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Endometriosis: More than just a ‘painful period’

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Credit: Francine Taylor / Instagram: @just_another_endo_warrior

“I wake up in pain every single day, sometimes even before I open my eyes, I realise how much pain I’m in.”

Francine Taylor is describing her endometriosis symptoms.

It took the 28-year-old more than 12 years to receive a diagnosis.

If caught any later, it would have cost both her bladder and bowel, her current consultant confirmed.

Experts have concluded that there is an ongoing gynaecology crisis in the UK with NHS waiting lists having “more than doubled since February 2020.”

750,000 women are still waiting for consultations, tests, and even important surgery, leaving many women at stake of losing major organs to endometriosis. 

Endometriosis is a chronic condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining, grows outside of the uterus, causing pain, inflammation and scarring.

For Francine, her life is “consumed” by her diagnosis, affecting her ability to work, socialise and maintain relationships.

“No one took me seriously.” she explains. “You go to these medical professionals with the hope and the understanding that they’re there to help you, and for them to say it’s normal, is concerning.” she said.

She first started experiencing symptoms at just 14 years old and did not receive her diagnosis until her later adult years when she turned 27. 

When taking frequent trips to the GP to discuss her incredibly painful periods, she was immediately shut down, with doctors telling her that periods are meant to be painful” and that experiencing how she felt, was a “normal part of being a woman.”

Since then, Fran underwent two invasive surgeries to investigate her symptoms. 

After a first surgery, she was told by a gynaecologist that there was “nothing wrong” with her, explaining that there were no signs of “menstrual health or gynecological related illnesses or disorders.”

“If I believed the consultant that failed to diagnose me, I would have eventually lost both my bowel and my bladder.” 

Over the next two years, her symptoms progressed severely, forcing her to obtain a second opinion. 

“It was only when I questioned what they were saying, that anything was taken seriously.” she said.

“I had to build up a huge amount of symptoms that were affecting me on a daily basis in order for anyone to take me seriously, and I know I am not alone in that.” she said. 

In May of 2023, she was finally diagnosed with stage three endometriosis after battling to be heard by medical practitioners for more than a decade.

“You know, having 12 years of battling with medical practitioners to be taken seriously has a huge toll on your mental health, it’s really exhausting and very frustrating.” she said

She continues: “I think the fact that endometriosis takes on average 8.9 years to diagnose, speaks volumes to the level of medical gaslighting and dismissal that occurs within the women’s health sector.” 

“You have to plan everything around your condition, and whilst I am not my condition, endometriosis has taken over mine and many other women’s lives.”  she said.

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Ivan Juric leaves Southampton after earliest ever relegation

Lennie Teague

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Ivan Juric has left his role as Southampton first team manager following the club’s relegation on Sunday.

The Croatian joined the Saints on an 18-month deal in December following Russell Martin’s dismissal but lasted just 107 days in charge.

Juric oversaw just two victories in his 16 matches in charge with Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Tottenham confirming Southampton’s relegation to the Championship.

With seven matches still to play, Saints’ relegation is the earliest in Premier League history, breaking the joint-record set by Derby County and Huddersfield Town in 2007-08 and 2018-19 respectively, who both went down after 32 games.

The club confirmed the process of searching for a new manager is now under way and said: “With relegation to the Championship now confirmed, we believe it is important to give fans, players and staff some clarity on the future as we head into a very important summer.”

First team coach Simon Rusk is set to take charge of the team for the remainder of the season with player Adam Lallana to act as his assistant.

Southampton currently sit on 10 points at the bottom of the league and require a further two points to avoid breaking the record-low set by Derby County, who finished the 2007-08 season with 11 points.

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New foodhall to open on site of former Winchester nightclub

Lennie Teague

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A new foodhall is set to open later this year in place of Vodka, Winchester’s former nightclub.

The venue, which shut down in May 2023, is set to be converted to foodhall called Helch Market.

The market is planned to open until 3am and will have a number of food vendors which will rotate over time as well as events space in the basement.

Helch Market Winchester will be the second of its kind after David Jamal Benamor, of Benamor LTD, opened a similar business in Bournemouth in 2022.

Mr Benamor aims to open the new venue in the autumn.

Mr Benamor said: “There’s quite a low diversity in independent businesses, so there’s a lot of chains and very few independent, especially with new concepts, which are a lot harder.

“It’s quite stale, the diversity on the high street, like everywhere in the UK.

“This offers smaller businesses a chance to try a concept or to start their own chain of stores, whatever they’d like to do, so I’d say just a diversity within small businesses.”

Image courtesy of Benamor LTD

Mr Benamor’s application for a licence which allows the sale of alcohol, the serving of hot food and drinks between 11pm and 5am and live and recorded music and entertainment was approved on 25 March.

The plans to take over the Vodka site have been controversial and the initial licence application was met with criticism, with a number of written objections being made to Winchester City Council.

Residents have also been concerned with the potential rise in crime levels after there were 18 crimes reported on or near the Vodka property in the first half of 2022, a year before its closure.

‘As long as there’s a facility for the youngsters, which is much needed.’

One man said: “In principle, I am happy with the idea.

Despite the complaints, the members of the Winchester public WINOL spoke to were mostly supportive of the venue.

“I wouldn’t like it if it was open until 3am, but in normal hours it’s fine.

“No problem at all, I think we need to encourage young people here.”

Another resident said: “As long as there’s a facility for the youngsters, which is much needed in town because we haven’t got a lot like clubs as such.

“Not everybody wants them, but I just think the youngsters need something rather than have to go elsewhere. It’s good.”

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Winchester BID Rangers recover £100,000 in stolen goods

Lennie Teague

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Photo courtesy of Winchester BID

A security team in Winchester has hit a major milestone by recovered more than £100,000 worth of stolen goods in the city centre.

The Winchester Business Crime Reduction Partnership (WBCRP) and Winchester Business Improvement District (BID) Rangers were formed in 2018 with the aim of reducing business crime, antisocial behaviour and low level crime.

The group has now retrieved over £100,000 worth of goods and returned them to businesses in Winchester.

The Rangers work closely with local businesses, Hampshire Constabulary, Winchester City Council and BID to help their efforts of combatting theft.

They are highly trained security professionals that are accredited under the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS) and certified by the Security Industry Authority (SIA).

BID lists the Rangers’ key functions as being crime prevention and recovery, supporting the local Shopwatch and Pubwatch schemes, real-time assistance and customer engagement and public safety.

Hannah Hitchon, Shopwatch chair, said: “It is with the greatest pride that the BID Rangers have surpassed the stolen property recovery figure of £100,000.

“This figure has been recovered over a challenging time, including the pandemic, which naturally impacted the vital role that they played in protecting our local area.

“As such they should be commended for their hard work and resilience over the last six years.

“My heartfelt thanks go out to the Rangers for the continuing hard work and dedication that they offer both the public and local businesses and here’s to many more years of the same!”

The group have been recognised for their efforts by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC).

BID Ranger Brett Jones received an OPCC award in 2023 for his commitment to public safety.

Winchester BID Business Crime Reduction Manager Jane Bastock has been honoured with a 2025 OPCC award nomination for her leadership in business crime reduction over the past decade.

On the efforts by the Rangers, Ms Bastock said: “I am very proud of this achievement. This demonstrates not only the success of the BID Rangers scheme but that of the Radio Link and Shopwatch schemes, which businesses in Winchester utilise to alert suspicious or offending behaviour in their store or in the city.

“I would also like to thank the local police and Winchester City Council CCTV Control Room for their continued support with these schemes.”

Following the milestone, the WBCRP and Winchester BID remain committed to strengthening security initiatives and supporting businesses in tackling crime.

Cheif Inspector Korine Bishop, Winchester district commander, said: “This milestone demonstrates the importance of the BID Rangers to the partnership effort needed to keep the city centre a safer environment for all.

“Our officers, including those from our dedicated city centre Neighbourhood Policing Team, will continue to work with the BID Rangers and all our partners to reduce and prevent crime.”

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