Two-year-old Bronson Battersby and his father Kenneth were found dead in their Skegness flat, a tragedy that has deeply distressed the community. Bronson, who craved love and attention, died of starvation and dehydration days after his 60-year-old father succumbed to a suspected heart attack. Their bodies were discovered on 9 January, following efforts by social services to contact them. Neighbours reported Kenneth struggling to cope as a single parent and his attempts to seek help from social services. Amanda Tovey, who lived above them, described Bronson as a child longing for affection and Kenneth as often frustrated and shouting at the boy. Despite Kenneth's efforts, Amanda believed he was overwhelmed, particularly in handling Bronson's tantrums. The social worker and the landlord found the bodies after gaining access to the flat. Lincolnshire Police stated the deaths were not suspicious, and the matter was passed to the coroner's office. A police investigation is now under way. The landlady of the building expressed her shock and sorrow over the deaths.

Inflation in the UK has unexpectedly risen to 4% in the year to December, surpassing economists' predictions of a decrease to 3.8%. This increase from November's 3.9% was primarily driven by higher tobacco and alcohol costs, following a government hike in smoking duties. The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) do not yet reflect the full impact of increased shipping costs due to Red Sea diversions, triggered by Houthi attacks on commercial ships and subsequent UK and US airstrikes. These disruptions are expected to significantly raise goods prices into Europe, according to DP World's chief financial officer Yuvraj Narayan.Retail chains have responded by offering more sales.The Bank of England, striving to control inflation, has maintained a base interest rate of 5.25% since August. Core inflation, excluding volatile items like food and energy, remains at 5.1%, with food inflation dropping from 9.2% to 8%.Chancellor Jeremy Hunt acknowledges the uneven path of inflation reduction, emphasising the need for economic stability. Labour's Rachel Reeves and the Liberal Democrats' Sarah Olney highlighted the ongoing strain on families due to rising living costs.

Health experts have issued a stark warning as measles cases surge in England, largely due to a rise in unvaccinated children. In 2023, there were 1,603 suspected measles cases in England and Wales, a significant increase from the previous two years. The West Midlands is currently experiencing the most severe outbreak, with 198 confirmed and 104 probable cases, primarily among unvaccinated school-age children in Birmingham. Its Children’s Hospital reports treating over fifty children for measles in the past month, the highest number in decades. Measles, a highly contagious disease, requires 95% vaccine coverage to achieve herd immunity. However, vaccination rates have dropped below 90%, increasing the risk of severe infections, brain damage, and even death. Professor Sir Andrew Pollard stresses the urgent need for more vaccinations to prevent hospital admissions and fatalities. The UK, which has lost its measles-free status due to declining MMR vaccinations, faces potential outbreaks if vaccination rates do not improve. The NHS is urging parents to ensure their children receive two doses of the MMR vaccine to curb the spread of this serious disease.

A study published in the Lancet, focused on the summer of 2022, highlights that over 7,000 hospital admissions related to Covid-19 could have been prevented if the population had been fully vaccinated as recommended. The study analysed health records of the entire UK population over five years old. It found significant under-vaccination rates across the UK, with the highest in Northern Ireland (49.8%) and the lowest in Wales (32.8%). Different groups were recommended varying numbers of vaccine doses based on age and health conditions. The study also noted a correlation between under-vaccination and increased rates of severe illness, hospitalisation, and deaths from Covid. The research aims to inform public health campaigns and identify groups with lower vaccination rates, such as younger people, men, and those in poorer areas or from ethnic minorities. The potential of using large-scale NHS data for broader medical research was also emphasised. For more details, see the full article at the ‘More’ link below.