Other UK News In Brief

Patients Come First In Arctic Conditions, Says BMA



The British Medical Association (BMA) today paid tribute to the thousands of doctors across Northern Ireland who have been struggling in arctic conditions to get to work to keep hospitals and GP surgeries running.

 Dr Stephen Austin, Deputy Chairman of the BMA’s Council in Northern Ireland said: 

“In the worst weather for many years, the dedication of our local doctors, and indeed of all health service staff, is apparent.

 As doctors, our patients must come first. Despite the arctic conditions, doctors have been making best efforts not only to get to work, but to stay and cover for those colleagues who find themselves snowed in or running late due to poor road conditions”.

 Dr Austin continued: 

“This care for patients will continue over Christmas and New Year, with doctors and their colleagues working round the clock to make sure those in hospital receive the best care possible”.

Unsafe Roofwork Led To Fatal Fall

Two companies from Cardiff and Surrey have been prosecuted after a man fell to his death through a rooflight. Surrey-based Open Contracts Ltd, and Cardiff-based sub-contractor Malcolm Dunn, have been prosecuted at Southwark Crown Court following the death of a worker. In July 2007, Paul Morrissey, 57, of Penarth, Cardiff, fell to his death while working to replace old rooflights in an industrial unit. Mr Morrissey had been cutting the bolts which were securing an old rooflight, intending to replace it with a new one. It is not known what caused him to fall nearly seven metres through the rooflight onto the concrete floor below. However, the removal of the fixings securing the rooflight meant that only slight pressure would have made it give way beneath him. There was no one else on the roof at the time and critically, there was nothing to break his fall. He died at the scene. The investigation by HSE found that the contractor appointed to carry out the work had little knowledge or experience of this type of roofwork. There was also evidence that there was a basic failure to plan the work adequately. Open Contracts Ltd, from Woking, Surrey, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to breaching regulations of the Work at Height Regulations. The company was fined £60,000 and ordered to pay costs of £29,757. Sub-contractor, Malcolm Dunn, from Cardiff, who was trading as 3D Coatings, pleaded guilty to breaching regulations of the Work at Height Regulations. He was fined £2,000 with no costs. He was ordered to pay this within two years or face a custodial sentence in the event of default of payment.

Agents Banned From Operating For Ten Years

The owners of a West Lothian entertainment and model agency have today been banned from running an employment agency for the maximum possible period of ten years. The case was heard at Glasgow Employment Tribunal and follows a successful investigation by the Employment Agency Standards (EAS), which is part of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The Tribunal heard how Glynn Davies was convicted on 18 September 2009 at Edinburgh High Court of indecent assault against a 17 year old girl and taking pornographic photographs of her. He was also convicted of offences arising out of the discovery of paedophiliac images and videos on his computers. Mr. Davies was sentenced to a total of two years imprisonment for these sexual offences and was released from prison on 19 April 2010. Mr. Davies was placed on the Sex Offenders Register and Disqualified from Working with Children for indefinite periods. He had operated as an entertainment agency for approximately 20 years and traded with his wife Susan Davies as Lothian Variety, and more recently as Emkay Entertainments. The Tribunal made a separate prohibition order, with conditions, against Mrs. Davies, for the maximum period of ten years. This order prevents Mr. Davies from having access to premises or contact with persons using an employment agency that Mrs. Davies might operate during the ten year period. This order was made to protect clients and prospective clients.

(BMcN/GK)