UK has too many hospital births

Women should no longer assume they will give birth in hospital with a doctor on hand.

In a watershed moment, leading medical experts declared that mothers should be given more opportunity to have babies at home because a maternity ward is not necessarily the 'safer option'.

A report by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists suggests that as many as a third of all women should give birth 'without a doctor going anywhere near them'.

House call: Medical experts are urging more women to give birth at home

It calls for a radical shake-up in the NHS which could lead to thousands more women having babies at home, as was the case 50 years ago.

In 1959, more than a third of women gave birth at home but by 1988 this had fallen to a low of 0.9 per cent. By last year this had risen only slightly to 2.4 per cent, figures from the Office for National Statistics show.

Midwives have welcomed the report, saying it could improve the experience for about a third of women who have straightforward deliveries.

The proposals for maternity are part of a wider vision of delivering all women's gynaecology and obstetrics care in networks, similar to the model which has helped improve cancer treatments in England.

The National Childbirth Trust said the idea of having a network to provide joined-up care for women was one it could support but it would prefer care during pregnancy and maternity to be concentrated in one NHS organisation in each area.

The NHS confederation, which speaks for managers, described maternity care as a classic example of a service which desperately needed to be reorganised.

Chief executive Mike Farrar said politicians needed to be prepared to speak up for change.

"Where the case for change is clear, politicians should stand shoulder-to-shoulder with managers and clinicians to provide confidence to their constituents that quality and care will improve as a consequence of this change."

That has not always been the case, with two ministers in the last Labour government campaigning against the closure of units in Greater Manchester.

Hundreds of people turned out to a rally to oppose the closure of maternity services in Salford last autumn. After a review under the coalition, the NHS is pressing ahead with plans to reduce the number of units across the area from 12 to eight.

Although Scotland has reorganised some of its maternity services, there are likely to be pressures for change elsewhere in the UK.

In North Wales maternity care across three hospitals is expected to change after an initial review recently concluded improvement was needed.

Questions over PNG literacy

Literacy in Papua New Guinea has fallen below 50 per cent of the population, the PNG National Research Institute says.

The figures, obtained from national census data, show a 6 per cent drop since 2000.

The Institute is calling on the government to do more to curb the literacy rate.

Director Thomas Webster told Pacific Beat the statistics were based on surveys and did not test "functionary literacy".

The institute says the government should do more to ensure basic education is available.

Institute director Dr Thomas Webster said analysis of census figures found the literacy rate was 56 per cent but a recent study has found the actual rates are much lower.

"The reason being that the census questionnaire was based on asking people: can you read and write in English or Tok Pisin or Motu?

"And if people said yes they were ticked off and if they said no they were considered illiterate and so it was based on that question.

"There wasn't any real test to determine whether they had any functional literacy rate or not.

Dutch couple sentenced over internet baby

A DUTCH couple who bought a baby boy for €7,500 on the internet were each given eight-month suspended jail terms and sentenced to 240 hours of community service yesterday.

The couple, aged 28 and 29, replied to an advertisement placed by the baby’s parents and picked up the infant across the border in the Belgian city of Ghent shortly after he was born in June 2008, a court in Zwolle, in the east of the Netherlands, was told.

Dutch social workers discovered the transaction six months later, and the baby was handed back to the Belgian authorities just two days before Christmas 2008 – on the grounds that he would have a better future in his country of origin.

The court heard that the reason given by the baby’s parents for selling their son – initially known only as “Baby J” but later named as Jayden – was that they already had one child and could not afford a second.

However, their lawyer subsequently said they deeply regretted the decision and hoped ultimately to have Jayden, who has been living in care, returned to them.

The Dutch couple, who have not been named, denied buying the baby, and have since claimed on TV current affairs programme Netwerk that the €7,500 represented only the costs associated with the mother’s pregnancy.

After Jayden was born in Ghent in northern Belgium on July 3, 2008, the Dutch couple declared the birth under their own name at the city's municipality and returned to the Netherlands, where they used the Belgian documentation to register the birth in the town of Hardenberg.

Said the court on Thursday: "The accused only thought of their own wish to have a child and not of the implications for the baby."

Dutch prosecutors only charged the couple with an illegal adoption and using false documents as the Dutch penal code did not rule against the buying of a baby.

The baby was placed in the care of an adoptive family in December 2008.

Belgian prosecutors in Ghent said they wanted to prosecute Jayden's parents and grandmother, the Belga news agency reported, with the Ghent judges' chamber to announce a decision shortly.

Derryn Hinch

Derryn Nigel Hinch, born 9 February 1944 in New Plymouth, New Zealand, now an Australian citizen) is an Australian media personality best known for his work on Melbourne radio. He is currently the host of 3AW's drive time radio show. He has also been a police reporter, foreign correspondent, newspaper editor, television show host, novelist and vintner.

Hinch has been married four times, including twice to Australian actress Jacki Weaver. He married Chanel Hayton in February 2006.

Journalism

Hinch began his career at the age of 15 with the New Zealand Taranaki Herald. In 1963, he came to Australia on the MV Wanganella and joined The Sydney Morning Herald. By 1968 he had become a foreign correspondent for the Fairfax organisation, and finally moved to New York as bureau chief. He remained in the United States for eleven years.

Television

Hinch (Seven Network 1987 - 1991, then 1992 - 1994 Network Ten)

Beauty and the Beast (1982–1983)

The Midday Show (Nine Network)

Mars Venus (Foxtel)

Dancing with the Stars (Seven Network) (appearance)

Acting

Hinch starred as The Criminologist in the Australian tour of The Rocky Horror Show plus, has appeared as Himself in The Wog Boy with Nick Giannopoulos. He has also made cameo appearances on Fast Forward.

Health

In 2006, Hinch could be seen to have lost a considerable amount of weight and his health was believed to be in decline .

On 4 March 2007, on the Australian 60 Minutes program, Hinch revealed that he has been suffering from advanced cirrhosis of the liver, a tumourous growth had also been detected on his liver.

On 27 April 2007, Hinch went back to hospital for more scans to check the size of his liver cancer growths and said on his website daily comments that he had a well-earned day off work.

On 4 August 2007, in the Herald Sun, Hinch revealed he has an inoperable liver cancer.

On 20 September 2010, Hinch confirmed that he had been diagnosed with liver cancer, and indicated that he would soon be undergoing surgery to remove a third of his liver, taking him off air for several weeks. Doctors have reportedly said that he has a 60 per cent chance of surviving a further five years. On 4 November 2010, Hinch told his listeners that his doctors had told him that without a liver transplant, his maximum survival would be 12 months.

On 6 July 2011, Hinch underwent liver transplant surgery at the Austin Hospital in Melbourne.

Controversies

Michael Glennon

In 1985, Hinch found that Michael Glennon, who had previously been convicted on a charge of indecent assault with a minor, was to be tried on new charges while still running a youth camp. Hinch, who was concerned that parents were unknowingly sending their children to Glennon's camp, first appealed privately to then Victoria Premier John Cain and the then-Attorney General, as well as the head of the Roman Catholic Church in Australia, but in Hinch's words, they "washed their hands" of the situation.Subsequently Hinch publicly identified Glennon during his trial on the third set of charges, in spite of the strong sub judice rule under Australian jurisprudence. This delayed the trial while Hinch was tried on contempt of court charges; Hinch was fined $10,000 and jailed for 12 days. This was the first time anyone had gone to jail on a prior restraint issue in Australia. 

Hinch appealed his case as far as the High Court of Australia, which affirmed his conviction. In its ruling the Court held that despite Hinch's motivation of warning the public that Glennon continued to hold a position in a youth organisation, it was sufficient to inform them of the current charges against him, and that the information about his prior conviction was prejudicial under Australian law. Hinch calls the incident "the thing I'm most proud of in my life.

Mick Gatto's call

On 24 June 2008, whilst discussing the celebrity status of underworld crime figures during his drive program Mick Gatto phoned in and had a brief confrontation with Hinch, ending with a death threat..

John Laws

On 30 July 2007, John Laws and Hinch attended the 40 Years of Radio Legends, after which Hinch complained the "event had been turned into a tribute to Laws", among other comments which caused ill feeling between the two.

On 5 December 2007, while on holiday, Hinch was abused verbally with obscenities by John Laws in unprovoked circumstances whilst dining at lunch with 2CH personality Bob Rogers in a restaurant at Woolloomooloo's Finger Wharf in Sydney.

Sexual Relationship With Underage Girl

In his 2004 book, 'The Fall and Rise of Derryn Hinch', and in a radio editorial in March 2005, Hinch admitted to having sex with a 15 year old when he was in his early thirties although he states he "thought she was about 25". Following his on-air admission, Hinch was roundly criticized by many and notably by Herald Sun journalist Andrew Bolt who called for his legal prosecution. 

Books by Derryn Hinch

Cover of The Fall and Rise of Derryn Hinch: How I Hit the Wall and Didn't Bleed

The Scrabble Book (1972, rev. ed. 1977), ISBN 0-333-23073-6

Death at Newport (1986), ISBN 0-207-15422-8

AIDS - Most of the Questions, Some of the Answers (1987), ISBN 0-9587779-1-8

Death In Paradise (1989), ISBN 0-207-16165-8

The Derryn Hinch Diet (1991), ISBN 0-14-016527-4

That's Life (1992), ISBN 0-14-016986-5

The Ultimate Guide to Winning Scrabble (2001), ISBN 1-86325-324-6

101 Ways To Lose Your Mobile Phone (2001), ISBN 0-646-40631-0

The Fall and Rise of Derryn Hinch: How I Hit the Wall and Didn't Bleed (2004), ISBN 1-74066-159-1

Criminal conviction

In June 2011, he was convicted of a crime for warning the public about two sex offenders whose names were suppressed.

Hinch in love with life

With a new liver and a new lease on life, Derryn Hinch says going home from hospital after a life-saving liver transplant is "un-bloody-believable".

The broadcaster underwent surgery on July 6 to give him a fresh liver to replace the cancerous, cirrhotic organ that was slowly killing him.

"It is something else, I'm feeling good," said the beaming 67-year-old as he emerged from the Austin Hospital on Saturday, inhaling the crisp Melbourne air.

"I'm most looking forward to getting home."

Hinch's recovery suffered a minor setback on Thursday when he had to have surgery to clear a blockage in his bile duct.

But he got the all clear to go home on Saturday.

As he walked from the hospital to his car accompanied by his teary-eyed wife Chanel Hayton, he thanked medical staff at the hospital as well as the family of his liver donor.

"The donor family, I don't know who they are, I just wish they knew what they've done; they've given me a second life and it's just awesome," he told reporters.

The donor family, I don't know who they are, I just wish they knew what they've done, they've given me a second life and it's just awesome,'' he told reporters.

``Some people walk in here then don't walk out and I'm thinking now at this minute about the people that I've met in there who I've seen on the daily walks who may not make it out.''

He urged Australians to talk to their family members about organ donation and register to become donors, ``because if somebody hadn't done that for me, I wouldn't be here,'' he said.

Ms Hayton said it was a big day, being able to take her husband home.

``He's been hoping each day (to come home) but it's better, obviously, to stay here until he's good enough to come home,'' she said. ``I didn't think it would be happening for another two weeks or so, so it's great, I'm really happy.

``It's a whole new life. We've been given a second chance at everything.''

Hospital spokeswoman Taryn Sheehy said Hinch's road to recovery was not yet over and he would need to return to hospital to see his doctors twice every week.

But he had made great progress, given that the average liver transplant patient spends three weeks in hospital, she said.

``Today is a milestone for Derryn,'' said Ms Sheehy. ``Obviously going home, he's made great progress to this point and he's going home earlier than expected.

``There's still the risk that he might develop complications and that he would have to return to hospital so he is certainly not out of the woods yet.

``The next couple of months will be a crucial time for him.

``The main thing for Derryn is for him to slow down ... he just needs time to rest.''

Hinch will now prepare to be sentenced on July 21 for breaching suppression orders by naming sex offenders. He asked the magistrate last month not to jail him, fearing he would not get to hospital in time to receive his transplant if he was in jail.

Magistrate Charlie Rozencwajg indicated he would probably sentence him to home detention, but said Hinch would be going to jail if not for his ill health.

Say g'day to next door

That’s the advice of founder and CEO of Neighbour Day, Andrew Heslop, who wants to see suburbs turn into real neighbourhoods.

And in the wake of the shocking discovery of Natalie Wood, whose body lay undisturbed in her Surry Hills terrace for up to eight years, there has never been a better time to get to know your neighbours.

``In this case we’re talking about someone who sadly fell through the cracks but it really goes to show the importance of a community,’’ Mr Heslop said.

``Having good neighbours isn’t just a safety thing…it also turns the community into a happier, more inclusive place - and it’s a much better place to live in.

``But it doesn’t need to be a big deal, it doesn’t need to be expensive or hard work, it can simply start with a ``g’day’‘.’‘

The Mt Druitt Standard is today launching Care For Your Neighbour, a campaign to promote healthy neighbourhoods. Doug Hurlstone, the face behind the soup kitchen at Whalan said it was important to check on your neighbours.

We think ‘I’m too flat out looking after myself’ but if you hold out your hand to your neighbour you will also get that support back,” she said.

“We are all busy and some don’t even know who their neighbours are.”

Founder and chief executive of Neighbour Day Andrew Heslop wants to see suburbs turn into real neighbourhoods and said it could start with a simple “g’day”.

“Having good neighbours isn’t just a safety thing ... it also turns the community into a happier, more inclusive place - and it’s a much better place to live in.

“But it doesn’t need to be a big deal, it doesn’t need to be expensive or hard work, it can simply start with a ‘g’day’.”

The Mosman Daily is today launching Care For Your Neighbour - a campaign to promote healthy neighbourhoods.

We want to hear from neighbourhoods where care and concern are a normal part of life.

It builds on Neighbour Day, started by Mr Heslop in 2003, after the similar case of a Melbourne woman whose death wasn’t spotted for two years.

Bedside hearing for nurse stabbing accused

Suffering 21 stab wounds and a broken rib, emergency nurse Edith Castro-Rivera attended the rally, describing Tuesday's attack as like being "trapped in a bad dream".

Ms Castro-Rivera was punched in the face and stabbed by a male patient armed with a butter knife.

Nurses want a full-time security guard in the emergency department. Health Minister Jillian Skinner has agreed to a guard from 10pm to 6am while a review of hospital security is conducted.

Sporting a black eye, stitches in both arms and bruises all over, Ms Castro-Rivera said: "I'm still in shock ... I never thought this would happen to me, you don't expect it to happen to anyone."

Her attack came after colleague Robyn Humphreys was assaulted by a patient in October last year.

Shane Keevil, 39, was due to attend Penrith Local Court on Friday morning to face charges related to an incident at Blacktown Hospital on Tuesday afternoon.

Keevil is charged with wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm.

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But Magistrate Annette Sinclair said Keevil was still an in-patient at Blacktown Hospital and was unable to attend the court.

His matter would be heard at a beside hearing later on Friday, Ms Sinclair said.

A nurse, named by media as Edith Castro-Rivera, was working at a computer in the emergency ward of Blacktown Hospital when a man punched her in the face and stabbed her several times with a butter knife.

Nurses at the hospital will hold a stop-work protest in Blacktown on Friday to press for increased security at the hospital.

Binge Drinking May Affect Memory of Teens

A new study, which examined gender-specific influences of binge drinking on spatial working memory (SWM), has found that female teens may be particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of the habit. Binge or "heavy episodic" drinking is prevalent during adolescence, raising concerns

about alcohol''s effects on crucial neuromaturational processes during this developmental period. Heavy alcohol use has been associated with decrements in cognitive functioning in both adult and adolescent populations, particularly on tasks of SWM.

"Even though adolescents might physically appear grown up, their brains are continuing to significantly develop and mature, particularly in frontal brain regions that are associated with higher-level thoughts, like planning and organization," said Susan F. Tapert, acting chief of psychology at the VA San Diego Healthcare System as well as professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego.

"Heavy alcohol use could interrupt normal brain cell growth during adolescence, particularly in these frontal brain regions, which could interfere with teens'' ability to perform in school and sports, and could have long-lasting effects, even months after the teen uses,” added Tapert.

Tapert and her colleagues recruited 95 participants from San Diego-area public schools as part of ongoing longitudinal studies.

The results showed binge drinking was associated with gender-specific differences in brain activation during the working spatial memory task. Male binge drinkers showed greater activation in all brain regions during the task while female binge drinkers showed less activation than non-drinkers.

For female teenage binge drinkers, these differences correlated with worse performance on the working spatial memory task as well as poorer sustained attention.

Among male teenage binge drinkers, greater activation in the brain translated to better spatial memory performance.

Researchers say the results suggest that teenage girls may be more vulnerable to the toxic effects of binge drinking on the brain while males may be more resilient.

"Females' brains develop one to two years earlier than males, so alcohol use during a different developmental stage -- despite the same age -- could account for the gender differences," Talpert says. "Hormonal levels and alcohol-induced fluctuations in hormones could also account for the gender differences. Finally, the same amount of alcohol could more negatively affect females since females tend to have slower rates of metabolism, higher body fat ratios, and lower body weight."

Researchers say these gender differences for the effects of teenage binge drinking on brain development merit further study.

"These findings remind us that adolescent boys and girls are biologically different and represent distinctive groups that require separate and parallel study," says researcher Edith V. Sullivan, PhD, professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine, in the news release.

"And yet binge-drinking is a dangerous activity for all youth," says Sullivan. "Long after a young person -- middle school to college -- enjoys acute recovery from a hang-over, this study shows that risk to cognitive and brain functions endures. The effects on the developing brain are only now being identified. 'Why tamper with normal developmental trajectories that will likely set the stage for cognitive and motor abilities for the rest of one's life?'"