News feed - This is North Devon

Help us to save lives in North Devon

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:00:00 GMT

THE North Devon Journal is today throwing its weight behind a campaign to buy a piece of life-saving medical equipment for North Devon District Hospital.

The British Heart Foundation Moving Hearts Appeal is trying to raise £38,000 to buy a machine which every year saves hundreds of people from heart-related diseases.

The machine, known as an echocardiograph (or Echo), can detect heart conditions in patients which might otherwise go undiscovered.

The hospital already has two echo machines. But demand for their use is increasing year-on-year. A third machine is needed to continue saving lives.

Owen Penney, from the British Heart Foundation, said: "We urgently need people — individuals, groups and businesses across North Devon and North Cornwall — to get involved and support the Moving Hearts Appeal."

● Full story on p 34 & 35.

'Help us to save lives'

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:00:00 GMT

THE North Devon Journal is today throwing its weight behind a campaign to buy a piece of life-saving medical equipment for North Devon District Hospital.

The British Heart Foundation Moving Hearts Appeal is trying to raise £38,000 to buy a machine which every year saves hundreds of people from heart-related diseases.

The machine, known as an echocardiograph (or Echo), can detect heart conditions in patients which might otherwise go undiscovered.

The hospital already has two echo machines. But demand for their use is increasing year-on-year. A third machine is needed to continue saving lives.

Owen Penney, from the British Heart Foundation, said: "We urgently need people like you — individuals, groups and businesses across North Devon and North Cornwall — to get involved and support the Moving Hearts Appeal.

"Donations of time or of money can help us make a real difference to the lives of people, who are living with the pain and burden of heart disease in our local community."

The portable machine x-rays the structure of a patients' heart. This gives instant results about how a person's blood flows, how their heart is pumping and how the valves work.

With this information, rare and fatal conditions can be identified early on.

Medical staff at the cardio-respiratory department are also backing the campaign.

Christine Pope, senior chief cardiac physiologist at the hospital, said: "We have used these machines more and more as time has gone on.

"What we find with each patient can be entirely different, but in hundreds of cases it has proved vital.

"Having a third machine will ensure we can carry on treating people in the right way."

Not only will the machine cater for thousands of patients at North Devon District Hospital, but it will also be used at community hospitals across North Devon and North Cornwall.

This means patients who use hospitals at Ilfracombe, South Molton, Bideford, Torrington and Holsworthy could benefit from the new machine.

One man backing the campaign is Nick Rumsey, a South Molton man whose own life was saved by an echo machine.

He said: "I just hope people realise the importance of this machine. It turns people's lives around. Whether you are young or old, you never know when you will be in a position to need an echo."

People across North Devon have already pledged their time and money to help the cause.

Fundraising events being organised include cycle rides, walks and weight loss challenges, details of which this newspaper will bring you on a regular basis.

The Journal is now calling on its army of readers to back the campaign in any way they can: whether through time, money of just spreading the word.

● Turn to pages 34 and 35 to learn more about the appeal and find out how you can get involved.

Husband arrested in hospital

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:00:00 GMT

DETECTIVES were this week waiting to question a man who has been arrested in hospital on suspicion of murdering two Barnstaple women.

As tributes continued to be made to victims Donna St John and Debbie Jones, both 35, the only suspect remained under police guard at North Devon District Hospital.

Neil Langmead, 40, a builder, from Convent Close, Newport, Barnstaple, was said to be conscious and in a stable condition.

He was arrested in the hospital on Tuesday, nine days after he was admitted.

Police would wait until doctors agreed Mr Langmead was well enough to be interviewed, a spokesman said.

The full details of what exactly happened have yet to be revealed, although some information has emerged.

The women had been socialising together and with others in pubs and the Toko nightclub in Barnstaple from about 10pm on Saturday, August 21.

They then returned to Ms Jones's house in Fort Mead Close, with an unidentified man, between 2am and 3am.

At 9am a neighbour's carer called the fire service when smoke was seen pouring from Ms Jones's bedroom window.

Firefighters found the bodies of the two women in the kitchen and Mr Langmead was discovered, seriously injured, in the back garden.

It is thought all three had suffered stab wounds although the causes of death have yet to be confirmed. Mr Langmead was also said to have sustained injuries in the fire.

The fire was contained to an upstairs bedroom and firefighters quickly brought it under control. The house was not severely damaged by the blaze. Post mortem examinations were carried out last week but the results have not been revealed.

An inquest had not been opened by the time the Journal went to press.

Police officers were out among pub and club-goers in Barnstaple at the weekend, trying to find any information about the women's final hours.

A police major incident room was opened in Barnstaple and 50 officers were working on the investigation, including detectives from the major crime investigation team.

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Mike West said: "I am very pleased with the assistance and information we have had from the local community in relation to this tragic incident, and to the additional response following the deployment of local officers in and around the town centre on Saturday night".

● Anyone with any information, including witnesses who might have seen the victims on the night they died, are asked to phone the police on 08452 777444 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

'Help us to save lives across North Devon'