NHS reforms to be recommended by report into Stafford Hospital
Wide-ranging reforms of the National Health Service will be recommended by a public inquiry into serious failings of care at Stafford Hospital. The £11 million review of what went wrong at Stafford Hospital between January 2005 and March 2009 will suggest hospitals that cover up mistakes by doctors and poor treatment of patients should face fines and possible closure, the Sunday Times said. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, writing in the Sunday Telegraph, said that the NHS needed a "change of culture. Patients must never be treated as numbers but as human beings, indeed human beings at their frailest and most vulnerable," he wrote. "A culture of targets and performance management defined the NHS under Labour - with the unintended and tragic consequence that organisations cared more about meeting top down targets than focusing on the needs of patients."
Pray: for all NHS staff most of whom work hard and professionally. Where deficiencies arise pray that they can be addressed quickly. (Rev.21:4)
More: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/wideranging-nhs-reforms-to-be-recommended-by-report-into-scandalhit-stafford-hospital-8439947.html
UK among worst nations for family breakdown
The UK has one of the highest levels of family breakdown in the developed world, a new league table shows. Family campaigners called it an “epidemic” and said it is high time “timid politicians” took action to back marriage and stop playing politics. Only Belgium, Estonia and Latvia have a higher level of broken families than the UK, according to a survey of 30 developed nations. The survey was carried out by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Just 68.9 per cent of children live with both parents in the UK, compared to an average of 84 per cent in the 30 nations surveyed by OECD. Christian Guy, of the Centre for Social Justice, said: “Timid politicians are becoming numb to Britain’s sky-high family breakdown rates. “Yet, as these OECD figures show, broken families are not some inevitable feature of modern society or social progress.
Pray: for greater support to encourage stability in family life in the UK. (1Tim.5:8)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/uk-among-worst-nations-for-family-breakdown/
Wycliffe fundraising for new aircraft to support Bible translation
Wycliffe Associates USA is seeking to acquire a specially designed aircraft to support Bible translation efforts in Papua New Guinea. The organisation is raising funds to purchase a fourth Kodiak aircraft for service in Papua New Guinea, home to 830 different languages. Air travel is a vital part of Bible translation work in there because of the country's difficult terrain of mountains and jungles. Most Bible translators rely on air travel to get around and reach remote translation locations. “Without an aircraft, reaching some language groups can take up to five days. It is a critical tool to reach language groups who are crying out for God’s Word,” says President and CEO Bruce Smith, who is a former missionary pilot. “Insurmountable mountain peaks, dense rainforests, and hard-to-reach islands in Papua New Guinea make sharing the truth and hope of God’s Word time-consuming and extremely difficult.” The Kodiak has been developed with missionary work in mind.
Pray: for Wycliffe, their work and the current need for a new aircraft. (Matt.28:19)
More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/wycliffe.fundraising.for.new.aircraft.to.support.bible.translation/31389.htm
Children forego birthday gifts for vulnerable children
A brother and sister decided to sacrifice their birthday presents this year in aid of children in care. Instead of their usual birthday parties this year, Elsie Parlor, 7, and her younger brother, Alfred, 5, held a joint fundraising disco in Newport Pagnell. In place of gifts, guests were asked to put a donation for St Francis’ Children’s Society in a bucket. Donations from the night raised £260 to help find adoptive parents for children in care. Dominik Byrne, fundraising officer at St Francis’ Children’s Society said: ‘The whole team was moved when we heard about this party. Although parents often generously make donations, many of us are guilty of forgetting that children are often eager to help too. Elsie and Alfred are the first to have such a party – what a brilliant idea. They’ve inspired us to create party packs containing goodies, literature and a collection box for any other children who’d like to help.’
Praise: God for these caring young people and their idea; may many others be inspired to give. (Ps.100:1)
