NHS staff at Royal Bolton Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit were recently treated to a surprise visitor to lift their spirits after a gruelling shift.
There’s no denying that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has taken a physical and mental toll on frontline workers up and down the country, but luckily, staff at Royal Bolton Hospital had some emotional support provided by a recent visit from Mason – a Yellow Labrador cross Golden Retriever from Guide Dogs’ Atherton-based training centre.
Due to a lack of confidence when making certain decisions, “gentle dog” Mason sadly wasn’t suitable for becoming a guide dog and is now training for the new role as a buddy dog for a child with a vision impairment instead.
Mason is currently being looked after by Sarah Thornton who, alongside her busy role in the intensive care unit at the hospital, also fosters for Guide Dogs in her free time, and has found that coming home to Mason after stressful and difficult shifts working during the ongoing pandemic has been a real comfort to her.
So, after seeking the relevant permissions, Sarah decided to take Mason into the hospital to let her colleagues have a much-needed cuddle too.
“Staff morale on the critical care wards has been hit hard by COVID.” Sarah said.
“Lots of people have died leaving a big psychological impact on staff wellbeing [so] to be able to take Mason in has been invaluable.
“It’s what the staff really needed”.
Sarah’s colleague Neal Ashurst, who works as an Operating Department Practitioner on the unit, described Mason’s visit as “the best day at work”.
Guide Dogs
Once restrictions are lifted later in the year, Mason will be able to progress on his journey to becoming a buddy dog and be matched to a child with a vision impairment – but in the meantime, he is making a significant difference to the happiness of many people.
Buddy dogs help children with a vision impairment to enjoy the benefits of having a well-behaved dog. While they are not a mobility aid, they do help to build confidence and lead to better relationships with others, as well as greater wellbeing.
Some children with a vision impairment can lack confidence, which has a knock-on effect to other areas of development, so having a buddy dog by their side can help them to thrive, and children gain a sense of independence by taking responsibility for the care of the dog, completing activities like grooming, and feeding with the help of their family.
Verity De-Winton – Support Dog Lead at Guide Dogs – said: “Buddy dogs help to transform a child’s life.
“Parents report seeing remarkable changes in their children’s confidence and behaviour.
“Children who have previously been shy cannot wait to get out of the house with a buddy dog by their side”.
Featured Image – Guide Dogs
Bolton
Man jailed for ‘savagely’ attacking woman with a meat cleaver
Daisy Jackson
A man who attacked a woman with a meat cleaver, causing life-changing injuries, has been jailed.
Mark Nuttall has been sentenced to 21 years behind bars for the attack, which took place in his house in Farnworth, Bolton back in February.
The shocking and ‘savage’ attack saw Nuttall attempt to strangle his victim with a rope, as well as setting upon her with a knife and a meat cleaver.
She was kept inside his address for four hours, and was ‘mocked’ by Nuttall when she was bleeding heavily from her head.
He then attempted to cover his tracks and fed paramedics a false story, but the victim bravely told police officers the truth.
Mark Nuttall, 46, pleaded guilty to attempted murder in June, and was sentenced to 21 years in prison yesterday at Bolton Crown Court.
Detective Constable Jon Liversage, of Bolton CID, said: “The savagery of this assault cannot be understated – the bravery that the victim has shown throughout the investigation is inspiring and I want to thank her for assisting me throughout the investigation.
“I hope this sentence can now give her and her family some closure.
“He kept her inside the address for four hours and when he couldn’t get his own way, he attacked her with a meat cleaver, hitting her in the head four times causing life-changing injuries.
“Whilst she was bleeding heavily from her head, instead of getting her medical attention, he mocked her.
“He called the ambulance service and told them the false story but once she was in the ambulance, she told the police officers the truth and Nuttall was arrested before he could harm her any further.”
Bolton man jailed for life after killing ‘vulnerable’ woman and hiding her body in his shed
Emily Sergeant
A man has been jailed for life after murdering a vulnerable woman and then proceeding to hide her body in a shed at his house in Bolton.
Christopher Barlow killed Mariann Borocz back in December 2024 after randomly meeting her at a shop and inviting her to his house, before killing her and then going on to dump her body in a locked shed in his garden.
55-year-old Mariann, who was originally from Hungary, was reported missing on Sunday 15 December having been last seen alive in the early hours of the previous day.
During the police search and investigation, CCTV showed Barlow following Mariann into a shop near his house and then back out again, and after Barlow was arrested on suspicion of assault on 23 December, officers found the keys to his shed – which is when they, sadly, discovered Mariann’s body.
Barlow was charged with murder, but the 63-year-old first denied this charge, and also denied any contact with Mariann.
The case was then handed over to Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Major Incident Team, led by Detective Chief Inspector Tony Platten.
#JAILED | This is the moment Christopher Barlow was arrested for the murder of Mariann Borocz.
We made extensive efforts to locate Mariann, and our thoughts continue to be with her family.
A three-week trial then began at Manchester Crown Court, and when forensic evidence linked Barlow to Mariann’s body, he then when on to admit during the trial that he had invited her into his house, and found her not breathing in his kitchen about 40 minutes later.
Despite maintaining he did dot murder her, the jury returned its guilty verdict after less than a day of deliberation.
Last week, Barlow was sentenced to life in prison and must serve a minimum term of 20 years behind bars.
Detective Sergeant Fiona Manning described this as a ‘harrowing’ investigation and subsequent trial for Mariann’s family.
“Barlow befriended Mariann and she believed she could trust him,” DS Manning said, “That could not have been further from reality.”
DS Manning then assured that GMP remains ‘steadfast’ in its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of women in Greater Manchester‘s communities, and will continue to work ‘tirelessly’ to uphold justice.
She concluded: “Women should be able to go out freely and without fear that something may happen to them.”
Emily Sergeant -
21st April 2021 
