Health News

Headlines from the world of Medicine and Healthcare.

Scientists investigate Scotlands 'Vicious' bug

Health scientists are investigating the possibility that the deadly Ecoli bug often found in Scotland is more deadly than similar strains found in other parts of the world.

Scientist Professor Pennington plans to discuss his findings at the upcoming Food Micro 08 conference in Aberdeen.

Ecoli is found in your intestines and is transmitted by the eating of infected food and drink.

Professor Pennington said "The studies are looking to see whether there are some strains nastier than others - we have evidence that might be the case but it's far from certain.

"It may be that there is a strain in this country that is better at getting about and when it does infect people causes more mischief.

Source: The Press Association September 2008

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Cervical Cancer Vaccination program begins in UK

In Scotland this month, schoolgirls lined up for the first round of this ground breaking vaccination program. This latest plan by the NHS to safeguard the health of young women targets the human papilloma virus (HPV) which leads to around 70% of all Cervical Cancer cases.

This new immunisation program, launched by the National Health Service in Scotland, aims to eventually immunise all girls up to the age of 18 in the UK.

A letter that includes all the details of the vaccination and a consent form is sent to parents prior to the school visits and so the vaccination itself is entirely voluntary.

The vaccination is administered through 3 injections over a 6 month period, with a top-up injection necessary after 2 years.

It is hoped that this immuinisation program will greatly reduce the 3000 cases of Cervical Cancer caused by the HPV virus every year.

Source: www.dailymail.co.uk September 2008

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Engage launching Health Cash Plan

 

Engage Mutual, the well known finacial services provider, is making its first move into Health Cash Plans through a partnership with Wakefield and District Hospitals.

This latest initiative by Engage Mutual is a significant step towards the financial services providers ambition of providing a full range of products aimed at assisting families in their day to day financial planning.

Wakefield and District Hospitals' Premier Health Benefits Health Cash Plan is a popular product, with over 30,000 customers benefiting from the help with everyday healthcare costs that the plan provides.

"The health cash plan market covers just 8% of the UK population at present, but has great potential for significant growth, both within the corporate and consumer sectors. The partnership with WDHCS strengthens our presence in the Yorkshire area, which we will be seeking to consolidate before rolling out more widely." commented a spokes person for the financial services provider.

"We know that consumers are concerned about the economy, and its impact on their finances. Combined with the ever growing pressures placed upon the NHS, we believe that more people should consider health cash plans as part of their financial planning to help them prepare for unexpected hospital, dental and optical costs."

Source: www.easier.com August 2008

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PlanPruHealth changes terms of Health Insurance

PruHealth's 'free gym membership' insurance policy has changed its terms.

The Health Insurance provider launched the product in a bid, apparently, to encourage people to live a more active and healthy lifestyle. The policies offered customers a discount on their Health Insurance premiums for visiting the gym, which eventually built up to a free gym membership if you wen to the gym often enough.

PruHealth says that its gym discounts will, from the autumn, be built up by a customers 'vitality status' i.e. not by frequency of gym use, but by other healthy activities such as reading health related articles on the insurer's website, buying certain foods and Sainsburys and by purchasing health checks from the insurer.

One customer commented: "If I carry on with my twice-weekly gym attendance, my membership fee will rise from nothing a month to £50 a month!"

Source: Guardianunlimited.co.uk August 2008

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Nurses to be rated on compassion

 

In new plans to be outlined in a forthcoming review, nurses in the NHS are to be rated on the levels of care and empathy they give to patients, as well as the the traditional measures of their healthcare skills.

Mr Johnson, the Health Secretary ruled out rating indiviual nurses and confirmed it ould not affect nurses pay.

Instead nurses standards of care will be rated by ward, alongside other measures, including minimisation of pain, handwashing and nutritional care.

Peter Carter, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said the union would work with government on the scheme.

"These new standards are groundbreaking in that they will directly recognise nurses for the kind of care that patients really value.

"Nurses work tirelessly to ensure that patients are treated with dignity, compassion and sensitivity, aspects of care which are so important but rarely measured."

Source: Oxford Mail June 2008

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Patients fight for local surgeries and access to healthcare

The department of Health has asked every Primary Car Trust (the regional authorities that an areas health services) in England, to create a minimum of one polyclinic in each region.

These polyclinics are large surgeries, with up to 25 doctors offering a wide range of healthcare services and treatments, open 7 days a week in a centralised regional centre.

Campaigners are worried that these new 'super sugeries' could threaten the survival of smaller local surgeries and health centres.

There is the possibility that these clinics may be privatley run, fuelling fears that profits will be put before patients and health services.

The British Medical Association is heavily opposed to these plans and has sent petitions to every surgery in the country to be signed, before presenting them to 10 Downing Street later this month.

Paul Roblin of the Oxfordshire Local Medical Committee said: "GPs in Oxfordshire believe the funding for the privately owned polyclinic could be better spent on the health needs of Oxfordshire patients.

"For example, the money spent on the clinic could buy more than 1,000 cataract operations or 140 hip operations."

Source: Oxford Mail June 2008

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Dentists warn that the nation's oral health is in decay

Only half of the UK population have visited a dentist in the since government dental reforms in 2007. This equates to around 900,000 peaople a year not receiving redular dental care.

The new dental contract was supposed to get dentists to spend more time with NHS patients, but so far without success.

"They've failed to improve access to care for patients and failed to allow dentists to provide the modern, preventive care they want to deliver." said Peter Ward, chief executive of the British Dental Association.

Shadow health minister Mike Penning said: "The fact that over 300,000 people lost their dentist in three months alone shows just how bad things are getting."

Many experts are concerenced that the population's dental health is on the decline and the governments plans to tackle the problem seem to have failed.

Source: www.bbc.co.uk/news June 2008

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Smoothies have health benefits, but bad news for Dentists

Smoothies are growing in popularity. Many people see these drinks as a tasty way to eat fruit and vegetables and to contribute towards their 5-a-day.

However, dentists claimed this week that the increasing popularity of the drinks could lead to widespread tooth damage. In fact some dentists suggest that the health benefit from the intake of fruit or vegetables from these drinks could be outweighed by the long term damage to your teeth.

Dr Nigel Carter of the British Dental Foundation said that it is not just the sugar in Smoothies that causes a threat to teeth, but also the often high levels of acid.

Dr Carter commented, “Every time you sip on a fruit smoothie your teeth are placed under acid attack for up to an hour, so constantly sipping on these drinks can cause the protective enamel to erode, causing pain and sensitivity. It can also lead to decay."

Brushing your teeth immediately after drinking a juice drink or Smoothie can damage teeth though, as the enamel can be damaged by the acid content of the drink. Dentists advice is to brush teeth before drinking juice drinks to protect the teeth.

Source: www.bbc.co.uk/news May 2008

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Pre-surgery Beta Blockers 'more harm than good'

Researchers at Canada’s Mcmaster University have concluded that Beta-Blockers given to some patients before surgery to reduce the chance of heart attacks, may do more harm than good.

Patients undergoing surgery often experience higher than usual stress levels, which can drive up blood pressure, upping the risk of heart problems while under anaesthetic.

After surgery the body can often going in to a state of shock, during which the blood pressure falls and researchers believe that Beta-Blockers are aggravating this problem.

The study, published in the medical journal the Lancet, estimates that use of the drugs before surgery may have contributed to at least 800,000 deaths worldwide in the past decade.

Professor Peter Weissberg, medical director of the British Heart Foundation, said "Fortunately, the practice of giving beta blockers to all patients at risk of vascular disease before surgery is not widespread in the UK.

Source: www.bbc.co.uk/news May 2008

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Hi Fat Could help Epilepsy

Researchers inthe Lancet Neurology have reported that a recent trial suggests a special high-fat diet helps to control fits in children with epilepsy.

The diet changes the body's metabolism by mimicking the effects of starvation.

The special diet known as the Ketogenic diet, was shown to reduce fits in children by up to a third. iN fact, 5 children on the trial experienced seizure reduction of up to 90%.

A spokesperson for Epilepsy Action said: "The results of this trial add valuable information to what is already known about the diet, presenting evidence that it works for some children with drug-resistant epilepsy."

She tempered this by saying, "In addition to this, however, we also recognise that the ketogenic diet is not without its side-effects, and that the risks and benefits should be considered before prescribing, as with drug treatment."

Source: www.bbc.co.uk/news May 2008

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The End of Anaesthetics?

A man from Worthing in the UK has astounded Doctors and Medical Staff by enduring a major operation without any anaesthetic.

The man underwent a procedure for osteo-arthritis on his left hand, which included a surgeon using a saw on his bones.

Alex Lenkei, 61 and a Hypnotherapist said that although he could see and hear what the surgeon was doing, he miraculously felt nothing.

"He used a hammer and chisel and I could hear him hammering away at the bone. I heard everything he was saying to his assistants but there was no gossip. It was a shame - I was hoping to hear something juicy."

Mr Lenkei has been practising these Hypnotherapy techniques since he was 16 commented: "I hope the NHS starts taking this seriously now."

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Source: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2008/04/19/

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Insulin may hold the key to longer life

Researchers at the Joslim Diabetes Center in Boston, USA, have found that Insulin may be able to help us live longer.

The researchers found that Insulin inhibits a gene which contributes towards the aging process.

Through advances in Gene therapy, it may be possible in the future to manipulate the SKN-1 gene to slow down the aging process. It could also lead to increased resistance to chronic diseases.
 
Dr Keith Blackwell, Senior Researcher at the Joslin center said "The implications go far beyond diabetes."

Source: Science Daily Press Release March 2008

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Women Drinkers at risk from Cancer

The Department of Health has said that those women who reguarly drink over and above the Government’s recommended weekly consumption levels face up to a 50% higher chance of developing Breast Cancer.

A report released by the department shows that woman who regularly drink more than the recommended 14 units a week face a greatly increased chance of developing the disease.

Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said that many women have no idea just how many units of alcohol they are consuming and therefore don't realise the risks they face.

In fact the Government has just announced a £10 million advertising campaign to highlight the problem and to make people more aware of their alcohol in take and the risks it poses to their health. This campaign is aimed at middle aged women who the Department of Health views as a particularly high risk group.

Other health risks to female drinkers who regularly surpass the recommended intake levels include liver disease, unplanned pregnancies and ruptured bladders.

Source: www.bbc.co.uk/health 22nd March 2008

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