions or statements but please be polite in your comments.

Thanks for reading and i hope you will enjoy future blog postings! I look forward to meeting all of you!