Having my ears syringed left me with tinnitus | Letter

I sympathise with Freya Bennett (A moment that changed me: I was planning to be a musician – then I had my ears syringed, 11 March). In 2010, I found that my hearing was being muffled by a buildup of wax in my ears. I had always imagined that having ones ears syringed was a straightforward, risk-free process.An appointment was made at my local GP practice, and a healthcare assistant, without any explanation as to what to expect or any warning about side-effects, essentially turned the irrigation machine, like a water pistol, up to full and blasted out the wax. The power of the jet was such that I actually jerked my head away in shock

‘They were comparing me to Bonnie Blue’: the disturbing rise of nightlife content

Footage of women walking between bars and clubs in UK city centres, often filmed covertly, is proliferating online – attracting thousands of views and profits for those who post them. Can anything be done to stop the creepshots?‘My friend just sent me this video, told me she’d found me in it,” read the text. “As I was looking for myself, I noticed you’re in it too. I didn’t know I was being filmed, guess you don’t either, just wanted to let you know …”When Nancy Naylor Hayes received the message in November 2023, she felt a twinge of fear. It was from an acquaintance she hadn’t heard from in years

‘Missed opportunities’ to prevent woman’s death in prison cell fire, inquest finds

There were “missed opportunities” that could have prevented the death of a woman with severe mental illness from “sustained inhalation of smoke” after a fire in her prison cell, an inquest has found.Clare Dupree, 48, from Cardiff, died after she used a vape to start a fire at HMP Eastwood Park in Gloucestershire just after Christmas 2022.Directed to reach a narrative conclusion by the coroner Maria Voisin, after a four-week inquest at Avon coroner’s court, the jury found that a “lack of automatic in-cell fire detection caused a delay in detecting the fire”.Jurors also found that an incorrect diagnosis of emotionally unstable personality disorder had “contributed to her incarceration” in the first place.Her sister, Rachel Thorrington, said “Clare was just such a happy, kind, outgoing person, she’d do anything for anyone”

‘It’s like Covid II’: Canterbury’s student hangouts left empty by meningitis scare

At The Cricketers pub in the centre of Canterbury, staff had been geared up for lively St Patrick’s Day celebrations. The pub’s “Paddy shots” were on offer: two for £7. Irish music played in the background. But, on Tuesday lunchtime, there were few revellers.“Normally, as soon as the doors open on St Patrick’s Day, we’re full,” said the manager, Ash Bolonghe, casting his arm around the near-empty pub, with only a handful of customers

Meningitis B: what are the symptoms, how is it spread and is there a vaccine?

Health officials have confirmed that meningitis B is the strain identified in some of the cases in Kent, in an outbreak that has killed two young people and left 15 others seriously ill.Meningitis is an infection of the protective lining of the brain and spinal cord. It is caused by different bacteria and viruses. Meningitis B, known as MenB, is the most common form of invasive meningococcal disease. It is caused by the Neisseria meningitidis bacteria, also known as the meningococcus

Tell us: how is the meningitis outbreak in Canterbury being handled?

A meningitis outbreak in Kent has been linked to a strain that most young people are not routinely vaccinated against, with two people confirmed to have died and 11 more in hospital. Health officials have offered antibiotics to those at risk, as authorities work to contain the spread.We want to hear from people living in Canterbury and the surrounding area whether the outbreak is being well managed by the authorities.How is it affecting you and your community? How has the response from the university, schools and health authorities been handled? How are people around you feeling, and what support is available? Have you or someone you know been affected?You can share your responses with us in the form below or by messaging us. We will contact you first before we use your submission