Daily news summary
12.23 The latest British information summary:
. The pound exchange rate remains unchanged today, currently maintained at 8.42
. Christmas slogans
. The murderer was able to continue killing due to probation errors
. It is better for flu patients to stay away from the elderly.
5. The pharmacy system is in danger of collapse.
6. The classic Panettone is being challenged.
. The pound exchange rate remains unchanged today, currently at 8.42.
. Christmas slogans
Don’t say “pub crawl” or “happy hour” this Christmas – it’s not inclusive.
Drinkers should avoid saying "pub crawls" and "happy hours" to make them more inclusive, the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) says, as they try to end "lad culture".
members should say they are on a "pub tour" where they will " taste a pint of ". Other phrases, such as "Have a few drinks with the lads after get off work", have also come under fire because they risk discouraging women from joining in.
According to The Sun, this marks a new attempt by CAMRA to shed its image as a boys' club and instead "welcome all".
On its website, a statement for members reads. "We want to connect with everyone in a positive way. We are welcoming to all. Avoid overtones of 'lad culture' which may alienate many people. Beer banter is OK, just make sure it is inclusive to everyone.
Use of 'pub crawl' and 'happy hour' should be avoided " and other terms. Instead, use alternatives such as 'pub tour' and encourage 'sip a pint'.
. Murderer allowed to continue killing due to probation blunders
A repeat child murderer was allowed to kill freely after "appalling" blunders by the Probation Service, The Telegraph can reveal.
32-year-old Damien Bender (Damien Bendall was this week sentenced to life in prison for killing his three children and his pregnant partner with a hammer in Killamarsh, Derbyshire, last September, three months after serving a suspended sentence for arson.
It can now be revealed that a probation officer who assessed Bender's record for the sentencing judge in the arson case was sacked for gross misconduct because he classified Bender as a "medium risk" rather than "high risk ".
Probation officials argued that if the pre-sentence report accurately reflected Bender's risks, it would have been impossible for Bender, a man with a history of violent crime, to go free in one of the most bizarre child murders in recent decades.
It is understood the probation officer spent a lot of time working from home, meaning other members of the team were not able to There are usual opportunities to provide advice or read the report.
html A report in September found that around 500 serious crimes are committed by offenders under supervision each year, a revelation that raised new questions about the adequacy of Britain's probation services.
The agency has also been dogged by a number of high-profile scandals, including that of Joseph McCann McCann, who murdered two people at London's Fishmongers' Hall while under supervision, and Usman Khan.
Sir Robert Buckland, who was justice minister three days before the Kilamush murders, told The Telegraph on Thursday night: "I think we have to accept that a mistake like this is just a shocking failure of .
. People with flu are advised not to see elderly relatives over Christmas if they have a cough or flu.
Visiting older family members when they have a cough could be harmful to their health, experts say. British Health Safety UKHSA warns that "If you are unwell you must avoid contact with other people to help stop the spread of infection over Christmas and New Year".
Dr Susan Hopkins, HSE's chief medical adviser, added: "Over the past week, there has been a sharp increase in (flu) hospital admissions among people aged 75 and over, and admissions to children under 5 have remained high . "
"We can all take action to stop the spread of the flu and other infections by staying home if you feel sick and wearing a face covering in enclosed spaces if you have to go out. Wash your hands regularly and try to keep the room well-ventilated .
The warning comes amid revelations that the number of admissions to hospital with flu has more than doubled in a fortnight, as hospitals prepare for what could be the worst Christmas in a decade.
Admissions are expected to be within days exceeding those in the winter of 2017-18, official data showed, when there were tml230,000 people died from influenza and pneumonia.
Healthcare leaders say hospital crowding has exceeded safe levels, and thousands of elderly people are trapped in hospitals as the discharge system grinds to a halt.
5. Pharmacy system at risk of collapse
Steve Buckley has been warned that pharmacies are losing money on and the system is at risk of collapse.
A letter to the health secretary signed by leading pharmaceutical experts, including the heads of Boots and Lloyds , reveals problems in the sector amid a difficult winter for the national health system amid strikes, record waiting lists and staff shortages.
As economy struggles, employee costs soar and real Funding cuts , pharmacists fear that without an injection of around £2.4bn of cash to improve recruitment, and boost funding flows, the system could collapse.
" The letter said: "Long-term attrition of real funding of 30% over the past seven years is now leading to severe degradation of services to patients .
"Many pharmacies are now dispensing at a loss and are facing a serious cash flow crisis, and we fear that if this problem is not addressed, will quickly move towards many permanent closures. We are worried that once it starts, the closures will be difficult to stop because the industry is so fragile now and it will be difficult for other pharmacies to shoulder this burden.
"We are deeply concerned that this will put medicines supplies at risk, with serious consequences for the millions of people who rely on dispensing medicines every year." Janet Morrison, chief executive of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) and a co-signer of the letter, told The Telegraph that current pressures on other aspects of the NHS "are undoubtedly having an impact on community pharmacies".
"As other NHS services become harder to access, more and more people are turning to their pharmacies for help," she said. She said: "We saw this during the pandemic when pharmacies acted as a really effective safety net for patients and the national health system.
" However, this safety net is now also in a state of collapse with and . Without urgent action, we believe the temporary closure of pharmacies will become permanent and the next healthcare crisis will be that some patients are unable to access their Prescription medicines . "
Around 90% of pharmacy funding comes from NHS contract funding to provide various services, but as this becomes more expensive operationally, they cannot be passed on to customers - unlike other industries.
Staff costs now account for 84% of pharmacist funding, up from 53% in 2010. This is due to shortages of workers being recruited into other medical areas, while casual labor costs have subsequently surged by 80%.
6. The classic Panettone is challenged
Stuffed with citrus fruits and raisins, Panettone embodies the taste of Christmas for Italians at home and abroad – and for the millions of people around the world who make it part of their family tradition.
But the patience of cake fans is being tested by a range of novel flavours, from tiramisu to peach bellini and even parmesan and black pepper .
"If you have a cheesecake , what's next, bacon?" said Cristina Onuta, manager of Camisa, one of London's oldest Italian delicatessens. "At Christmas you really should have the classic candied fruit and raisin version, otherwise how do you keep it traditional?"
Not all new flavors are unsuccessful, she admits, with chocolate and limoncello varieties both proving popular with her younger customers.
But Ms Onuta, whose family-run Soho store is closing after nearly 100 years in , drew the line at adding savory elements . "Panettone is supposed to be sweet," she said.
This dome sweetbread originated in renaissance Milanese and was refined in the early 20th century by rival rivals Angelo Motta and Gio Aquino Allemagna into the modern version of what is now considered a classic.
After its early success, Panettone was exported around the world by Italian immigrants and for many years was only available in Italian shops in this country until British supermarkets began selling it as part of their Christmas ranges.
There have been attempts to grant this cake the status of "Denominazione di Origine Controllata" (Protected Designation of Origin), like that enjoyed by Parmesan cheese or Balsamic Vinegar of Modena. In Italy, almost all production links, from the fermentation of the dough to the proportions of ingredients, are regulated by legislation.
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