The Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust report has identified serious failings in care at one of England’s largest maternity services, with lessons for maternity units nationally. Among its findings was a repeated problem at the very start of labour: women and families struggled to access timely assessment and felt dismissed during telephone triage.

In several cases, women were discouraged from attending hospital when they believed labour had started, only to arrive later in established or advanced labour. In some cases, poor care during this period had serious consequences.

Across hospital-based maternity services, attention and resources tend to focus on women in more advanced labour, and those requiring induction of labour or caesarean section. This can mean services miss the chance to identify problems, offer reassurance and build trust at the very start of labour.

Listening to women and providing supportive care at the start of labour sets a woman up for a positive birth experience. Instead, research consistently shows that women report feeling unsupported and discouraged from coming to hospital in early labour.

Right at the start of labour, there is often a mismatch between the needs and expectations of women and the expectations and priorities of maternity services. Many women have long been told that hospital is the safest place to give birth. It is therefore unsurprising that they expect to be welcomed to the maternity unit where they are booked to give birth when labour starts.

The drivers of decision-making on the maternity services side are more complex. They include beliefs about early labour care, national guidance, unsuitable environments and workforce pressures.

Early labour

There is a widespread belief in many maternity systems that while women should give birth in hospital, they should not be admitted until they are in established labour.

This can result in midwives gatekeeping: discouraging or refusing admission in early labour. Women report receiving inconsistent advice, feeling unwelcome and dismissed and having to negotiate permission for admission.

This belief is influenced by international, national and local guidance. NICE guidance states that if a woman seeks advice or attends a midwifery-led unit or obstetric unit with painful contractions but is not in established labour, she should be encouraged “to remain at or return home”, unless doing so could mean she gives birth without a midwife present or becomes distressed.

The same guidance also says early labour assessment should include listening to the woman’s story, asking about her wishes, expectations and concerns, asking about the baby’s movements, offering support and agreeing a plan of care. The problem arises when “return home” becomes the default response, rather than the outcome of careful assessment and discussion.

A practical problem is that many maternity units are not designed or staffed to provide sustained early labour care. Historically, women in early labour were more likely to have access to antenatal ward beds or early labour areas, where they could receive midwifery support outside the labour ward.

As maternity care has shifted towards shorter stays, outpatient monitoring and day-case assessment, many services now have fewer options for supporting women before established labour.

The number of maternity beds in England fell by around 52% between 1987-88 and 2019-20, mainly because women spend less time in hospital before and after birth. Antenatal beds were removed or repurposed to streamline maternity processes, but this also reduced care options.

The result is that many maternity units now lack a suitable environment to care for women in early labour. When there is nowhere appropriate for women to be supported, they are more likely to be encouraged to go home.

Workforce pressures

At the same time, workload and the complexity of women’s care needs have increased. There has been a rise in caesarean birth rates in England, with NHS maternity statistics showing that 45% of deliveries in NHS hospitals in England in 2024-25 were by caesarean section.

Induction of labour has also become more common. These changes increase care requirements for women and babies, particularly on labour wards. Staffing models have often struggled to keep pace with workload and the need for safe, personalised care.

Organisational demands exert significant pressure on midwives to keep women out of hospital and to make decisions based on bed availability and staffing rather than on the care needs of mother and baby.

Midwives have described not admitting women in early labour because of staff and bed shortages. Some have even described hiding women on labour wards because they knew they needed care, while trying to avoid disapproval from senior staff.

The result is a service that can fail to support women at a time when they and their birth partners feel most vulnerable. It is time for a rethink.

Early labour care must be organised around women’s needs and safety, rather than institutional pressures alone. That means properly staffed assessment, clear return plans, dedicated early labour spaces where possible, and workforce models that include time for assessment, reassurance and support.

Research from Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland suggests that early labour care works best when it is accessible, individualised and organised around women’s needs rather than simply her stage of labour. In the Danish study, women had access to a dedicated early labour unit and staff received training to emphasise the importance of early labour care. The wider findings highlighted the value of clear plans, emotional support, continuity and flexible care. This change was brought about in one of Denmark’s busiest units (6,500 births), and is a lesson on how UK maternity units could work with women to improve care.

The Nottingham report shows what can happen when women’s concerns are minimised at the very start of labour. Getting that first contact right will not solve every problem in maternity care, but it is a practical place to begin.

Women need to know that if they call because they are worried, in pain or unsure, someone will listen properly. Early labour may be the beginning of birth, but it should never be the point at which care is weakest.

Tennis players have a large array of different sponsors, but one player’s has caused a stir amongst those tuning in to watch Wimbledon

Tennis fans found themselves double taking when they saw former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko is sponsored by Tesco. The Latvian star got her Wimbledon campaign off to a flying start.

She broke a few British hearts after seeing off Harriet Dart 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. Ostapenko dispatched the wildcard with her trademark aggressive game, smashing a remarkable 46 winners compared to Dart’s 13.

Her devastating play left spectators on Court No. 1 and viewers at home gobsmacked. Yet even more eyebrows were raised when eagle-eyed fans clocked who was backing her on court.

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The iconic British supermarket chain was emblazoned at the top of her top. It would be putting it mildly to say that social media users watching her victory were caught off guard by the unlikely sponsor.

They wrote: “Ostapenko is sponsored by Tesco?!? Ahahaha, that’s the best sponsorship deal I’ve ever seen. Just the concept of Penko picking out a meal deal for lunch every day.”

Another added: “Ostapenko and her Tesco live to fight another day,” before a third said: “Some great event-specific advertising at this years Wimbledon.”

While her Tesco partnership raised plenty of laughs online, Ostapenko found herself with few admirers on Court No. 1. A number of spectators jeered and booed the former World No. 5 throughout the match.

These crowd reactions were clearly not lost on the Latvian, who made that abundantly clear in her post-victory interview. Embracing her role as the pantomime villain, she said: “I know guys, I’m probably not the one you wanted to win, but thanks guys for a very nice atmosphere.

“Sorry if I was a little bit emotional, but I feel like first rounds are so tough, especially when the opponent is from here.

“It’s funny, I feel like when I play somebody local or somebody the crowd supports, I feel like I’m angry inside in a good way.

“I want to prove wrong that you’re not supporting the right person. I feel like I want you guys to support me in the next match!”

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Many Americans have been carrying around a secret dream – they want to be a DJ.

The music-focused occupation was the United States and Canada’s favorite “dream job,” according to a study of “how to be a [insert job]” Google searches from May 2025 to May 2026 by U.K.-based payment firm Remitly.

“In an era where AI is rewriting entire industries, the creator economy has gone from niche to normal and people are more open than ever to a fresh start in a new country, the question of ‘what do I want to do with my life?’ has rarely felt more open-ended,” the study said.

The study, which is the third one – 2022, 2024, 2026 – Remitly has completed, revealed the world’s most coveted jobs were actor, followed by pilot, firefighter, lawyer and YouTuber. Actor jumped eight spots in the ranking from its 2024 rank. Lawyer jumped 55 spots.

American consumers’ longing for turntables and microphones is a curious one, as pay can be paltry.

The average yearly pay for a DJ is $48,566, based on job site Indeed’s analysis of 49 salaries from job postings over the past three years.

The average salary among the nation’s full-time workers was $64,220 through the first three months of the year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2026 first-quarter earnings analysis.

Globally, DJ ranked No. 10, just before judge and just after real estate agent. Only four countries besides the U.S. chose DJ, according to the study – Australia, Canada, Namibia and Wales. The role has jumped 14 spots since 2024, Remitly noted.

The study results come as some 46 percent of U.S. professionals say they plan to look for a new job in the next six months, a June survey of 2,000 workers from talent solutions and business consulting firm Robert Half revealed.

Better benefits and perks, career advancement, and remote work options were the top three reasons triggering job searches, the survey found.

DJs typically tend to be 1099 workers and part of the gig economy, which means they most likely have to find their own source of health insurance and retirement savings, according to tax service BoomTax.

Membership in the American Disc Jockey Association can provide DJs with health insurance and a 401(k) retirement plan, the organization’s website notes.

Startup costs can be as little as $299 up to $1,099 for equipment, according to Colorado-based online store Mile High DJ.

The Independent contacted the American Disk Jockey Association for comment.

The fire broke out on Blundell Lane, off Little Scotland in Blackrod at around 4.20 pm on the afternoon of Monday, June 29, with passers-by reporting seeing smoke in the area.

Later that afternoon, firefighters confirmed that they had been called to the scene to deal with a blaze involving a tractor, which they had dealt with quickly within around half an hour.

A Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “At 4:20 pm this afternoon, Monday, June 29, three fire engines from Horwich and Wigan stations were called to a fire involving a tractor on Blundell Lane, Blackrod.

“Firefighters arrived quickly and spent around 30 minutes extinguishing the fire.”

Blundell Lane is a country road found off Little Scotland to the west of Blackrod lined with countryside land and occasional houses.

No casualties or serious injuries were reported because of the blaze, and the firefighters returned safely to their bases later that afternoon after the scene was made safe.

Members of the public have been urged to always call 999 in the event of an emergency as soon as it is safe to do so.

The actress followed that by playing aristocrat Audrey, who was forced to sell her country estate following the death of her husband in To the Manor Born.

The last episode of the first series in 1979 received almost 24 million viewers – the highest audience for any non-live event on British TV in the 70s.

Dame Penelope won another Bafta TV award soon after, this time for best actress for The Norman Conquests and Saving It For Albie.

Her other sitcom credits in the 1980s and 90s included Executive Stress, set in a publishing house; No Job for a Lady, playing a Labour MP; Moving, about a couple selling their house; Law and Disorder, in which she played a barrister; and Next of Kin, which saw children move in with their grandparents.

The much-loved actress succeeded Laurence Olivier as president of the Actors’ Benevolent Fund after his death in 1989.

This century, working largely in theatre, she played Madame Arcati in a 2004 production of Blithe Spirit and Lady Bracknell in a 2007 version of The Importance of Being Earnest.

London’s West End theatres will dim their lights in her memory on Wednesday.

Claire Walker, co-chief executive of the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre, said: “We are proud to come together as an industry and honour the life and extraordinarily prolific career of Dame Penelope Keith, who will undoubtedly be remembered for many years to come as one of this country’s most venerated actors.

“We offer condolences to her loved ones and all who knew her.”

The actress was a made a dame in 2014 for services to the arts and charity.

Following her death, a “classic episode” from the third series of The Good Life will be shown on BBC Two at 19:00 BST on Monday evening, the BBC confirmed.

Paying tribute, director of BBC Comedy Jon Petrie described Dame Penelope as “one of the defining figures of British television comedy”.

“Her iconic performance as Margo in The Good Life remains one of the nation’s most beloved sitcom roles and continues to delight audiences today,” he said.

All episodes of The Good Life and To the Manor Born, which she starred in, are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

Four women are among six people killed in a shooting at a youth welfare centre in Stade, northern Germany, police have said.

The women and one man were shot dead inside the facility, and a sixth person later died of their injuries in hospital. All the victims were adults.

Police earlier told the BBC that two people had been arrested, including the suspected shooter. It later said a third person was also being investigated.

The possible motive of the perpetrator is not yet clear.

Officials said there was no further threat to the public after Monday’s shooting just west of Hamburg. German media reported that the site housed women and children.

Shots were first reported at around 12:10 local time (10:10 GMT), according to city police, with patrol cars “immediately dispatched to the scene”.

The force later confirmed “homicides involving multiple victims” had occurred at a “youth welfare facility” on Dankersstrasse.

“The area is cordoned off, and a large police presence is on site,” it said in a statement, urging the public to avoid the area.

Police said there were also injured people, without providing further details.

Large numbers of police and emergency personnel have been seen working in the area.

German broadcasters ZDF and RTL reported a city spokesperson had said children at a nearby daycare and a primary school were inside at the time of the shooting, and had since been collected by their parents.

The city in the state of Lower Saxony is located about 30km (19 miles) west of Hamburg, and has a population of about 50,000 people.

David Drury, 40, of Thoresby Street in Hull, and his partner Daniel Sellers, 44, also of Thoresby Street, Hull, were handed prison sentences at Hull Crown Court for multiple sexual offences against a child.

The court heard how Drury had pleaded guilty to sexual assault of a child under 13, two counts of sexual assault on a male, six counts of distributing an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child, and voyeurism on May 18.

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Daniel Sellers, 44, pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding, abetting, counselling and procuring sexual assault on a male, and arranging/facilitating the commission of a child sex offence (Image: Humberside Police)

Police launched an investigation into Drury after it received a third-party report of inappropriate behaviour.

Upon checking his electronic devices, multiple indecent images of children were recovered and it became that further sexual offences had been committed, Humberside Police said.

A force spokesperson said: “The analysis of the phone data highlighted to Investigating Officers that the offending was aided, facilitated and abetted by his partner Sellers.”

The court heard how Sellers had pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding, abetting, counselling and procuring sexual assault on a male, and arranging/facilitating the commission of a child sex offence at an earlier hearing on May 20.

Drury and Sellers were arrested in July 2024.

The pair were interviewed and found to have committed the offences against the child over a “sustained period of time”.

‘These offences were appalling’

Deputy Chief Constable Baker said: “These offences were appalling.

“The level of abuse Drury and Sellers subjected the victim to showed complete disregard for their welfare and safety.

“I would like to commend the bravery of the victim who supported a police prosecution and provided a victim personal statement.

“We take all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously and will continue to seek justice for those who have suffered such unspeakable crimes.

“I hope this result reassures our communities that Humberside Police is committed to supporting victims of sexual violence and pursuing offenders with determination.”

Drury and Sellers were sentenced at Hull Crown Court on Monday (June 29).

Drury was sentenced to nine years in prison, handed a sexual harm prevention order, a seven-year restraining order and placed on the sex offenders register for life.

Sellers was sentenced to four and a half years in prison, handed a restraining order for five years, a sexual harm prevention order and placed on the sex offenders register for life.

If you have been affected by sexual abuse or violence, or have concerns about someone who has, when you are ready, please speak to someone you trust and report it to police via the non-emergency number 101.

Always call 999 in an emergency or if you are in immediate danger.

The victim squealed out and McCrory stopped, telling her: “I love you. Look what you are making me do.”

A West Belfast man was jailed for 32 months today for a domestic abuse attack on his partner.

Raymond McCrory, 40, formerly of Brittons Drive but whose address was given on court papers as c/o of HMP Maghaberry, had previously pleaded guilty to charges of non-fatal strangulation/asphyxiation and wounding.

Belfast Crown Court heard that on Sunday, July 14, 2024, McCrory turned up at his partner’s home and was intoxicated as he had been drinking during the afternoon.

He was verbally abusive to his victim and he was asked to leave. He returned around 3.30 pm and his partner had locked the front and refused him entry.

Said a prosecution lawyer. “He went to the rear of the property and climbed through a kitchen window and in doing so smashed a glass ornament and an ashtray.

“When the victim entered the kitchen, McCrory grabbed her by the throat, pushed her against the wall of the kitchen, held his hand around her throat and repeatedly punched her to her head and face.

“This caused her to fall to the ground and she was then dragged across the floor and kicked a number of times to her body and head.”

The victim squealed out and McCrory stopped, telling her: “I love you. Look what you are making me do.”

Police attended the scene and observed significant bleeding to the victim’s face and officers took photographs of her injuries.

“They showed significant abrasions across the face, with bleeding from the mouth and lips. The defendant was located in the kitchen and there were blood stains on his shoes and blood droplets on his T-shirt,” said the prosecutor.

McCrory was arrested and taken to Musgrave Police Station and was “abusive and threatening to officers”. He was interviewed the following day and made no comment responses to all questions.

The victim later reported that had “lumps to her head, pain to her teeth, pain across her abdomen, pain to her ribs and pain to her throat which had been throttled”.

The court heard that McCrory had been employed previously as a factory operator but has not worked since 2021 due to his mental health issues.

According to a pre-sentence report, McCrory reported substance misuse issues from his adolescence and later in life having an addiction for Pregabalin and cocaine.

McCrory said he was also using crack cocaine along with alcohol which made him “more aggressive” and he also had a gambling problem.

The defendant has 39 previous convictions, five entries for assault including two on police and one serious assault.

In August 2018 he received a seven month prison sentence in relation to an assault on a previous partner in which he punched her to the side of the head. While she was prone on the ground she was kicked to the head.

The victim reported that McCrory grabbed her by the hair and she lost consciousness. There was also a history of police call outs going back to 2009.

The report compiled by a probation officer said a risk management meeting was held in October 2025 to discuss whether McCrory passed the threshold of posing a danger to the public given his record and the two attacks on separate partners.

The meeting concluded: “The history of call outs was considered along with his violent behaviour within relationships which included threats, intimidation and physical harm.

“Taking this into consideration, McCrory does meet the criteria for an assessment of posing a serious risk of serious harm”.

Judge Patrick Lynch KC said he agreed with the Probation Board’s dangerousness assessment, stating: “I have determined that Mr McCrory does pose a significant risk of serious harm to members of the public .”

Imposing a 32-month prison sentence, Judge Lynch said McCrory would spend a further 18 months on supervised licence on his release from custody.

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The BBC have the rights to show England’s World Cup round-of-32 tie against DR Congo on Wednesday, and the broadcaster had a key decision to make

Viewers identified a potential headache for the BBC mere hours into their 2026 Wimbledon coverage. The Championships have returned, marking a crucial year for the broadcaster following reports that the All England Club has urged them to enhance their coverage of the event.

Should they fall short, the BBC risks losing the broadcasting rights to tennis’ most prestigious tournament in the future — something the corporation’s top brass simply cannot afford. Yet they’ve already been handed a scheduling nightmare, with England’s World Cup round-of-32 tie set to coincide with prime-time tennis action.

Having topped their group, England’s football side will now face DR Congo in the round of 32 at 5pm on Wednesday.

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This created a dilemma for the BBC, as it falls to them to broadcast the match, given ITV secured the rights to two of England’s three group stage encounters.

The clash has left viewers baffled about which event the BBC would prioritise, with some speculating that the World Cup match might not even feature on the BBC’s flagship channels.

@WelsbyElton posted on X: “I sincerely hope I’m wrong here but as far as I can see England vs DR Congo on Wednesday at 5pm is on BBCiPlayer.

“The two main channels are showing Wimbledon. It’s not ITV’s turn to show England. Surely they must alter the schedules. If not it is scandalous.”

The BBC themselves were quick to set the record straight, responding: “Happy to reassure you that this game – and all Round of 32 BBC matches – can be watched on BBC One and/or BBC iPlayer.”

The mix-up appeared to arise from television guides still listing Wimbledon as the sole broadcast event as of Monday morning, though this was felt to be down to schedules not yet having been updated.

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Either way, the BBC needed to do some reshuffling to ensure all the necessary coverage is in place. Wednesday’s Wimbledon schedule is yet to be confirmed, as it comprises second-round matches.

The Championships got underway on Monday and are set to continue for the next fortnight.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

The terraced home on Baff Street in Spennymoor has been boarded up since the incident just before 6.40pm on Saturday (June 27) when a white Vauxhall Vivaro crashed into the front wall.

Nobody was inside at the time, but the house suffered significant damage.

The van fled the scene and was found abandoned nearby.

Durham Police said it has since been recovered and will undergo forensic examination.

A picture taken at the scene in Spennymoor (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Officers are now hunting those responsible and have appealed for information.

Fire services also attended later in the evening, arriving around 7.30pm to secure the property.

A spokesperson said: “We were notified of an incident at Baff Street in Spennymoor on Saturday, June 27, just after 7.30pm.

“On attendance, crews were presented with a single vehicle that had collided with a terraced property.

“Upon arrival, there was damage caused to the front elevation of the property.

“Firefighters worked with partner agencies, assessing and making the scene safe and handed it over to the police at around 8.30pm.”

Baff Street in Spennymoor (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Gas and electricity engineers are also believed to have attended.

A Spennymoor home on Baff Street has been boarded up after a van deliberately drove into it as police hunt the fleeing suspects. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

A spokesperson for Durham Police said: “Enquiries are ongoing to locate the suspects and officers would like to speak to anyone who may have any information that could help their investigation.”

Anyone with information can call the force on 101, quoting incident number 425 of June 27, visit durham.police.uk, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously nformation on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org