Samantha Leathers

Families receiving Disability Living Allowance for a child must respond to a Department for Work and Pensions invitation letter when the child turns 16, or payments of up to £194.60 a week may stop. The child must apply for Personal Independence Payment by the stated deadline to continue receiving DLA while the claim is assessed. Citizens Advice recommends starting the application within four weeks and requesting an extension if necessary. Eligibility is not guaranteed, and a move to PIP can also affect access to a Motability vehicle because the enhanced mobility rate is required.

The British Heart Foundation has identified 10 UK areas as “defibrillator deserts,” where residents face limited access to emergency defibrillators. West Tyrone has the longest average retrieval time, at 19 minutes and 20 seconds, potentially reducing survival chances after an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The BHF is urging local leaders to apply for funding for 400 new defibrillators, which will be registered on The Circuit. Immediate CPR and defibrillation can more than double survival chances, while each minute without treatment can reduce the chance of survival by up to 10%.

Cameron Menzies was forced to withdraw from his World Matchplay Darts match against Ross Smith after experiencing high blood pressure, dizziness and fainting. The Professional Darts Corporation said he later appeared to be well, and Menzies reassured fans. The incident highlights that high blood pressure often causes no warning symptoms while increasing the risk of serious events such as heart attacks and strokes. The article advises eligible people in England to use NHS blood pressure checks and recommends healthy eating, physical activity, reduced alcohol consumption and stopping smoking to help manage blood pressure.

PIP recipients are reminded they must inform the Department for Work and Pensions if they plan to travel abroad for more than four weeks, as extended trips can affect eligibility and potentially pause payments. Claimants may continue receiving PIP for up to 13 weeks abroad, or up to 26 weeks when travelling for medical treatment. Those moving abroad permanently cannot receive the mobility component but may still qualify for daily living support under certain conditions. Reporting requirements include travel dates, destinations, and reasons for travelling.