In the news
Professor
Philip Quirke from St James’s University Hospital
featured in a debate on BBC 2’s Newsnight
on the use of human tissue samples for research purposes.
Discussing the issue of consent to the use of human tissue
samples, Professor Quirke, head of the academic unit of
pathology at Leeds, said it was also important to highlight
the incredible life-saving information that can be found
in samples of tissue which are vital in charting the source
and progress of diseases such as cancer.
Professor
of Clinical Nursing, Claire Hale took part in a debate
on Sky News regarding the state of the NHS.
Asked if low morale amongst nurses was due to low pay,
or from having to endure endless criticism from the government,
Professor Claire Hale replied: "Both. When you are
working so hard, doing your best yet constantly told you
are not doing a good job, morale is bound to be low, especially
when there is no time for staff development. Also salaries
at grade D and E are not that good and these are the nurses
who are the foot-soldiers of the NHS."
Criminologist
Stuart Lister from the department of law, highlighted
problems that could arise should nightclubs be made to
pay for police officers patrolling in and around their
premises, as suggested by South Yorkshire police. The
Independent reported how senior officers
have accused clubbers of taking up huge amounts of police
resources. Stuart Lister, an expert in the night-time
economy, said: "In other police contract arrangements,
such as with a local authority over patrolling certain
housing estates, the force is not in a position to close
the place down. There is potential for a conflict of interest
here."
Dr
Richard Howells was again a studio guest on BBC Radio
4’s media discussion programme The Message.
Among other topics of discussion was the future of Channel
4 television, which Dr Howells described as being ‘at
a crossroads between its original public service commitment
and growing commercialism’.
Professor
Alistair Hall from the Leeds General Infirmary, contributed
his expertise in the Yorkshire Post on the
role genes play in dying unexpectedly young from heart
disease. The sudden death of author Douglas Adams from
coronary disease brought to light recent research on whether
a history of heart problems in the family can be just
as significant as fitness and diet in the fight against
heart problems. Professor Hall said: "There is no
hard-and-fast rule, but the more close relatives you have
with young-onset heart disease, the more seriously you
should take it."
The
Yorkshire Post profiled the involvement of the
University in Courtroom 21, a project to develop new technology
for the judicial system. Project leader Professor Peter
Dew said: "People in the States have been looking
at technology and how it could influence courtrooms —
it could lead to some dramatic changes. We’ve chosen
to consider the problem of dispute resolution in an area
such as patent infringement where two parties may be in
different countries."
