Occupy must embrace the homeless and marginalised, not shun them | Kieron Monks
‘Professionalising’ Occupy in response to rightwing catcalls would be a serious error. This is the 99%, not the 75% An uncomfortable idea is gaining traction within London’s Occupy movement . “We have to learn from our mistakes,” a leading figure from the Bank of Ideas told me last week.
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Occupy must embrace the homeless and marginalised, not shun them | Kieron Monks
Speech therapy: When sorry seems to be the hardest word
Young offenders with communication problems and at risk of falling deeper
Who ‘deserves’ disability benefits? Everyone in physical need | Madeline Lewis
We don’t deny the rich the right to use the NHS or state schools, so why should we deny them help dressing and eating? Hostility towards those on disability benefits has been on the rise this week, evidenced by the reports of increased public abuse towards the disabled, and the outcry regarding the lottery-winning couple who still claim disability benefits. These outpourings of venom betray an ignorance about what any disabled person goes through on a daily basis – loss of privacy, independence and dignity, for example – as well as a total inconsistency in views on social welfare.
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Who ‘deserves’ disability benefits? Everyone in physical need | Madeline Lewis
Slashing benefits is a breeze when you disregard the detail
Warnings over the unfairness of cuts to child benefit and other payments are simply being ignored by the government David Cameron recently went on the record to acknowledge that his plans to snatch child benefit from higher-earners could create rough justice around the edges – edges he is keen to get smoothed. The first thought this stirs is the stark contrast between the prime minister’s concern with top-rate taxpayers and the abject disregard for the millions of poorer households who will be hit by wider social security cuts.
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Slashing benefits is a breeze when you disregard the detail
Elderly woman has lower jaw replaced with 3D printed titanium implant
As we enter old age the risks of going under the knife increase. Surgery that takes 10-20 hours has to be ruled out because there is a much greater chance that something will go wrong. However, it seems technology is coming to the rescue of the elderly.
An 83-year-old woman has successfully been implanted with a brand new lower jaw, but without the very long surgery and recovery time usually associated with such a reconstructive procedure–typically 20 hours followed by up to 4 weeks in hospital. Instead, 3D printing was used to create a new jaw for her, which was fitted in only a fraction of the time (4 hours surgery, 4 days in hospital), therefore cutting the risks significantly.
The replacement mandible is constructed of titanium that was built up in layers using a 3D printer and fused using a laser. It was a tailor-made design that only took a few hours to create, rather than the several days typical handmade replacements take to put together. In order for the woman’s immune system to accept the jaw, the titanium was coated with a bioceramic. Amazingly, even though it is constructed from metal and ceramic, it only weighs 30 grams more than the original bone structure.
The success of the surgery is due to collaboration between researchers, surgeons, and companies specializing in advanced medical technology. The elderly woman has the Research Institute BIOMED at Hasselt University in Belgium to thank for her new jaw, but its manufacture required input from surgeons from several institutes. With the groundwork now laid, and the process proven to work, it should hopeffuly become available elsewhere and for other types of implant.
The availability of 3D printing to create perfectly matched implants for every patient could revolutionize these types of surgery. If the time it takes to create and “install” new parts in our body is cut by 75%, surgery waiting times will be cut, as will risk even for younger patients because they can leave hospital much sooner and return to their day-to-day lives.
Read more at 3ders.org
Boy, 11, drowned in respite centre pool after carers were distracted – inquest
Adrian Pullman, who had learning difficulties, drowned in shallow end after being unsupervised for no more than five minutes An 11-year-old boy with learning difficulties died in a swimming pool at a council-approved respite centre after the couple who ran it were distracted and did not notice him jump in, an inquest has heard.
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Boy, 11, drowned in respite centre pool after carers were distracted – inquest
