Take the scenic route with new UK and Ireland tours offering stunning islands, iconic stately homes and historic towns
Rabbie’s unveils 2024 storyteller-led, small group tours, and brand new Bath departure point
With its new tours for the 2024 season, and a new departure point in Bath, Rabbie’s passengers can enjoy the best sights and best kept secrets of the UK and Ireland.
New tours take in the Isles of Bute and Arran, historic stately homes including Chatsworth House and some of the country’s most charming villages. Starting in April 2024, the new tours are available to book from 14 August 2023.
A total of 11 new tours will see the Rabbie’s storytelling driver-guides taking small groups beyond the guidebooks to explore the lesser-known and uncover the hidden gems across the UK and Ireland. New tours departing from Bath for the first time will also see new one-day options for trips to Oxford the Cotswolds, and Stratford-upon-Avon.
Rabbie’s new 2024 tour highlights include:
Beyond the Cobbled Streets: Untold Cotswolds & Oxford
Guests can explore the many Oxford colleges, climb to the vantage points to admire the skyline, or see the art and antiquities collections in the Ashmolean Museum before a stop in Burford, the ‘Gateway to the Cotswolds’. This small market town has enormous character and local charm.
Enjoy the many quaint villages including Bibury, which was described by William Morris as the prettiest village in England, and which Henry Ford wanted to dismantle and ship back to the USA. This Rabbie’s one-day tour will depart from Bath and costs from £55 per person.
A Day on the Island: Bute
Take in the stunning views across the Firth of Clyde to the Argyllshire Sea lochs and Highlands Mountains before sailing across the Firth of Clyde to Rothesay, the largest town on the Island of Bute.
The gem in this island’ crown is the spectacular Mount Stuart, the ancestral seat of the marquesses of Bute where guests can enjoy a scenic lunch as well as a tour through the 19th century house’s history and remarkable, ornate gothic revival architecture.
The south side of the island offers spectacular views across the Firth of Clyde to the Island and Highlands beyond. Guests can explore the west coast sandy beaches before sailing back to the mainland. This Rabbie’s one-day tour will depart from Glasgow and costs begin from £75 per person.
Historical Adventure: St Andrews & Dundee
Guests can luxuriate in the scenic route to Dundee along the Scottish coast, before, on arrival, exploring the Royal Research Ship Discovery. Discover the 20th ship’s history as the first purpose-built Antarctic survey vessel, before heading over the Tay Road Bridge for stunning views over the Firth of Tay.
Enter ancient Scottish history at the Kingdom of Fife, famed for its breathtaking landscapes and being the home of golf. Here, walk the 1,000-year-old streets of the Medieval town of St. Andrews and discover the ruined cathedral and visit the third oldest university in Britain or the Grand Old Lady, also known as the Old Course and the world’s oldest golf course. This Rabbie’s one-day tour will depart from Aberdeen and costs begin from £52 per person.
Rabbie’s UK and Ireland tours depart from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen, London, Manchester, Bristol, Belfast and Dublin, and from 2024, Bath.
For more information about Rabbie’s and to book a private or a scheduled tour, visit www.rabbies.com.
Scottish charity TechFest is calling on First Minister Humza Yousaf to support its vision of transforming high streets throughout Scotland before it is too late, and they die completely.
TechFest promotes STEM to school pupils throughout Scotland. The TechFest Blueprint Challenge is back this year to support all S3 – S6 pupils as they play their role in saving the country’s high streets.
The competition, aligned with the CREST Awards and grounded in STEM, asks students to come up with realistic ideas for regenerating failing high streets.
Sarah Chew, Managing Director of TechFest, said: “Scotland’s high streets are dying, and regenerating them is a huge challenge. We need the First Minister’s help to place this at the forefront of the national and local agenda.
“Young people and their fresh perspectives deserve to be heard by decision-makers and they might just have the answers and ideas that will help transform high streets throughout the country.”
Scottish Charity, TechFest, is urging the First Minister Humza Yousaf to get behind its goal and ambition to help transform high streets throughout the country.
Following a successful pilot year which brought a range of creative designs by students across Scotland, TechFest is once again challenging secondary school students across the country to redesign their high streets as part of TechFest’s Blueprint Challenge: A Future High Street.
TechFest’s Blueprint Challenge is a collaboration with Bluewater, a specialist private equity firm focused on global energy. The initiative has been developed through Bluewater’s charitable division to inspire children to think about future energy and how this can be integral to a better environment and social agendas.
However, this year as pupils return to school, the charity has written to the First Minister urging him to help raise awareness and drive positive engagement with Local Authority planners throughout the country to support the regeneration of Scottish high streets and give young people a seat at the decision-making table.
Bringing life back to the high street has been a hugely challenging task for local authorities and TechFest’s Blueprint Challenge has been designed to champion ideas that can help regenerate towns and cities throughout the country.
The competition is open to all S3 – S6 students who want to share their ideas on how to create a high street that allows society to thrive while celebrating the natural world at the same time.
Pupils are asked to take into consideration ‘’modern problems’’ surrounding architecture, economic stability, power generation and consumption, and how they can bring energy, technology and nature together to create a high street that meets Net Zero targets and encourages nature and community to grow.
The goal is a modern and progressive high street that is not simply about retail.
Sarah Chew, Managing Director of TechFest, said: “We need the First Minister’s help to place the transformation of our high streets at the forefront of the national and local agenda.
“In the past decade there have been continued discussions, debates and reports on how to transform our high streets and make them fit for the future but despite various thought-provoking think tanks and reports, sadly we have seen little to no action.
“The Scottish high street is in crisis, and we need urgent action to save them, that is why the TechFest Blueprint Challenge is a huge opportunity to champion the youth voice and help transform how we use our high streets.
“Young people deserve to be heard and we need the First Minister to bring our high streets further up the agenda and help us develop more positive and meaningful engagement with local authorities across Scotland.”
Schools have until September 11th to register a team ahead of the project launch on September 12th.
Teams will work together to create a project summary by the end of November, followed by a presentation day in December, where they will display their projects to a panel of experts, with a further opportunity to display their work as part of TechFest’s Science Festival in May 2024.
The competition is curriculum-aligned, and students and teachers will receive comprehensive support materials, including a series of online webinars with industry professionals and an opportunity for students to showcase their skills to the local community.
“Scotland has a strong heritage for innovation and shaping the modern world,” Sarah Chew added.
“The TechFest Blueprint challenge offers a huge opportunity to develop progressive and ground-breaking ideas that can be held up as best-practice throughout the world, whilst engaging with young people in a fun, meaningful and impactful way.”
First look at the National Theatre of Scotland’s new production DRACULA: MINA’S RECKONING ahead of the show touring Scotland, Liverpool and Coventry in September and October 2023.
Character images of Mina Murray and Dracula released, alongside a glimpse into the rehearsal room with director Sally Cookson
Bram Stoker’s classic novel has been reimagined by writer Morna Pearson, set in the North-East of Scotland and brought to life by an all-female and non-binary ensemble
World Premiere
National Theatre of Scotland and Aberdeen Performing Arts in association with Belgrade Theatre, Coventry present
DRACULA: MINA’S RECKONING
Conceived by Morna Pearson and Sally Cookson
Story by Morna Pearson, Sally Cookson and Rosie Kellagher
Additional material devised by The Company
Written by Morna Pearson after Bram Stoker
Directed by Sally Cookson
Full cast: Natalie Arle-Toyne, Maggie Bain, Ailsa Davidson, Catriona Faint, Danielle Jam, Liz Kettle, Anne Lacey and Ros Watt.
Set and Costume Designer – Kenneth MacLeod, Composer – Benji Bower, Movement Director – Vicki Manderson, Lighting Designer – Aideen Malone, Video Designer – Lewis den Hertog, Casting Directors – Simone Pereira Hind CDG and Anna Dawson. BSL Performance interpreters Catherine King and Yvonne Strain.
Corporate Sponsor: Pinsent Masons
Touring the UK from Saturday 2 September to Saturday 28 October 2023,
Opening at His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen and touring to Theatre Royal, Glasgow; Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling; Eden Court, Inverness; Dundee Rep; Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry and Liverpool Playhouse from September to October 2023.
Opening Performance at His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen on Thursday 7 September 2023.
“Protect your loved ains fae the claws o’ a beast.”
A thrilling new adaptation of Dracula by acclaimed Scottish playwright Morna Pearson, directed by Sally Cookson, is brought to stages across Scotland and England by the National Theatre of Scotland in a co-production with Aberdeen Performing Arts in association with Belgrade Theatre, Coventry.
Sally Cookson’s sweeping, atmospheric production of Morna Pearson’s bold new adaptation is relocated to Aberdeenshire and the wild beauty of North-East Scotland, acknowledging the area’s recently reported inspiration for Bram Stoker’s classic novel. To mark this, Dracula: Mina’s Reckoning opens at His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen in September 2023 before touring to Glasgow, Stirling, Inverness, Dundee, Edinburgh, Coventry and Liverpool.
Set in a psychiatric hospital in Aberdeenshire in 1897, this unique Scottish adaptation places the character of Mina Murray at the centre of the action.
Mina seeks refuge at the hospital to escape the horrors she has experienced, retelling her encounters with the most terrifying of beasts: Dracula. Mina is joined by the patients, an all-women and non-binary ensemble, and together they tell a unique version of Bram Stoker’s legendary tale.
We are transported to a world where immortality and ultimate power is possible, even for women – but with terrible consequences.
The lead character of Mina is played by Danielle Jam, who recently toured with Kidnapped (National Theatre of Scotland) and James IV: Queen of the Fight, (Raw Material and Capital Theatres, in association with National Theatre of Scotland) and appeared in Wings Around Dundee (Dundee Rep) and is known to TV audiences for her roles in Scot Squad (BBC) and Molly and Mack (CBeebies).
She will be joined by Ailsa Davidson (Lucy and Elsie). Ailsa has performed in Heathers the Musical (Bill Kenwright & Paul Taylor-Mills) in London’s West End, Lipsync at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (Cumbernauld Theatre), Elegies for Angels Punks and Raging Queens (Union Theatre) and Grease (UK & International Tour).
Liz Kettle takes on the role of Dracula, she was most recently seen on Scottish stages in Macbeth – An Undoing (Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh) and has appeared in numerous roles on TV including Unforgotten IV, The Secret Life of Mrs Beeton, Doctors (BBC), Fracture (20th Century Digital / Disney), Honoria Glossop in Jeeves & Wooster, Inspector Morse, Rosemary & Thyme and Poirot.
They are joined by Natalie Arle-Toyne (Van Helsing and Titchy). Natalie’s recent theatre work includes Mrs Puntila and Her Man Matti, Arabian Nights, Rhinoceros (CATS Ensemble Award) at the Lyceum Theatre and The Lost Lending Library (Punch Drunk/Imaginate). Maggie Bain (Dr Seward and Georgina) has appeared in roles in theatre, TV, film and radio most recently on stage in Linck & Mülhahn (Hampstead Theatre), We’ll Meet in Moscow (Traverse Theatre), Dream (RSC) and on TV in I Hate Suzie (Sky) and Luther: The Fallen Sun (Netflix).
Catriona Faint (Jonathan and Annie) most recently performed in Enough of Him (National Theatre of Scotland). Anne Lacey (Mr Swails and Bella), who has worked extensively in theatre, film, TV and radio was recently on stage in Medea (National Theatre of Scotland at the Edinburgh International Festival), and Earthquakes In London (National Theatre); and on TV in Shetland (ITV). Ros Watt’s (Renfield and Katherine) previous includes Godot is a Woman (Silent Faces) at the Pleasance, Edinburgh.
Dracula is dripping with Morna Pearson’s trademark humour, theatricality, and her taste for the strange, the shocking and the grotesque. The production celebrates the novel’s gothic horror origins while, in a radical twist, it allows audiences to view the story through the eyes of Mina and the patients. Elements of the piece will be devised by the company.
The production features atmospheric, Gothic-inspired set and costumes designed by Kenneth MacLeod with video design by Lewis den Hertog, a dark, distinctive score from composer Benji Bower and visceral movement from Vicki Manderson.
Writer Morna Pearson said: “I was excited to adapt Dracula and place it in the familiar setting of the North-East, the place where my writing feels at home. I wanted to examine themes of our times – fear, trauma, and powerlessness – in ways the horror genre lends itself to.
With Stoker drawing influence from Cruden Bay, it felt appropriate to relocate the narrative to Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, exploring the area and characters I find most inspirational.
There is room for more horror and stories from the North-East in theatre, so I am thrilled that my first large scale production is a bold retelling of Dracula set there.”
Morna Pearson was born in the North-East of Scotland, in Elgin, and is an award-winning Edinburgh-based playwright and screenwriter. Morna’s work for National Theatre of Scotland includes Darklands written as part of Interference trilogy and Clearing for Scenes for Survival. Other theatre work includes Let’s Inherit the Earth (Dogstar/Profilteatern); How to Disappear (Traverse) and Dr Stirlingshire’s Discovery (Lung Ha/Grid Iron). She was a recipient of the Meyer-Whitworth Award and her first short film, I Was Here, gained BAFTA Scotland and EIFF nominations for Best Short Film.
“One of the freshest, most fearless and taboo-busting voices to be heard anywhere right now” The Herald on The Artist Man and the Mother Woman
Sally Cookson is an Olivier award-winning director (A Monster Calls), an associate director at Bristol Old Vic and a collaborator with Travelling Light Theatre Company. Her theatre credits include Wonder Boy (Bristol Old Vic); A Monster Calls (The Old Vic/UK tour); The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (West Yorkshire Playhouse/Bridge Theatre/UK Tour/Gillian Lynne) and Jane Eyre and Peter Pan (Bristol Old Vic/National Theatre).
“Audaciously inventive” *****The Guardian on Wonder Boy
Bram Stoker’s Dracula was first published in 1897 and has since been adapted into numerous films and plays. Stoker himself wrote the first theatrical adaptation, which was presented at London’s Lyceum Theatre on 18 May 1897 under the title Dracula, or The Undead. For years Dracula has been associated with Whitby and Transylvania, but recent research suggests that Aberdeenshire played a significant part in shaping the novel, and in particular Slains Castle which features an octagonal room like the one described by Stoker in Dracula’s Castle.
Touring from September to October 2023 to His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen (previews Sat 2, Tues 5, Wed 6 Sept) Thurs 7 – Sat 9 Sept; Theatre Royal, Glasgow Wed 13 – Sat 16 Sept; Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling Thurs 21 – Sat 23 Sept; Eden Court, Inverness Thurs 28 – Sat 30 Sept; Dundee Rep Thurs 5 – Sat 7 Oct; Festival Theatre, Edinburgh Wed 11 – Sat 14 Oct, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry (18 to 21 October) and Liverpool Playhouse (24 to 28 October).
Full tour information and creative credits and biogs here.
Climate change is the “defining issue of our time” and we all have a role to play to ensure we successfully transition to net zero in Scotland.
That was the message from Minister of Housing Paul McLennan as he officially opened the second Green Home Festival on Monday (14 August) as part of the 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The MSP was the keynote speaker at the launch ofthe five-day renewables jamboree in central Edinburgh, which was once again organised by the Construction Industry Collective Voice (CICV).
Mr McLennan was joined by TV presenter and award-winning designer Anna Campbell-Jones for the launch event at 10 Charlotte Square, where guests gathered to kick off a week of practical assistance and advice to help Scotland become a net zero nation.
Speaking to delegates at the Scottish headquarters of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Mr McLennan outlined the challenge facing industry, homeowners and the wider – and said everyone had a part to play.
The Minister told guests: “Climate change is the defining issue of our time; the climate emergency is already here and we know that we have to act for our generation and also for future generations.
“We know that to meet Scotland’s climate targets we need to reduce emissions from heating buildings by 68% by 2030, which is a huge task. We also need to switch homes and buildings to zero direct emissions heating, such as heat pumps and heat networks.
“The cost of living crisis and unprecedented surges in energy prices make this challenge even harder, as do the impacts of rising inflation on building and construction costs.
“But these factors make it even more important to move away from expensive fossil fuels for heating our homes – to help make our energy more affordable and secure, while eliminating energy efficiency as a driver of fuel poverty.”
Mr McLennan, who is MSP for East Lothian, also stressed that increasing understanding and raising awareness about the changes we need to see are key to Scotland reducing emissions from our building stock.
The Minister said: “We need to help homes, businesses and other property owners to understand what the heat transition will mean for them, the types of measures best suited to their homes and buildings and the support available to them to make this transition.
“We plan to publish a Heat in Buildings Public Engagement Strategy later this year, setting out our plan to increase understanding of the heat transition in Scotland.
“Many of you in industry, the public and third sectors are already taking the lead in the heat transition by decarbonising your own buildings.
“Events such as the Green Home Festival – offering live demonstrations and guidance – can play a huge part in increasing understanding of the changes we need to see in our building stock and of zero emissions heating systems in Scotland.”
Mr McLennan also said that the Scottish Government continues to offer a “coordinated package of support” to help householders convert to zero direct emissions heating systems and install energy efficiency measures.
He said: “We know that installing a zero direct emission heating system and energy efficiency measures can be expensive and we understand the importance of helping people to meet these costs, especially those who need support the most.
“The Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme provides grants of up to £7,500 for homeowners to install both heat and energy efficiency measures, and as much again in loan funding.
“There are also higher grants for eligible properties in rural areas and we are committed to investing at least £1.8 billion over the course of this Parliament towards heat and energy efficiency measures.”
Mr McLennan added: “Public funding and support will continue to play a big part in helping people make the changes needed. But it will cost around £33 billion to transform our building stock by 2045 and that can’t be met by government alone.
“Our Green Heat Finance Taskforce will therefore make recommendations this year on how the financial services sector can help people meet and spread the costs of the heat transition.
“And our £17.6m Green Heat Innovation Support programme will support Scottish-based companies to develop ideas, introduce new products or processes to the market, and support collaboration.”
Mr Nelson said: “We were extremely grateful to Mr McLennan for opening the second Green Home Festival and kicking off a fantastic week of essential advice and practical hands-on information.
“Once again it has been heartening to be involved in a wider team effort, working with kindred organisations and highly skilled people in planning this year’s festival which will promote the construction sector’s commitment to accessible, affordable, and sustainable low-carbon energy solutions.
“Through influencing government policy, the CICV will aspire to realise its vision of building a sustainable future, one home at a time.”
The show was followed by a second session on the potential of microwave heating, in which Professor Sean Smith from the University of Edinburgh outlined the features and benefits of the alternative heat source.
The Green Home Festival delivered a further eight in-person and virtual presentations this week, targeting homeowners, construction professionals, housing associations, landlords and local authorities.
The festival is the latest in a string of practical and constructive initiatives launched by the CICV since its creation at the start of the pandemic in March 2020.
Made up of 28 trade associations, professional services bodies and companies, it has maintained a steady supply of information and practical advice to the sector as well as carrying out surveys, producing animations and posters, hosting webinars and maintaining close dialogue with government.
Online4Baby.com and Silver Cross have beaten bigger high street names to be voted the best baby retailers by shoppers, according to new Which? research.
The consumer champion surveyed more than 3,000 people about their experiences using shops that sell a range of baby products. The retailers were rated for customer score as well as product quality, value for money and staff helpfulness and knowledge.
According to Which?’s research, three-quarters (74%) of shoppers made their most recent baby-equipment purchase online. Buying the big items for a new baby used to mean being shown the ropes by a knowledgeable salesperson at a bricks and mortar shop, but these retailers have been disappearing from the high street and the Covid pandemic appears to have cemented the shift to online shopping.
Oldham-based Online4Baby and Silver Cross each received a customer score of 81 per cent, higher than popular high-street retailers including John Lewis and Boots.
Online4Baby received four stars for product quality, value for money and staff knowledge and has been awarded Which? Recommended Provider (WRP) status.
Being awarded a WRP means that not only did a company perform outstandingly in Which?’s survey, but also passed Which?’s stringent behind-the-scenes checks on its terms and conditions and returns policies.
Eight in 10 of Online4Baby’s customers in the survey said they would recommend it to a friend. Shoppers praised its easy-to navigate website, great product range and the cost savings to be had. They also praised its customer services team, saying they were helpful and knowledgeable, offering support seven days a week.
Silver Cross also earned a customer score of 81 per cent, receiving four stars for product quality. However, respondents also said it offered less value for money than some of the other retailers, scoring it three stars.
With a customer score of 80 per cent, Maxi-Cosi was praised for its high-quality products and impressive value for money. The helpfulness and knowledge of staff was, however, rated slightly lower than other top performers.
Towards the top of the table, John Lewis received a customer score of 79 per cent. The retailer was awarded a WRP and given four stars for product quality and staff knowledge, but three stars for value for money. A customer praised the retailer for its “fantastic customer service, good loyalty program and great warranty periods”.
Mamas and Papas was another strong performer which was given WRP status, receiving a customer score of 78 per cent. It scored four stars for its product quality and staff knowledge and three stars for value for money. One person said: “’Easy to order, excellent quality.”
Another high scorer and WRP was Joie Baby. The retailer received a customer score of 76 per cent, scoring four stars across all categories. One customer said the retailer had a straightforward returns policy and that its products were good value for money.
At the bottom of the table was Baby Monitors Direct, which scored two stars for product quality and value for money. With a customer score of 65 per cent, the retailer received three stars for staff helpfulness and knowledge.
One customer described the customer service as “awful”, however another said they were satisfied by product quality and speed of delivery and would recommend the site to others.
The Range received a slightly higher customer score of 67 per cent, being awarded two stars for product quality and staff helpfulness and three stars for value for money.
One person reported: “’We had an issue with the toy and wanted to return it to the store as it was faulty. The company wasn’t very helpful and we had to speak to HQ to resolve the issue.” Despite this, another customer praised The Range for its excellent selection of products and great value items.
Ele Clark, Which? Retail Editor, said:“Most people now buy baby products online rather than going into a physical shop, but our research suggests that mums and dads-to-be still value excellent customer service in addition to good-value and high-quality products.
“It’s great to see several retailers ticking the boxes for their customers, proving to be reliable retailers for a range of must-have baby products.
“However, we would always recommend getting your car seat professionally installed or checked by an expert if you buy it online. If that’s not possible, most brands have detailed installation guides on Youtube which you can follow and pause while you fit yours.”
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published an initial risk assessment of the SARS-CoV-2 variant BA.2.86.
This variant was detected in the UK yesterday (Friday 18 August), and has also been identified in Israel, Denmark and the US. It has been designated as V-23AUG-01 for the purpose of UKHSA monitoring.
The newly identified variant has a high number of mutations and is genomically distant from both its likely ancestor, BA.2, and from currently circulating XBB-derived variants.
There is currently one confirmed case in the UK in an individual with no recent travel history, which suggests a degree of community transmission within the UK. Identifying the extent of this transmission will require further investigation.
There is currently insufficient data to assess the relative severity or degree of immune escape compared to other currently-circulating variants.
Dr Meera Chand, Deputy Director, UKHSA said: “V-23AUG-01 was designated as a variant on 18 August 2023 on the basis of international transmission and significant mutation of the viral genome. This designation allows us to monitor it through our routine surveillance processes.
“We are aware of one confirmed case in the UK. UKHSA is currently undertaking detailed assessment and will provide further information in due course.”
UKHSA will continue to monitor the situation closely and will publish the results of our analysis when they are available.
Inquiry announced into circumstances behind murders and attempted murders of babies at Countess of Chester Hospital to help families get the answers they need
Inquiry announced into circumstances behind the murders and attempted murders of babies at Countess of Chester Hospital to help ensure families get the answers they need
The inquiry will look at the circumstances surrounding the deaths and incidents, including how concerns raised by clinicians were dealt with
Victims’ families will be invited to both engage with and shape the inquiry, ensuring their views are heard throughout the process
The UK Government has ordered an independent inquiry into the circumstances behind the horrific murders and attempted murders of babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital, following the guilty verdict in the trial of former neonatal nurse, Lucy Letby.
Launched to ensure vital lessons are learned and to provide answers to the parents and families impacted, the inquiry will investigate the wider circumstances around what happened at the Countess of Chester Hospital, including the handling of concerns and governance. It will also look at what actions were taken by regulators and the wider NHS.
It will ensure the families impacted in this tragic case have the opportunity to engage with the inquiry.
The government is committed to making the NHS one of the safest places in the world to give birth, and every single parent across the country deserves to feel confident that their babies are receiving safe and world-class treatment.
Work continues across England to ensure the highest possible standard of maternity and neonatal care.
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “I would like to send my deepest sympathy to all the parents and families impacted by this horrendous case.
“This inquiry will seek to ensure the parents and families impacted get the answers they need. I am determined their voices are heard, and they are involved in shaping the scope of the inquiry should they wish to do so.
“Following on from the work already underway by NHS England, it will help us identify where and how patient safety standards failed to be met and ensure mothers and their partners rightly have faith in our healthcare system.”
After careful consideration, a non-statutory independent inquiry was found to be the most appropriate option, building on the approach taken in other cases. It will focus on lessons that can be learned quickly.
The police have arrangements in place to appropriately support families who have been directly impacted by this awful case, including psychological support and family liaison officers.
The trust is offering as much support as necessary to any current or anticipated users of its neonatal and transitional care services. Senior clinical and nursing staff are also on standby to help and offer advice so families rightly feel supported.
A chair will be appointed, and we will publish the inquiry’s proposed terms of reference – setting out the scope of the work – in due course.
Dr Nigel Scawn, Medical Director, gave a statement to the media in response to the outcome of the trial of Lucy Letby:
‘I speak for the whole Trust when I say how deeply saddened and appalled we are at Lucy Letby’s crimes. We are extremely sorry that these crimes were committed at our hospital and our thoughts continue to be with all the families and loved ones of the babies who came to harm or died. We cannot begin to understand what they have been through.
‘This case has had a profound impact on our patients and our local community and also our staff – who come to work every day determined to provide safe and high-quality care for our patients.
‘Our staff are devastated by what happened and we are committed to ensuring lessons continue to be learnt. We are grateful for the cooperation of our staff, especially those who have maintained the utmost professionalism whilst giving evidence in the trial, sometimes on multiple occasions.
‘We will continue to support them and other staff to ensure they receive the care and support they need.
‘We would like to extend our thanks to Cheshire Police for their extensive investigation and the work they did to bring this case to trial. We’d also like to thank them for the comprehensive support they have provided to all of the families.
‘Since Lucy Letby worked at our hospital, we have made significant changes to our services. I want to provide reassurance that every patient who accesses our services can have confidence in the care they will receive.
‘And, most importantly, our thoughts are with all the families and loved ones at this very difficult time.’
Former Home Secretary Priti Patel says ‘serious questions’ have to be asked of the NHS after nurse Lucy Letby was found guilty of murdering seven babies.
Speaking to GB News, Ms Patel said: “This is a deeply, deeply, horrible, appalling, abhorrent and traumatic case for those families that have lost their babies. It is a horrible case.
“The one thing I would add though, is that the government has in recent years changed our laws for individuals that are effectively deemed to have been involved in murdering children and harming children. And it’s important that we see those laws put into practice by the courts when it comes to sentencing. So we can’t prejudge anything right now.
“My sympathies are so much with those families. I mean, there are no words really, for what they have endured, the trauma and the heartbreak and I really think we need now to let this follow the full judicial process.
“I’m a member of parliament in mid-Essex. And you know, all MPs represent their constituents when it comes to the NHS, but sadly – and I say this with a very heavy heart – a lot of the complaints that come to us are literally complaints about either access or services, and their own personal experiences.
“It’s heartbreaking, it is absolutely heartbreaking because they want to know the truth. What happened, why did things go wrong? I have no doubt my colleague, the Secretary of State for Health will be following this with a great deal of interest.
“There’ll be all sorts of questions regarding the NHS Trust itself, the governance, what procedures did they follow? And effectively, what lessons will be learned because lessons will have to be learned out of this?
“And personally, I think there has to be greater calls for transparency within large organisations and institutions such as the NHS.”
Now that the schools are starting back, it’s almost time for out Autumn programme to start
