National and International News
Smokers face ban at home if nurse calls - The Observer 05/02/06
Hundreds of thousands of smokers will be banned from lighting up in their own homes when nurses or other health workers visit them, under controversial new rules drawn up by the nurses' professional body.
I smoke, therefore I am - The Observer 05/02/06
Giles Tremlett: Letter from... Madrid - The Observer 05/02/06
Flagship hospital halts operations - The Observer 05/02/06
'Over-performing' surgeons turn away non-emergency cases in latest NHS cash crisis
The cure for your allergy: a hookworm - The Observer 05/02/06
A team of British scientists investigating whether a tiny tropical hookworm could provide a cure for asthma and hay fever have committed the ultimate act of bravery by infecting themselves with the parasite to observe the effects.
Super Bowl will be a giant game of overeating - The Observer 05/02/06
So who ate all the snacks? Even by their gargantuan standards of over-indulgence, couch potato Americans are preparing to outdo themselves during today's Super Bowl, the sporting highlight of the country's year. They will guzzle their way through truckloads of crisps, peanuts, pretzels, popcorn, nachos, pizza, olives, biscuits, cheese and anything else they can find in the fridge. Britons may drink themselves silly during big games - Americans stuff themselves stupid.
Nutrition And Watching Sports On TV, Weight Watchers - Medical News Today 04/02/06
The new craze to get your brain fit - The Observer 05/02/06
First came Sudoku, the fiendishly addictive puzzle that time-wasters could reassure themselves was good for their brains. Now Britain is about to be hit by another Japanese craze: the 10-minute mental work-out.
Take the pain out of a visit to the dentist - The Observer 05/02/06
With NHS care being reformed in response to criticisms of the old 'drill and fill' system, Lisa Bachelor looks at how to avoid a large cavity in your finances
The debt we owe to all our health workers - The Observer 05/02/06
May I congratulate you on 'Miracle workers who rebuilt Danny's life' (News, last week). This surely demonstrates the true nature and value of the NHS. Can I suggest that it is enlarged as a frieze, say, one metre long, and distributed for display in every hospital in the country as a tribute to those dedicated workers and as a reminder that the NHS is there for us when it matters?
Legal battle for right to have cancer drug - The Observer 05/02/06
A breast cancer sufferer begins a High Court fight to force the NHS to allow her the life-saving treatment it refused on grounds of cost
Health panel: How can I safely treat my son's eczema? - The Observer 05/02/06
Her toddler has painful, raw eczema which has spread to his torso and face. Is there an alternative remedy to using cortisone cream? Our panel of experts offer advice
Boots fears OFT will delay 7.5bn tie-up with Alliance - The Observer 05/02/06
The Office of Fair Trading will decide this week whether to trigger a Competition Commission probe into the 7.5 billion merger between Boots and Alliance Unichem.
Deadline for Bart's as Hewitt rethinks 1bn hospital plans - The Independent 05/02/06
Doctors fear that Patricia Hewitt is about to downgrade a 1bn modernisation project to improve health services for London's poverty-stricken East End that could lead to the closure of one of Britain's most famous hospitals.
Waist sizes: Tale of the tape - The Independent 05/02/06
Britons' waist sizes have risen inch by inch. How do you measure up?
New generation junkies - The Independent 05/02/06
Shocking though it is, the story of the 11-year-old heroin addict in Scotland is far from unique
Over 20,000 children are hooked on heroin - The Telegraph 05/02/06
Kick habit or lose kids, says expert - The Sunday Times 05/02/06
Date rape: The real problem - The Independent 05/02/06
Kits to prevent assaults are useless, say scientists. Drink, not drugs, is the real problem
Self-harmers to be given clean blades - The Sunday Times 05/02/06
NURSES want patients who are intent on harming themselves to be provided with clean blades so that they can cut themselves more safely.
Self-harmers 'should get clean blades' - The Telegraph 05/02/06
J K Rowling: My fight to save caged children - The Sunday Times 05/02/06
ONE of the world’s most successful authors, J K Rowling, has written about her campaign to end the scandal of children kept in cages in east European mental hospitals.
Cameron and the sex clinic mystery - The Sunday Times 05/02/06
WHEN David Cameron said that he was going to be a modern Conservative, he was not kidding. The Tory leader has dropped yet another hint that his university days were not entirely spent with his textbooks. After nimbly refusing to answer questions about whether he took drugs at Oxford, he has revealed that he once attended a sexual health clinic.
Cannabis psychotic nearly killed me - The Sunday Times 05/02/06
A WEALTHY music producer has spoken about the dangers of cannabis after being viciously assaulted in her home by a family friend who had been made psychotic by the drug.
NHS sex tips arouse interest - The Sunday Times 05/02/06
NHS DIRECT, the government’s health information service, has launched a racy internet guide to better sex. A new section posted last week on the NHS Direct website — entitled “Two Thousand and SEX!” — offers to “fine tune your orgasm ability” and promises to “whip your sexual self into shape and double your pleasure”.
GPs open up patient files to drug firms - The Sunday Times 05/02/06
A SALES representative employed by a drugs company was given access to confidential National Health Service patient records to identify those who could be given an expensive new drug to treat cholesterol.
GP surgeries not the place for operations - The Sunday Times 05/02/06
I AM astounded that Patricia Hewitt, in her white paper, should suggest that consultants perform operations in GP surgeries (Flying surgeons to offer local ops, News). This government rejected the practice introduced by the Conservatives in the 1990s. I spent a lot of my spare time then visiting GP surgeries in the evenings and at weekends performing minor surgery. Money was supposed to follow the patient. It never did.
Klum's TV show 'promotes anorexia' - The Sunday Times 05/02/06
THE German supermodel Heidi Klum faces accusations that her television show for aspiring models is encouraging eating disorders, writes Matthew Campbell.
Private offer for children's hospital - The Sunday Times 05/02/06
BEACON hospital, a new facility in south Dublin, has offered to pay for a 400m national children’s hospital on a public-private partnership basis. The Beacon Medical Group says it could build a “superhospital” in under three years on a site adjacent to its existing 180m development in Sandyford.
McCreevy and Harney face Bupa battle - The Sunday Times 05/02/06
CHARLIE McCREEVY and Mary Harney, once the closest of cabinet colleagues, are set for a showdown over the health minister’s plans to introduce risk equalisation into the Irish health insurance market. The European commissioner’s office believes the move is anti-competitive.
Botanic drugs - The Sunday Times 05/02/06
I am disheartened by the new legislation (Magic mushrooms banned in Ireland after man’s death, News, last week). I would have preferred if the Oireachtas, in conjunction with the Forensic Science Laboratory, had the foresight to assess the drug critically rather than make the “possession or sale of magic mushrooms a criminal offence”. The new legislation creates more red tape in relation to research for botanic purposes.
IVF curbs 'will leave women childless' - The Telegraph 05/02/06
Thousands of women would be left childless under a Government watchdog's plans to allow only one embryo to be implanted during each cycle of IVF, new research suggests.
Former science chief: 'MMR fears coming true' - Daily Mail 05/02/06
A former Government medical officer responsible for deciding whether medicines are safe has accused the Government of "utterly inexplicable complacency" over the MMR triple vaccine for children.
Best Gluteus Maximus Training - Exercises For Your Butt - Medical News Today 05/02/06
With Valentine's Day just around the corner, millions of Americans are striving for a nice curvaceous shape to their glutes - but to do that you need muscle. The American Council on Exercise (ACE), America's nonprofit fitness advocate, recently announced exclusive research that determines the most effective gluteal exercises.
How Does Football Make You Feel? Mental Health Foundation Survey - Medical News Today 05/02/06
With England gunning for World Cup glory this summer, the Mental Health Foundation has launched an online survey to find out how men feel about football (soccer).
Bipolar Gene Discovery No Big Deal To Bipolar Disability Victims, Says Advocate - Medical News Today 05/02/06
Many of the 2 million bipolar disorder sufferers in the U.S. have severe symptoms which prevent them from holding down regular jobs. Unfortunately, according to professional disability advocate Dr. Susan Nickerson, DC PT, a number of bipolar disability cases are slipping through the cracks of a flawed Social Security system. Dr. Nickerson addresses the problem with a new "Bipolar's Guide to Winning Social Security Disability", a novel solution to this dilemma.
New Rotavirus Vaccine Will Protect Children Against A Major Killer Worldwide - Medical News Today 05/02/06
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced the licensing of a new vaccine against a disease responsible for tens of thousands of hospitalizations in the United States and hundreds of thousands of deaths around the world each year. The vaccine, developed by Merck & Co., Inc., will be sold as ROTATEQ® and will protect infants against rotavirus infection. Rotavirus is a highly contagious virus that is the most common cause of severe dehydrating diarrhea in infants and young children.
Adolescents With Schizophrenia - Local Medical Practice Seeks Volunteers For Important Study - Medical News Today 05/02/06
Adolescence is a time of change - a time when many parents see changes in their teenagers' behavior and moods.
Yeast 'could allow insulin spray' - BBC Health News 05/02/06
Diabetes patients could be able to receive insulin via a nasal spray using yeast, scientists believe.
Suicide fear on asylum detainees - BBC Health News 05/02/06
Keeping asylum seekers in detention could lead to despair and suicidal urges, mental health experts have said.
GP Training Practices In Wales Will Benefit From Superannuation Agreement - Medical News Today 05/02/06
GP training practices in Wales will now be reimbursed on the superannuation portion of the GP trainers' grant.
MRI - Brain Images That Show Structure And Function, Yale School Of Medicine - Medical News Today 05/02/06
Yale School of Medicine researchers report a novel technique for jointly studying structural and functional changes in the brain based upon an advanced statistical approach called joint independent component analysis.
Best Gluteus Maximus Training - Exercises For Your Butt - Medical News Today 05/02/06
With Valentine's Day just around the corner, millions of Americans are striving for a nice curvaceous shape to their glutes - but to do that you need muscle. The American Council on Exercise (ACE), America's nonprofit fitness advocate, recently announced exclusive research that determines the most effective gluteal exercises.
How Does Football Make You Feel? Mental Health Foundation Survey - Medical News Today 05/02/06
With England gunning for World Cup glory this summer, the Mental Health Foundation has launched an online survey to find out how men feel about football (soccer).
Bipolar Gene Discovery No Big Deal To Bipolar Disability Victims, Says Advocate - Medical News Today 05/02/06
Many of the 2 million bipolar disorder sufferers in the U.S. have severe symptoms which prevent them from holding down regular jobs. Unfortunately, according to professional disability advocate Dr. Susan Nickerson, DC PT, a number of bipolar disability cases are slipping through the cracks of a flawed Social Security system. Dr. Nickerson addresses the problem with a new "Bipolar's Guide to Winning Social Security Disability", a novel solution to this dilemma.
New Rotavirus Vaccine Will Protect Children Against A Major Killer Worldwide - Medical News Today 05/02/06
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced the licensing of a new vaccine against a disease responsible for tens of thousands of hospitalizations in the United States and hundreds of thousands of deaths around the world each year. The vaccine, developed by Merck & Co., Inc., will be sold as ROTATEQ® and will protect infants against rotavirus infection. Rotavirus is a highly contagious virus that is the most common cause of severe dehydrating diarrhea in infants and young children.
Adolescents With Schizophrenia - Local Medical Practice Seeks Volunteers For Important Study - Medical News Today 05/02/06
Adolescence is a time of change - a time when many parents see changes in their teenagers' behavior and moods.
Omega-6 Fats Cause Prostate Tumors To Grow Twice As Fast - Medical News Today 05/02/06
Omega-6 fatty acids--such as those found in corn oil--caused human prostate tumors in cell culture to grow twice as quickly as tumors to which omega-6 fats had not been added, according to a study conducted at the San Francisco VA Medical Center.
Missing Steps Of Jumping-gene Replication Discovered - Medical News Today 05/02/06
In experiments with transgenic mice, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine researchers discovered the remaining steps in the complicated process of how the largest class of jumping genes replicates and inserts themselves within the human genome. Haig H. Kazazian, Jr. MD, Chair of the Department of Genetics, and colleagues at Penn published their findings in the February issue of Genome Research. This knowledge may shed light on the origins of "junk" DNA, parts of the genome for which no function has yet been discovered.
Dow AgroSciences Achieves World's First Registration For Plant-made Vaccines - Medical News Today 05/02/06
Dow AgroSciences LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, (NYSE: DOW), announced today that it has received the world's first regulatory approval for a plant-made vaccine from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Center for Veterinary Biologics. This approval represents an innovative milestone for the company and the industry.
Nearly 8M Infants Born Annually With Birth Defects Worldwide; Modest Health Initiatives Could Curb Problem, Study Says - Medical News Today 05/02/06
Nearly eight million, or 6%, of infants around the world annually are born with birth defects, and more than three million of them die before age five, according to the "Global Report on Birth Defects" released on Monday by the March of Dimes, the Washington Post reports. The study reports that the problem is more prevalent in developing countries -- where 94% of such births and 95% of such deaths occur -- because of inadequate access to maternal health care, high numbers of intermarriage in families and increased frequency of some disease-causing genes (Brown, Washington Post, 1/31). The rate of defects ranges from 40 per 1,000 births in France to 82 per 1,000 births in Sudan and 81 per 1,000 births in Saudi Arabia. In the U.S., 48 per 1,000 infants are born with birth defects. The U.S. ranks 20th globally in terms of fewest affected births (Washington Post, 1/31). Christopher Howson, a March of Dimes vice president who co-authored the five-year study, suggested that implementing relatively inexpensive health initiatives and prevention programs would reduce by 70% the rate of birth defects and deaths (Schuler, USA Today, 1/31). Initiatives that have proven successful in the U.S. and Europe include genetic testing; nutrition programs; folic acid supplements in the diet to decrease the likelihood of neural tube defects, such as spina bifida; prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome; infant screening for some rare metabolic disorders; and surgical repair of heart defects (Washington Post, 1/31). Such programs helped to reduce the infant mortality rate in the U.S. by 62% since the 1960s (Winslow, Wall Street Journal, 1/31). The authors did not include in the report factors such as in utero exposure to alcohol, iodine deficiency or infections such as rubella or syphilis, which they believe might cause hundreds of thousands of additional birth defects annually, BBC News reports (BBC News, 1/30).
International Health Experts Call For More Focus On Neglected Diseases To Help Tackle HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria - Medical News Today 05/02/06
Preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria would be easier if more resources were directed to combating other tropical diseases that receive less attention, health and aid experts said Monday, the Associated Press reports. At a conference at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, organized by the U.N. Millennium Project to advance the project's malaria initiative, experts said the prevalence of neglected diseases, such as schistosomiasis and hookworm, undermines efforts to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria because coinfection with tropical diseases can affect treatment outcomes. The experts said addressing neglected diseases "in tandem with" HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria would require about $1 billion to treat 500 million people over five years, the AP reports (Heintz, Associated Press, 1/30).
Uganda Must Increase Efforts To Curb Country's HIV/AIDS Epidemic, AIDS Commission Official Says - Medical News Today 05/02/06
Uganda must make greater strides toward stemming the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country, AIDS Commission Director General David Kihumuro Apuuli said Monday when releasing Uganda's 2005 HIV/AIDS status survey, Uganda's New Vision reports. Apuuli, speaking at the fourth Annual Partnership Forum outside the capital city of Kampala, said the report shows that transmission rates are shifting from the youth to Ugandan adults ages 30 to 40, with current prevalence rates in that age group at 6.4% (Jaramogi, New Vision, 1/31). "We thought we were doing well in the fight against HIV/AIDS but instead HIV/AIDS is getting on us and we are not getting on top of it," Apuuli said. He added, "The prevalence is very high among females and in urban centers" (Xinhuanet, 1/31). The Vice President of Uganda, Gilbert Bukenya, who opened the forum, said that the government has begun the construction of an antiretroviral and antimalarial drug factory in Luzira, Uganda, which is expected to be ready to start production by June. There are at least 1.4 million Ugandans living with HIV/AIDS, according to New Vision (New Vision, 1/31).
Obese Women Suffer More Pregnancy Complications - Medical News Today 05/02/06
Compared to normal-weight women, overweight and obese women suffer more pregnancy complications and their babies have more medical problems at birth, according to a position paper of the Public Affairs Committee of the Teratology Society. The position paper published online February 3, 2006 in Birth Defects Research Part A: Clinical and Molecular Teratology, and is available via Wiley InterScience (http://www.interscience.wiley.com/journal/bdr).
What Is Breast Cancer? - Medical News Today 05/02/06
Breast cancer is a tumor that has become malignant - it has developed from the breast cells. A ‘malignant' tumor can spread to other parts of the body - it may also invade surrounding tissue. When it spreads around the body, we call it ‘metastasis'.
Infant Transplant Patients Resist Infections That Kill Adult AIDS Patients - Medical News Today 05/02/06
Rated 3 in Health; News; National and International News on Feb 5, 2006 at 08:25:12 GMT.
Investigators have discovered that some type of protective system goes into action in some cases when a baby's immune system is deficient. This discovery indicates a hidden safety net that might have far-reaching consequences for treating diseases of the immune system such as AIDS. The Mayo Clinic-led study was conducted with colleagues in Toronto and Baltimore, and is reported in the early online edition of the Feb. 1 Journal of Immunology (http://www.jimmunol.org/future/176.3.shtml).
Instant Anemia Test For Medical Professionals - BIOSAFE - Medical News Today 05/02/06
BIOSAFE Medical Technologies today announced the release of its new BIOSAFE Hemo-Quant rapid anemia test. This low cost, single use, disposable unit is for professional use by physicians and hospitals. It will be available to medical professionals beginning April 2006.
You Don't Say: Patient-doctor Nonverbal Communication Says A Lot - Medical News Today 05/02/06
A shoulder shrug. Lack of eye contact. A hand gesture. What patients don't say can be just as important as what they do, according to a study of nonverbal behavior published in a January issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
High-risk Black Men Least Likely To Get Screening For Prostate Cancer - Medical News Today 05/02/06
The men most at risk for aggressive prostate cancer - black men with a family history - are the least likely to get screening even during peak ages of risk, researchers say.
Northwestern Memorial Hospital Named Bariatric Surgery Society 'Center Of Excellence' - Medical News Today 05/02/06
The Bariatric Surgery practice at Northwestern Memorial Hospital was recently designated a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence by the American Society of Bariatric Surgery (ASBS).
Procedure Allows Women To Freeze Eggs To Preserve Future Fertility - Medical News Today 05/02/06
Researchers at the Yale Fertility Center are now offering a cutting edge reproductive procedure called oocyte cryopreservation that allows women to freeze their eggs and use them at a later time to conceive a child.
Contagious Obesity? Identifying The Human Adenoviruses That May Make Us Fat - Medical News Today 05/02/06
There is a lot of good advice to help us avoid becoming obese, such as "Eat less," and "Exercise." But here's a new and surprising piece of advice based on a promising area of obesity research: "Wash your hands."
New FDA Data Show High Levels Of Mercury In Some Cans Of Light Tuna - Medical News Today 05/02/06
Recently released data from FDA indicate that 6% of samples taken from canned light tuna between 2001 and 2005 contained high levels of mercury, which can increase risks of health problems in pregnant women and children, the Chicago Tribune reports (Roe/Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 1/27). High levels of mercury -- which accumulates in the environment, as well as in the flesh of fish and the bodies of those who eat fish -- have been shown to contribute to birth defects and other health problems, and several studies have demonstrated a subtle loss of mental acuity in the offspring of women who consume fish during pregnancy. FDA and Environmental Protection Agency warnings issued in 2005 advise young children, pregnant women, nursing mothers and women of childbearing age to avoid consuming swordfish, king mackerel, shark and tilefish because of high mercury levels. The warning also recommends that those groups eat no more than 12 ounces of fish weekly and eat no more than six ounces of canned albacore tuna weekly (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 1/23). For the recent data, FDA looked at 216 samples of canned light tuna and found the average mercury levels to be 0.12 parts per million, which is below the legal limit of 1.0 parts per million. Twelve of the samples contained 0.35 parts per million, which also is legal but considered high by government standards. According to the Tribune, high levels also were found in samples of Chilean sea bass and big-eye tuna, also known as ahi tuna. The Tribune reports that no federal warnings exist for either fish. FDA on Thursday said it does not plan to take any action based on the new data.
Measures Needed To Motivate Private Sector To Invest In Vaccines For HIV, Other Diseases, Opinion Piece Says - Medical News Today 05/02/06
"Twenty-three years after the discovery of HIV ... the time has come for us to put in place a new accelerated system for finding and producing the vaccines we need," International AIDS Vaccine Initiative President Seth Berkley writes in a Newsweek International opinion piece. According to Berkley, the private sector has been reluctant to invest in vaccines because they "provide relatively low return on investment." Therefore, increased public funding for researchers and the industry is needed "to overcome scientific roadblocks," Berkley writes, adding that the funding must be mobilized "quickly and be free of bureaucratic encumbrances." He also calls for "a range of government-sponsored financing schemes to bring the private sector to the table," such as guarantees of fair prices to companies that produce vaccines for HIV or other diseases for people in developing countries. Finally, Berkley proposes establishing liability protection or insurance "that balances legitimate consumer interests with companies' concerns about large and damaging lawsuits" (Berkley, Newsweek International, 1/30).
What Is Measles? How Do You Catch Measles? - Medical News Today 04/02/06
Measles is an infection caused by a virus (a viral infection). The virus is called Pramyxovirus. In the developed world it used to be very common. However, thanks to extensive immunisation programmes the number of children infected has gone down considerably.
Development Of Breath Tests For Drugs - Medical News Today 04/02/06
A series of preliminary studies into the detection of breath markers of drugs is being undertaken at Keele University Medical School using a revolutionary form of breath analysis (SIFT-MS) which has been invented by Professor David Smith FRS and Professor Patrik Spanel from the Institute of Science and Technology in Medicine (ISTM) at Keele. This patient friendly non-invasive SIFT-MS technique allows the sampling of single exhalations of breath in real time avoiding the collection of breath samples into bags, which is required for other techniques and which compromises the breath sample. Thus, SIFT-MS data is immediately available to the clinician for rapid diagnosis. These novel instruments are now manufactured by Trans Spectra Limited of which Professors Smith and Spanel are co-founders and directors. They are now being used to investigate several diseased states, including renal failure, diabetes and cancer, using breath analysis.
Stomach and flu bugs hit hundreds of schools - The Guardian 04/02/06
Classrooms around the country were quieter than normal yesterday as thousands of pupils were struck by one of two bugs and forced to stay at home. At least 24 schools were forced to close to limit the infections and hundreds of others have been affected by the double outbreak of influenza B and norovirus, otherwise known as the winter vomiting disease.
Thousands of children struck down by vomiting bug and flu - The Times 04/02/06
Flu bug closes schools - The Telegraph 04/02/06
Mexican clinic where Coretta King died shut down - The Guardian 04/02/06
The Mexican clinic where Martin Luther King's widow, Coretta Scott King, died suddenly this week has been closed, US embassy officials said yesterday, and American patients had been given three days to leave the country.
Ask Emma: natural alternatives - The Guardian 04/02/06
I'm 54 and suffer from night sweats and hot flushes. I'm extremely irritable and anxious. How can I get back on track? I have tried HRT but reacted badly to it.
Baby rusks contaminated with banned pesticides - The Guardian 04/02/06
Thousands of packets of baby rusks have been withdrawn from shops after they were found to be contaminated with illegally high levels of a pesticide which is banned from use in flour in the UK.
Family forum - The Guardian 04/02/06
How can we help my 13-year-old daughter? We have discovered she is having penetrative sex (sometimes without protection). She self-harms on occasion, and also is at risk of anorexia and bulimia. My husband and I have discussed the issues with our supportive GP and, in consequence, have tried to raise them with her (without judging her) and given her details of a confidential youth-counselling service. So far, she has not made use of this, as far as we know. We are not happy to confide in her school - neither of us have the confidence that she would receive the help and support that she needs from that source.
Seeing is believing - The Guardian 04/02/06
Rebecca Atkinson knew she was going blind and accepted there was no cure - until a correspondent accused her of defeatism. Goaded, she embarked on a gruelling therapy involving mountains of vegetables. Would it work a miracle?
Alexander Chancellor: Let Ian Brady die - The Guardian 04/02/06
On hearing that Harold Shipman had hanged himself in Wakefield prison, David Blunkett said he felt like opening a bottle. He was widely attacked for this remark, and it did seem odd that a home secretary should publicly rejoice at evidence of a prison's failings, even if the only consequence had been the death of an odious serial murderer.
Chocolate bars to carry 'health warnings' on wrapping - The Guardian 04/02/06
Chocolate bars and other sweets are to have a "health warning" printed on the back of their packaging as part of a major drive to educate the public, particularly children, on their diet.
Arctic Monkeys' album cover sparks anti-smoking row - The Independent 04/02/06
The Arctic Monkeys were forced to defend the artwork on the cover of their debut album after a public health official condemned its depiction of smoking.
Pregnancy test may have spawned deadly frog fungus - The Independent 04/02/06
A skin disease that is wiping out frogs around the world and is feared to have reached Britain may have been spread from Africa though an old-fashioned pregnancy test, scientists believe.
Pregnancy test may lie behind deadly frog fungus - Reuters 03/02/06
Journalist admits mercy killing - The Times 04/02/06
A journalist has used a newspaper front page to confess to the mercy killing of her great aunt in the 1960s.
All babies may get meningitis jab - The Times 04/02/06
A vaccine against meningitis may be offered to all children in the first year of life as part of a drive to eradicate the killer disease.
New child jab for lethal disease - BBC Health News 03/02/06
Lifesaver jab for all babies - Daily Mail 04/02/06
New laws as Hong Kong admits that bird flu is endemic - The Times 04/02/06
THE strain of bird flu that has spread to Eastern Europe is now probably endemic around Hong Kong, the territory’s health chief said yesterday.
Letters to the Editor - The Times 04/02/06
Care closer to home, as defined by the Government White Paper on health (report, Jan 31) will in many cases be good news for patients. But shifting care must not be allowed adversely to affect the management of emergencies. This is particularly important in general surgery, trauma and orthopaedics. In a survey conducted by the Royal College of Surgeons, 64 per cent of consultant surgeons said that they are often “on call” for emergencies while they are undertaking elective work. Moving consultants into the community will affect the provison of emergency services.
One month on: how's that resolution doing? - The Times 04/02/06
Changing one thing: a new you for the new year. Find out how our four guinea pigs got on in the first five weeks
Gut reaction - The Times 04/02/06
Stories behind the news: Too much red meat can damage your DNA? But that’s quite normal
One month on: how's that resolution doing? - The Times 04/02/06
Changing one thing: a new you for the new year. Find out how our four guinea pigs got on in the first five weeks
The dancing gene - The Times 04/02/06
SAD news for dodgy dancers: there’s no point taking lessons or practising slick moves at home, because disco divas are born, not made, claim Israeli scientists.
Keep on blogging - share your healthy living tips - The Times 04/02/06
Hilly Janes, the editor of Body&Soul, hosts our Healthy Living Yearbook blog from today for the next two weeks. “It’s been heartening hearing about readers’ efforts to lose weight or exercise in the bitter, grey January weather,” she says.
Inside story: chronic fatigue syndrome - The Times 04/02/06
A child with learning problems helped Rachel Anderson cope when her two other sons became disabled
The light fantastic - The Times 04/02/06
Neuroscientists say that our brain responses to these modern light sculptures are deep-rooted in our earliest evolution
Beware those winter breaks - The Times 04/02/06
Snow-sport holidays can be very dangerous but you can swerve past the worst risk of injury by preparing like a pro
Unkindest cut of all - The Times 04/02/06
One teenager in ten self-harms. Can a new book help them heal?
Happy families: the embarrassing mum - The Times 04/02/06
Schoolchildren long for conformity. They want to be like other children and they want their mum and dad to be like other parents. The embarrassing mum turns up at school in the wrong clothes or car, laughs too loudly, and stands out from the crowd. As a result, the children suffer.
A-Z of relationships: Y is for yielding - The Times 04/02/06
When is it time to lay down one’s arms? Every relationship involves clashes of will but it is often very tricky to know when to persist and when to give in. How much ground should we give without losing our autonomy? We are always being told that a relationship is about compromise but not how much compromise.
Agony and ecstasy: sex advice - The Times 04/02/06
'I am a straight, happily married woman in my forties. I have recently discovered gay male porn and find it arousing. Is this unusual?'
Eco-worrier: burning candles - The Times 04/03/06
Am I contributing to pollution levels by burning candles?
Home remedies: honey for wounds - The Times 04/03/06
A reader writes that honey is excellent for healing wounds and preventing infection.
At your table: bananas - The Times 04/03/06
Going bananas can be a real comfort
Gabby Logan's ten-minute toner: core muscles - The Times 04/03/06
Haven’t got time for the gym? In part four of her series, Gabby demonstrates three exercises that tackle a specific part of your body and that can be done together in just ten minutes
Not just anybody: James Willstrop - The Times 04/03/06
Before the National Squash Championships, James Willstrop, 22, relaxes with friends to stay focused
HSE is bad for our health and wealth - The Telegraph 04/02/06
It is tempting to make a joke out of it. "How many health and safety officers does it take to change a lightbulb? None - it's too dangerous."
Ladder ban leaves town in dark - The Telegraph 04/02/06
Tories polish image on NHS - The Telegraph 04/02/06
David Cameron is trying to end the Conservatives' reputation for opposition to the NHS by urging party members to volunteer time and money to the health service, it emerged last night.
Care home separations 'may breach human rights' - The Telegraph 04/02/06
Dozens of councils may be in breach of the Human Rights Act by forcing elderly married couples to live apart.
There comes a point when breast is not best - The Telegraph 03/02/06
Alison Palmer on why the sight of a seven-year-old breastfeeding makes her feel more than a little squeamish
Revealed: How Britain's youngest addict was given heroin by her own mother - Daily Mail 04/02/06
How should a case like this be handled? Join the debate below Over the past few days she has experienced - is still experiencing - every kind of agony: vomiting, stomach cramps, chills, hallucinations, the 'shakes', insomnia... sleep, of course, is impossible when you are being weaned off heroin and are 'cold turkey'.
Extra NHS cash will go on pay rises - Daily Mail 03/02/06
Almost 40 per cent of the 4.5billion spending increase for NHS hospitals will be eaten up by pay rises an analysis has revealed.
Confusion over alcohol guidelines - Daily Mail 03/02/06
British drinkers are in a daze over sensible drinking levels, new research claims. Most remain unaware of their recommended daily allowance of alcohol.
Doctors: Obese should be refused treatment - Daily Mail 03/02/06
Almost 40 per cent of doctors believe obese patients, smokers and heavy drinkers should be excluded from treatments, a new survey reveals.
Blunder hits 1,000 heart patients - Daily Mail 03/02/06
More than 1,000 patients may have been wrongly diagnosed with heart problems after a technician misread test results, NHS bosses have admitted.
New bird flu deaths in Indonesia - BBC Health News 04/02/06
Two more Indonesians have died of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu, bringing the nation's death toll to 16, a health ministry official has said.
'Lost cells' offer obesity clue - BBC Health News 04/02/06
The ability of a cell to sense its position within a tissue may help explain why some people become obese, scientists believe.
Strokes ignorance 'costing lives' - BBC Health News 04/02/06
Lives are being lost because of a "worrying" lack of awareness in the UK about strokes, campaigners say.
Doctors 'prescribing Herceptin' - BBC Health News 03/02/06
Three quarters of cancer doctors are allowed to prescribe Herceptin for early stages of the disease despite it not being licensed, a BBC survey says.
Cocaine stomach problem warning - BBC Health News 03/02/06
Cocaine users are at risk of life-threatening stomach problems, doctors have warned.
NHS 'reaches waiting list target' - BBC Health News 03/02/06
The government says it has hit its target for operation waiting times even though a small number of people are still waiting longer than six months.
Creating A 3D Kidney Atlas - Medical News Today 04/02/06
In the years ahead, researchers want to create a three-dimensional (3D) kidney atlas incorporating the latest knowledge about the development and diseases of the kidney. The primary aim of the researchers is to map key genes that play a major role in these processes in order to improve the diagnosis and therapy of renal diseases and to reduce the high cost of treatment.
Avian Influenza, Situation In Iraq, World Health Organization - Medical News Today 04/02/06
Specimens from Iraq's first reported case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus have now been tested at a WHO collaborating laboratory in the United Kingdom. The case was a 15-year-old girl from the northern part of the country who died of severe respiratory disease on 17 January. Test results have now confirmed her infection.
Meningococcal Disease In Sudan - Medical News Today 04/02/06
From 1-31 January 2006, 136 suspected cases and 15 deaths of meningococcal disease have been reported in six states of Sudan. The epidemic threshold has been crossed in two administrative units (Guli in Blue Nile State and Wad el Heleu in Kassala State). One specimen of cerebral spinal fluid has been found positive for Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A by latex test.
Premature Babies And Sudden Infant Death Syndrome - Doctors Should Make Special Effort To Talk To Parents About Risk - Medical News Today 04/02/06
Because premature and small babies are at risk for SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) later and longer than full-term infants, pediatricians should adjust when they offer counseling to parents about preventing SIDS, according to research published by a Saint Louis University pediatrician who examined more than 8,000 SIDS deaths.
Development Of Ecological Management System Supports Integration Of Economics And Ecology - Medical News Today 04/02/06
A study published Feb. 1 in the journal Bioscience finds that giving economic value to environmental systems may actually help preserve those systems in the long run. The study, led by University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA) Professor Stephen Farber and titled "Linking Ecology and Economics for Ecosystem Management," uses several case studies to illustrate how an ecosystem management perspective can aid in management decisions.
European Filings Of SPD476 (Mesalazine) For Treatment Of Ulcerative Colitis - Medical News Today 04/02/06
Shire plc announced that it has submitted Marketing Authorization Applications to European Regulatory Agencies for SPD476, an investigational compound being studied for the induction and maintenance of clinical and endoscopic remission in patients with active mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis. If approved, SPD476 would offer a once-daily mesalazine treatment for active mild to moderate ulcerative colitis.
Clinical Trial Of Nalmefene In The Treatment Of Pathological Gambling - Medical News Today 04/02/06
Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: SOMX), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the in-licensing and development of product candidates for the treatment of psychiatric and neurological disorders, today said that the February 2006 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry features an article which describes the conduct and results of a four-month clinical trial investigating the efficacy and safety of one of its product candidates, oral nalmefene hydrochloride, an opioid antagonist, in reducing pathological gambling-related urges, thoughts and behaviors.
Drugs Formerly Contraindicated For IBD Prove Beneficial For Pain Relief - Medical News Today 04/02/06
According to two studies published today in the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, prescription painkillers are effective in easing the pain of patients with dormant inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and are not likely to cause symptom flare-ups in IBD patients in remissions. Both studies examined the benefits of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including COX-2 inhibitors, in a patient population with ulcerative colitis and/or Crohn's disease. Study findings show that NSAIDs were well-tolerated, with COX-2 inhibitors offering the most effective pain relief in this group.
Thousands Of Scots Families To Help Scientists Improve Nation's Health - Medical News Today 04/02/06
Generation Scotland, an ambitious and ground-breaking project looking at the ways genetic and lifestyle factors cause cancer, heart disease and mental illness is launched today, Thursday, 2 February in Edinburgh.
Single Ascending Dose Component Of Phase I Trial With EVT 101 For Alzheimer's Disease, Successfully Completed, Evotec - Medical News Today 04/02/06
Evotec AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, TecDAX 30, "Evotec") announced the successful completion of the single ascending dose component of the Phase I clinical study with EVT 101, a subtype-specific NMDA receptor antagonist for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The study in 48 young healthy subjects of whom 36 received EVT 101 showed that EVT 101 was well absorbed, achieving good exposure levels, was extremely well tolerated with no significant adverse events and had a good pharmacokinetic profile consistent with once or twice daily oral dosing.
Breast Cancer Survivors Making Surgery Decisions With Limited Information - Medical News Today 04/02/06
Breast cancer survivors who undergo reconstructive surgery using silicone implants have access to very little research-based information about the likely risks, according to a report released today by the National Research Center (NRC) for Women & Families. Dr. Susan Wood, former director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Office of Women, was a speaker at a National Press Club Newsmakers' event where the report was released.
Olfactory Nerve Cells Expressing Same Receptor Display A Varied Set Of Reactions - Medical News Today 04/02/06
In a mouse model, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine researchers discovered that olfactory sensory neurons expressing the same receptor responded to a specific odor with an array of speeds and sensitivities, a phenomenon previously not detected in the mammalian sense of smell. The group published their findings this week in the online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Post-pregnancy Events Promote Breast Tumor Metastasis - Medical News Today 04/02/06
Changes in the tissue environment of the breast that occur after pregnancy promote the metastasis of breast tumor cells. The paper by McDaniel et al., "Remodeling of the mammary microenvironment following lactation promotes breast tumor cell metastasis," appears in the February issue of The American Journal of Pathology and is accompanied by a commentary.
New York Times Examines Conflicting Studies About Risks, Benefits Of HRT For Menopausal Women - Medical News Today 04/02/06
The New York Times on Tuesday examined the "heated" debate among physicians about the risks and benefits of prescribing hormone replacement therapy to alleviate severe symptoms of menopause, which has been generated by conflicting studies (Rabin, New York Times, 1/31). In July 2002, NIH researchers ended a Women's Health Initiative study on combination HRT three years early because they determined that the treatment might increase risk for heart disease, invasive breast cancer and other health problems. However, according to an NIH-funded study using data collected from the ongoing Nurses Health Study -- published last month in the Journal of Women's Health -- younger women who use HRT might decrease their risk of heart disease (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 1/25). More studies are being conducted about the potential risks and benefits of HRT. Meanwhile, women with severe menopausal symptoms are left in "limbo" because HRT is considered the most effective treatment to relieve the symptoms, according to the Times. FDA requires that HRT packages warn women about "serious side effects," and women are advised to take "the lowest dose possible for the shortest period of time necessary," the Times reports (New York Times, 1/31).
HHMI Undergraduate Researcher Turns Up The Heat On Hibernation - Medical News Today 04/02/06
If doctors could put people in hibernation and pull them out at will, scientists think they could minimize damage from strokes, help recipients' bodies accept transplanted organs, perhaps even enable astronauts to travel in suspended animation until reaching distant destinations. But up to now, researchers have not understood the molecular mechanism controlling hibernation-like states.
Intelligence May Contribute To Health Inequalities - Medical News Today 04/02/06
Intelligence may play an important role in health inequalities, finds a study published online by the BMJ today.
Researchers Discover Link Between High Levels Of HtrA1 Protein - Medical News Today 04/02/06
Mayo Clinic researchers have found an association between abnormally high levels of a protein named HtrA1 and preeclampsia, a sudden and dangerous rise in blood pressure that can result in premature delivery, disability or death for mother and fetus. The condition, which affects 5 to 8 percent of pregnancies worldwide, constitutes a medical emergency and often requires a Caesarean section delivery. The condition is estimated to cause 50,000 to 76,000 maternal deaths each year.
New 5 Year Metvix-PDT Data Demonstrate Long-term Efficacy & Reliability For NM Skin Cancer Treatment - Medical News Today 04/02/06
New five year clinical trial results have demonstrated the high efficacy and long-term response rates of Metvix® photodynamic therapy (MAL-PDT) in NMSC compared to current standard treatments cryotherapy and surgery. As NMSC is the most common form of skin cancer in Caucasians and, like all skin cancers, has been increasing over recent decades, new methods to effectively treat are essential to prevent extensive damage and further skin cancer developing.
ARIXTRA(R) Administered Morning After Orthopedic Surgery Prevented Venous Thromboembolism With Low Risk Of Bleeding - Medical News Today 04/02/06
Results from a new study of ARIXTRA(R) (fondaparinux sodium) called FLEXTRA (Flexibility in Administration of Fondaparinux for Prevention of Symptomatic Venous Thromboembolism in Orthopaedic Surgery) showed the anti-thrombotic drug was generally well tolerated and effective in the prevention of symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) when administered to patients the morning after orthopedic surgery. The study, which was published in the January 2006 issue of The Journal of Arthroplasty, evaluated the tolerability and efficacy of ARIXTRA following total joint arthroplasty. Study results demonstrated that delayed initiation of ARIXTRA prophylaxis may provide an alternative dosage regimen for preventing VTE after total joint arthroplasty.
Improved Diagnostic Technology For Crohn's Disease - Medical News Today 04/02/06
The diagnostic value of CT enteroclysis is superior to conventional enteroclysis, previously considered the gold standard, as an imaging method for the evaluation of the small bowel in patients with Crohn's disease, a new study shows.
Hope For Arthritis Stems From Within - Medical News Today 04/02/06
Leeds bioengineers have developed an innovative technique for cartilage repair combining the self-healing powers of the body with stem cell science to help young people avoid debilitating knee problems and give hope to arthritis sufferers.
Source Of Crucial Immune Cell In The Skin Discovered - Medical News Today 04/02/06
Mount Sinai School of Medicine researchers have identified the precursors of cells in the skin that are part of the first line of defense against invading pathogens. The study will appear on Nature Immunology's website this week and will be published in a future issue.
Study Demonstrates Rapid Diagnosis Of Urinary Tract Infections With Biosensor Technology - Medical News Today 04/02/06
For the millions of people who suffer from urinary tract infections each year and the doctors who treat them, a promising new biosensor technology has been developed that may replace antiquated testing methods and save precious health care dollars.
Penn Study Identifies Patients Most At-risk For Secondary Strokes - Medical News Today 04/02/06
Among patients who have suffered a single stroke, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, along with colleagues at other institutions, have found that severe stenosis, or narrowing, of the arteries in the head represents a major risk factor for the development of a subsequent stroke. Patients with recent symptoms were also at high risk. Further, women faced a greater risk of subsequent stroke than men. Their work, to be published in the January 31 issue of Circulation, lays the foundation for further studies into effective therapies to prevent secondary strokes.
European Commission Launches Health Information Project - Medical News Today 03/02/06
Today in Brussels European Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Markos Kyprianou launched the “European Health Information Platform” or “Health in Europe” project. This health information system is co-financed with €1.4 million from the EU Public Health Programme, and managed by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). It is a multimedia initiative which aims to create a network of public broadcasters and other media across Europe, and foster the exchange of reports, including television documentaries, radio broadcasts and press and internet articles on health issues.
What Is IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)? - Medical News Today 03/02/06
IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) effects 30% of us at some time in our lives. 10% of people get it so badly that they need to seek medical help. If you suspect you may have IBS you should seek confirmation from a qualified doctor.
What Is Claustrophobia? - Medical News Today 03/02/06
Claustrophobia is an anxiety disorder in which someone has an intense and irrational fear of confined or enclosed spaces. A person who suffers from claustrophobia may break into a panic when inside a lift (elevator), a bus, an aeroplane, a room with lots of people or any confined space.
Creating Bird Flu Vaccine Using GM A Real Possibility - Medical News Today 03/02/06
Scientists from the CDC (USA) have managed to create a bird flu vaccine that protects mice by placing a gene from the H5N1 bird flu virus strain into a common cold virus. They then developed it in cell cultures rather than using hen's eggs.
Cash Boost For Back Pain Study - Medical News Today 03/02/06
A charity dedicated to supporting back pain sufferers has today revealed it has granted funding for three pioneering research projects, including the production of a video in Teeside, UK.
New Dentistry Contract Will Fail Patients, British Dental Association Warns Minister, UK - Medical News Today 03/02/06
Dentists have today demanded an urgent meeting with UK Health Minister Rosie Winterton to discuss their fears about the impact on patients of the Government's major shake-up of dental services.
Proposals Set Out To Allow Free Vote On Smoke Free Public Places, UK - Medical News Today 03/02/06
UK Ministers have today put forward alternative options on how far to extend the smoking ban in public places. This follows the decision to give MPs a free vote at Report Stage of the Health Bill, taking place later this month.
Kebab Powder Contaminated With Excess Levels Of Aflatoxins, UK- Medical News Today 03/02/06
A spicy powder has been found to be contaminated with excess levels of aflatoxins. The Food Standards Agency (UK) has issued a Food Alert for Action.
Female Embryonic Stem Cells Differentiated For 2 Days. Red: X-chromosomes, Green: X-inactivation Centers (Xics) - Medical News Today 03/02/06
Two are one too many - this is the motto used by cells of a female organism: These contain two X chromosomes, one of which always becomes inactivated. How does the cell recognize that it contains two of these sex chromosomes and how does it choose which one to turn off? Scientists of the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ), working together with French colleagues, have now been able to elucidate an early step in this complex process.
HMRI Researcher Lights A Path To Understanding Brain Diseases - Medical News Today 03/02/06
Neurologist Mike Harrington of Pasadena, California's Huntington Medical Research Institutes argues that soon we may be able to detect brain disease before symptoms even begin. The secret is in the cerebrospinal fluid, the clear liquid that cushions our brain and spinal cord.
Developing Alternative Methods To Animal Testing In The Area Of Allergy - Medical News Today 03/02/06
The Dermatochemistry laboratory of the University Louis Pasteur's Institute of Chemistry (Strasbourg 1) becomes a partner in the integrated European research project Sens-it-iv whose aim is to develop alternative methods to animal testing in the area of allergy.
A Step Forward In The Fight Against Bacterial Infections - Medical News Today 03/02/06
Bacterial infections can strike anyone, and they can sometimes be fatal. Because more and more bacteria are becoming resistant to the pre-eminent remedy - antibiotics - the search for new remedies against bacterial infections is in high gear. Research by scientists from the Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) connected to Ghent University shows that certain mice, by nature, can withstand particular bacterial infections. Elucidation of the biological process that underlies this natural ability offers perspectives for the development of new therapeutics.
US agency cites transplant risk from tissue collector - Reuters 03/02/06
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday ordered a company that collected human tissues to cease operations, citing "deficiencies" in its donor policies that may have exposed transplant patients to disease.
Experts skeptical of experimental birdflu vaccines - Reuters 03/02/06
Two teams working on better vaccines for use against a potential bird flu pandemic have announced progress in the past week, but influenza experts are skeptical.
Weight-loss surgery linked to hormone changes - Reuters 03/02/06
Weight-loss surgery works not just by restricting the amount of food absorbed by the body, it seems. In part, at least, it leads to weight loss by causing hormone changes that reduce appetite and improve sugar metabolism, new research suggests.
Many emphysema patients could benefit from surgery - Reuters 03/02/06
A type of operation called lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) can provide lasting benefits for people with emphysema, including improvements in exercise ability, quality of life, and survival, according to study findings presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons in Chicago.
FDA approves faster test for bird flu in humans - Reuters 03/02/06
U.S. regulators have approved a new, faster test for diagnosing strains of bird flu in humans suspected of being infected with the virus, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said on Friday.
Heavy marijuana use linked to bladder cancer - Reuters 03/02/06
Pot smokers could be putting themselves at risk for developing bladder cancer, according to the results of a study of middle-aged men who were seen at two Veterans Administration facilities.
Sharing health decisions not always positive - Reuters 03/02/06
Shared decision-making between patients and their doctors is frequently rated as a negative experience by patients, according to the results of a small study appearing in the Annals of Family Medicine.
Cheshire and Mersey News
Stalinist and out of touch - Warrington Guardian 04/02/06
WARRINGTON North MP Helen Jones has hit out at a "Stalinist" health authority.
Life-saving lessons with heart machine - Liverpool Echo 03/02/06
PEOPLE in some of Liverpool's most deprived communities are being trained to use life-saving defibrillators.
Hospice sets sights on a new 2m unit - Liverpool Echo 03/02/06
AN ambitious campaign has been launched to raise 2m for a new patient unit at a Merseyside day hospice.
Red Dress Campaign aims to battle a killer - Daily Post 03/02/06
LITTLE red dresses may be sexy. But Liverpool campaigners are hoping that in the future they may become symbolically attractive for an altogether different reason.
NHS trust faces cuts in services over 17m debt - Daily Post 03/02/06
A CHESHIRE NHS trust has warned services could be cut after it was revealed it will overspend by up to 17m this year.
Extra resource needed in hospital budget crisis - Ormskirk Advertiser 02/02/06
THE Department of Health has stated that Ormskirk Hospital will need "additional expertise and resources" to solve its multi-million pound budget problems.
Advice on managing diabetes - Southport Advertiser 03/02/06
DIABETICS in Southport can learn how to live life to the full.
Meet the life-savers - Chester Chronicle 03/02/06
LIVES could be saved thanks to a First Responder team manned by volunteers.
O'Brien fights waste in the health sector - Chester Chronicle 03/02/06
TORY MP Stephen O'Brien is questioning whether the Government is serious about delivering health services at a local level because of funding problems at a Cheshire community hospital.
Diabetics slam delay in screening update - Chester Chronicle 03/03/06
DIABETICS are more at risk of going blind because the NHS has gone back on a commitment to introduce digital eye-screening, claim campaigners.
Eczema sufferer is boxing clever - Chester Chronicle 03/02/06
JAMES Faulkner walked into his local Sainsbury's only to see his face staring at him from hundreds of cartons of milk
Wheelchair ramp at last - Ormskirk Advertiser 02/02/06
HSBC's wheelchair-using customers can now access their Ormskirk branch after a series of Advertiser stories prompted the installation of a temporary ramp.
Town's NHS debt hits 4m - Warrington Guardian 03/02/06
DEBTS to the tune of almost 4 million have been accumulated by Warrington's three NHS organisations.
Cumbria and Lancashire News
Patient fell from table during op - Carlisle News & Star 04/02/06
AN INTERNAL probe has been launched after an elderly patient was dropped from an operating table at Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary.
'We'll save our hospitals' - Carlisle News & Star 04/02/06
HUNDREDS of campaigners from across the county marched through Maryport yesterday to tell health bosses to go back to the drawing board over cottage hospital closures.
Woman, 91, died after surgery - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 04/02/06
A 91-year-old woman died two weeks after a fall in her Accrington home, an inquest was told.
Third way the only option -MP - Ormskirk Advertiser 02/02/06
IT HAS to be option three said MP Rosie Cooper speaking about the future of West Lancashire's PCT.
'Kept in dark' over hospital plan - Lancashire Evening News 03/02/06
A COUNCIL chief claims he was kept in the dark by opposition councillors over the future of hospital services in the Valley.
Greater Manchester News
How could it happen again? - Manchester Evening News 03/02/06
HUNDREDS of worried patients have called a hotline after a Greater Manchester hospital yesterday admitted blunders over vital heart scans.
1,000 patients in heart tests 'blunder' alert - Manchester Evening News 03/02/06
Dentist prepares to treat new patients - Bolton Evening News 03/02/06
Staff at a dental surgery are working their way through a mountain of paperwork after signing up 1,000 new patients.
Baby unit protesters' meeting - Bolton Evening News 03/02/06
HUNDREDS of supporters fighting to save Fairfield Hospital's maternity department and special care baby unit are expected to cram into Bury Town Hall next Tuesday for a public meeting.
Meeting over baby unit plans - Bury Times 03/02/06
Doctor's dying wish is to see baby unit saved - Bury Times 03/02/06
Disbelief over views on hospital closure - Bury Times 03/02/06
Social services to increase home care charges - Bolton Evening News 03/02/06
SOCIAL services chiefs in Bury have announced a planned hike in home care charges.
Eye surgeon's smoke ban call - Bolton Evening News 03/02/06
A TOP Bolton eye surgeon has renewed calls for cigarette packets to warn about the risks of smoking and blindness as the European Union promotes the link on its quit-smoking website.
Supermarket surgery plan criticised by family doctor - Bolton Evening News 03/02/06
PLANS to introduce one-stop doctors surgeries in supermarkets have been met with anger by a Bolton GP.
Steep-steps library will be rebuilt - Bolton Evening News 03/02/06
A BOLTON library is to be demolished and rebuilt because many elderly and disabled people cannot get into it.
Majority would back smoke ban - Bury Times 03/02/06
MORE than 60 per cent of people living in the North West would back a law to end smoking in work environments and enclosed public places, according to the latest opinion polls.
The NHS was there when I needed it most - Bury Times 03/02/06
I SPENT a few days in Ward Two at Fairfield Hospital from January 17 and I can honestly say that the service was excellent.
Christie Hospital fund-raising gala night - Bury Times 03/02/06
TICKETS are now on sale for a charity concert in aid of Christie Hospital.
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