Anna Varle

2 weeks ago | bbc.com | Anna Varle

Overseas carers afraid over immigration overhaulAnna VarleSouth West health correspondentBBCSumedha Aryaratne moved to Devon with his family to work in domiciliary careOverseas people working in adult social care have said they are "afraid" about proposed changes aimed at making it harder for international workers to remain in the UK. Currently carers gain the right to live and work here indefinitely if they have been working in the country on a sponsored visa for five years.

3 weeks ago | bbc.com | Anna Varle

Women fleeing abuse 'must not be housed with men'Anna VarleBBC South West health correspondentBBCExperts say vulnerable women need to be in female-only accommodationA charity working with victims of sexual violence is calling for action to stop vulnerable women being housed in emergency accommodation with men. Devon Rape Crisis & Sexual Abuse Services said it was "deeply concerned" by reports women fleeing domestic and sexual violence in Torbay were not always housed in female-only accommodation.

1 month ago | bbc.co.uk | Anna Varle

Image caption, Trudy Herniman (left) was 23 years old when her mother, a farmer's wife, took her own lifeSouth West health correspondentTrudy Herniman was 23 years old when her mother, a farmer's wife, took her own life. "She wasn't someone who cried. She was very matter-of-fact and just got on with things," she saidA survey by the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) in 2021 found that 43% of women in rural areas were classified as either possibly or probably depressed.

1 month ago | bbc.com | Anna Varle

Woman 'will not be able to live without benefits'Anna VarleBBC South West health correspondentBBCCaroline Langley has severe arthritis and receives the Personal Independent Payment to help herA hospital clerk says she will not be able to live without the benefits she gets from the government. Caroline Langley, 65, of Twelveheads, Cornwall, has severe arthritis and receives £72.65 a week to help with her daily living needs. Ms Langley said: "I'm not living, I am existing.

1 month ago | bbc.co.uk | Anna Varle

Image caption, Paddy McMonagle said swimming helped him stop thinking about his treatment for cancerBBC South West health correspondentPatients being treated for cancer in Devon are using cold water swimming as therapy. Chill Coach Ellie Ricketts has encouraged 150 patients at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth to complete an eight-week course called Into the Blue.