'No Stafford Hospital cover up'

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Hospital boss tells of 'sorrow'

18 April 2011 Last updated at 16:52 GMT The former head of the health authority which ran Stafford Hospital has apologised to a public inquiry for failing to spot problems there.

Cynthia Bower was the chief executive of the West Midlands Strategic Health Authority, which ran the hospital at the height of its problems.

She expressed "deep sorrow" at the inquiry, saying patients had been let down.

Ms Bower was giving evidence at an inquiry into the hospital's failings.

It is looking at the role of regulatory bodies after a higher than expected number of deaths between 2005 and 2008.

The inquiry continues.

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Hospital obesity admissions soar

24 February 2011 Last updated at 10:45 GMT Experts say more cases of obesity should be treated The number of people admitted to hospital in England for obesity-related reasons rose by more than 30% last year.

But NHS statistics also show the increase in obesity rates in adults seen in recent years may be flattening out.

Experts believe it is too early to say if rates of obesity are now decreasing.

The health watchdog NICE recently advised that more cases of serious obesity should be treated in hospital.

There has also been a change in the way hospital procedures are recorded, meaning more obesity-related operations make their way into the statistics.

The number of weight-loss hospital procedures (bariatric operations) carried out in England rose by 70%, from just over 4,200 in 2008/09 to just over 7,200 in 2009/10.

Eighty per cent of these operations were carried out on women, and more were carried out in the East Midlands and London than any other regions.

Downward trend?

The report by the NHS Information Centre estimates that between 2008 and 2009, the percentage of obese men fell from 24% to 22%, while in women the figure went from 25% to 24%.

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"Hospital admissions in the last financial year topped 10,000 for the first time”

End Quote Tim Straughan, NHS Information Centre chief executive The fall is not regarded as being statistically significant and more data from future years will be needed to see if a downward trend in obesity levels is developing.

NHS Information Centre chief executive Tim Straughan said the figures show the number of hospital admissions, procedures and prescriptions related to obesity are continuing to increase in England.

"Hospital admissions in the last financial year topped 10,000 for the first time, while bariatric procedures passed 7,000.

"This report brings together different strands of information to show how obesity impacts upon our society, both in the community and in our hospitals, and gives health professionals and policy makers a clearer picture of how this affects the health service and how it is changing over time."

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SA murder suspect taken to hospital

22 February 2011 Last updated at 09:34 GMT Shrien Dewani was taken to the Bristol Royal Infirmary on Sunday A man accused of ordering the murder of his wife during their honeymoon in South Africa is being treated in hospital, his spokesman has said.

Shrien Dewani, who has been suffering from clinical depression and a stress disorder, was taken to Bristol Royal Infirmary on Sunday, Max Clifford said.

South African authorities want him to be extradited to stand trial accused of ordering the shooting of his wife Anni.

Mr Dewani has denied any involvement in his wife's death.

The 31-year-old, who is on bail, was unable to attend a recent court hearing because he is suffering from depression and severe post-traumatic stress disorder.

'Increasingly concerned'

Mr Clifford said: "He's been increasingly ill over the last couple of months, he's been losing weight.

"Those close to him obviously have become increasingly concerned about his health.

"All Shrien wants, all the family wants, is for the truth to come out.

"If the truth comes out it will be clearly shown that he had nothing to do with this tragedy.

"When he comes out of hospital he is probably going to have to have 24-hour nursing."

Mr Dewani and his 28-year-old Swedish wife had been married for two weeks when she was killed.

The couple's taxi was hijacked on 13 November in Cape Town as they travelled through the Gugulethu township.

Mrs Dewani's body was later found in the abandoned car. Mr Dewani had been released unharmed.

One of the men accused of murdering Mrs Dewani, Mziwamadoda Qwabe, has claimed in a statement released by police that the hijacking which led to her death was staged.

Mr Qwabe and Xolile Mngeni are charged with murder, kidnapping and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

They are due to appear before Wynberg Regional Court in Cape Town on 25 February.

Taxi driver Zola Tongo has already been jailed for 18 years after admitting his role in the murder and making a confession that implicated Mr Dewani.

An extradition hearing has been set for 3 May at Woolwich Crown Court.

Lawyers for Mr Dewani have said they will question whether he would receive a fair trial if extradited.

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