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Renewed Hope: Disease-Fighting Robots

ABC Staff
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Renewed Hope: Disease-Fighting Robots

‘Early detection saves lives’ is a common chorus of medical professionals when it comes to cancer – and while some provocative studies and headlines have stirred controversy by suggesting otherwise, guidance released by the World Health Organization (WHO) in February of this year cut through these claims by emphasising the importance of early cancer diagnosis.

The WHO’s announcement was well-timed: it came on the heels of the announcement of a new artificial intelligence software that helps doctors spot breast cancer risks. Then, just last month, researchers at the University of Waterloo in Canada publicised another breakthrough in artificial intelligence (AI) which supports early detection goals for skin cancer. It seems that robots equipped with AI are at the forefront of a completely transformed diagnostic process. How does this potentially life-saving technology work, and how could AI affect the larger medical field? Here, we take a closer look at the artificial intelligence that’s changing the way we recognise disease.

Using software for hard diagnoses

In order to diagnose breast cancer, women undergo painful mammograms and unnecessary biopsies over a long and drawn-out process. However, a new AI system developed by researchers from Houston Methodist interprets mammogram results 30 times quicker than a team of doctors. The AI is able to read and translate patient charts at top speed, reporting breast cancer risks based on its analysis.

The AI tech aimed at skin cancer operates under many of the same principles. It targets melanoma, which is usually diagnosed through the visual examination of moles. In today’s standard diagnostic process, doctors take note of changes in the skin’s appearance and then use a biopsy to test the area for cancer. If diagnosed and treated in its early stages, melanoma can be removed relatively easily. However, once it progresses past a certain stage, the cancer can be deadly.

The new AI diagnostic technology is essentially a heightened version of the doctor’s visual examination that allows the machine to see what the human eye cannot. By integrating machine-learning techniques into a skin analysis system, researchers have created a robot that looks at photographs of the skin and reads the levels of certain chemicals which are typically markers for melanoma. Doctors can then examine and treat a patient based on these results.

Benefits and the bigger picture

Both AI systems reduce the risk of false diagnoses, cut back on healthcare costs and biopsies, ease the workload of medical staff and allow patients to come in for treatment sooner. Such benefits could help improve the flaws of healthcare while saving countless lives.

For entrepreneurs like Mark Zuckerberg or tech investor Tej Kohli, philanthropy, business and disruptive technologies such as robotics make for a mutually beneficial combination. Both have demonstrated their faith in AI (Zuckerberg argued for AI’s potential against Elon Musk’s less optimistic views; Tej Kohli’s investment vehicle Tej Kohli Ventures are baking the robotics venture studio Rewired), but these diagnostic developments seem to prove just how beneficial the technology can be for everyone. AI is more than just a vehicle for fear-mongering about the future or an esoteric and inaccessible field. It offers the possibility for innovations that could revolutionise medicine and science: today, diagnosis; tomorrow, a cure.

Does Investing in Domain Names Make Sense? How Much Can You Make from It?

Elliot
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Does Investing in Domain Names Make Sense? How Much Can You Make from It?

Is it possible to make money with domain names? The short answer is yes but there are many things you need to know about it if you think of getting involved with domain name investing. Making money with domain names is unlike other business or investment venture.

How Making Money with Domain Names Works

The basic idea of making money with domain names is buying domain names to be sold later on. It’s similar to trading shares, currency, or other assets. You buy something at a low price to be sold later on  at a higher price.

Buying a domain name essentially means registering one under your name or your business name. There is no physical item that will be obtained. A purchase can be done entirely online.  Becoming the owner of a domain name, however, is not permanent. You will have to renew your registration if you want to retain ownership of the domain name.

One excellent way to make money with domain names is by signing  up with a domain name marketplace. Domain name marketplaces typically provide everything you need to buy and sell domain names. They serve as a registrar and they can conveniently facilitate the auctioning or advertisement of your domain names. You may not have to actively promote the domains you are selling as they are automatically presented to potential buyers whenever they search for available domains on the marketplace. If a buyer buys your domain name, you automatically receive the payment and the ownership of the domain name is immediately transferred to the buyer.

Nothing’s stopping you from promoting the domain names you are selling on your own, though. You can create placeholder or advertisement pages for your available domain names so if someone does online searches that are relevant to your for-sale domain name, they may find your placeholder site on search engine results and see the ad for the domain name you are selling. For example, you can create a single-page website (placeholder) for your domain name “thebestdomainname.com” wherein you indicate on the site that the domain name “thebestdomainname.com” is for sale.

If you don’t want to rely on domain name marketplaces or auction sites, you can register a domain name with less known domain name registrars that may offer lower prices. Many web hosting companies, for example, provide domain name registration services at highly competitive rates.

How Much Can You Make?

You may have encountered reports of domain names fetching prices in tens or hundreds of thousands. Some domain names were even sold for millions of dollars. These are not fictitious. Many domain names have been sold for envy-inducing prices. Insurance.com was sold for $35.6 million in 2010. VacationRentals.com fetched $35 million when it was bought by vacation rental marketplace HomeAway, Inc. PrivateJet.com was obtained by Nations Luxury Transportation, LLC in 2012 for $30.1 million.

Other domain names that instantly added millions to the bank accounts of their former owners are Internet.com ($18 million), Insure.com ($16 million), Hotels.com ($11 million), Fb.com ($8.5 million), Business.com ($7.5 million), Beer.com ($7 million), iCloud.com ($6 million), Casino.com ($5.5 million), Asseenontv.com ($5.1 million), Korea.com ($5 million), Freeport.com ($4 million), GiftCard.com ($4 million), and Shop.com ($3.5 million).

Take note, though, these million dollar prices are not the norm. These are a rarity. It’s virtually impossible to buy (at low prices) high value domain names similar to the ones listed above nowadays, let alone sell them for millions. Based on the most recent market study of major domain name marketplace Sedo, most of the domain names sold in 2011 were priced not higher than $2,500. Around 46% were in the 0-$500 price range while 40% were in the $501-$2,500 price range. Only around 1% of the domains sold were priced higher than $50,000.

The median prices of the most popular domain names based on the Sedo market study have been a mixed bag. For .com domains, for example, the median price in 2010 was $3,185 but it decreased to $2,775 in 2011 and $2,148 in 2012. For the .net domains, the median prices  2010, 2011, and 2012 were increasing, at $1,599, $1,602, and $1,880 respectively. When it comes to .org domains, the median prices were $2,217 in 2010, $1,289 in 2011, and $1,315 in 2012. The price trends are not clearly increasing or decreasing especially in recent years, with the introduction of new domain names. There has been no comprehensive recent study on domain name price trends across different marketplaces for both the traditional and new domains.

There’s money in the buying and selling of domain names. Domain name investing is not a lost cause. However, it’s  not something you can do as a major business venture. The profits are unpredictable and there are many things you need to take into account as you buy and sell domain names.

It is particularly important to look at the new dynamics with the introduction of the new domain names. Should you invest in new domain names like .cafe, .restaurant, or .store or should you stick with the traditional domains like .com and .net? Many would seem to believe that it would be better to focus on traditional domain names.  However, it’s worth noting that a new domain name, casino.online, was sold in early 2017 for a record $201,250. This is the highest ever price for a new domain, which may signal that new domain names are beginning to be acknowledged

Domain name investing at present seems to be sending mixed signals. You have to study various aspects and different factors to have a good estimation as to whether or not investing in certain domain names is worth it. You also have to take cybersquatting laws into account. If you want to engage in domain name investing, keep abreast with the trends and don’t risk large amounts for domain name investments.

Is staying in smarter, than eating out?

ABC Staff
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Is staying in smarter, than eating out?

In the last few years, there have been a number of reports blaming the ‘millennial’ generation for the recent decline of sales in the restaurant industry. According to these reports, restaurant sales have begun to decline, because the millennial generation prefers to stay home or eat at ‘fast casual’ restaurants like Nandos or Panera Bread – places with minimal sit-down experience. Is this simply the smarter financial option? 

For many, especially those on a lower income, eating out is simply a less attractive option. Going out and eating at a restaurant is often expensive, but it’s also time-consuming. Fast-casual restaurants like Panera Bread, Nandos and Chipotle are on the rise because they offer consumers lower prices for quality food, far better quality than the traditional fast-food restaurant. But they’re also successful because they’re not working on the premise that the customer wants to pay to sit in for a few hours: in other words, they have a high customer turnover rate.

Staying in all together has also risen in popularity. This may be in part due to the emergence of delivery services like Deliveroo, that bring restaurant food directly to your door. So if you’re craving some quality restaurant pasta, you can get it delivered rather than having to go out to a restaurant. Takeaways have always been popular, but it is only recently that this has grown to include high-quality options. As with fast-casual options, these services might be gaining popularity because they account for a demographic that wants restaurant-quality food without the time-consuming act of going out to eat.

There are also clear economic benefits to staying at home, even when spending on restaurant-level food. For those ordering as a group, paying delivery is rarely much of an expensive addition, as the cost will be divided. Ordering all of your food at once also cuts down on the temptation of impulsive additional requests while eating. If you’re having the food brought to your home, you can also cut out drinks – one of the biggest profit areas for the restaurant industry, because of price markups. Most of us don’t want to pay restaurant prices for fizzy drinks but when you are dining in a venue, you have little option but to pay or drink tap water. Eating in your own home, you can drink as much supermarket-priced soda or alcohol as you want. 

These trends within the restaurant industry are quite new and right now it’s debatable how many will stick and how many are just trends. Only time will tell how our eating habits have evolved but, for now, staying in definitely seems to have a future in the industry.

Infamous Traders Who Changed the Game

Elliot
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Infamous Traders Who Changed the Game

“Vice and infamy have their altars and their religion.”

– William Hazlitt

The world of finance is a living and breathing community. Trillions of dollars change hands every day and naturally, some investors will walk away as winners. Still, there is a certain amount of infamy attached to this environment. Some individuals have pushed the boundaries of what is known as “fair” while others have crossed them entirely. Let’s look at a handful of traders who are known for their unscrupulous actions as well as the impacts that they have had upon the fiscal sector.

Tasou Hamanaka

 Mr. Hamanaka was a chief trader at a Japanese copper-based corporation known as Sumitomo. In 1996, it was suspected that his team had cornered as much as five per cent of the copper market. Known for its aggressive trading style and for taking no prisoners, his dealings were eventually uncovered. The Sumitomo Corporation suffered a loss of $2.6 billion dollars and Mr. Hamanaka was imprisoned for eight years. Since then, Japan has forced trading firms to adopt more transparent policies.

Nick Leeson

Many would argue that Nick Leeson is the most famous rogue trader in history. In 1995, Mr. Leeson caused Barings Bank to file for bankruptcy after more than 233 years of continuous operation. Prosecutors found that he was opening up a number of risky positions in relation to Nikkei-based futures contracts. Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. As a result of his illegal dealings, the bank accumulated a net loss of a staggering $1.3 billion dollars. Not only was the institution forced to permanently shut its doors, but Mr. Leeson was jailed for more than six years. It is interesting to note that his story served as the basis for the film Rogue Trader starring Ewan McGregor.

Bernie Madoff

No list of infamous traders would be complete without mentioning the debacle known as Bernie Madoff. This former stockbroker is now known as being the chief ringleader of the largest Ponzi scheme in history. It is said that he eventually cost his clients in excess of $64.8 billion dollars. More than 4,800 individuals fell victim to his fraudulent activities and some of these were high-profile names. The list included Steven Spielberg, Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick, Larry King, Zsa Zsa Gabor and John Malkovich. However, the true tragedy is associated with those countless souls who invested a portion or all of their life savings only to be duped in the long run. Mr. Madoff is currently serving a prison sentence of 150 years and he will likely spend the remainder of his life behind bars. His actions also highlighted the many loopholes found within the Securities and Exchange Commission; causing regulatory changes to be made.

A Few Bad Apples 

While there are always a few unscrupulous individuals within any industry, the financial markets still offer a wealth of opportunities. By understanding the core basics and learning spread betting (amongst other skills), you will not have to rely upon anyone else for your financial future. The power is in your hands.

Liverpool Student Property Market Attracting Foreign Investors

ABC Staff
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Liverpool Student Property Market Attracting Foreign Investors

UK Student Property is Booming

It’s no secret that confidence in the student property market has peaked in recent years, opening up rare opportunities for investors to take advantage of excellent rental yields and no-fuss arrangements.  

Although many UK investors have been straight onto the student property trend, investors from overseas are no strangers to this flourishing market that owes itself to the solid foundations of the UK’s higher education system. With most student properties fully-managed by local agencies, investors can commit to a venture in the student sector from the comfort of their home country.

Such an established and globally renowned educational sector assures a continuous flow of tenants in need of student accommodation that outstrips supply. A predicament absent from so many other countries, internationals looking for an investment in a market other than residential are likely to wind up in UK student property territory.

Liverpool is UK’s Best Student City

It’s true that many UK cities are benefiting from an increase in foreign investment. Nevertheless, Liverpool stands out from other urban areas as a top spot for student property investment. A combination of pull factors enticing tenants to select Liverpool as their city of study alongside affordable prices and excellent rental yields for investors makes this a city at the forefront of UK student property investment.

A City for Student Tenants

Students are firstly attracted to the high level of credibility associated with all three establishments. The redbrick University of Liverpool is ranked in the top 1% of education institutions in the world whilst Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool Hope University also rank within the top 75 according to league tables by The Complete University Guide.

Following on from this, Liverpool is a city identified by its eccentric culture across the UK and all over the globe. Students flock to the abandoned warehouse nightlife of the Baltic Triangle, the galleries and museums of the Albert Dock and the unconventional cafés on RopeWalks’ famous Bold Street.   

Affordability also plays a key role in asserting Liverpool as one of the best study cities in Britain. The cost of living here is relatively lower than other areas in the UK, from monthly rents to the cost of a weekly shop.  

A City for Investors

With 3 major universities and a total of over 70,000 students, overseas investors can be assured that there are plenty of tenants around looking for suitable accommodation. With investment companies locating the best student areas in close proximity to Liverpool’s city centre attractions and university campuses, it’s simple and stress-free for those abroad looking to select a student development that suits them.

In terms of regeneration, renaissance continues to sweep across the former Capital of Culture in the shape of colossal waterfront developments, improved train links, renovated ports and of course, student accommodation. The positivity radiating from numerous contemporary major projects sets the city in good stead for the future and foreign investors can be assured that the latest student developments are being designed with this modern ethos in mind.

Furthermore, Liverpool’s excellent potential for rental yields is on every international investor’s radar, with an average of 8% considered a strong  rental return on student investment. Initial average property costs are low, supplying the opportunity for maximum capital appreciation over time.

For more information on buy to let investment opportunities in 2018, contact RWinvest on Tel: +44 (0)151 808 1250, via Email: info@rw-invest.com or visit the website at: https://www.rw-invest.com

5 Smart Ways Ecommerce Business Owners Can Increase Profit Margins

Elliot
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5 Smart Ways Ecommerce Business Owners Can Increase Profit Margins

The ecommerce industry is getting more competitive than ever, wouldn’t you agree? As a marketer, you feel the need to crush the competition before it crushes you. One determinant of success is profit margin.

A business’ profit margin reveals a lot about its profitability and is expressed in percentage. It tells how much money is left after you deduct the cost of acquiring or producing your products from your revenue, and divide the number by the same revenue. Even if an ecommerce company’s revenue and profits are high but they have a low profit margin, they aren’t performing well enough.

There are a few things you can do today to boost this important number no matter what products you sell. Below, we teach you seven strategies that are worth your time and effort:

1. Raise your prices.

The thought of increasing the price of your items may scare you off but it’s a very practical means to boost your ecommerce business. Don’t worry, you still get to avoid the risk of losing your best customers. You could provide occasional discounts and deals, bundle certain products, reduce the size of the items (to make the increase less obvious), and offer extras.

Also, make sure that people find your price increase reasonable. When was the last time you changed your prices? Does the quality of your product justify the raise? If your audiences are happy to begin with, a slight increase in price won’t be a big deal.

2. Leverage a faster and cheaper shipping method.

You’re probably practicing dropshipping but having problems with delivery times. You know how delays in receiving orders can affect your relationship with customers. No shopper wants to do repeat business with a company that creates poor experiences. Customers don’t have a lot of options for courier services except those that are offered by the ecommerce store.

Fortunately, you can rely on a solution that combines affordability and convenience. An example of this kind of service is the ePacket shipping method. Customers from over 30 countries are now beneficiaries of the ePacket. They’re able to track their orders and enjoy free returns.

3. Improve customer retention.

Too many businesses focus more of their efforts on customer acquisition and sales but less on customer retention. A study conducted by Bain & Company revealed that improving retention rates boosts profits for up to 95%. Most companies also attest that keeping your customers costs less than acquiring new ones.

The first step to improving customer retention is to identify factors that make a customer leave – and work on avoiding those things. For example, you could prevent poor customer experiences by hiring an expert customer support. He should be responsible for answering emails and handling live chats. Other ways to boost retention include building personal relationships with them through email, running live webinars, and social media sharing.

4. Upsell and cross-sell.

Upsell, cross-sell… What are these two techniques and how do they differ? Upsell and cross-sell are often used interchangeably.

Here are their definitions: An upsell happens when a customer is about to purchase a product but you recommend an upgrade or more advanced version of the same product. Cross-selling is when you get customers to spend more by suggesting other products that relate to the original product they want. Regardless of whether you upsell or cross-sell, what’s important is that you recommend products that add immense value.

5. Manage your expenses better.

In the early stages of your ecommerce business, you’re more inclined to watch where you spend your dollars on. However, as your business grows, cost management somehow takes a backseat. You’ll be able to avoid financial leaks by planning out an effective and organized tracking system from the start.

One technique is to keep different types of business receipts. If there’s anything that you use for both your personal life and ecommerce business (such as home office and internet), have those recorded as well. You might also consider hiring a bookkeeper to keep an eye on your business’ cash flow.

Final Thoughts

There’s no point in running a business if you don’t do anything to boost its profitability. You’re just going to waste your valuable investments in that case. The five simple techniques mentioned in this post will hopefully open your mind to areas that affect your ecommerce business’ financial health – starting with your prices to cost management. Let us know what you think in the comments below.

How to Succeed as a First Time Landlord

Elliot
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How to Succeed as a First Time Landlord

Although recent tax changes relating to the buy-to-let market have rocked the investment world and may well be putting potential investors off, not everything is as it seems and first time landlords can still find success. Although all investors experience some form of scepticism at some point, first time investors almost certainly experience it more than others, purely due to their lack of experience.

However, regardless of the new tax changes, and with special thanks to low interest rates and the possibility for property prices to increase, now is a very good time for first time investors to take the plunge. Becoming a first time landlord can often be very difficult and confusing, so we have created a list of some of our top tips for first time landlords to succeed within the industry.

Education and Research are Essential

When first time landlords turn their heads to property investment, one of the biggest mistakes that they make is rushing into it without conducting all of the relevant research and becoming fully educated. Getting to know the market is very important for the success of first time landlords, as looking at different locations, different property types and general financial figures can help you to make informed decisions at every stage of the process. If you were to go forward with a property but were looking to charge rent at a much higher rate than similar properties within the area, then you are unlikely to have much success.

A key part of the education and research process is getting to know the responsibilities that you have as a landlord. Becoming a landlord is often extremely hands on, from preparing the property to catering to your tenants, and landlords need to be aware of what is going to be expected of them, as well as what the law requires of them. Without determining your responsibilities, you may find that the job requires much more of you than you first realised, and this may not be a healthy addition when looking to achieve success.

Finding the Perfect Investment Opportunity

Finding the right buy-to-let investment opportunity for you is another key factor to becoming a successful first time landlord. Firstly, choosing the right property type is the first part of the process, and researching which property types may be best for you and your individual circumstances. Once you have decided upon which property type you would like to invest in, the next step is to look into different locations that have your desired property type available. You would then research the areas to find out whether or not tenants may be looking to live there, as well as what you can hope to achieve financially.

An important point to keep in mind is the desire for tenants to live in your property. If you feel that you have found a property that tenants would be queuing up to live in, then you have almost certainly found the perfect property for you.

Consider your Potential Tenants

In relation to finding the perfect property, you will also need to consider your potential tenants, to ensure that the two go hand in hand. If you are looking to target a particular audience or category of tenants, but you invest in the wrong property type for them, then any work that you do to appeal to those potential tenants is effectively going to be a waste of your time. So whether you choose a property type first or choose to target a specific group of tenants, you need to be able to interlink the two of them, as that will bring you more success.

As well as this, your layout, location and price of the property needs to be appealing to potential tenants, attracting them to your property initially, and then encouraging them to choose your property once they have had a viewing.

Insurance for Landlords

Landlords should ensure that they have everything in place in relation to their insurance, including informing your buildings and contents insurer of any changes to any current policies you have. Although the insurance is not currently a legal requirement, it is certainly advised to have something put into place, protecting your investment in more ways than one.

Hopwood House are property investment specialists, with a wide range of investment opportunities throughout the UK and overseas in the buy-to-let, student property and hotel investment markets.

Is Direct Mail Worth Your Time in 2018?

Elliot
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Is Direct Mail Worth Your Time in 2018?

Consumers are demanding more from brands today. It’s not enough to sell – you need to provide an incentive, a narrative behind their reason to buy your products. To shout the loudest in the age of digital marketing, you must stand out and provide something more than your competitors. Information regarding your consumer’s buying habits and wants is readily available, so use that data to your advantage – knowledge is power. Washington Direct Mail, a UK mailing house, are sharing the possibilities for marketing in the future, and why direct mail is making a comeback.

Over the past several years, as the internet rose to the powerhouse it is currently, direct mail took a back seat for marketing strategies. However, as email marketing begins to overload our inboxes – with the average worker receiving more than 100 a day – brands are looking to alternative methods of speaking to their prospects. Let’s face it; no one wants to sift through their personal emails after doing the same task at work for eight hours.

Digital advertising is over saturated in 2018 and companies should look at taking their foot off the gas and becoming more personal. There’s nothing more personal than direct mail delivered through your door and landing in your home. You can place your message into the hands of your audience, leaving no room for doubt that they have seen your mail. Your email marketing may go straight to their junk folder and, subsequently, deleted. Direct marketing insights suggest that direct mailers are kept in the house for 17 days, with over 66% of direct mail is read.

Direct mail response rates have more than doubled over the years. When paired with digital advertising, direct mail campaigns can lift open rates by 118%. Technological advances within the industry have significantly contributed to the rise – particularly as consumers look elsewhere to digest information. We are living in an online world, with over 80% accessing media time over the phone, but customers are looking to turn away from the screen. Those who you wouldn’t expect, such as Millennials, are part of the change – 66% said they would be more likely to use a voucher delivered to their door, rather than online. With those powerful statistics in mind, there are several marketing formats that are proving popular, and will continue to do so in the future.

Dimensional Mailers

Dimensional mailers are, in simple terms, mail that has dimensions. It’s not your usual envelope, but a promotional package. Dimensional mailers afford you the chance to inject personality into your campaign, and get people talking. Take Smart, for example, sending out cardboard helmet templates for their prospects to assemble. This clever marketing trick not only caused a stir on social media, but completed the objective of promoting their brand-new range of e-bikes. Dimensional mailers can cost a little more due to postage, but it could prove invaluable in spreading your message.

Multi-Channel Integration

Separately, you can argue both direct mail and digital advertising have their merits. However, put them together, and you’ve made magic. Combining the forms of communication has proven wholly effective for many brands, as you are expanding your reach but still targeting those relevant to your company. Multi-channel integration is easily achieved when sending out your campaign, through the use of QR codes and landing pages etc. Encourage your consumers to scan the code or visit the unique URL, offering them an incentive (such as a discount or freebie) to do so. From there, you can track the number of visits and measure the success of the campaign with the aim to replicate.

Programmatic Mail

Programmatic mail is the buzzword of 2018 for the direct mail industry, and is a clear example of multi-channel integration. For example, a shopper can be browsing your site, placing products in their basket but later abandoning their cart. Typically, they would receive an email reminding them of their basket, which would likely be ignored. However, companies are getting savvy to the increase in direct mail, sending mailing to the prospects house within 12 hours reminding them of their purchases. You cannot ignore the message when it is in your house, even if placed straight in the bin.

For businesses looking into the possibilities of direct mailing, we always recommend personalisation. Marketing addressed to the ‘homeowner’ will be ignored, and it’s not difficult to find that information. Ultimately, direct mail boasts proven results and it’s time to stand out from the crowd.

Birth Injuries – The Real Cost

Elliot
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Birth Injuries – The Real Cost

Although quality of medical care and knowledge has grown exponentially over the years, no amount of safe practise completely eliminates the risk of injury. When it comes to birth injuries, there is all the more at stake, as both mother and infant are at risk. Experts estimate that anywhere from 25% to 40% of mothers experience some form of injury resulting from childbirth, but that in many cases, they go undetected, and considered by women to be normal after effects of giving birth. Of course, birth injuries to either mother or baby can be life-altering, but the matter remains largely unaddressed until people find themselves in such a situation.

Injuries to Mother

Childbirth is a very traumatic experience for the body, and there are many risk factors attached. Birthing injuries sustained by mothers include:

  • Suturing errors – improper stitching of tears and episiotomies
  • Episiotomy errors
  • Third- and fourth-degree perineal tears
  • Fissures
  • Injuries to other organs during Caesarean section delivery
  • Infections
  • Anaesthetic errors
  • Retained instruments
  • Misdiagnosed Preeclampsia

Injuries to Infant

When an infant sustains injuries during birth, it often leads to lifelong issues that require constant care. Although the birth process is safer for both mothers and babies than it has ever been before, there are significant risks attached if something goes wrong, such as:

  • Brain injury
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Injuries to baby during delivery – cuts and other marks
  • Fractures to baby during delivery
  • Hip dysplasia

The Healthcare Landscape

The UK is fortunate to have one of the world’s best health services, in which the medical professionals dedicate their lives to the health and wellbeing of others. However, it is no secret that the NHS has been facing increasing pressures in recent years, to the point at which we are now seeing a deficit of approximately 42,000 nurses and midwives, and only one in three paramedic vacancies are filled. The combination of constantly-falling healthcare budgets issued by the Government, poor pay and lack of raises, and highly pressurised working environments is causing our health services to falter, leaving those remaining to struggle to bridge the huge gaps. This is having a knock-on effect on the quality of care the NHS is capable of delivering, which has unfortunately led to a rise in complications and injuries. Of course, these complications have major implications on the lives of the patients and their families, and should not be tolerated, and we are seeing a surge of medical negligence claims being lodged against NHS hospitals.

The Cost of Birth Injuries

Despite the unfortunate prevalence of birth injuries and the devastating effects they have on babies, their parents and their families, little attention is drawn to the actual cost of living with the injuries, which often require constant and lifelong care and treatment. Estimates have been made recently as to the expenses incurred by living with birthing injuries, and note that these amounts do not even take into account out-of-pocket costs such as lost wages or trips to hospital. The lifetime costs of a child suffering from Cerebral Palsy as a result of birth injuries is estimated to be around £653,000, while those suffering brain damage or other intellectual disability resulting from birth injury is in excess of £709,000. Meanwhile, the costs associated with the care of a child with visual impairment is around £426,000, and for hearing impairments £272,000.

The long-term aftermath of birth injuries is very serious, and in order to get quality treatment and give those affected as high a quality of life as possible, a huge amount of money has to be spent, which the average family does not have at their disposal. Of course, there is some assistance available in the form of charitable organisations who raise funds for and support those affected by birth injuries, including MIND, Sparks and the Birth Trauma Association, but their help alone is simply not enough to fund the treatment, equipment and assistance required to give quality of life to a patient affected by birth injuries.

It is for this reason, among others, that increasing numbers of people choose to seek legal advice when they find themselves the victims of medical negligence.

Legal Advice

Instances of birth injury are often unprecedented and quite unexpected, making them all the more traumatic for those affected. As soon as is possible, people impacted by birth injury should seek legal advice from a reputable professional who specialises in birth injury cases. They will be able to offer not only a compassionate and understanding service that works in the best interest of the victims, but have the professional knowledge and drive to secure any means of restitution available.

All medical documentation, and other evidence pertaining to the birth and treatment that resulted in the injury, should be collected and passed on to the lawyer or solicitor, who can examine the circumstances of the case, and make a professional decision about where the fault lies, and what sort of compensation the victim can expect to receive following the case being taken to court. At this point, it can also be beneficial to a case for independent medical advice to be sought in relation to the victim’s future expenses and needs relating to their injury.

Compensation

The services of a legal expert can help to secure those affected by birth injuries a monetary settlement from the party responsible for the injury, to help make their subsequent life as comfortable as possible, and ensure they have all the services, support and treatment that they require.

Compensation can be awarded for a number of injuries and elements, and the amount awarded to victims will depend on the severity of the injuries incurred and the negligence that caused them. Injuries including brain damage, cerebral palsy, scars and pain and suffering will be considered for compensation, as will cases of stillbirth and wrongful death. Awards can also be made for punitive damages and funeral costs if applicable. A legal expert will be able to look at the circumstances of a case and advise the victims from there on what they can expect to be awarded and how to file a claim for birth injury compensation.

Risk Service Agreement between SOCAR and Nobel Upstream for the Umid-Babek Gas Condensate Field in the Caspian Sea Now Complete

Elliot
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0
Risk Service Agreement between SOCAR and Nobel Upstream for the Umid-Babek Gas Condensate Field in the Caspian Sea Now Complete

27th March 2018 – London

Nobel Upstream, a UK-based independent oil and gas company specialising in exploration and production, and the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) have completed agreement proceedings relating to the exploration and development of one of Azerbaijan’s largest gas condensate fields: the Umid-Babek field, which is located in the area of the Caspian Sea under jurisdiction of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The Risk Service Agreement (RSA) that the two firms have entered into governs all activities on the massive hydrocarbon-rich field, promising to provide stability and growth for the gas supply to the region.

The RSA was signed into law by the Azerbaijan President on 2 May 2017 after being reviewed and ratified by the Azerbaijan Parliament (the Milli Majlis). The innovative configuration of the RSA provides the necessary framework and structural stipulations for SOCAR and Nobel Upstream to conduct petroleum operations in the offshore block within Azerbaijan’s sector of the Caspian Sea containing Umid field and Babek prospective structure. The RSA is very similar to Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs) between major oil companies like BP’s ACG and Shah Deniz projects and Total’s Absheron development that have been in operation for many years.

The Umid Babek Exploration and Production company, established by Nobel Upstream and SOCAR, is the contractor in the Umid-Babek area under the RSA. Nobel Upstream currently holds 20% of the Umid Babek Exploration and Production company.

The CEO of Nobel Upstream is very positive about the partnership between his company and SOCAR, saying that the agreement is a major milestone which will not only ensure a long and productive project between Nobel Upstream and SOCAR, but will also provide growth and stability for the Azerbaijan and European gas markets.

The Umid-Babek gas condensate field is large enough to provide energy for many years to come. The field was discovered in 2010 by Nobel Upstream and SOCAR, and it is estimated that the field contains more than 800 million barrels of condensate and over 600 billion cubic meters (BCMs) of gas reserves. The Umid-Babek field will provide approximately 3-4 BCMs annually to the Azerbaijan markets, and then later to European markets by way of the gas pipelines running from Azerbaijan, through Georgia and Turkey, and then into Italy through the so-called Southern Gas Corridor linking together South Caspian Pipeline (SCP), Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) and Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP).

Nobel Upstream is an oil and gas exploration and production company. The company was established in the UK, and now operates within the Caspian Sea, the Permian Basin in West Texas (USA) and the North Sea in the UK Continental Shelf. In some cases, a hydrostatic inspection can be used to verify the integrity of gas lines, ensuring there are no leaks before full operation begins.

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