We can still rely on the kindness of strangers | Letters

I can readily confirm Martin Kettle’s points (Need cheering up after a terrible year? I may have just the story you’re looking for, 28 December). I tripped up while last-minute Christmas shopping in Nailsworth on Christmas Eve; couldn’t move, very painful. The passersby and staff from a nearby shop were helpful and sympathetic. They must have been busy, but they freely gave me their time and cheered me up. The ambulance came quickly and the amazing paramedics correctly assessed my problem, getting me to Southmead hospital in Bristol

Flu patient numbers in English hospitals fall for second straight week

The number of people in hospital with flu in England has fallen for the second week in a row, NHS figures show, as England’s top doctor said the health service was “far from complacent” as a cold snap takes hold.An average of 2,676 flu patients were in hospital each day during the week ending 28 December, down 13% from 3,061 the previous week.The figure had previously been on an upwards trend, reaching 3,140 in the week ending 14 December. Last winter, weekly flu numbers for England peaked at 5,408 patients.A total of 128 flu patients were in critical care beds in England last week, up from 117 the previous week

Coroner calls for circumcision safety measures after baby’s death in London

A coroner has warned that more babies could die from infected circumcisions in the UK after the death of a six-month-old boy exposed a lack of infection control training and accreditation for circumcisers.Mohamed Abdisamad died in February 2023 of a streptococcus infection. He had a cardiorespiratory arrest on his way to hospital a week after undergoing a non-therapeutic circumcision, an inquest at west London coroner’s court found in October.In a prevention of future deaths report published this week, the assistant coroner Anton van Dellen urged the government to take action to avoid similar tragedies.He wrote: “During the inquest, the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern

UK children to get chickenpox vaccine with measles, mumps and rubella jab

Children in the UK are to be immunised against chickenpox at the same time as measles, mumps and rubella.The NHS across the UK’s four home nations will administer a combined vaccine to young children to protect them against all four diseases from Friday.The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) jab, which has been used since 1988, is being replaced by a combined MMRV vaccine that includes immunisation against chickenpox, also known as varicella.Infants will be offered two doses, at 12 and 18 months, to reduce their risk of catching chickenpox. The first appointments at GP surgeries to receive the vaccine are being held on Friday

The reason for Italy’s ‘demographic winter’ | Letters

The Italian “demographic winter” has a number of causes, but rising male biological infertility is not one (A child is born: Italians celebrate village’s first baby in 30 years, 26 December).A lot of worry about falling sperm counts has been generated by some studies, but a more recent meta‑analysis found, through inclusion of regional controls, an increase in US sperm counts between 1970 and 2018. Sperm counts may be falling in places like the Chinese province of Henan, which has substantial air and water pollution, but there is limited evidence that sperm counts are falling in the developed world.In 2024, the Pew Research Center asked women and men over 50 who never had children why they hadn’t. Around a third (31%) didn’t want them, but more prolific reasons included “it just never happened” (39%) and “didn’t find the right partner” (33%)

Two charities that received £1.1m from Sackler Trust kept anonymous to prevent ‘serious prejudice’

Two charities that received a combined total of more than £1.1m from the British charitable trust run by the Sackler family were kept out of its latest accounts to protect their reputations from “serious prejudice”.The trust, which draws on the Sackler fortune that came out of the US opioid crisis, gave £3.8m to arts, eduction and science bodies in 2024, according to its latest accounts, filed on New Year’s Eve.The largest named recipients – each receiving £250,000 – were Veterans Aid, which tackles homelessness in the ex-service community, and the Belvoir Cricket and Countryside Trust, which works to develop an appreciation for the British countryside and promotes a love of sport, especially cricket