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Woman's Hour: Baroness Cumberlege, Nurses' strike, Balaclavas, Iran diaries, Whistleblowing

Baroness Cumberlege, Nurses' strike, Balaclavas, Iran diaries, Whistleblowing

BBC Radio 4 - Woman's Hour, Baroness Cumberlege, Nurses' strike, Balaclavas, Iran diaries, Whistleblowing

The Conservative peer on her frustration at progress since her report First Do No Harm.

Two and a half years ago Baroness Cumberlege wrote a report looking at two drugs and a medical device which caused women or their babies harm. She made a list of recommendations to support victims and prevent future, avoidable damage. Yesterday she appeared in front of the Health and Social Care Select Committee and expressed her frustration at the slow progress of the Department of Health on this issue. She updates Emma Barnett about her concerns.

Nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are due to start strike action tomorrow. Since we spoke to the general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing Pat Cullen yesterday on this programme, the RCN has been urged to do more to 'avoid patient harm' and 'alleviate unnecessary distress' for dying patients on strike days by the Chief Nursing Officer for England Ruth May, and the chief nursing officers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as the NHS's head of cancer care.  Emma is joined by BBC health reporter Jim Reed and then Baroness Watkins, cross bench peer and a nurse for 50 years. She's also Visiting Chair of Nursing at Kings College London, and is hoping that the strike will be called off.

In this cold weather, we’re all reaching for our winter woollies.   One of the things you may be wearing is a balaclava, that piece of headwear that covers your head and chin traditionally knitted by your grandma.   These winter warmers originated during the Crimean War and they’re having a moment this year, thanks to big name fashion brands, Gen Z’s and Tik Tok and Instagram influencers. Fashion writer Tiffanie Darke is here to tell us how we can be warm and stylish.

Protests have been taking place across Iran since mid-September after the death in custody of a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini who had been detained by Iranian morality police for not wearing her headscarf correctly. Over the last two and a half months, women living in Iran have been sending their thoughts and diaries in secret to the BBC’s Saba Zavarei. They come in the form of voice notes, writings, videos and drawings, which the women then destroy on their phones in case they are searched. These diaries show the everyday risks and dangers that women face, as they continue to protest in Iran. 

We speak to the Elizabeth Gardiner the CEO of the Whistleblowing charity Protect about what protection is available for women who do put their careers on the line to report malpractice and wrongdoing.

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