RxPG News : UK

Drink and drugs fuel Scottish suicide and homicide rates

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 04:00:00 PST

Alcohol and drug misuse mean Scots are almost twice as likely to kill or take their own life compared to people living in England and Wales, research published today (Monday, June 16) reveals.

NRI doctor guilty of unethical tests on British patients

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 18:04:41 PST

London, March 29 - An NRI psychiatrist from Assam faces the sack after being found guilty of conducting unethical drug tests on mentally ill patients, according to reports Saturday.

Healthcare commissioning- ?Adverse to patient care

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 02:32:16 PST

The government’s new healthcare commissioning policy for England has not only jeopardised the future of many hospitals but has also led to considerable frustration and disappointment among patients, argue senior doctors in this week’s BMJ.

New steps to curb overseas doctors in Britain

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 15:46:42 PST

London, Oct 9 - Indian doctors should think several times before coming to Britain for jobs - the employment situation has been difficult for non-European Union doctors, and new proposals have been drawn to guarantee jobs to doctors trained in Britain.

Second foot-and-mouth case confirmed in southern England

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:21:29 PST

London, Aug 7 - A second case of foot-and-mouth disease has been discovered at a farm in southern England, British Environment Minister Hilary Benn confirmed Tuesday.

Foot-and-mouth outbreak linked to research laboratory

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 08:58:48 PST

London, Aug 5 - The strain of foot-and-mouth disease discovered in cattle in a southern England farm is identical to the strain of virus uses for research and vaccine manufacture at a nearby laboratory, British officials said.

Still some way to go in tackling racism in mental health care

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 02:09:44 PST

Mental health services in England and Wales have been accused of being institutionally racist. In this week's BMJ, two senior doctors say that, although services are pioneers in moving towards equity, they have some way to go before they meet the challenges of a multi-cultural society.

Should EU patient information laws be relaxed?

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 02:07:46 PST

In 2002 the European parliament voted resoundingly against allowing drug companies to provide information about their products directly to patients. However, five years on, this decision is set to be challenged again.

Supermarket surgeries 'a wake-up call for the profession'

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 02:03:47 PST

Last week, the government announced plans to let supermarkets and retail pharmacies provide GP services, particularly in under doctored areas. Boots the Chemist welcomed this as "good news" but doctors raised concerns that this may be "a back door way of privatising the NHS."

Institutional discrimination by NHS causing unnecessary deaths of people with a learning disability

Fri, 23 Mar 2007 02:49:32 PST

Leading learning disability charity, Mencap, is calling for an independent inquiry into six deaths. The charity believes people with a learning disability have died unnecessarily due to institutional discrimination within NHS care. The cases are set out in Death by indifference, published by Mencap today (12 March 2007). Mencap says the deaths are a result of widespread ignorance and indifference within the NHS.

Should the NHS curb spending on translation services?

Fri, 23 Feb 2007 12:59:55 PST

In December it was reported that the NHS was spending £55 million (82m; $107m) each year on translation services. In this weeks BMJ, two doctors practising in inner London go head to head over whether language services in the NHS should be curbed.

The NHS Redress Act may lead to more complaints

Fri, 23 Feb 2007 12:48:38 PST

The NHS Redress Act should make clinical negligence cases simpler and less costly, but it may create more, not fewer, complaints warn experts in this weeks BMJ.

Patients should cc the benefits of doctors' letters

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:37:19 PST

Patients should be kept informed of their condition and care said health minister Rosie Winterton today, as she called on healthcare professionals to make more effort to routinely copy letters to their patients.

FPA survey reveals widespread misunderstanding about sex and reproduction

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:27:57 PST

Launching this years Contraceptive Awareness Week (Reproduction: a quick guide to your body, 12th-18th February), fpa has published a new survey testing peoples knowledge about sex and reproduction. The results expose widespread confusion and misunderstanding about some of the most basic facts. Consequently fpa is calling for sex and relationships education to become a statutory subject in the national curriculum.

Ten per cent rise in money spent on social care services

Fri, 09 Feb 2007 05:40:39 PST

Spending on public sector social care services has risen by ten per cent over the past two years, according to figures released today by The Information Centre for health and social care.

New screening test for all babies to be introduced

Thu, 08 Feb 2007 09:35:13 PST

All babies in England are to be screened for an inherited metabolic disease called Medium Chain Acyl CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency (MCADD), within two weeks of birth, announced Health Minister, Ivan Lewis today.

NICE asked to develop guidance on new treatments for breast and lung cancer, Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis, obesity and rheumatoid arthritis.

Thu, 08 Feb 2007 05:34:09 PST

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) today welcomes the announcement of additional topics for its forward work programme. Topics including new treatments for breast and lung cancer, Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis, obesity and rheumatoid arthritis, have been referred to NICE by the Secretary of State for Health in line with the national priorities they have established for the NHS.

Is doctors' pay responsible for the financial crisis in the NHS ?

Mon, 05 Feb 2007 12:54:37 PST

Recent newspaper headlines have suggested that doctors' pay is responsible for the financial crisis in the NHS. In this week's BMJ, two experts go head to head over whether the remuneration is justified.

Britain plans medical hub to meet India, China challenge

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 16:28:54 PST

London, Dec 15 - Faced with India and China's growing strengths in medical research, British Prime Minister Tony Blair has announced the creation of a 'global medical excellence cluster' comprising universities and drugs companies.

Obese patients in Britain to dance

Mon, 04 Dec 2006 19:29:36 PST

London, Dec 4 - Obese patients in Britain may have to dance to improve their fitness level as a part of upcoming national campaigns to get people to take more exercise.

Nationwide protests in UK against Alzheimer’s drugs decision

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 09:18:33 PST

The decision to deny life-changing drugs to thousands of people with Alzheimer’s at a saving of just £2.50 a day triggered protest marches across the country on Friday 17th November 2006.

Indians among worst affected by TB in Britain

Sat, 04 Nov 2006 19:31:00 PST

Tuberculosis (TB) showed an alarming rise in Britain last year with ethnic South Asians, especially Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi, accounting for most cases.

Mental health units should not be exempt from smoking ban

Fri, 25 Aug 2006 19:43:00 PST

Exempting mental health units from the ban on smoking in public places would worsen health inequalities for people with mental health problems, warn doctors in this week's BMJ. Smoking is the largest single cause of preventable illness and premature death in the United Kingdom, with 106,000 people dying of smoking related diseases in 2002, and more than 10,000 dying each year as a result of passive smoking. The Health Act 2006 will make all enclosed public and work places in England and Wales smoke-free environments, but may exclude some mental health settings.

NHS may be buying surgical equipment unethically

Sun, 30 Jul 2006 02:56:00 PST

The NHS may be buying medical equipment unethically and exploiting developing countries, it has been claimed in an article published on bmj.com today. Unlike the campaigns for fair trade of goods like bananas and coffee, there have been no such campaigns for medical commodities, says Dr Mahmood Bhutta, a specialist registrar in otolaryngology (head and neck surgery) at Guys and St Thomas Hospital in London.

Is it time to give NHS more independence?

Sun, 30 Jul 2006 02:49:00 PST

In April this year, BMJ Editor Fiona Godlee called for an independent NHS run by a board of governors responsible for managing health care within a set budget and a broad political framework. In this weeks BMJ, four opinion leaders give their views on whether it is time to give the NHS greater independence from government.

University of Leeds receives Gates Foundation grant for material approach to malaria prevention

Mon, 24 Jul 2006 19:25:00 PST

Every year there are more than 350 million new cases of malaria, but a revolutionary mosquito net being developed by Leeds textile experts with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation could offer better and more sustainable protection from the disease. Design lecturer Dr Stephen Russell and medical entomologist Dr Bruce Alexander from Xeroshield at the Roslin Biocentre will develop a precisely engineered material that uses its structure to kill the mosquito. By relying on its structure, the net will avoid the problems of chemically treated nets, which are the main method of controlling malaria.

Tuberculosis control and impact of socially excluded groups

Mon, 10 Jul 2006 07:21:00 PST

Tuberculosis cannot be controlled unless the disease is tackled effectively among socially excluded groups, warn experts in this weeks BMJ. Tuberculosis can infect anyone, but predominantly affects the poor, write Alistair Story and colleagues. In London, where over 40% of all cases in the UK in 2004 were reported, rates of tuberculosis have more than doubled since 1987 and are now the highest among homeless people, problem drug users, people living with HIV, prisoners and new entrants, particularly those from countries experiencing chronic civil conflict.

Pertussis Endemic Among UK School Children

Mon, 10 Jul 2006 06:37:00 PST

Nearly 40% of school age children in the United Kingdom who visit their family doctor with a persistent cough have evidence of whooping cough infection, even though they have been fully immunised, finds a study published on bmj.com. These startling results suggest that whooping cough is endemic among young children in the UK, with important implications for clinical practice and immunisation policy, say the authors. Previous research in several countries has shown that Bordetella pertussis (whooping cough) infection is an endemic disease among adolescents and adults. Data also shows that neither infection nor immunisation results in lifelong immunity. Yet general practitioners in the UK seldom diagnose or even consider pertussis in older children. It is perceived as a disease of very young children who have not been immunised and who have classic features such as whoop.

Building a safer NHS: How safe are the patients?

Fri, 07 Jul 2006 00:23:00 PST

Every day the NHS treats over one million people successfully. Healthcare does however rely on a range of complex interactions of people, skills, technologies and drugs. Sometimes surgical treatments go wrong, medication errors occur and patients can fall or have other accidents.

Experts Comment on New Blood Pressure Guidelines

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 01:52:00 PST

It is unusual for NICE to consider reviewing its guidance ahead of its planned review date. In this case however, because significant new data became available, we took the decision to consider that data as part of a limited review of the existing NICE guideline. It is important to emphasise that the review was limited to the pharmacological aspects of managing hypertension. The original guideline also covered other aspects of managing the condition, such as lifestyle interventions, and these remain crucial to a proper holistic approach to controlling blood pressure.

New Guideance will Result in Better Control of Hypertension - BPA

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 01:45:00 PST

The UK's blood pressure charity, the Blood Pressure Association (BPA), heralded 28 June, 2006 launch of the updated NICE guideline on the clinical management of hypertension as a major advance in the treatment of the condition. For the first time, NICE and the British Hypertension Society have reached a clear consensus on the best way of treating raised blood pressure, and the BPA strongly endorses this new guideline.

Three million babies born using assisted reproductive technologies

Thu, 22 Jun 2006 05:09:00 PST

More than three million babies have been born worldwide using assisted reproductive technologies (ART) since the first ART baby (Louise Brown) was born in the UK 28 years ago.

NICE issues draft guidance on Trastuzumab

Sat, 10 Jun 2006 17:15:00 PST

NICE has published draft guidance on Herceptin, just two weeks after the drug was licensed by the regulatory authorities for use in early breast cancer. The draft guidance recommends the drug for women with early stage HER2-positive breast cancer, except where there are concerns about the womans cardiac function. Final guidance is expected to be issued at the beginning of July 2006, assuming there are no appeals.

Very Few Mothers Reject Childhood Immunisation

Fri, 02 Jun 2006 23:13:00 PST

The mothers of children who are unimmunised differ from those who are partially immunised in a number of ways, finds a study in this weeks BMJ. This is the first large scale study of its kind in the UK, and suggests that different approaches are needed to maximise uptake of immunisation in these groups. Researchers from the Institute of Child Health analysed data for 18,488 infants born between September 2000 and January 2002 in the UK. The sample was stratified by UK country and electoral wards to adequately represent infants from ethnic minority groups and disadvantaged backgrounds.

New programme encourages services to include people with learning disabilities in community life

Thu, 25 May 2006 13:04:00 PST

The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities is about to begin a new development and research programme, which will look at how people with learning disabilities and high support needs can involve people with learning disabilities who have high support needs into their communities.

NHS care for older people is still patchy

Fri, 19 May 2006 20:02:00 PST

Good, respectful NHS care for older people is still too patchy, argue senior members of the British Geriatrics Society in this week's BMJ.

NHS could save £78m by improving staff productivity

Sun, 30 Apr 2006 23:40:00 PST

Health Secretary, Patricia Hewitt, highlighted recommendations from an NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvements report, showing that £78m could be saved by the NHS by driving down agency spend and improving staff productivity.

3 NRIs in Britain charged with price fixing of key drugs

Wed, 05 Apr 2006 18:38:00 PST

Nine people, including three of Indian origin, face criminal proceedings in Britain for allegedly price fixing and market sharing of generic drugs following a major investigation into pricing in the pharmaceutical industry.

Real battle over UK new mental health law about to begin

Fri, 31 Mar 2006 18:02:00 PST

The UK government's climb down on reform of mental health legislation is not a victory the real battle is about to begin, warns a senior doctor in this week's BMJ.

Nurses to help check pregnancies in English schools

Sat, 25 Mar 2006 15:43:00 PST

Nurses will now work for birth control in all the schools of England in a move to slash the rising incidence of teenage pregnancies.

British Hospital Outsourcing Medical Typing to India

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 17:35:00 PST

A British hospital has hired a team of typists in India to type out routine letters from doctors to patients - the process takes less than a day and promises to make large savings for the hospital trust.

Concern over rapid rise of chronic kidney disease

Fri, 10 Mar 2006 21:12:00 PST

Chronic kidney disease is rising rapidly worldwide and is becoming a global healthcare problem, warn experts in this week's BMJ.

Have targets improved performance in the English NHS?

Fri, 17 Feb 2006 19:05:00 PST

The star rating system for English NHS trusts seems to have improved performance, but systems need to be put in place to minimise gaming and ensure targets are not causing problems elsewhere, warn researchers in this weeks BMJ.

Over a million in Britain could live beyond 100

Sun, 12 Feb 2006 18:26:00 PST

More than a million people now in their 30s in Britain could live to 100 years and beyond, with improved health care contributing to the global rise in life expectancy.

British Asians travelling to India for cosmetic surgery

Fri, 03 Feb 2006 15:38:00 PST

British patients travelling to India for quality medical treatment is no longer news, but now many British Asians are joining the procession for cheap cosmetic surgery in the Indian sub-continent.

Health and Social Care White Paper shows good intentions

Tue, 31 Jan 2006 19:50:00 PST

The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities welcomes the intentions of the Government's white paper, Your Health, Your Care, Your Say. However, the charity believes that measures still do not fully ensure that people with learning disabilities are supported to access mainstream health services and engage in their communities.

Total Smoking Ban is the only way to protect employees

Tue, 31 Jan 2006 19:00:00 PST

Newly released documents reveal that, despite knowing that ventilation and air filtration are ineffective at removing environmental tobacco smoke, British American Tobacco (BAT) promoted these technologies to the hospitality industry as viable options to smoking bans.

Cutting street prostitution will threaten health of sex workers

Tue, 31 Jan 2006 19:00:00 PST

Plans to cut street prostitution, set out by the UK government last week, will threaten sex workers health, warn experts in this week's BMJ.

Reform should be supportive, not punitive says Mental Health Foundation

Wed, 25 Jan 2006 15:35:00 PST

The Mental Health Foundation today welcomed the Government's long awaited Green Paper on Welfare reform, but warned that planned changes to Incapacity Benefit may create fear and anxiety for thousands of people already living with mental health problems.

Tailored support still needed to help people with learning disabilities into work

Wed, 25 Jan 2006 15:35:00 PST

The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities broadly welcomes today's publication of the Government's long awaited Welfare Reform green paper, with the higher rates of benefits for those unable to work and the additional supports for finding and retaining a job. However, the Foundation believes that a detailed set of policies using the supported employment model and international best practice is needed to enable more people with learning disabilities to find work.

Ignorance can leave two million in Britain blind: study

Wed, 25 Jan 2006 14:14:00 PST

More than two million people in Britain may become blind because of their ignorance even though they are having treatable conditions, according to a study.

Poor job satisfaction and burnout among mental health social workers in UK

Mon, 23 Jan 2006 17:22:00 PST

Excessive job demands, limited scope for decision-making and unhappiness about the place of the mental health social worker (MHSW) in modern services contribute to poor job satisfaction, stress and burnout, the first national study of this professional group has found.

Project: London - supporting vulnerable populations

Fri, 13 Jan 2006 20:46:00 PST

This month, the medical humanitarian organisation, Medecins du Monde UK, launches Project: London, an initiative to help vulnerable people to access health care. In this week's BMJ the founders explain why such a scheme is needed, while an editorial explores what this says about society's attitude towards marginalised people.

Long waiting lists places cancer patients at risk

Fri, 13 Jan 2006 20:39:00 PST

Many radiotherapy departments in UK hospitals are heavily overstretched, resulting in long waits for cancer patients which may be jeopardising treatment, says a paper in this week's BMJ.

Denying Joint Replacements Based On Prejudice

Mon, 19 Dec 2005 15:48:00 PST

A decision by NHS trusts in Suffolk to deny replacement joints to obese patients seems to be based on prejudice or attribution of blame, argues a senior doctor in a letter to this week's BMJ. In fact, no evidence supports withholding joint replacement from obese people, even on utilitarian grounds, says Nicholas Finer, a consultant in obesity medicine at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge. For knee replacement, there is no evidence that age, gender, or obesity is a strong predictor of functional outcomes, while a UK health technology assessment of hip replacement concluded that obese patients could benefit from surgery and are not noticeably at increased operative risk.

NHS needs to do more to provide need based health care

Mon, 19 Dec 2005 15:44:00 PST

The NHS needs to do more to provide health care according to need, argue researchers in this weeks BMJ. They analysed the availability of primary care according to deprivation and health need in Scotland. Their study was based on a sample population of 5.35 million people served by 1,050 general practices and divided into ten groups of equal size according to deprivation. They show that ill health is two and a half times greater in the most deprived group compared to the most affluent, but the number of whole time equivalent GP principals is distributed evenly across the population. However, including non-principals and doctors in training, there are 11% more GPs in the more affluent compared with the more deprived half of the population. Although they found larger numbers of practices in the most rural and deprived areas, this reflects the higher proportion of single handed and small practices in such areas, say the authors.

UK's Ageing Population Will Impose Huge Healthcare Burden

Mon, 12 Dec 2005 16:05:00 PST

New figures published by Dr Foster in this weeks BMJ predict that the UKs ageing population will impose considerable workload and financial pressures on the NHS. The number of people aged 65 and over is predicted to increase by about 53% between 2001 and 2031. This is likely to lead to an increase in the number of people who have chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. Researchers examined the possible impact of the ageing population on the expected number of people with three cardiovascular disorders: coronary heart disease, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation (irregular heart rhythm).

Nurses key to restore public confidence in UK hospital care

Mon, 12 Dec 2005 16:00:00 PST

Nurses are the key to restoring public confidence in UK hospital care, argues an expert in this weeks BMJ. Nurses led the transformation of hospitals in the 19th century. So, why after a century of outstanding success, is the future of the large general hospital in question? asks Professor Nick Black of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Hospitals are partly a victim of their success, he says. Developments in pharmaceuticals, information and communication technology now offer alternative ways of delivering care. And when patients do need to attend hospital, they are less likely to stay overnight. These changes are generally welcomed by the public, healthcare professionals, managers, and politicians. But negative reasons also threaten the future of large hospitals, arising from changes over the past 20 years in management, nursing, and building strategy.

NHS waiting list falls below 800,000 for the first time

Sun, 04 Dec 2005 10:03:00 PST

The number of people on NHS waiting lists in England has fallen below 800,000 for the first time, new figures released today by the Department of Health have shown.

Reforms are threatening the future of district general hospitals

Fri, 02 Dec 2005 19:24:00 PST

Government reforms are threatening the future of district general hospitals, says an expert in this weeks BMJ. Given the iconic status of hospitals in the eyes of the public, government risks huge unpopularity in dealing with the consequences.

New NHS patient choice policies take no account of limited resources

Fri, 02 Dec 2005 19:22:00 PST

The Governments current NHS reform programme could lead to patients being charged for access to healthcare, argues a paper in this weeks BMJ.

New Guidelines For Resuscitation (CPR) Published By The European Resuscitation Council

Tue, 29 Nov 2005 19:39:00 PST

New guidelines for the resuscitation of adults and children have been published today in the international journal Resuscitation, announce the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) and Elsevier Ltd. The guidelines are aimed at all healthcare workers; a section on basic life support also provides information for laypeople and first responders. The recommendations made by the ERC are based on a comprehensive, evidence-based review of resuscitation science that was undertaken over the last two years by experts from all over the world. These experts debated their findings in a Consensus meeting held in Dallas in January 2005 and their conclusions, also published today, form the basis for establishing best practice worldwide.

Right time for doctors to debate food policy

Fri, 25 Nov 2005 17:53:00 PST

The time is right for vets and doctors to join together to examine the case for radical reform of current food policy, say researchers in this weeks BMJ. They argue that cheap food, particularly meat, is linked to reduced human health and reduced farm animal welfare, both of which are important matters of public interest that are within the professions respective purviews.

Antivenom antidote is underused in UK for snake bites

Fri, 25 Nov 2005 17:51:00 PST

Life threatening snake bites are uncommon in the UK but can happen, especially in children, and should not be underestimated, says an expert in this weeks BMJ. Antivenom, the only specific antidote is underused in the UK.

7275 new HIV cases reported last year in UK

Fri, 25 Nov 2005 05:20:00 PST

The number of people living with HIV in the UK is now around 58,300, according to a report released today by the Health Protection Agency. This latest figure includes both those who have been diagnosed and also an estimated 19,700, who remain unaware of their infection and therefore undiagnosed.

Poor diet costs UK health service £6 billion a year

Tue, 15 Nov 2005 15:03:00 PST

The UK's poor dietary habits are costing its health service an annual £6 billion - three times as much as the financial toll from smoking - reveals research in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

Examining NHS reforms: Health care in the market place

Sat, 12 Nov 2005 20:08:00 PST

The Government's use of private health care in the NHS is a much more open and aggressive version of the "internal market" tried by the Conservatives in the 1990s, says an article in this week's BMJ - the first of a series examining NHS reforms.

Nurse and pharmacist prescribing powers extended

Fri, 11 Nov 2005 00:52:00 PST

Patients will be able to get quicker and more efficient access to medicines thanks to extensions to nurse and pharmacist prescribing announced today by Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt at the Chief Nursing Officers conference in London. From spring 2006, qualified Extended Formulary nurse prescribers and pharmacist independent prescribers will be able to prescribe any licensed medicine for any medical condition with the exception of controlled drugs.

GPs advised to plan their flu pandemic response

Thu, 10 Nov 2005 18:50:00 PST

Family doctors are advised to plan their response to managing a flu pandemic in 5 November issue of BMJ.

Professor dispels bird flu paranoia

Fri, 04 Nov 2005 19:00:00 PST

The risk of human bird flu infection is small in Australia and people can still safely eat chicken and keep pet birds, according to bird medicine specialist Dr Bob Doneley.

Orphan drugs and the NHS: should we value rarity?

Sat, 29 Oct 2005 15:04:00 PST

The growing number and costs of drugs for rare diseases (orphan drugs) are straining healthcare budgets. Should the NHS continue to pay for them and how will this affect other health services, ask two articles in this weeks BMJ. Orphan drugs are often expensive to produce and benefit only small numbers of patients. Historically, the NHS has paid for them because treatments for these diseases were so rare that the effect on health services was negligible.

Meeting MRSA Targets Largely Down To Chance, Says Expert

Sat, 29 Oct 2005 14:53:00 PST

Chance makes it impossible to assess reliably whether hospitals are meeting government targets to reduce MRSA infections, argues a statistics expert in this weeks BMJ. The UK government has set a national target for reducing the rate of MRSA infection by 50% by 2008, but David Spiegelhalter, a senior scientist at the MRC Biostatistics Unit Cambridge, warns that setting these targets for individual hospitals is fraught with difficulties.

UK steps up preparedness for a flu pandemic

Mon, 24 Oct 2005 16:35:00 PST

Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson on Wednesday 19 October 2005 announced that the Department of Health is inviting manufacturers to tender for a contract to supply pandemic flu vaccine once the pandemic strain is known. The UK will need approximately 120 million doses to be available as soon as possible. The move comes alongside the publication of an updated version of the Pandemic Influenza Contingency plan.

People with Learning Disabilities in the UK still Excluded from Mainstream Education and Jobs

Sat, 22 Oct 2005 02:36:00 PST

The report, Rights of People with Intellectual Disabilities: Access to Education and Employment in the UK, was released on 20 October, 2005 in London, at an event at the Royal Society. Produced by the Open Society Institute in co-operation with the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities, the report finds continuing inadequacies in the UK's mainstream education and employment systems.

Call for an independent regulator for NHS

Fri, 21 Oct 2005 15:51:00 PST

The NHS should have an independent regulator like other public utilities in the UK, argues a senior doctor in this weeks BMJ. Many public utilities have independent regulators to see that commercial interests and unfair pricing do not disadvantage the public.

Acute lack of services for children in pain in UK

Mon, 17 Oct 2005 19:01:00 PST

Almost half a million children and teenagers in the UK experience chronic pain but there are not enough NHS services to help treat them, says the head of the Bath Pain Management Unit on Global Day Against Pain (Monday 17 October 2005).

Cost effectiveness of complementary treatments in the United Kingdom

Fri, 14 Oct 2005 21:43:00 PST

More doubts are cast over the cost effectiveness of complementary medicine in this weeks BMJ.

Services for liver disease in the United Kingdom need immediate improvement

Fri, 14 Oct 2005 21:43:00 PST

Liver services in the United Kingdom need better funding and better staffing, argues a senior doctor in this weeks BMJ.

Blunkett's welfare plans must be fleshed out and rigorous

Tue, 11 Oct 2005 00:44:00 PST

The Mental Health Foundation today warned that David Blunkett's principles of welfare reform provide positive aspirations, but helping people with mental health problems return to work will require a detailed strategy.

Blunkett's welfare plans must not ignore people with learning disabilities, says the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities

Tue, 11 Oct 2005 00:44:00 PST

The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities welcomes David Blunkett's principles of welfare reform but warns that people with learning disabilities must not be forgotten.

Hewitt fast-tracks Herceptin to save 1000 lives

Sat, 08 Oct 2005 05:52:00 PST

Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Health, has announced that women who are diagnosed from this week onwards with early stage breast cancer will have the opportunity to be treated with the drug Herceptin. This means that the lives of around 1000 women a year will be saved the same number of lives saved by the NHS national breast cancer screening programme for roughly the same cost.

Hewitt fulfils commitment to NHS workers

Sat, 08 Oct 2005 05:52:00 PST

Thousands of staff working in the NHS are set to benefit from a new agreement that will bring cleaning, portering, catering and other similar soft facilities management services provided by contractors into line with the NHS Agenda for Change pay deal, Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt announced today.

Health Protection Agency begins winter flu activity reporting

Sat, 08 Oct 2005 05:28:00 PST

This week the Health Protection Agency (HPA) resumes its UK surveillance of flu activity for the winter season. Regular updates will be published on the Agency's website either weekly or fortnightly depending on the level of flu activity.

Day surgery rates continue to rise in UK

Fri, 07 Oct 2005 21:16:00 PST

New figures published by Dr Foster in this weekâs BMJ show that day surgery rates continue to rise, yet there is still considerable scope for improvement. These findings support a recent Healthcare Commission report showing that day surgery units are not being used to their maximum capacity.

Reforming the NHS in England - Views

Fri, 07 Oct 2005 21:16:00 PST

The NHS is being taken over by big business so that money that could go towards clinical care is diverted to corporations and their shareholders, warn two senior doctors in this weekâs BMJ.

Is the private finance initiative dead in NHS?

Fri, 07 Oct 2005 21:16:00 PST

Government enthusiasm for the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) in the health service - private sector investment in hospital building projects - may be dropping because of its high cost, says an editorial in this weekâs BMJ.

BHF raises crucial heart health issues at the Labour Party Conference

Wed, 28 Sep 2005 07:56:00 PST

As part of the its ongoing campaign work on policies making a real difference to the lives of those living with heart disease in the UK, the BHF is raising two important issues with MPs and delegates at this year's Labour party conference.

Report will help "end confusion about the role of doctors in drug treatment'

Tue, 27 Sep 2005 17:51:00 PST

A recent report, published by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) and the Royal College of General Practitioners, will help "end confusion about the role of doctors in drug treatment and ensure their skills are fully utilised", according to the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA).

National consultation on NHS-funded infertility treatment

Sat, 10 Sep 2005 23:11:00 PST

A national consultation on NHS-funded infertility treatment aimed at improving equality of access across Scotland was launched today.

British drinking: a suitable case for treatment?

Sat, 10 Sep 2005 00:10:00 PST

The Governments strategy on alcohol will do nothing to tackle problem drinking in Britain, because it embraces the industrys diagnosis and preferred remedies, says an editorial in this weeks BMJ.

Latest Government Report On Health Inequalities Hushed Up

Sat, 10 Sep 2005 00:10:00 PST

Researchers in this weeks BMJ accuse the government of suppressing their latest report on health inequalities, showing that the gap between the rich and poor in England has continued to widen under New Labour.

PCT patient survey is proof of high standards in primary care services

Fri, 09 Sep 2005 15:51:00 PST

The NHS Confederation, which represents 93 per cent of primary care trusts (PCTs), says that the key findings of the Healthcare Commissions PCT patient survey are good news for NHS patients.

NHS Confederation calls for debate on NHS drug costs

Fri, 09 Sep 2005 15:49:00 PST

The NHS Confederation is calling for an urgent debate on rapidly increasing NHS drug costs following todays Audit Commission report about the financial implications of implementing NICE guidance on new medication and surgical procedures.

Cancer deaths decrease in Scotland

Thu, 08 Sep 2005 01:41:00 PST

Figures out today show that more people in Scotland are living with and beating cancer. Taking age into account, cancer mortality has decreased by 12 per cent among men and six per cent among women in the last 10 years.

'Guaranteed' appointments with your GP

Thu, 08 Sep 2005 01:31:00 PST

Patients will be guaranteed the choice of being able to book an advance appointment with a GP under measures to improve access to family doctor services announced today by Health Minister Lord Warner.

Keep up to scratch about chickenpox in pregnancy

Thu, 08 Sep 2005 01:21:00 PST

Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB) is reminding doctors of the risks chickenpox can pose to pregnant women and their babies.

Sprayed cultured skin cells in burns treatment - Study

Tue, 06 Sep 2005 19:51:00 PST

The first controlled clinical study to examine the effectiveness of sprayed cultured skin cells to close the wounds of burns victims is being undertaken at the Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (QVH), East Grinstead.

New NHS campaign raises awareness of invisible killer

Mon, 05 Sep 2005 23:23:00 PST

Sixty per cent of smokers go ahead and smoke without asking for permission, despite the fact that most non-smokers mind if other people are smoking nearby, according to new research(1) launched today by the NHS 'Don't Give Up Giving Up campaign'.

BHF calls for 'exemptions' proposal to be stubbed out

Mon, 05 Sep 2005 15:07:00 PST

The British Medical Association today warned that the Governments new anti-smoking campaign focusing on the dangers of passive smoking "smacks of double standards" if it doesnt take action to protect the health of all workers from second-hand smoke.

Older Chinese people at a disadvantage for cancer care

Sun, 04 Sep 2005 09:30:00 PST

Researchers at the University of Sheffield have found that older Chinese people are disadvantaged when it comes to finding out about cancer screening, treatment and care, because of language and cultural barriers in the healthcare system.

RxPG News : UK

Drink and drugs fuel Scottish suicide and homicide rates

NRI doctor guilty of unethical tests on British patients

Healthcare commissioning- ?Adverse to patient care

New steps to curb overseas doctors in Britain

Second foot-and-mouth case confirmed in southern England

Foot-and-mouth outbreak linked to research laboratory

Still some way to go in tackling racism in mental health care

Should EU patient information laws be relaxed?

Supermarket surgeries 'a wake-up call for the profession'

Institutional discrimination by NHS causing unnecessary deaths of people with a learning disability

Should the NHS curb spending on translation services?

The NHS Redress Act may lead to more complaints

Patients should cc the benefits of doctors' letters

FPA survey reveals widespread misunderstanding about sex and reproduction

Ten per cent rise in money spent on social care services

New screening test for all babies to be introduced

NICE asked to develop guidance on new treatments for breast and lung cancer, Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis, obesity and rheumatoid arthritis.

Is doctors' pay responsible for the financial crisis in the NHS ?

Britain plans medical hub to meet India, China challenge

Obese patients in Britain to dance

Nationwide protests in UK against Alzheimer’s drugs decision

Indians among worst affected by TB in Britain

Mental health units should not be exempt from smoking ban

NHS may be buying surgical equipment unethically

Is it time to give NHS more independence?

University of Leeds receives Gates Foundation grant for material approach to malaria prevention

Tuberculosis control and impact of socially excluded groups

Pertussis Endemic Among UK School Children

Building a safer NHS: How safe are the patients?

Experts Comment on New Blood Pressure Guidelines

New Guideance will Result in Better Control of Hypertension - BPA

Three million babies born using assisted reproductive technologies

NICE issues draft guidance on Trastuzumab

Very Few Mothers Reject Childhood Immunisation

New programme encourages services to include people with learning disabilities in community life

NHS care for older people is still patchy

NHS could save £78m by improving staff productivity

3 NRIs in Britain charged with price fixing of key drugs

Real battle over UK new mental health law about to begin

Nurses to help check pregnancies in English schools

British Hospital Outsourcing Medical Typing to India

Concern over rapid rise of chronic kidney disease

Have targets improved performance in the English NHS?

Over a million in Britain could live beyond 100

British Asians travelling to India for cosmetic surgery

Health and Social Care White Paper shows good intentions

Total Smoking Ban is the only way to protect employees

Cutting street prostitution will threaten health of sex workers

Reform should be supportive, not punitive says Mental Health Foundation

Tailored support still needed to help people with learning disabilities into work

Ignorance can leave two million in Britain blind: study

Poor job satisfaction and burnout among mental health social workers in UK

Project: London - supporting vulnerable populations

Long waiting lists places cancer patients at risk

Denying Joint Replacements Based On Prejudice

NHS needs to do more to provide need based health care

UK's Ageing Population Will Impose Huge Healthcare Burden

Nurses key to restore public confidence in UK hospital care

NHS waiting list falls below 800,000 for the first time

Reforms are threatening the future of district general hospitals

New NHS patient choice policies take no account of limited resources

New Guidelines For Resuscitation (CPR) Published By The European Resuscitation Council

Right time for doctors to debate food policy

Antivenom antidote is underused in UK for snake bites

7275 new HIV cases reported last year in UK

Poor diet costs UK health service £6 billion a year

Examining NHS reforms: Health care in the market place

Nurse and pharmacist prescribing powers extended

GPs advised to plan their flu pandemic response

Professor dispels bird flu paranoia

Orphan drugs and the NHS: should we value rarity?

Meeting MRSA Targets Largely Down To Chance, Says Expert

UK steps up preparedness for a flu pandemic

People with Learning Disabilities in the UK still Excluded from Mainstream Education and Jobs

Call for an independent regulator for NHS

Acute lack of services for children in pain in UK

Cost effectiveness of complementary treatments in the United Kingdom

Services for liver disease in the United Kingdom need immediate improvement

Blunkett's welfare plans must be fleshed out and rigorous

NICE asked to develop guidance on new treatments for breast and lung cancer, Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis, obesity and rheumatoid arthritis.

Latest Government Report On Health Inequalities Hushed Up