Monday 16 June 2008

Council orders organisers to turn down the sound at Scotland's top rock festival

Scotland's biggest music festival, T in the Park, will be quieter than usual due to health and safety orders to turn the music down. The move was made amid fears that permanent hearing damage could be suffered by fans, bands and technicians. RNID has welcomed the move and a spokesman said: "We still advise that music lovers should take earplugs with them and take breaks from listening to music that is too loud."

Read the full article in the Scottish Daily Mail, page 29.

Quarter of NHS trusts failing in hygiene

More than a quarter of NHS trusts in England are at risk of losing their license to treat patients because of failure to comply with hygiene regulations, the Government's health watchdog revealed today. The Healthcare Commission said 41 hospitals and 62 other NHS organisations have admitted failing to observe one or more parts of the hygiene code, which was introduced in October 2006 amid growing concern about the spread of MRSA.

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Sunday 15 June 2008

Maps chart Welsh noise pollution

Maps showing noise levels from roads and railways have been published on the assembly website as part of a scheme to show how noise pollution might affect families.

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Men left deaf

Tens of thousands of soldiers have been deemed unfit to fight in Afghanistan or Iraq after suffering hearing loss by sustained gunfire. The Ministry of Defence is worried it will now be faced with a £20million compensation bill because it has failed to guarantee soldiers' health and safety.

Read the full article in the News of the World, page 23.

Ear's a miracle

News of the World has started a campaign to give a 10-year-old boy new ears after he was born without them. A revolutionary operation will take cartilage from his ribs which will then be moulded into ears. The treatment will also mean that Tommy Leech will be able to hear without a hearing aid.

Read the full article in the News of the World, page 35.

Saturday 14 June 2008

New plug for KT

Report: Singer KT Tunstall has warned fans attending T in the Park to wear earplugs in order to protect their ears from hearing damage. The ambassador for RNID's campaign, Don't Lose the Music, said many band members wear earplugs on stage. She adds that she has become aware of the dangers of standing too close to loud speakers at festivals.

Read the full article in the Daily Star Scotland, page 14.